The Creator Economy Is Rewriting the Rules of Author Careers

Jane Friedman’s master class in how “The Business of Being a Writer” has changed

May 12, 2026

Hi Bleeders!

I’ve known Jane Friedman as the publishing oracle for basically my entire writing life, so interviewing her for the podcast was definitely #goals. And she did not disappoint. I love how nuanced and no-bullshit her takes are.

The crux of our conversation? Probably no surprise, but she confirmed what a lot of us are already sensing: the old playbook is dead. Or at least it’s been heavily rewritten.

Jane is the purveyor of two fantastic newsletters (Electric Speed and The Bottom Line), her blog is an invaluable, wide-ranging resource, and she’s the author of The Business of Being a Writer, which released its second edition last year because so much has changed since its original printing in 2018.

Here are some of the many takeaways that stuck with me:

1. The book is no longer the beginning; it’s the exclamation point

If you’re still thinking, I’ll just write a great book and everything will follow from that, I’m so sorry, but I have some bad news for you.

“Often the book is the exclamation point at the end of that sentence rather than the beginning of the sentence,” Jane explained.

Books used to kickstart careers, and of course they still help in that department, but today they function more as amplifiers. That’s because we’re fully in the creator economy era, where writers are expected to have a platform, audience, and ecosystem before the book deal.

Which means that instead of waiting to be picked by a publisher, you need to build something that exists before and beyond any one book. And yes, this applies to traditionally published authors too.

Jane noted that the writers succeeding today “are not looking to their publishers to solve the marketing and promotion challenge.” I actually think there’s opportunity in this shift, but it does require a more entrepreneurial mindset.

2. Platform isn’t optional anymore (but it doesn’t have to feel gross)

A lot of writers (understandably) resist the business side. But Jane offered an accessible reminder: “The business doesn’t have to be antithetical to the creative part of the business,” she said.

You don’t need a separate marketing persona or to become a cringey content machine. However, you do need to find a way to connect with readers—and luckily, there are plenty of ways to do that while staying aligned with your strengths and values.

🗣️ Psst, I talk all about this in my WritingWorkshops.com seminar How to Build a “Platform” for Writers Who Shudder at the Thought, which I’m teaching on May 30th!

3. Yes, BookTok is selling books (in some cases, A LOT of books)

No, you don’t have to do it, but we can’t ignore its effectiveness.

Jane shared a case study that honestly made my jaw drop: a self-published author who started posting on TikTok and, within five days, saw a massive spike in sales. “He was like, ‘I’ve never sold so many books before I got on TikTok,’” she said. Now he goes live every Friday and makes thousands (!!) of dollars in book sales.

And in case you’re thinking he’s an anomaly, Jane explained, “He is not unusual. Like, he is but the tip of the iceberg.” Um… BRB, preparing for my first TikTok Live, I guess.

This isn’t about having some innate social media star power. It’s much more attainable than that. “He’s able to succeed because of consistency… the small incremental steps,” she said.

4. Algorithms evolve, adaptation is required

One of the most frustrating parts of all this is that the rules keep shifting. For example, tactics that worked on Twitter five or ten years ago (remember the good ol’ days? *sigh*) are no longer effective.

But Jane’s take is pragmatic: “Instead of getting angry at the algorithms and these companies for changing the rules, you have to figure out a way to roll with it if you want to use those platforms to gain visibility,” she said.

This is exactly why I tell my students to squat on all the social media platforms, even if you’re not investing much energy there at the moment. You never know when you’ll need to pivot.

5. Bestseller lists aren’t the meritocracy they seem to be

If you’ve ever obsessed over hitting a list (hi, same), this might recalibrate your dream.

Jane broke down how flawed the system is. The New York Times prioritizes print sales at specific stores—thus more heavily weighting well-distributed books from major publishers purchased by upper-middle-class buyers (my translation). Meanwhile, huge chunks of the market—especially self-publishing and digital formats—are basically invisible. She called it “the dark matter of the publishing universe.”

The fairest list is probably USA Today, but none of them are perfect. So don’t base your self-esteem on smoke and mirrors (telling this to myself).

6. Owning your rights = real power

This is one of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had personally, and Jane validated it.

Successful self-published authors are holding onto their rights because “what value does a publisher add in selling an ebook or an audiobook if it’s already done, like there doesn’t need to be any further editorial or production work.”

We’re seeing more hybrid deals where authors keep key rights, like audio or ebooks, or partner with publishers for specific advantages, like print distribution.

Which means you don’t have to sell the farm anymore. But—important caveat—you should ask yourself if you’re the best person to exploit your rights. If not, hoarding them could backfire. Regardless—another important caveat—you have to protect your interests like a hawk because bad contracts are everywhere.

7. Your email list is still your most valuable asset

Amid all the chaos—TikTok, algorithms, AI—one thing hasn’t changed: email is queen.

Jane said unequivocally, “Having the email address is one of the best assets for any author for ensuring a sustainable career.” You own it, it gives you direct access to your readers, and it’s not subject to algorithmic mood swings.

So how often should you send your newsletter? “You’re not getting the benefit if you’re not sending at least once every one to two months,” according to Jane.

However, nobody’s going to be mad at you for under-emailing, and a cold list is still better than no list.

The TL;DR

The common thread through our conversation is that most successful writers today aren’t just authors: they’re promoters, creators, entrepreneurs, and more.

On the upside, there’s no single path anymore. But the tradeoff is that you have to choose your own path—and start building the road yourself (add construction foreman to that list lol).

Jane also shared a ton of other wisdom, including an interesting take on AI, but you’ll have to tune into the episode for that.

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Jane Friedman—or watch the video version on YouTube.

Happy bleeding!
Courtney

I’m teaching some upcoming classes you might be interested in:

So… ROLL CALL! 🗣️

Smash the like button to give Jane some well-deserved love. What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned from her over the years?

The Bleeders

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