Running a business about writing is like programming a dance about architecture

(with apologies to Mies, Miles, Elvis, Immanuel, or whoever really said that)

Maryn McKennaNASW 2009

“The old stuff gets broken faster than the new stuff is put in its place.”

Clay Shirky, 13 March 2009

tinyurl.com/NASWM1

“The old stuff gets broken faster than the new stuff is put in its place.”

Clay Shirky, 13 March 2009

tinyurl.com/NASWM1

The post-papers transition:The post-papers transition:

THEN:You are a writer.THEN:You are a writer.

NOW:You are the sole

proprietor of a business that sells a commodity: the use of your time.

(You use it to write.)

NOW:You are the sole

proprietor of a business that sells a commodity: the use of your time.

(You use it to write.)

As business owner you have to…As business owner you have to…

• house the business, pay mortgage or rent, and deductions

• handle payroll and benefits• procure office supplies• provide technology and manage IT needs and crises• identify new clients and market the business to them• retain and manage relationships with existing clients• produce and distribute your product.

• house the business, pay mortgage or rent, and deductions

• handle payroll and benefits• procure office supplies• provide technology and manage IT needs and crises• identify new clients and market the business to them• retain and manage relationships with existing clients• produce and distribute your product.

There are things you cannot do without

There are things you cannot do without

• Work space (studio, friend’s spare room, writers’ rooms - NOT coffee houses)

• Tech (the best you can afford unless you are a geek; old stuff will waste your scarce time)

• Business-ops software (NOT the best you can afford because there’s too much free stuff out there:

tinyurl.com/NASWM3)

• Work space (studio, friend’s spare room, writers’ rooms - NOT coffee houses)

• Tech (the best you can afford unless you are a geek; old stuff will waste your scarce time)

• Business-ops software (NOT the best you can afford because there’s too much free stuff out there:

tinyurl.com/NASWM3)

… tasks you have to perform

… tasks you have to perform

• Group stupid errands or assign away• Amazon sells filled cartridges cheaper than big-box

stores• Barter, trade, offshore

• Tune up your productivity • Lifehacker.com, ZenHabits.com• tinyurl.com/NASWM5

• Assess your earnings per-word v. per-hour• $2.50/word at 1mm-circ magazine may be less/hour

than .50/word website• Aim for a mix that includes prestige names,

easy income, steady work

• Group stupid errands or assign away• Amazon sells filled cartridges cheaper than big-box

stores• Barter, trade, offshore

• Tune up your productivity • Lifehacker.com, ZenHabits.com• tinyurl.com/NASWM5

• Assess your earnings per-word v. per-hour• $2.50/word at 1mm-circ magazine may be less/hour

than .50/word website• Aim for a mix that includes prestige names,

easy income, steady work

… be ruthless with those so you have time to do these

… be ruthless with those so you have time to do these

• Claim your niche (NASWers already have)• Maintain and build your network (it’s where work

comes from)• Market your name/reputation/brand

• Website, blog, other’s blogs (and host on yours)• Facebook, Flickr, whatever fits your product

• Pay knowledge forward visibly• Digg, Reddit, Twitter

(Yes, this is all uncompensated)

• Claim your niche (NASWers already have)• Maintain and build your network (it’s where work

comes from)• Market your name/reputation/brand

• Website, blog, other’s blogs (and host on yours)• Facebook, Flickr, whatever fits your product

• Pay knowledge forward visibly• Digg, Reddit, Twitter

(Yes, this is all uncompensated)

Contact the author at:Contact the author at:

• www.MarynMcKenna.com• Maryn@MarynMcKenna.com• Twitter.com/marynmck

• www.MarynMcKenna.com• Maryn@MarynMcKenna.com• Twitter.com/marynmck