You’ve probably noticed a word I use constantly around here: author/preneur.
Maybe you’ve seen it in my blog posts, my newsletter, my social media, my workshops—basically everywhere I show up. And if you’ve been wondering ‘what’s with the slash’ and why I’m so particular about it, I’m so glad you’re here.
It’s actually the foundation of everything I do and how I help female writers like you.
Here’s the thing: making your writing into your profession isn’t just about finishing another manuscript or building a bigger platform. It’s about a fundamental shift in how you see yourself and your work. It’s about becoming an author/preneur—and yes, that slash means something.
Let me explain what that transformation actually means, and why it matters so much for turning your author life into your professional life.
What "Author/preneur" Actually Means
In the author community, you’ll hear the term “authorpreneur” used to describe entrepreneurs who work in the publishing space—people who’ve built a business beyond just writing books. But I write it differently on purpose, and that difference is everything.
I write it as author/preneur, with a slash. And that slash represents the heart of the transformation I help female writers make: from author to author/preneur.
Here’s what that slash means. It says you are an author first. Always. Your writing, your stories, your voice—that’s your foundation. That’s your reason. That’s what matters most. But the slash shows that you’re more than just a writer sitting with your manuscript – it says “and”. So then the “/preneur” expands your identity to include entrepreneur. You’re building something. You’re thinking strategically. You’re creating a business around what you love. The slash and beyond doesn’t replace your identity as an author—it expands it intentionally. You remain a writer, but now you’re also thinking and operating like a businesswoman.
This distinction matters because it keeps your creative soul at the center while giving you permission to think like an entrepreneur. You’re not abandoning your writing to chase profit. You’re protecting your writing by building a sustainable business around it.
The author/preneur recognizes that when you treat your author life like a business, your writing gets the time, energy, and resources it deserves. Your stories don’t get squeezed into the margins of your life anymore—they become the heart of your professional identity.
What the Transformation Looks Like in Real Life
So what does becoming an author/preneur actually look like? The beautiful truth is that there’s no single path. The transformation shows up differently for different women, but it always starts with the same decision: to treat your author life like a business.
For some authors, the transformation simply means the infrastructure itself: systems and workflows to help you function like a business. For other author/preneurs, the transformation continues with expanding their brand in the author space—adding revenue streams to fund their own writing career.
Building Your Business Foundations
The first step for any author is building systems and workflows so their author life stops feeling like beautiful chaos and starts feeling like an actual business they’re running. This means building a brand and website, organizing their files, tracking their finances, automating their email, and creating processes that let them write without constantly juggling a hundred moving pieces. It’s about the tech, the systems, the strategy, and the workflows that hold everything together—the business foundations that make sustainable growth possible.
Book-Based Revenue Streams
Some author/preneurs expand their business by creating income directly from their writing and books. They might create and sell workbooks that complement their published work, position themselves as speakers related to concepts from their books, develop author swag or merchandise that deepens reader connection, or pursue sponsorship opportunities that align with their brand, story, and audience. These avenues keep your books and your voice at the center while creating new ways to connect with readers and generate income.
Author-Service-Based Revenue Streams
Some author/preneurs build their business by offering services to other writers. This might look like coaching aspiring authors through their publishing journey, offering editorial services, consulting on publishing, or creating courses that teach what they’ve learned. These services leverage your expertise as a writer and your understanding of the author’s journey, creating multiple revenue streams while you continue writing your own books.
The common thread across all these paths? Every author/preneur is making intentional choices about how to build a sustainable business around their writing. You don’t have to pursue every option. You don’t have to be full-time. You don’t have to have a massive platform. You just have to decide which direction aligns with your vision and your capacity—and then take action to support that decision.
The Author/preneur Mindset
Becoming an author/preneur isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you think. It’s a mindset shift that changes everything.
An author/preneur thinks like an entrepreneur.
She asks questions like:
- How can I build something sustainable around what I love?
- What does my data tell me about what’s working?
- How do I want my business to show up in the world?
She makes decisions based on goals and insights, not just inspiration in the moment.
She treats her time, energy, and creativity as valuable resources that deserve to be protected and invested wisely.
She builds with intention—not just with hope and passion, though those matter too.
Here’s what’s important: you don’t have to be full-time to be an author/preneur. You don’t have to have a massive platform or a six-figure income. You don’t have to quit your day job tomorrow. Being an author/preneur is simply about deciding to treat your author life like a business—because it is one. It’s about recognizing that your writing matters enough to build something intentional around it. When you make that decision and take action to support it, you become an author/preneur.
That’s the slash. That’s the transformation. You are still an author—your stories, your voice, your creative work remain at the center. But now you’re also thinking strategically, building intentionally, and operating like a businesswoman who protects and grows what she’s created. You’re not choosing between being a writer and being a businesswoman. You’re choosing to be both. And when you do, everything shifts.
Choosing the Path to Author/preneur
Becoming an author/preneur is a decision. It’s not something that happens to you—it’s something you choose.
You choose to see your writing as worthy of a real business. You choose to build intentionally around what you love. You choose to protect your creative time by creating sustainable systems and maybe even additional revenue streams. And once you make that choice, you take action to support it.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Building a thriving author/preneur business requires strategy, systems, and support—and that’s exactly what I’m here to help you with.
When you explore the offerings in the “Work With Me” menu at the top of this page, you’ll find resources and services designed to help you treat your author life like the business it is. Whether you’re just starting to think about this transformation or you’re ready to scale, I have tools and support to meet you where you are.
If you’re ready to take the first step, I’d love to invite you to the Author Business Basics workshop. This workshop walks you through the five foundational pillars of an author business—the essential areas every author/preneur needs to understand and develop. It’s the perfect place to start if you want to learn how to intentionally build your business foundation and decide what to prioritize first.
Looking for 1:1 help?
If this resonates with you but you’re not sure where to start, let’s talk.
Book a call and we can explore your specific situation and identify if and where your author business needs attention.
A guided workshop?
If you’re looking for DIY-style guidance for your business foundations…
Every month, I offer my Author Business Basics workshop live. We go through the five foundations and take time to assess your author business across each.
Because here’s the truth: when you decide to be an author/preneur and build your business intentionally, your writing gets the space and resources it deserves. Your stories don’t get squeezed into the margins anymore. They become the heart of your professional life.
And when you feel the effects of that transformation, you know what it means to intentionally flourish.
