Novel Marketing

The 5 Year Plan to Become a Professional Author

14 snips
Dec 31, 2025
James L. Rubart, a Christy Award Hall of Fame author and creator of the Five-Year Plan, shares insights on transforming aspiring writers into professionals. He reveals why most authors take a decade to publish and introduces a structured, craft-first approach to accelerate learning. Rubart discusses each year's focus—from mastering fundamentals to publishing fluency and marketing strategy. With practical tips on productivity and creativity, he encourages serious writers to commit to a structured path that cuts through the confusion of the writing journey.
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INSIGHT

Craft Over Shortcuts

  • Becoming a professional author requires years of deliberate craft practice, not shortcuts or quick formulas.
  • Most authors take ~10 years because they learn in a scattered, out-of-order way and repeat avoidable mistakes.
ADVICE

Prioritize Craft Before Platform

  • Start with craft first and delay platform tasks like websites until later years.
  • Learn to write the kind of book readers crave before investing in marketing and platform work.
INSIGHT

Small Gains Yield Huge Rewards

  • Publishing follows a power-law where a few authors earn disproportionately more.
  • Small improvements that move you into the top percentile produce outsized career impact.
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