The start of a new year is like opening a fresh notebook—full of promise, ready for ideas, and waiting for your words. For authors, this is the perfect time to embrace creative planning tips, pause to reflect, and set the stage for success. As we move into the new season, it’s an opportunity to map out your creative intentions and take charge of your writing and publishing goals.
Orna Ross
As somebody who writes and publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction books, as well as runs a busy non-profit, the question I get asked most often about my work is: “How do you do so much?” My answer is: creative planning.
Planning isn’t so much about setting goals as creating the conditions for success to be possible… and then to be optimised.
Some years ago, I developed the Go Creative! method–a planning approach to integrate the different aspects of our work—the dreaming and the doing.
Shaping your days and surroundings to do three different kinds of tasks–nurture your writing dreams, handle your publishing tasks, and offer your books to readers–is not easy. You need
a unique creative planning system for authors, based on my book Creative Self-Publishing, on my years as a university teacher of creative and imaginative practice, but mostly on my experience as an indie author.
I wanted a method that would continually expand my creative output, but without stress or overwhelm. That kept me connected to my job as a publisher–to attract readers and sell books, weekly, monthly, yearly—but without neglecting my creative mission, passion, and purpose as a writer? That would integrate my creative work into a week full of creative rest and play, joy and adventure.
Why Creative Planning is Different
Writers understand the subconscious mind and know you can often rely on it to deliver more elegant solutions than hard thinking. But I do believe in creative planning for authors, because I've seen it work–for myself, and for authors of all kinds who've followed the program. (See testimonials below)
This method is different from other planners that treat us like we are box-ticking machines. I love a ticked box as much as anyone but I don't do well with too much structure, data-driven goals, and systematic processes that feel tight.
I know authors (all creatives) need a planning method that emphasizes intuition, imagination, and flexibility.
Below are some of the Go Creative! basics and I'd love to hear from you about your creative solutions.
Time
For a creative, time is experienced in three dimensions.
1. Clock Time
This is the most common way of thinking about time, and we forget how new it is. For millions of years, humans existed without the calendars and clocks that now run most our lives.
Clock time is the engine that drives our society, from the moment of our hospital birth through our school timetables and work schedules and social meetings and events — and the transport systems that carry us from one to the other.
Creative Use of Clock-Time: Recognise that the most important dimension of clock time — as of all three types of time — is the present. You look back to extract a lesson from the past, but you are still located in the present. You look forward to set out plans or goals for the future, but you do that now.
To use clock time well, remain rooted in the present and be brisk in your visits to past and future. Make your arrangements for the future, of course. Learn your lessons from the past. But return to now as often as possible.
2. Conceptual Time
If you observe your mind over-projecting into the future (watch for anxiety, or lots of “what-if”s), or dwelling on the past (watch for self-criticism, blame, or shame), you’ve moved out of clock time into conceptual time.
Conceptual time thinks of human existence as a linear forward march from birth through age towards death. The underlying, as-unacknowledged-as-possible fear engendered by that interpretation drives a great deal of human thought and behaviour.
Conceptual time turns now-time, clock time into:
• a means to an end.
• a yearning for future fulfillment
• a wait for something better: the relationship, the job, the holiday, the book…
• a rumination
Creative Use of Conceptual Time: Observe how adding too much future brings on anxiety, stress and unease. Observe how adding too much past brings on guilt, regret or grievance. Use creative practices like meditation to dissolve and slow your thought as much, and as often, as possible.
3. Creative Time
The renowned creativity researcher, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, began researching flow after he became fascinated by how artists can “get lost” in their work, losing all sense of clock time — often to the extent of disregarding their need for food, water and even sleep.
But what Csikszentmihalyi and his team observed and concluded over three decades of research is that when we get lost in time, there is no loss. Our experience of time becomes more expansive and we find parts of ourselves that are missing in cognitive and clock time.
This experience of creative time is available to us all. At its core is the act of creative surrender that opens out the forward march of clock time and cognitive time, and opens the present moment into timelessness.
- Organize for the three hats you must wear as an indie author: Maker Manager and Marketeer. Writing, editing, marketing, and admin all need focussed creative time.
- Align with your rhythm: Are you sharpest in the morning, or do you come alive at night? Choose your peak energy times for deep creative or strategic work.
- Have free days/hours and focus days/hours: Taking the pressure off usually moves
- Plan for creative rest and play as well as work
- Identify your time thieves and give them set hours: Social media, doom scrolling, TV binging: don't deny yourself the things you enjoy but watch for mindlessness that saps your time and energy.
Space
Every author needs a haven—a place where words flow freely and publishing tasks feel manageable. This doesn’t have to be grand, but it must be yours.
- Craft your corner: Whether it’s a desk by the window, a cozy nook, or a local library table, make it a space where your imagination and focus feel at home.
- Surround yourself with inspiration: Keep books you love, notes from readers, or images of your characters and covers nearby.
People
While writing may feel solitary, it thrives on connection. For self-publishers, a strong support network is even more essential.
- Nay-Sayers: Recognize that some family and friends may not understand or support your goals. Protect your energy.
- Yay-Sayers: Join groups or communities of indie authors who understand both the joys and challenges of self-publishing.
- Engage with your readers: Build relationships through newsletters, social media, or live events. Their enthusiasm fuels your journey.
- Collaborate with professionals: Editors, cover designers, formatters, and marketers are part of your extended team. Their expertise can elevate your work.
Resources
Treat your self-publishing like the business it is.
- Invest in your craft and platform: Allocate funds for courses, professional services, and marketing tools.
- Diversify income streams: Beyond book sales, consider teaching, speaking, or creating companion products like workbooks or courses.
- Set financial goals: Create a budget for each project, covering editing, design, ads, and launch expenses.
Energy
Self-publishing requires stamina. To sustain your creativity and business efforts, you need to care for your most important tool—yourself.
- Fuel your body and mind: Eat well, stay active, and rest adequately. A healthy body supports a focused mind.
- Balance creativity and logistics: Alternate between writing days and publishing-focused tasks to maintain energy and avoid burnout.
- Recharge regularly: Step back to reflect, read, or simply rest. A fresh perspective often leads to breakthrough ideas.
Mindset
Your attitude toward your work and business shapes everything. Success thrives on confidence and curiosity.
- Celebrate progress: Whether it’s 500 words, a finished draft, or a book launch, every step matters.
- Learn from missteps: Mistakes in writing or publishing are not failures—they’re opportunities to grow.
- Stay curious: Explore new genres, marketing strategies, and reader engagement techniques. Curiosity fuels innovation.
Tools and Metrics
Success for self-publishing authors hinges on the right tools and a clear understanding of metrics.
- Use essential tools: Software like Scrivener for writing, Vellum for formatting, and email marketing platforms like MailerLite can streamline your work.
- Track your progress: Use spreadsheets, dashboards, or apps to monitor book sales, ad performance, and audience growth.
- Measure success: Define what success means for you—whether it’s a certain number of book sales, reviews, or newsletter sign-ups—and track your progress toward those goals.
Writing and self-publishing a book is an act of courage and commitment. By approaching all the aspects of an indie authors work–not just the writing but the book production, marketing and business tasks too–from a creative perspective, you’re not just setting yourself up for success.
In balancing and integrating qualities that are so often wrongly posited as opposites–writing and marketing, peace and productivity, purpose and promotion, money and meaning–you improve your your business… and your life.
What helps you thrive as a self-publishing author? Share your tips and stories in the comments.
Find out more
Find out moreLooking to boost your business planning in the new year? Take a look at Orna's Monthly Business Planner
This planner is available for purchase in our bookstore.
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and our own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center.
