Solopreneur Tips: Introduction

Meet the Author

Welcome to my premium Substack channel where I speak to artists, authors, and other creative solopreneurs who are serious about transforming their artistic passion into a sustainable career.

I’m going to be honest—utilizing Substack’s subscription feature was not something I had planned. I already have a successful blog where I post content for free, plus Patreon membership tiers for fans of my fantasy book series and art. I recently switched my free newsletter from MailChimp to Substack… and that once-a-month email was my sole intention for this platform.

So… what changed?

Shortly before I made the inevitable switch from MailChimp due to maxing out the number of free subscribers I had, a local artist contacted me and suggested that I create a new Patreon tier where I share my advice and knowledge about turning art/writing into a business, booking events, marketing yourself, setting up a booth, etc.

I was excited and humbled that she felt so strongly that there was a legitimate demand for the experience I’ve gained over the last few years. Writing and drawing have been hobbies of mine for a long time, and I’ve had poetry, nonfiction, and short stories published in various anthologies and literary journals since as early as 2005. I wrote my first novella in middle school and completed my full first fantasy novel in high school. But it wasn’t until 2018 that I published A Fallen Hero, the first book in the Chronicles of Avilésor: War of the Realms series, which I had started writing in college.

I formed an LLC for my business and published Phantom’s Mask in 2020, followed by the third novel, Blood of the Enemy, in 2023. All three books have been recipients of a Literary Titan Book Award.

In the wake of the pandemic, I quit my full-time office job and started part-time freelance writing while I focused more of my time on building my business. By 2022, the majority of my income came from selling my books and artwork at events. I’m now entering my third year of being a full-time author and artist while editing the manuscript for my fourth novel and working on a poetry/art book and a short nonfiction book sharing inspiration and advice for aspiring authors.

I won’t ever claim to have all of the secrets for success. This is a never-ending learning curve, and I’m still experimenting with new ideas, methods, marketing strategies, types of events, etc. to figure out what works best. I’ve also had some pitfalls along the way, and I’m just as transparent about my blunders as I am about my achievements so I can help others avoid some of the unnecessary problems I had to overcome.

That’s a quick overview of my background. As of this post, I’ve officially done 136 events including artist pop-ups, bookstore and library signings, markets, festivals, and conventions across four states. I have steadily and consistently built my brand around my own skills, stories, and products.

I don’t promise instant bestseller status or get-rich-quick schemes because I’ve found value in a grassroots approach that embraces authenticity and nurtures a fan base of people who genuinely appreciate and care about your work.

Does it take longer to grow that kind of base? Yes. But the payoff is much greater when your followers are truly dedicated to seeing you succeed.

In addition to earning money from selling directly to consumers at events, I’ve also developed several passive income streams, including:

• Sales from ebook, audiobook, and wholesale book orders

• Affiliate links & ad revenue from my three websites

• Commission from partnering with a candle company to make a custom fragrance inspired by my book series

• Patreon subscriptions

• Revenue from my online print-on-demand merch shops (Spring & Redbubble)

• Buy Me a Coffee donations from fans and fellow creatives who found value in the free content on my blog and wanted to say thanks

• Sales from my ecommerce store

My passion is writing and drawing, and that’s how I want to primarily spend most of my time now that I have the freedom to do so. This is NOT a step-by-step masterclass that charges clients thousands of dollars and eats up hours of my time every week serving as a personal mentor.

I know what’s like to be on a tight budget, which is why this subscription service is only $5 a month. That little bit adds up to help me cover my business costs (and compensate me for my time to write these posts) without breaking the bank for artists who need to save up and invest in their own businesses. I don’t want to alienate aspiring solopreneurs just because of financial restrictions.

So… now that you know a little more about me, let’s get back to how I ended up creating this premium Substack channel.