So now what?
Here’s the good news: the book is just the beginning. If you’ve been treating your book like a product instead of a platform, you’re leaving money—and opportunity—on the table. There are tons of creative and profitable ways to get paid as an author, and no, we’re not talking about praying your Kindle Unlimited numbers go up.
We’re talking beyond book sales.
Let’s dive into the income streams smart authors are tapping into—and how you can start doing the same.
- Online Courses: Turn Your Book into a Curriculum
If your book teaches anything—whether it's how to fix a motorcycle, master mindfulness, or crush it in marketing—it can easily evolve into a course. And people love courses. Why? Because they want transformation, not just information.
Authors are uniquely positioned to teach because the book already proves your authority. All you need to do is break your content into digestible modules, hit record, and host your course on platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, or even Udemy.
Don’t want to be on camera? Go audio-only or use slides. You don’t have to be Spielberg—you just have to offer value. And the best part? Courses can sell for $49, $199, or even $997, depending on what you’re teaching. That’s a whole different ball game compared to $2.99 Kindle downloads.
- Speaking Gigs: Share Your Story on Stage
Authors are natural storytellers—and that’s exactly what event organizers are looking for. If your book has a powerful message, unique insights, or real-world takeaways, you’re a great fit for speaking engagements.
Start small. Local business groups, libraries, schools, or online conferences are often looking for guest speakers. As you gain traction and testimonials, you can scale up to industry events and TEDx stages.
And guess what? Paid speaking is very real. We’re talking $500 to $5,000 per talk (or more), depending on your niche and audience. If you can connect with people on the page, you can connect with them on stage—and get paid well for it.
- Licensing Your Content: Let Other Brands Use Your Genius
Imagine getting a check because a company loved your book so much they wanted to use your content in their internal training. That’s licensing—and it’s one of the most underused tools in the author income toolkit.
Let’s say you wrote a guide to leadership or productivity. A company could license that content to use in a workshop or employee handbook. Educational institutions might license it for curriculum. Even coaches and consultants may want your frameworks for their own programs.
The key is to pitch it right. You’re not selling your soul—you’re giving other professionals a shortcut to use your expertise, and they’re paying you for the privilege.
- Group Coaching or Consulting: Monetize Your Expertise One Step Further
If your book covers a process or solution, chances are people want help implementing it. Group coaching lets you walk readers through your method in real-time—plus create community and accountability around your work.
You can run a weekly Zoom call for a month, answer questions, and give direct feedback. It’s intimate. It’s high value. And it’s profitable.
Consulting works similarly but on a more tailored level. If you’ve written a book for a niche market—nonprofit leadership, small business marketing, parenting through trauma—you can offer 1:1 support to people or organizations navigating those areas.
These models not only deepen your impact—they give you a direct line to high-ticket clients who already trust your expertise.
- Affiliate Marketing: Share Tools You Already Love
Ever mention tools, books, or services in your writing or newsletter? Turn those mentions into money.
With affiliate marketing, you can get paid for recommending products—whether it’s your favorite writing software, a platform for course creation, or the microphone you use for podcasts. Amazon Associates is an easy starting point, but other brands offer generous commissions and recurring payments.
This works best when you’re genuinely using the product and can speak authentically about it. Readers can tell when you're just shilling—and they can also tell when you're sharing something that actually helps them.
- Merch and Products: Brand It, Sell It
Your book has a message, a voice, a vibe. Why not bring that vibe to life with merchandise?
T-shirts, mugs, notebooks, tote bags—if your audience is passionate about your message, they’ll love repping it. Bonus: it helps spread your brand beyond the page. You can also create companion workbooks, journals, or planners that extend your book’s core ideas.
Platforms like Printful or Redbubble let you offer merch without dealing with inventory, and tools like Canva make designing a breeze.
It’s not just swag—it’s strategy.
- Subscriptions and Memberships: Build a Tribe That Pays Monthly
What if you could get paid every month to write what you love? Platforms like Patreon, Substack, or your own membership site make that possible.
Offer exclusive content, live Q&As, behind-the-scenes access, or writing workshops to your most loyal readers. Even at $5/month, 200 members’ equals $1,000 a month in recurring income.
This model gives you stability and direct connection to your audience. You’re not just selling a book—you’re building a tribe.
- Podcasting: Grow Your Platform and Your Bank Account
Starting a podcast may sound overwhelming, but it’s an amazing platform-builder. You get to showcase your voice, interview guests, share insights—and subtly direct people back to your book, course, or consulting offer.
Podcasts can generate income through sponsorships, listener support, premium content, or simply acting as a top-of-funnel for your paid services.
And guess what? Having a book gives you instant credibility as a podcast host—or as a guest on other people’s shows.
Final Thought: You’re Not “Just” an Author
You’re a brand. A business. A creator with ideas that can live far beyond the bookshelf.
And the best part? You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Working with the right publishing partner can make all the difference. That’s where teams like Book Publishing LLC come in. With deep industry insight and a focus on helping authors build, not just publish, they’ve helped countless writers turn their books into multi-channel businesses.
They understand the modern author isn’t satisfied with royalty checks alone—and they know how to unlock the next level of opportunity.
So, if you’re ready to get paid like an author—but live like an entrepreneur—start thinking beyond the bookshelf.
Your words deserve more than just sales.
They deserve scale.