What do you think?
Rate this book
Full Time Author: How to build, grow and maintain a successful writing career that you love
How many people have told you that your dream of being a full-time writer is impossible? They’re wrong.
Whether you are just getting started or are an experienced author, we’re here to help you overcome the obstacles in your path—and make your publishing dreams a reality.
Unsure how to turn your published book(s) into an actual career? Been knocked around by the publishing industry and feeling disheartened?Overwhelmed by all the options and not sure what to do next to level up? Two career authors—one traditional and one indie—with over 50 published books and 30 years of experience between them, team up to provide you with the complete set of puzzle pieces so you can craft your ideal author life.
If you are looking for a quick fix or magic button this isn’t the book for you. Building a career strong enough to last a lifetime won't happen overnight.
If you’re ready to build yourself a personalized roadmap to making enough money from your writing to pay your bills, then you’re in the right place. This book gives you the tools and information you need to clarify your dream and create practical steps to turn that dream into a career that you can build, grow and maintain over time—without sacrificing your health, relationships or happiness along the way.
Click the buy button now and avoid making costly mistakes as you level up your career and become a full-time author.
This is the fifth book in the Creative Academy Guides for Writers series. Be sure to check out the rest of the books for writers in this series.
1.Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker
2.Build Better Characters by Eileen Cook
3.Strategic Series Author by Crystal Hunt
4.Create Story Conflict by Eileen Cook
Whether you are just getting started or are an experienced author, we’re here to help you overcome the obstacles in your path—and make your publishing dreams a reality.
Unsure how to turn your published book(s) into an actual career? Been knocked around by the publishing industry and feeling disheartened?Overwhelmed by all the options and not sure what to do next to level up? Two career authors—one traditional and one indie—with over 50 published books and 30 years of experience between them, team up to provide you with the complete set of puzzle pieces so you can craft your ideal author life.
If you are looking for a quick fix or magic button this isn’t the book for you. Building a career strong enough to last a lifetime won't happen overnight.
If you’re ready to build yourself a personalized roadmap to making enough money from your writing to pay your bills, then you’re in the right place. This book gives you the tools and information you need to clarify your dream and create practical steps to turn that dream into a career that you can build, grow and maintain over time—without sacrificing your health, relationships or happiness along the way.
Click the buy button now and avoid making costly mistakes as you level up your career and become a full-time author.
This is the fifth book in the Creative Academy Guides for Writers series. Be sure to check out the rest of the books for writers in this series.
1.Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker
2.Build Better Characters by Eileen Cook
3.Strategic Series Author by Crystal Hunt
4.Create Story Conflict by Eileen Cook
- GenresWritingNonfiction
500 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2021
89 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Cook
40 books997 followersEileen Cook spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.
You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.
You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 12, 2025
this book has lots of good information in it! it was easy to read and enjoyable. it's definitely the kind of thing I anticipate coming back to frequently!
January 25, 2021
In Full Time Author, Cook and Hunt have written a solid guide chock full of hard-earned advice from the trenches and supported by a stellar lineup of references and accessible tools. But it’s not only for career writers, they provide valuable guidance for every writer no matter the stage of your career. Cook and Hunt open with “Be brave and stretch outside your comfort zone,” and then proceed to show you the way. I found their approach refreshing. They examine the entirety of writing as a career, not just a piece here and there, not just the hard parts, or the fun parts, but every nut and bolt. More importantly, it’s tailored to you: your goals, your obstacles, your budget, your life. I especially relate to their advice “Building yourself a successful author career is as much about not quitting as it is about being talented or lucky or successful.”
December 13, 2022
This was a super helpful book and got me thinking a lot about my author career and what I want to pursue. Not all of the information was relevant for me personally but it was still good and I imagine it would be beneficial for other writers at a different point in their career. I definitely want to pick up some of the other books in their series for authors!
February 27, 2024
500+ pages of nonsense. The book doesn't help you with anything it merely asks if you are by having you ask questions, create checklists, and make you try to evaluate the process. Obviously I didn't read the whole thing as most of I either don't need to know or already know. This book is good for people who are just starting out writing and have no clue what to expect but otherwise it's pointless, at least to me it is.
February 18, 2025
This is a massive book, and probably the best overall guide that I've read for authors seeking to turn their writing into a career. I love that it was written by successful traditional AND indie authors. There was very little information included that didn't apply to me in some way or another, and what I can't implement now, I anticipate revisiting in the next couple of years to put into practice. Overall, as an indie author, Crystal's methods and strategies resonated best with me.
With 450+ pages, this guide visited everything from setting goals and priorities, choosing business models and planning for taxes, which publication path best suits you, identifying the best strategies for your books, marketing plans and methods, product price points and distribution channels, author branding and pen names, budgeting, re-branding and re-releasing old books, applying for an agent and publisher as a traditionally publishing author, indie publishing processes, other ways to bring in writing-related income, what to do when things go poorly, and appendixes full of other resources.
The authors have a fairly chatty writing style, but not unbearable to read through - mostly just friendly and welcoming. The presentation of information in each section was clear and easy to understand, at least as someone semi-familiar with many of the topics they discussed. Some of the sections were very short (even just one or two pages), and I would have loved even more details in many of them (ex. newsletters, business models, etc.), but they did always provide other suggestions for where to go for more information and deeper dives, which I appreciate.
I wish that I had read this book when I first started out on my indie author journey! As is, this was an incredibly helpful read as I rebrand and really buckle down on turning it into a career. Even though not all of the information will apply to every author (at least not all at once), I would recommend this book to ANY author looking to write for a living. I'm an indie author and found a LOT of information I could implement, but there were a good number of sections for traditionally publishing authors too (I read those too, since I'm also open to that path, and appreciated the how-to's).
NOTE: in addition to their lists of resources and "Next Steps" in the back of the book, they also provide a free bundle of spreadsheets, templates, and a document compiling all of their action steps and questions into one place, so you can implement the suggestions in each section. These are EXTREMELY helpful, and I highly recommend downloading them. Reading the book is just half the process...answering the questions, reflecting, and actually doing the work is a whole other process.
With 450+ pages, this guide visited everything from setting goals and priorities, choosing business models and planning for taxes, which publication path best suits you, identifying the best strategies for your books, marketing plans and methods, product price points and distribution channels, author branding and pen names, budgeting, re-branding and re-releasing old books, applying for an agent and publisher as a traditionally publishing author, indie publishing processes, other ways to bring in writing-related income, what to do when things go poorly, and appendixes full of other resources.
The authors have a fairly chatty writing style, but not unbearable to read through - mostly just friendly and welcoming. The presentation of information in each section was clear and easy to understand, at least as someone semi-familiar with many of the topics they discussed. Some of the sections were very short (even just one or two pages), and I would have loved even more details in many of them (ex. newsletters, business models, etc.), but they did always provide other suggestions for where to go for more information and deeper dives, which I appreciate.
I wish that I had read this book when I first started out on my indie author journey! As is, this was an incredibly helpful read as I rebrand and really buckle down on turning it into a career. Even though not all of the information will apply to every author (at least not all at once), I would recommend this book to ANY author looking to write for a living. I'm an indie author and found a LOT of information I could implement, but there were a good number of sections for traditionally publishing authors too (I read those too, since I'm also open to that path, and appreciated the how-to's).
NOTE: in addition to their lists of resources and "Next Steps" in the back of the book, they also provide a free bundle of spreadsheets, templates, and a document compiling all of their action steps and questions into one place, so you can implement the suggestions in each section. These are EXTREMELY helpful, and I highly recommend downloading them. Reading the book is just half the process...answering the questions, reflecting, and actually doing the work is a whole other process.
January 20, 2021
First sentences are everything when it comes to reviewing.
I spent fifteen minutes trying to come up with a solid one that makes this book justice. I failed. Every time I wrote something, I realized it just wasn't enough representative of the sparkling, shiny awesomeness this book is.
Let me explain. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of this book as a beta reader. I knew without a doubt it was going to be worth my while, but I was NOT expecting this.
Full time Author is a dozen books nicely wrapped into one. The subtitle of the book: 'How to build, grow and maintain a successful writing career that you love,' is a mouthful. One would argue that maybe it's trying to do too many things at the same time. And that is the beauty of this book.
Eileen and Crystal succeed in the challenging task of creating a path that clearly describes what a successful writing career looks like and how everyone has a shot at making it as an author.
This book is not about the craft of writing but instead on publishing and book marketing. It does it from both an indie and traditional way.
I'm not going to spoil the content of the book. Just know that if you need a roadmap filled with insightful info on the publishing words and how to strategically plan your author's life, this book is for you.
Go buy it.
I spent fifteen minutes trying to come up with a solid one that makes this book justice. I failed. Every time I wrote something, I realized it just wasn't enough representative of the sparkling, shiny awesomeness this book is.
Let me explain. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of this book as a beta reader. I knew without a doubt it was going to be worth my while, but I was NOT expecting this.
Full time Author is a dozen books nicely wrapped into one. The subtitle of the book: 'How to build, grow and maintain a successful writing career that you love,' is a mouthful. One would argue that maybe it's trying to do too many things at the same time. And that is the beauty of this book.
Eileen and Crystal succeed in the challenging task of creating a path that clearly describes what a successful writing career looks like and how everyone has a shot at making it as an author.
This book is not about the craft of writing but instead on publishing and book marketing. It does it from both an indie and traditional way.
I'm not going to spoil the content of the book. Just know that if you need a roadmap filled with insightful info on the publishing words and how to strategically plan your author's life, this book is for you.
Go buy it.
January 25, 2021
4🔥🔥
The workbook of questions is definitely worth the price alone. It gives you a lot to think about and look into. Reflection and a plan goes a long way!
I do wish however that some chapters were more involved. I would have loved so more metrics and specifics on genres. More about newsletters rather than check out a book we have coming out or this other book for that.
Overall, they touch on about everything, give you insight and solid direction to do more research, provide resources and some decent examples of avenues.
And there's still areas I'll for sure revisit. But I do think this is best for those just starting to think about full-time authorship. Anyone familiar with starting and running a business or who's already published will get less from the book.
But at $5-6 for an ebook it's worth it for most authors to grab and use as a launch board.
The workbook of questions is definitely worth the price alone. It gives you a lot to think about and look into. Reflection and a plan goes a long way!
I do wish however that some chapters were more involved. I would have loved so more metrics and specifics on genres. More about newsletters rather than check out a book we have coming out or this other book for that.
Overall, they touch on about everything, give you insight and solid direction to do more research, provide resources and some decent examples of avenues.
And there's still areas I'll for sure revisit. But I do think this is best for those just starting to think about full-time authorship. Anyone familiar with starting and running a business or who's already published will get less from the book.
But at $5-6 for an ebook it's worth it for most authors to grab and use as a launch board.
February 11, 2021
Absolutely fantastic!
Man this thing is full of information. There's a ton of material out there on trying to become an author but often times it's difficult to gauge what exactly it takes because there's 10,000 books on writing and the business side of writing and then there's different layers of said aspects. The writing, the plot, the characters, the dialogue, the ads, the agent, the query letter. It's basically a job in of itself! (That's not a surprise) but this is probably the first book I've gone through that tries to actually cover everything from head to toe and it's a ton of information.
I nowhere near the level I'd like to be but this helps build a bic picture in mind and even comes with a handy excel sheet to piece everything together!
100% would recommend it to anyone who's ever even thought about writing.
Man this thing is full of information. There's a ton of material out there on trying to become an author but often times it's difficult to gauge what exactly it takes because there's 10,000 books on writing and the business side of writing and then there's different layers of said aspects. The writing, the plot, the characters, the dialogue, the ads, the agent, the query letter. It's basically a job in of itself! (That's not a surprise) but this is probably the first book I've gone through that tries to actually cover everything from head to toe and it's a ton of information.
I nowhere near the level I'd like to be but this helps build a bic picture in mind and even comes with a handy excel sheet to piece everything together!
100% would recommend it to anyone who's ever even thought about writing.
November 24, 2023
Informative
Informative. While not my favorite book on author careers, it was a bit dense, but it also included WAY more things than I was expecting. So that being said, I high lighted a lot of parts to circle back to at a later time. I will not reread this entire book from front to back again, as it was a bit painful to get through. But I will consult it when I hit certain milestones or issues. I found it overall very informative. Perhaps just don't sit and read the entire book, skip to relevant sections and then it's bite sized and helpful.
Informative. While not my favorite book on author careers, it was a bit dense, but it also included WAY more things than I was expecting. So that being said, I high lighted a lot of parts to circle back to at a later time. I will not reread this entire book from front to back again, as it was a bit painful to get through. But I will consult it when I hit certain milestones or issues. I found it overall very informative. Perhaps just don't sit and read the entire book, skip to relevant sections and then it's bite sized and helpful.
December 6, 2023
Very informative. While not my favorite book on author careers, it was a bit dense, but it also included WAY more things than I was expecting. So that being said, I high lighted a lot of parts to circle back to at a later time. I will not reread this entire book from front to back again, as it was a bit painful to get through. But I will consult it when I hit certain milestones or issues. I found it overall very informative. Perhaps just don't sit and read the entire book, skip to relevant sections and then it's bite sized and helpful.
January 23, 2021
I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This is an informative guide for anyone considering a career as a full-time author. Stuffed full of fabulous resources, worksheets, and practical advice, this book is a must-have addition to any serious writer's collection.
This is an informative guide for anyone considering a career as a full-time author. Stuffed full of fabulous resources, worksheets, and practical advice, this book is a must-have addition to any serious writer's collection.
March 1, 2021
This book covers a broad range of topics - everything about writing except the writing itself. How to hire a cover artist? Check. How to budget your time? Check. What to do about pseudonyms? Check. I'm keeping this one on my shelf for frequent reference as I work on the business of writing.
March 20, 2021
So much info!
An extremely comprehensive guide for writers wanting to become career authors. Crystal and Eileen have thought of everything! From starting your career to starting over, authors at many different levels will benefit from the information on these pages.
An extremely comprehensive guide for writers wanting to become career authors. Crystal and Eileen have thought of everything! From starting your career to starting over, authors at many different levels will benefit from the information on these pages.
September 27, 2021
Damn that was A LOT of information. Definitely worth the money. I like that this was written by both traditionally published and indie authors. If you have been considering a career as an author, I highly recommend checking this book out.
February 3, 2021
I found this the most honest and hopeful book on writing in a long time. I have loved the entire library of The Creative Academy.
February 14, 2021
One of those books I’ll refer to over and over again. Informative and entertaining.
January 25, 2022
I found this information helpful for being a first-time author who is self-publishing.
March 21, 2022
Lots of good questions, not a lot of content without having to comb through all their sites and podcasts.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews