Why Authors Need Community
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hosting a workshop on the power of comparable titles for Jane Friedman's audience. The response floored me — more than 750 people registered! Clearly, a lot of authors are hungry for a more strategic way to think about their books.
As a follow-up, I invited everyone who attended to join me for something a little different: a free 5-Day Smart Comps Challenge, hosted inside my community platform, The Strategic Author.
I expected we'd do some useful, focused work together. I did not expect just how much energy the group would generate in five days.
More Than a Challenge
The authors didn't just work through the exercises. They asked each other questions. They traded ideas and resources. They responded to one another's discoveries, pushed back gently, offered encouragement, and helped each other see their books differently.
In other words — they didn't just complete a challenge. They formed a community.
A few notes from participants stuck with me:
This challenge really helped clarify a piece of my process that was missing. Thanks again for walking us through it!"
"I've gotten so much out of this. Thank you for all your suggestions and conversation."
And one comment captured exactly what I loved most about the week:
"Thanks to everyone for sharing information and ideas — let's keep it up."
Why This Matters
That week reminded me why I've become so excited about what we're building inside The Strategic Author.
Publishing can be bewildering.
There's no single path, no universal rulebook, and the landscape shifts constantly. And writing itself — the actual work of it — can be an extraordinarily solitary pursuit.
But authors don't have to figure it all out alone.
The Strategic Author is my small-group publishing strategy program for authors who want to approach their books with the same rigor publishing professionals bring — with experienced guidance and a community of serious authors working alongside them.
Together, we dig into the questions that actually determine whether a book finds its audience:
What is this book really about?
Who is it for?
Where does it fit in the publishing landscape?
Which publishing path makes the most sense — traditional, hybrid, or independent?
How do you position the book so agents, publishers, and readers immediately understand why it matters?
These questions don't have easy or obvious answers. That's exactly why doing the work in community — rather than alone at your desk — changes what's possible.
