What Business Chore Do Writers Like Least?

by Hank Quense, @hanque99

When I revised my book, Business Basics for Authors, I decided to ask other authors about this idea of a business.  I asked three questions and I got over a dozen answers.  Some of the authors write fiction, others write non-fiction.  Some have publishers, some are self-published.

Here are the three questions:

What is the most difficult part of managing your book business?

2) What do you think is the most important business issue you have to deal with?

3) If you could eliminate one business chore, what would it be?

The answer to question 1 was covered on April 26, 2021.  Question 2 was answered on May 17, 2021

Question 3 is answered below.

If you could eliminate one business chore, what would it be?

Elizabeth Craig: I’d eliminate advertising, if I had the choice. I’d outsource that in a minute if I found someone who knew what they were doing and ran campaigns for a good price.

Mark Cain: Participating in social media. It’s a truism that authors are supposed to be on Facebook and Twitter, and maybe Instagram, etc. Participating in social media is a task I dislike, and I am unconvinced that the effort is cost-beneficial.

Elaine Durbach:  At this point, I’d love to have someone else handle the marketing and promotion for me, or at least define the tasks for me and lineup the openings.

Anna Faversham: Definitely marketing. I actually enjoy marketing – it’s contact with people, real people, but if I want to produce books, care for my family and take part in the world at large, then there is little time for marketing. If I could have a part-time, local marketing manager who would follow the fifty or so ideas on my marketing list and then take care of sporadic advertising on social media, I would be a happy bunny.

Mark Henderson:  Pretending interest in other authors’ books at events of the kind mentioned in (2). Of course, the interest is sometimes genuine; but it’s often just polite, in the hope of reciprocation. (But would you count that as a business chore?)

Joylene Butler: Trying to find reviewers and anyone interested in helping me spread the word about my novels. I hate begging someone to read my manuscript, write a review, then post it everywhere. As if they don’t have better things to do.   This all sounds rather pathetic, but it’s the business. When you’re an artist, singer, writer, etc., you’re required to get into people’s faces and promote your work. There are simply too many other creative people to think you can write, publish, then sit back and wait for the royalty cheques without spreading the word.

Dale Lehman:  Yeah, marketing. If I could snap my fingers and have it all taken care of for me, that would be right out the window.

Rick Gualtieri: My editing cycle is what slows my release schedule down the most. I go through multiple drafts, polishing a book for release, before sending it out for editing. It’s necessary and my readers are worth it.  That said, I know some authors who will hand off their first drafts to a team to do all of that polishing for them.  If I could find the right people, still know I’d be releasing books of the same quality, and my OCD would allow it, I’d have to give it serious consideration. Focusing on the core aspect of writing stories would almost certainly be a plus in my favor. Finding that team, however, well that’s the challenge.

Donna Baier Stein: Email lists and using them.

Stuart Aken: In the past, major publishers allowed many authors to get on with the job of creating their works of imagination and had dedicated sales teams to deal with that aspect of the trade. If I could basically have nothing to do with the promotion and marketing of my work, that would be a real bonus.

Sarajane Giere: If I could eliminate one business chore it would be the new postings which my social media outlets demand. I’m uncomfortable using the technology required with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my new website, although I know these sites are important selling tools in today’s market. I feel compelled to write for my blog page on my new website, but at the same time, there is my next book project I’ve been planning to delve into but haven’t found time because I must nurture my new baby, My Pilot. Yet, I’m not daunted by my book business, for I know this learning curve will eventually straighten out as I gain experience.

Stephanie Auteri: Constantly brainstorming new story ideas that can in some way be tied back to the same topic as my book. I mean lord. At this point, I am bored by my own damn self.

Diane Wolfe: Email marketing – it’s just so repetitive and boring! Sending out review requests, media releases, etc. You can’t send those out in a large batch. They have to be personalized. And if two hours of that doesn’t give you Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I don’t know what will!

Peadar Ó Guilín: Cover design. I have no taste of my own, so I struggle in recognising what it is that makes a good cover.

Business Basics for Authors has a wealth of information you can use to develop and manage your book business.

You may find more valuable information on my Writers and Authors Resource Center.

Business Basics for Authors has a wealth of information you can use to develop and manage your book business.

You may find more valuable information on my Writers and Authors Resource Center.

Hank Quense writes satirical fantasy and sci-fi. Early in his writing career,
he was strongly influenced by two authors: Douglas Adams and his
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. Happily, Hank
has never quite recovered from those experiences.

He lives with his wife in northern New Jersey, a mere 20 miles from
Manhattan, the center of the galaxy (according to those who live in
Manhattan). They have two daughters and five grandchildren all of whom
live nearby.