Conquering Confusion at Literary Salon

Some context for this journey of growth and profit

Today, I added seventy new subscribers, and my core community has expressed some confusion, so let’s orient ourselves for a moment…

Let’s simplify things.

My goal:

To help authors nurture their fan base and maximize their income potential.

Should you listen to me?

Three years ago I published a couple of books and not much happened. Some of you will know what that’s like. I decided this time, things were going to be different and that I’d take you along with me on my journey.

I joined Substack on April 17th, and since then, I’ve logged about 400 hours pursuing the knowledge, and executing upon that knowledge, to turn Substack into a foundation of success. I’m still learning and implementing, and it’s still free to follow along.

Because I’m moving fast, it can be overwhelming or confusing to keep up. You don’t have to. That’s not the point. One of my up-coming projects is something I call Radically Independent Author, and it systematizes everything that’s raw and in the moment here at Literary Salon. If you’re a member here and active in our Chat, helping promote other authors (and having your work promoted), you’ll have free and early access to these tools.

If you’ve been following my journey, you’ll notice some of the things people are saying about me: “The busiest man on Substack.” “Generous and creative.” “Kind and thorough.”

I think it’s a journey worth keeping an eye on, and then with Radically Independent Author, you can pick and choose the lessons that cover your areas of need and learn at your own pace.

What I’m offering now:

Right now, I have another project that just entered beta. It’s called Bookmotion, and it’s a way of gaining new subscribers using reader magnets. You can sign up and upload your reader magnet now at whop.com/bookmotion.

If you have a reader magnet, your participation in the Bookmotion beta testing would be greatly appreciated.

What options do I see offering:

I built Bookmotion because one of the options I’ll be presenting to you (and teaching you) will be building your own businesses and products to sell to your fan base.

We will continue to discuss direct book sales, another option.

The Right-Reader Method is another option which involves created a nonfiction newsletter thematically related to your fiction.

I’m doing all these things because I feel that I must practice what I preach. You get to pick and choose what interests you.

I have no idea what comes next. Bookmotion didn’t exist a week ago. This is moving fast.

What can you study now?

Radically Independent Author isn’t ready, yet, but I do have a page of mini courses that form the foundation RIA is being built from. (Click to visit.)

What’s my philosophy?

Funny I should ask myself that. My philosophy is undergoing a dramatic change.

In the Note above, I express that new philosophy: master your comfort zone and then branch out into something a little less comfortable and master that. Everyone just focuses on getting you out of your comfort zone, but that’s where you learn the basics. It’s where you gain the needed confidence. It’s where you build your foundation. If that foundation isn’t built, what hope do you have?

As I typically address authors, Substack is likely to be a comfort zone. The focus is writing, and it’s wonderful.

If you’re another sort of creative or just interested in learning how to build businesses on whop, your comfort zone will be something else. Take what you learn here and apply it where you feel most at home.

Buckle up. Ride along on the journey with me. Learn as much as you want. Apply as much as fits.

We’re in this together.

—Thaddeus Thomas