The Business of Writing

“Writing doesn’t have to be a labor of love,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “It can be deeply rewarding on many levels. It’s time for us to reject the starving artist narrative and embrace that there is money to be made. There are also accolades to be earned, fun to be had, and deeply gratifying experiences that await us when we understand how to envision, plan for, and achieve our writing goals.”

In this course, we will build foundational understanding around financial ecosystems within the writing world, profiling various players (e.g., agents, publishers, retailers, authors, etc.) and discussing how they make money. We will deepen our understanding of literary economics by discussing size and scale—large publishers vs. small presses vs. vanity presses vs. literary magazines; traditional publishing vs. hybrid publishing vs. indie. From there, we will shift our discussion to how and where to sell your work, from making sure it’s ready to submit, to working with reputable players, to maximizing your profit potential and avoiding scams. We will talk about rewarding experiences such as contests and literary retreats designed to help us hone our craft. You will work toward a final product—a personal financial and submission plan for the next phase of your writing career—and will receive individual feedback and tips from the instructor.

About The Writing Salon's Remote Classes

Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, The Writing Salon is running all classes in a remote learning format. You will be able to participate in live class meetings via Zoom videoconference. To attend classes, you'll need a phone, tablet or computer and access to the internet. You can participate in the class from wherever you'd like, whether on your living room couch or in your office. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about Zoom and your remote class. If you have any questions about remote learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.