The Many Hats of an Author

by Mindy Obenhaus

When you think of your favorite author, what do you envision them doing? Probably sitting at a computer, writing, right? That’s exactly what I thought before I received my first contract. Then I got my first dose of reality in the form of edits. There was so much red on the page I wondered why they’d even bought the book. Now here I am, nine years later, fully aware that there are many more aspects to being an author than just writing. So, I thought I’d pull back the curtain so you can see some of the many hats authors wear. Some you may be very familiar with, while others may seem intimidating. But each has a purpose. Please note that I'm only talking about traditionally published authors. Indie published authors don many more hats. 

The Writer Hat – If you’ve been writing for any length of time, you’re familiar with this hat. It’s the one we often have a love/hate relationship with. We love the writing process when the words flow. But when those words get stuck, we’re ready to toss that hat across the room. Or avoid it all together. This is our working hat. The one an author wears most often, though it can be quickly replaced by…

The Editor Hat – The story is finally out of your head and on the page. Now it’s time to fix it. Some writers edit as they go, while others finish the manuscript then go back and make changes. This is a matter of personal preference, whatever works best for you. I tend to edit as I go, but I still have to go back and change some things. Are my verbs strong enough? Did I describe a setting in a way readers will be able to visualize? And why did I use this one word so many times? Yes, published authors have editors that help make their stories shine, but you still want to present them with the best product possible.

The Marketing Hat – This hat covers a broad range of things. Everything from social media and blogs to newsletters to giveaways and publicity campaigns. You’ve got a book coming out. Now you have to let the whole world know. Some publishers have publicists that will help you with this, but many don’t. Whatever avenues you decide to explore, your goal is the same—to connect with readers. When they feel a connection with you, they’re more apt to buy your book. If you’re not an outgoing person or aren’t adept on social media, this can be a challenge. That’s where companies like JustRead Publicity Tours come in handy. Carrie, Beth and the rest of their crew are great at helping us get our books into the hands of others who might not have picked them up otherwise.

The Mail Clerk Hat – While some publishers will mail out books for you, this isn’t the case with all of them. This means you need to have mailing supplies—padded mailing envelopes, tape, labels—on hand. Some people have scales to weigh the packages and print their postage at home, while others (raising my hand) schlep to the post office with their packages.

The Mentor Hat – Very few, if any, published authors got there by themselves. There were people every step of the way that helped them via critiques, workshops, contest judges, etc. Now it’s time to give back by helping others the way you were helped.

The Teacher Hat – This is different from the mentor hat and one not everyone is comfortable wearing. But if God has called you to share your knowledge, your forte, with others, then you might consider speaking or blogging about the craft. Local and national writer groups are always looking for speakers.

As you can see, being an author entails much more than just writing. Sometimes another hat is a necessity, other times it’s a procrastination tool. But they’re all part and parcel of the job.

Which hat is/would be your least favorite? Is there another hat you’d add to the list? Leave a comment for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com