Author Sustainability Conference

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We are a bunch of authors, trying to make the author business livable.

Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Too many of us are suffering from burnout or are simply disillusioned with the current state of the business. At ASC, we believe there are better ways, more sustainable ways, to build your author business.

Mission Statement

Our mission within the Author Sustainability Community (ASC) is to foster an environment where we celebrate and share steps designed to assist with building a long-term career in independent publishing. Our goal is to support authors in achieving a scalable and sustainable career by providing resources and encouragement.

The Author Sustainability Conference is our associated in-person networking and education event.

Our Values

We strive for inclusivity and aim to create a safe, welcoming environment for all people regardless of gender identity, race, sexuality, neurotype, ability, religion, or other status or belief.

We are responsible stewards of the finances of this not-for-profit organisation.

We believe in Servant Leadership, working for the good of our collective community.

We are professional and respectful.

FAQs

Why Create A New Group?

As the independent publishing industry matures, the key question is no longer “how do I break in” but “how can I build a career without burning out.” Sustainability is an important aspect of career development, but it has not been a focus of the discussions in indie publishing groups thus far.

Most new businesses take 3-5 years to become profitable and self-sustaining. Yet in the author space “success” is often seen as a breakout hit in year 1. When you are not seeing an immediate financial return, how do you determine whether you are “wasting your time” or strategically laying the necessary foundations for future growth and success?

The Author Sustainability Community is a place where we celebrate and share the steps to building a long-term career, one where success is scalable and sustainable. If you want to ensure your passion is also a viable business, this is the place for you.

What Does The Logo Mean?

The lotus flower is a symbol of longevity in China. It can grow in swampy stagnant water, showing the resilience to thrive even when conditions are not ideal. In India, the lotus represents wisdom.

We hope this conference and community provide you with wisdom and tools that will help your author career continue to flourish like the lotus flower, regardless of your circumstances.

Who Is This Conference/ Community For?
  • Anyone who has self-published and wants to ensure their business strategy is sustainable
  • Trad pubbed authors with rights reversion who want to learn the business side of being an author
  • Self published authors who have seen success but for whom maintaining their current pace will lead to burnout – how to pivot without sacrificing all progress to date
  • Unpublished writers who are committed to self publishing and want to establish a sustainable business model from the outset.
Who This Group Is Not For?
  • Aspiring writers still focusing on writing their book
  • Writers who have not decided if they want to go trad or self pubbed route
  • Hobby writers – not everyone wants to turn their passion into their job, and that’s okay! But this group is focused on the business side, so if that’s not in your plans then this group isn’t right for you.
  • Some familiarity with the business side of self publishing is assumed for our conference attendees. If this is not you yet, we recommend David Gaughran free course Starting from Zero to learn the basics first.