How Writing Work For Hire Books Led To Becoming An Indie Author With Aubre Andrus
May 13, 2024
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Aubre Andrus shares her journey blending 'work for hire', ghostwriting, and indie authorship. Topics include the American Girl brand, pros and cons of work for hire, AI-narrated audiobooks, empowering girls through STEAM books, navigating challenges in the writing industry, and transitioning to an indie author with inspiring STEM books.
Transitioning from work-for-hire to indie author provided valuable industry experience and diverse opportunities.
Balancing work-for-hire projects with personal brand development enhances career security and income potential.
Maintaining professionalism and disciplined writing processes led to success in diverse genres and efficient project completion.
Deep dives
Experience and Transition
Transitioning from working on children's magazines to writing work-for-hire books allowed the author to slowly build up skills and knowledge in the industry. Networking and attending conferences despite feeling like a 'second-rate' author helped in discovering opportunities with renowned brands like National Geographic Kids and Disney. Embracing work-for-hire projects provided control over workload and exposure to diverse experiences, leading to royalties, book tours, and fan interactions.
Pros and Cons of Work-for-Hire
Engaging in work-for-hire projects offered a less daunting entry into the industry, enabling the author to experiment with different publishers and genres and establish connections. While the experience allowed for a wide range of opportunities and learning curves, including author royalties and engaging in book tours, it also involved potentially working on projects that might not align with personal preferences. Balancing content production demands and marketing efforts can feel like being on a 'hamster wheel,' yet the projects served as stepping stones towards career goals.
Proficiency and Professionalism
Maintaining a high level of professionalism, meeting deadlines promptly, and demonstrating expertise in various writing genres enabled the author to excel in work-for-hire endeavors. With most projects having tight writing timelines, the author's journalistic background facilitated efficient and fast-paced writing processes. Adapting a structured approach, such as starting writing from different points in the book and maintaining discipline in productivity, ensured timely completion and success in delivering quality content.
Balancing Work for Hire and Building Personal Brand
The speaker discusses the balance between work for hire projects and building her personal brand through her own book series. Emphasizing the importance of focusing on her series for the initial launch period, she highlights the advantages of having a project that she is passionate about and can control in terms of marketing and income potential. By juggling both types of projects, she feels more secure in her career and can wait for the next desirable work for hire opportunity.
Creating the Look Up Series and Marketing Strategies
The speaker delves into her creation of the Look Up series, which features real women in STEM fields targeted at children aged eight to twelve. She explains the process of combining biographies with activities in each book and discusses her marketing strategies, including offering discounts on direct sales, using Amazon ads and Facebook marketing, attending conferences, and considering expanding outreach to STEM-focused events. Furthermore, she highlights the importance of understanding different customer segments such as parents, teachers, and librarians for effective marketing.
How can you blend ‘work for hire', ghostwriting, and being an indie author into a successful hybrid career writing books for children? Aubre Andrus gives her tips. In the intro, Countdown Pages on FindawayVoices by Spotify; the impact of AI narrated audiobooks on Audible [Bloomberg]; Ideas for short fiction anthologies and Kevin J. Anderson's Kickstarter; […]
