How to create a Business Plan for your Self-Publishing Career
By: Ginger | Posted on August 29, 2025
Last week, we talked about how treating your writing like a business is the key to moving from hobbyist to “real writer.” The next step is to lay the foundation for that business with a clear and workable plan. A business plan might sound intimidating, but when you break it into simple parts it becomes a practical and powerful tool for guiding your self-publishing career. In today’s blog, Ginger shares the three principles of a successful author business: process, leverage, and distribution. Through clear explanations and real-world examples, he shows what each principle means and how to apply it to your own goals. Whether you want to write full time or simply reach more readers, following this path can help turn your creative work into a profitable and sustainable venture while setting you on the road to building your author empire. Last week, I wrote about how the difference between… Read More >
How Treating Writing Like a Business Makes You a “Real Writer”
By: Ginger | Posted on August 22, 2025
Self-publishing has opened the door for anyone with a story to share, but turning that story into something readers actually buy is a different challenge entirely. For many authors, the dream is not only to hold their book in their hands but also to experience the thrill of seeing it sell, receiving reviews from strangers, and feeling like a “real” writer. The reality is that this kind of success rarely happens by accident. It comes from treating writing not just as an art, but as a business—one with a plan, a process, and a clear path forward. In this post, we explore why making the decision to see yourself as a professional author is the first step toward achieving the success you want. We’ll talk about how adopting a business mindset can open the door to opportunities you never imagined, from book signings to steady royalty checks, and why creating… Read More >
How “First Light” Conquered the James Bond Storytelling Challenge
By: Ginger | Posted on August 15, 2025
For any writer who has ever wrestled with reinventing a beloved character or long-running franchise, the upcoming James Bond video game First Light offers a fascinating case study in how to make it work. Video game adaptations face many of the same storytelling challenges as authors do when breathing new life into a well-worn icon, including how to create something fresh without alienating longtime fans. As Ginger explains in this week’s blog, the developers avoided leaning too heavily on nostalgia or recycled plots, instead crafting a brand-new Bond origin story that both honors the character’s roots and appeals to a new generation. It’s a reminder that with the right balance of originality and respect for what came before, creators can successfully reimagine any established world or character for modern audiences. A little while back, I wrote an article about the challenge authors would face writing a new James Bond novel… Read More >
The Power of Need vs. Want in Storytelling
By: Ginger | Posted on August 8, 2025
One of the most important and overlooked concepts in storytelling is the difference between what a character wants and what they truly need. It may sound simple, but understanding the need vs. want dynamic can be the key to writing stories that actually work. A character’s want gets the plot moving, but it’s their deeper need that gives the story emotional weight, lasting impact, and real connection. When authors focus too much on surface-level desires, they risk creating plots that feel hollow and characters that fail to resonate. In today’s blog, Ginger breaks down why that difference matters so much and how recognizing it changed the way he approached storytelling. Drawing from his own experience with a debut novel that fell into this exact trap, he shares how shifting your focus from want to need can lead to characters readers care about and stories that keep them turning pages. If… Read More >
How to Make More Money Selling Fewer Books
By: Ginger | Posted on August 1, 2025
For most self-published authors, success is measured in sales volume. But what if you could make more money by selling fewer books? That’s one of the surprising benefits of selling your books directly to readers instead of relying solely on the big online retailers. With higher profit margins, instant payouts, and a more personal connection to your audience, direct sales offer a path that can be both financially smart and deeply satisfying. As Ginger explains, this isn’t about abandoning the big eBook stores altogether, but about recognizing how direct sales can work better for certain types of authors, especially those with small but loyal followings. Whether you’re tired of chasing algorithms or simply want more control over your writing career, there’s real power in learning how to earn more from less. Back in May, we welcomed writer and actor Lauren Carter Reilly to the Fully Booked podcast and discussed her… Read More >
