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Writing and Marketing Systems
Sit down first thing in the morning and write, everyone says. The best marketing is writing and releasing the next book, they say. Rapid release is the only way to make money, I've heard.
Well...almost. Kind of? Maybe.
Not everyone can write 10,000 words each day. Not everyone can release a book every month. Does that mean all is lost for self-publishers who only have a few books out and struggle to get more ready in today's rapid release culture?
Nope.
Are you ready to increase your productivity? Want to learn ways to work smarter, not harder? Need a practical, over-the-shoulder look at how successful authors plan and carry out marketing tactics, set goals, and then knock them out of the park?
If you want to write more in less time, and learn the ins and outs of selling the books you have out now, as well as any future publications, you need a system to do both the writing and the marketing. It takes two halves of your brain to run your self-publishing business, and believe it or not, you can use both sides in the same day.
Come find out how to develop your own system for writing more books that will fit with your lifestyle. Then learn how to set up marketing systems to sell those books while you sleep, vacation, or simply while you work on your next great literary masterpiece.
Get inspired in your Indie Author career with Elana Johnson, a three-time USA Today bestselling author and a Top 20 Kindle Unlimited All-Star Author!
Well...almost. Kind of? Maybe.
Not everyone can write 10,000 words each day. Not everyone can release a book every month. Does that mean all is lost for self-publishers who only have a few books out and struggle to get more ready in today's rapid release culture?
Nope.
Are you ready to increase your productivity? Want to learn ways to work smarter, not harder? Need a practical, over-the-shoulder look at how successful authors plan and carry out marketing tactics, set goals, and then knock them out of the park?
If you want to write more in less time, and learn the ins and outs of selling the books you have out now, as well as any future publications, you need a system to do both the writing and the marketing. It takes two halves of your brain to run your self-publishing business, and believe it or not, you can use both sides in the same day.
Come find out how to develop your own system for writing more books that will fit with your lifestyle. Then learn how to set up marketing systems to sell those books while you sleep, vacation, or simply while you work on your next great literary masterpiece.
Get inspired in your Indie Author career with Elana Johnson, a three-time USA Today bestselling author and a Top 20 Kindle Unlimited All-Star Author!
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 7, 2020
Down to earth advice about setting goals and compartmentalizing your time as an indie author.
January 14, 2022
A very informative, helpful book! I love the way Elana wrote it. It's like she's having a conversation with you. She gives you a peek into her book business and in turn gives you plenty of ideas of what to do with your own.
March 29, 2023
I loved this book. I started it this afternoon and finished it this evening. I even took notes! This has inspired me on both my marketing with my business partner on our indie publishing venture as well as my own indie publishing press I’ve started. I can’t wait to put some of these skills to work on both fronts. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series. Excellent info and easy to comprehend.
December 15, 2020
After reading this author's book Writing Killer Cover Copy I was excited to pick up her newest release as it sounded very interesting. Writing and Marketing Systems was an informative read about how the author has assembled her writing and marketing systems as well as plenty of tips and advice on how to assemble your own systems.
I enjoyed reading this book as the way the author planned her days has some overlap to how I plan mine. I think there were some great pieces of advice about how to set up your own systems. It's mostly a time management type of book, but also delves a bit into the specifics of writing and marketing and what to do marketing wise and how to fit that into your systems. A lot of it is about finding out how much time a tasks takes you and how to plan that into your days. It was easy to read and follow. And I liked the authors voice and how she set this book up.
I do think this method works best for a certain type of person, who likes structure and planning out their days. Even so I do think most people can probably get something of value of this book.
I also liked how the author shows how she set up her own systems and why that works for her, while also emphasizing that every author is different and that your systems should be different than hers and has to work for you. I like that focus on individual differences and finding out what works for you and hopefully this book can help you with that.
To summarize: this was an informative and easy to read book about how to set up your writing and marketing systems. Most of the book deals with how to plan your days/ weeks/ months, how to figure out what works for you and getting insight into what you can do per day and how long certain tasks take you. This book gives practical advice on how you can set up your own systems. I found it easy to read and contain good information. I do think some people will get more out of this book, but I do think most authors will find some valuable information here. I also liked the section that dealt with marketing and what to do marketing wise. All in all I would definitely recommend this one.
I enjoyed reading this book as the way the author planned her days has some overlap to how I plan mine. I think there were some great pieces of advice about how to set up your own systems. It's mostly a time management type of book, but also delves a bit into the specifics of writing and marketing and what to do marketing wise and how to fit that into your systems. A lot of it is about finding out how much time a tasks takes you and how to plan that into your days. It was easy to read and follow. And I liked the authors voice and how she set this book up.
I do think this method works best for a certain type of person, who likes structure and planning out their days. Even so I do think most people can probably get something of value of this book.
I also liked how the author shows how she set up her own systems and why that works for her, while also emphasizing that every author is different and that your systems should be different than hers and has to work for you. I like that focus on individual differences and finding out what works for you and hopefully this book can help you with that.
To summarize: this was an informative and easy to read book about how to set up your writing and marketing systems. Most of the book deals with how to plan your days/ weeks/ months, how to figure out what works for you and getting insight into what you can do per day and how long certain tasks take you. This book gives practical advice on how you can set up your own systems. I found it easy to read and contain good information. I do think some people will get more out of this book, but I do think most authors will find some valuable information here. I also liked the section that dealt with marketing and what to do marketing wise. All in all I would definitely recommend this one.
October 28, 2020
For the author ready to scale up
I’m so thankful for this book!
I’m a long-time and fairly successful indie author. I got my start back in 2011. Things were easier then. As a part-time author I could put out two books a year in my genre and let them sell themselves (and my growing backlist)!
To develop into a full-time author in 2020 is entering a completely different ballgame from those simpler times, and I have to evolve and implement systems if I want to scale up my writing and my sales. I’ve been reading marketing and craft books all year, and Elana Johnson’s books are by far the most helpful ones I’ve found. I’m already organizing my days more effectively and writing more words per day than ever before.
If you’re ready to scale up, this book is a must.
I’m so thankful for this book!
I’m a long-time and fairly successful indie author. I got my start back in 2011. Things were easier then. As a part-time author I could put out two books a year in my genre and let them sell themselves (and my growing backlist)!
To develop into a full-time author in 2020 is entering a completely different ballgame from those simpler times, and I have to evolve and implement systems if I want to scale up my writing and my sales. I’ve been reading marketing and craft books all year, and Elana Johnson’s books are by far the most helpful ones I’ve found. I’m already organizing my days more effectively and writing more words per day than ever before.
If you’re ready to scale up, this book is a must.
February 11, 2022
Great for all levels
Elana is a heavy hitter w/ a 7 figure income and like 800 books so I was worried this would be like getting pitching lessons from an MLB player when you're still in t-ball, i.e. overwhelming and largely unhelpful to a new indie.
That said, I have been so pleasantly surprised by her forthright and cut-the-crap style that I've already downloaded, read and applied strategies from 3 of her books. Not all of them, but enough to notice what does and doesn't work for my genre after 6 months.
We all have to start somewhere and her approach is doable at beginner to hardcore advanced levels. Great read! 👍👍👍
Elana is a heavy hitter w/ a 7 figure income and like 800 books so I was worried this would be like getting pitching lessons from an MLB player when you're still in t-ball, i.e. overwhelming and largely unhelpful to a new indie.
That said, I have been so pleasantly surprised by her forthright and cut-the-crap style that I've already downloaded, read and applied strategies from 3 of her books. Not all of them, but enough to notice what does and doesn't work for my genre after 6 months.
We all have to start somewhere and her approach is doable at beginner to hardcore advanced levels. Great read! 👍👍👍
October 19, 2020
An excellent book on discovering your own system. Johnson says upfront you cannot
use her personal system because your life will be different. But using her method will help you find your optimal time to achieve your goals.
use her personal system because your life will be different. But using her method will help you find your optimal time to achieve your goals.
March 16, 2021
This is a great tool to help you make a system, prioritize, and get cracking. Elana is all about, 'Do what works for you' and 'Here is what I do.' Sound advice for any genre author at any stage of the writing journey and every budget. I'm doing the sixty-day tracking event and it's an eye-opener.
Do it. Start one thing. Build. Re-evaluate. Start another. Build. Re-evaluate. In my home, this book will be referenced over and over again.
Do it. Start one thing. Build. Re-evaluate. Start another. Build. Re-evaluate. In my home, this book will be referenced over and over again.
October 24, 2020
I Can Do This!
This was the last of three books I read from this author and I feel great about delving into this industry. I love systems, graphs and other nerd worthy mathing things. Right now, I’m tracking my time. Thank Elana for holding my hand (figuratively) and telling me it’s doable.
This was the last of three books I read from this author and I feel great about delving into this industry. I love systems, graphs and other nerd worthy mathing things. Right now, I’m tracking my time. Thank Elana for holding my hand (figuratively) and telling me it’s doable.
August 20, 2022
Loved this book! I'm a systems junkie, so this was right up my alley. I was able to revamp or fine tune my own writing systems to make them more efficient. As for the marketing side, the same holds true - except there were so many other new things to learn, and things I hadn't thought of before. Looking forward to implementing Elena's systems into my own.
March 23, 2021
This is an excellent book if you want to develop writing and marketing systems to help you be more successful as an indie author. The author walks you through what business systems are and shares how to apply such systems to be an indie author. Then she shares examples of how own systems. I’ve applied a few of these systems to my business and I’m already seeing some great results.
December 23, 2020
Jam packed with useful information!
Elana’s voice shines through in her systems book. It felt like I was sitting at my kitchen table, with a friend, discussing tactics— and eating cookies. Lots of advice you can implement today.
Elana’s voice shines through in her systems book. It felt like I was sitting at my kitchen table, with a friend, discussing tactics— and eating cookies. Lots of advice you can implement today.
March 9, 2021
Excellent marketing book
This is the third of Elana’s business books I’ve read in less than a week. I find her outlook speaks to me. Now if only I could work as hard and as effectively as she does. Grab this book!
This is the third of Elana’s business books I’ve read in less than a week. I find her outlook speaks to me. Now if only I could work as hard and as effectively as she does. Grab this book!
February 13, 2022
A wealth of info
This was a great book full of info for us indie authors. I love how she showed everything she set up and how she puts it all together for your business to run as one well oiled machine. A must read for all indies.
This was a great book full of info for us indie authors. I love how she showed everything she set up and how she puts it all together for your business to run as one well oiled machine. A must read for all indies.
February 21, 2022
Excellent information
Really good book full of practical information to help get organized in your author business. Her conversational writing style felt like she was personally explaining everything to me, which I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.
Really good book full of practical information to help get organized in your author business. Her conversational writing style felt like she was personally explaining everything to me, which I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2021
This book is a must read for authors especially a new one like me. Absolutely worth it and will be a book I refer back to again and again.
March 22, 2021
Great information and tips for any writer!
September 26, 2021
Straightforward and brutally honest advice from one of the best indie authors on the market today.
December 30, 2021
An excellent resource for organizing your writing and marketing chaos. Tips on setting your priorities. I especially liked the list of ideas for social media posts and the reason behind them.
March 1, 2022
Most helpful book on writing systems I have read to date. I must read for all indie authors!
December 19, 2025
Despite ten years as a published author, marketing is my nemesis. But I picked up Elana Johnson’s book Writing and Marketing Systems about four months ago, and it has made a huge difference for me. Not overnight success, but incremental improvement. The tone of the book is conversational as if she’s sitting down with you and sharing. The first portion of the book is talks about the foundation of a system. On the first page she informs readers saying “You don’t know what you can do until you know what you can do, and the only way to find out what you can do is to try it, test it, and track it.” Good advice. Then she reminds readers that “you cannot emulate someone else and do exactly what they do,” but we “can learn what we can do with our particular personality, family situation, time and budget, and mental and physical energy.” She suggests tracking your life (writing and otherwise) for 60 days, then analyzing the data. This was incredibly helpful for me. The rest of the book covers the various systems she uses, and she includes a ton of executable suggestions and examples and is transparent about what worked and didn’t work for her. Throughout the book, she reminds readers not to bite off more than they can chew, and to take things one step at time. This is a must have resource for any author, but especially those of us who would rather write a 100,000 word book than handle marketing. Highly recommended.
June 25, 2023
Loving this series of books
I'm a newish author and still figuring things out for me. There are a lot of things I didn't even know where to start with and this series of books has been helping me sooo much.
This one specifically I already had a lot of the "bones" but less of the "meat" but even still I've tried a lot of these techniques and already noticing things that work for me and things that don't. I've also high lighted a lot to come back to when I'm more ready.
I'm a newish author and still figuring things out for me. There are a lot of things I didn't even know where to start with and this series of books has been helping me sooo much.
This one specifically I already had a lot of the "bones" but less of the "meat" but even still I've tried a lot of these techniques and already noticing things that work for me and things that don't. I've also high lighted a lot to come back to when I'm more ready.
December 23, 2021
Thank you Elana for helping the rest of us know how to organize our writing. This book helps you to see what you need for writing. (Are you a night writer or a daytime writer? When are you most effective and productive?). Highly recommend to writers.
December 26, 2020
I *loved* this book and how systematic and concise it was. It gives authors a full blueprint of how to organize their business, and it's invaluable. Highly recommend!
December 10, 2023
Highly recommend for aspiring authors.
March 23, 2024
Fantastic advice for authors with a couple of series or more under their belts.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews