A salesman told about having to do a 90-day sales business plan as a requirement for a job interview. He wrote one word: “Sell.” He got the job. Unfortunately, for an author, “Write” would not be a business plan. So, should you do one? That depends on what you want to accomplish. If you’re going to publish and market the book yourself, having a business plan can certainly help you approach the endeavor in an organized and effective manner. Having a business plan might also impress potential publishers if that’s the way you want to go. Actually, deciding on your preferred vehicle for publishing (traditional, eBook, DIY) could very well be an important part of the business plan itself. And, it’s a great exercise to prompt you to learn all you can about how to plan and market your book.
Some other things you might want to consider as parts of your business plan include, “Who is my target market?” “Am I writing this book for money, and if so, how much money do I think I can make?” “What is my book’s unique appeal?” “What will my marketing strategy be?”
Get the picture? A well thought out and well organized business plan will not only help you market the book, it will help you write it. Instead of just letting your creative juices fly and then doubling back and editing your book to fit your marketing objectives, you’ll have a clear vision of what your book should contain before you start writing it.
If you’re a non-fiction writer, you’ve likely written a proposal, so the business plan will dovetail nicely with that. But if you’re a fiction writer, you might want to pooh-pooh the idea of writing a business plan because you fear it will inhibit your creativity. Only you know for sure if it will help or not. But for many writers, being organized and having a plan will focus your creativity, not inhibit it. The business plan will help you ensure that your work of fiction is coherent and tight, and it will increase your chances of getting it successfully to market.