Innovative Author Business with First Principles

“You should take the approach that you’re wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong.” — Elon Musk

As a new indie author who wants to treat writing as a business, the creative process is only one part of the equation. Success hinges not only on writing great books but on managing time, resources, and strategies to ensure a sustainable and innovative author business. How can you take the complexities of being a professional writer and turn them into an efficient, profitable business?

By applying first principles thinking and Elon Musk’s 5-step process, you can break down the business side of writing into manageable, focused actions. This approach allows you to challenge assumptions, streamline your workflow, and make decisions based on your long-term goals rather than industry trends or distractions.

In this fourth part of our writer’s guide series on the principle and process, we’ll explore how authors can treat their author career like a business by using first principles and Musk’s proven design process.

Start with First Principles Thinking

First principles thinking is a powerful problem-solving tool that encourages you to question assumptions and build from the ground up. Instead of taking the traditional advice about how a writing career “should” look, strip everything down to its most basic truths.

Ask yourself theses questions:

• What do I really need to succeed as a professional author?
• Do I need to spend endless time on social media, or is there a more focused way to engage readers?
• Do I need multiple projects at once, or should I streamline my efforts into fewer, more impactful books?

This mindset allows you to break free from conventional wisdom and create a business model that’s tailored to your specific goals and your strengths. It gives you clarity on how to allocate your time, money, and energy in ways that directly contribute to your long-term success.

5-Step Design Process for an Innovative Author Business

Once you’ve established the core principles of your writing business, you can apply Elon Musk’s 5-step design process to optimize how you manage your author career.

1. Define the Requirements

In the business of writing, this means defining your specific goals.

• What does success look like for you?
• Is it hitting bestseller lists, earning a specific income, or building a loyal readership?

Knowing your end goal will help you create a clear business strategy.

You’ll also need to define the resources required to achieve these goals. This could include tools like a professional website, an editor, a marketing budget, or networking efforts. Clearly identifying these requirements will help you prioritize your investments of time and money.

2. Delete a Part or Process

The business side of writing can often feel overwhelming, with endless advice about marketing, social media, networking, and more. But not every strategy will suit your business model. Delete any part of your process that doesn’t serve your primary goals. For example, if you’re a novelist whose target audience isn’t particularly active on Twitter, it may not be worth investing time there. Focus on what directly contributes to your success and remove the rest.

3. Simplify or Optimize

• Once you’ve removed the unnecessary, it’s time to simplify and optimize your business processes.
• Can you batch your marketing efforts to save time? Can you streamline your content production by setting specific writing goals each day?

Optimizing your business model means finding the most efficient ways to manage your writing, publishing, marketing, and engagement efforts.

4. Accelerate Cycle Time

In the business of writing, time is money. The faster you can move from concept to finished book, or from one project to another, the more income potential you have. Consider ways to accelerate your production cycle without sacrificing quality. Whether that means hiring a virtual assistant, automating social media scheduling, or developing a more efficient writing routine, the goal is to produce work faster without burning out.

5. Automate

Automation is key to scaling your business. From email marketing campaigns to sales tracking and even social media scheduling, automating tasks frees you up to focus on the creative side of writing. Use tools like Mailchimp for newsletters, Hootsuite for social media, or royalty-tracking software to manage income from various platforms. The more you can automate, the more energy you can put into writing and strategic decision-making.

Combining These Approaches Benefits Your Writing Business

By combining first principles thinking with Elon Musk’s 5-step design process, you’ll develop a business model that focuses on what truly matters. This approach not only helps you cut through unnecessary noise but also ensures that every decision you make—whether about marketing, budgeting, or project management—aligns with your long-term goals.

You’ll also find that your writing business becomes more efficient and sustainable. Instead of getting bogged down by distractions, you’ll stay focused on producing quality work, building your brand, and growing your audience. Over time, this will lead to more consistent income, a stronger connection with readers, and the professional satisfaction that comes from treating your writing as a serious business.

Controlling Your Author Career

As an author treating writing as a business, your time and resources are valuable. By using first principles thinking and Elon Musk’s 5-step design process, you can take control of your career in a way that maximizes efficiency and focuses on long-term success. This approach will help you streamline your workflow, eliminate unnecessary tasks, and build a writing business that is both profitable and fulfilling.

With this method, you’re not just writing books—you’re creating a sustainable, thriving business that aligns with your goals and passions.

We hope you’ve found the strategies useful and motivating. We hope they’ll equip you with the insights and tools needed to help you succeed as a new author.

For more help, read these other writer’s guides in the series: First Principles and 5 Steps for Writing Non-Fiction AND First Principles and 5 Step Process for Book Publishing.

Writing is a journey of continuous learning and improvement. You don’t have to go it alone. We’re excited to continue the journey with you, providing guidance and encouragement every step of the way. Our goal is to provide basic insights and practical advice to help you navigate the writing world with increased confidence.

If you have a draft you want to publish, and wonder how AI can help, read, Is Your Book Ready to Self-Publish? Lastly, for help writing a non-fiction book, read Write Your First Non-Fiction eBook: a 30-Day Workbook for Getting It Done.

Don’t wait. Start today! How can we help? To let us know, please fill out our contact form. Happy writing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I determine which business tasks are essential for my writing career?

Use first principles thinking to identify the core aspects of your business that directly contribute to your success. Ask: What do I need to achieve my financial and creative goals? Then focus on those areas.

Is it necessary to hire a virtual assistant or outsource tasks?

It depends on your goals and workload. If administrative or marketing tasks are taking too much time away from writing, outsourcing could be a good investment. First, assess if these tasks can be simplified or automated.

How can I balance creative writing with the business side of being an author?

Simplify and batch your business tasks to specific days or times so they don’t interfere with your creative process. Setting clear boundaries between writing time and business time helps maintain balance.

What are the most important platforms to focus on for marketing as an author?

Define your target audience and focus on the platforms they use. For some authors, that might mean focusing on social media, while for others it might be email marketing or building a blog audience.

How can I track my income and expenses as an author?

Automate this process using accounting software like QuickBooks or royalty-tracking tools to ensure you’re keeping clear records of your book sales and other sources of income.

Additional Resources

Use Elon Musk’s 5-step Algorithm to Radically Improve Your Product Returns Process (claimlane.com)

First Principles: Elon Musk on the Power of Thinking for Yourself (jamesclear.com)