Episode 36 - Wide vs. KU: Career Sustainability, Platform Strategy, and Mental Health with Erin Wright

n this episode of The Six Figure Author Experiment, we sit down with Erin Wright—bestselling romance author and founder of Wide for the Win—to unpack the real differences between wide publishing and Kindle Unlimited. Erin joins co-hosts Russell and Lee to explore how author archetypes, release strategies, international markets, and even dopamine hits from Amazon rank can affect your success depending on the path you choose.

We dig into the psychology, practicality, and sustainability of both publishing approaches—from mental health and burnout to long-tail income and international reach. This isn’t about one path being better—it’s about helping you choose what actually works for your books, your audience, and your life. Whether you’re in KU, thinking about going wide, or just trying to future-proof your author business, this conversation is full of insight, humor, and real-world experience.

Topics Covered:

* Erin Wright’s journey from librarian to bestselling wide author

* Founding Wide for the Win and growing to over 18,000 members

* How KU limits access to libraries and international markets

* Author archetypes: Forest, Grassland, Aquatic, and Phoenix

* The psychological toll of KU’s treadmill and algorithm dependence

* Why KU can be detrimental—not just neutral—for some authors

* How wide platforms reward longevity vs. KU’s focus on newness

* Preorder mechanics: Apple and Kobo vs. Amazon

* Bank over rank: why chasing rank won’t pay your mortgage

* Wide publishing as “choose your own adventure”

* Transitioning to wide with foreign translations

* Real examples of burnout, bounce-backs, and big wins

* Hiring help for wide distribution (and knowing when to do it)

* Tips for sustainable author careers in an unpredictable market

Links:

* Six Figure series case study: https://millionaire-author-coaching.teachable.com/l/pdp/six-figure-series-case-study

* Book marketing bootcamp:

https://millionaire-author-coaching.teachable.com/p/bookmarketingbootcamp

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sixfigureauthorexperiment.com