We're independent authors, creative directors of our own author businesses, solely responsible for the books we publish. It can be a lonesome endeavor. But it doesn't have to be! As ALLi Communications Manager Boni Wagner-Stafford explains, once you know how to make the most of your ALLi membership, you will never look back.
Since I first joined ALLi several years ago, before I'd published my first book (let's not go there), I've been learning, growing, connecting, and coming so much farther than I'd ever thought possible. I credit ALLi for helping me figure out how to publish my first book… what do to differently for my second and beyond, all the way through to knowing how to help other authors with their publishing projects. Of course there is still a long road to travel, but the constant for me is ALLi: knowing there is support, resources, and experience in this community to help sort out anything and everything along the journey as I aspire to become (that word many indie authors detest) an authorpreneur.
Being doubly blessed to also work with ALLi on communications, publications, and media relations means I have a bird's eye view on what's available to indie authors in each of the membership categories. And as we build out the theme of “Make the Most of Your ALLi Membership” in the fourth quarter of 2019, we'll be bringing a series of more detailed blog posts that walk through exactly what the benefits are in each of the membership categories so that you can equip yourself to make the most of your ALLi membership.
This post will set you up for being able to make the most of your membership by describing the different types of members in each category.
The Four ALLi Membership Categories
There are four categories of membership in the Alliance of Independent Authors, each suited to the author at different phases of their journey.
As you'll see, it's quite common for a single author to move through the entire continuum. In my case, I joined way back when as an associate, then became an author member, am currently a partner member and an aspiring authorpreneur. (Did I mention I like to dream big?) As you move through each membership category, you'll find new and different member benefits specifically tailored to where you are on your journey. Either way, there is considerable value in your membership and we are on a mission to help ensure you know exactly how to best leverage and benefit from it.
If you're already a member, you can download a complete guide to “Make the Most of Your ALLi Membership” simply by logging into the member portal at www.allianceindependentauthors.org.
Here are some of the details for each category.
Associate
As an associate member, you are working your way toward self-publishing your first book. Perhaps your first book of many. As you navigate the complex and shifting waters of the indie publishing world, where there is much to learn and master, you have likely already discovered that learning to be a successful indie author is about far more than writing well.
With your ALLi associate membership, you’ll learn about making your own decisions in each of the seven stages of the publishing process:
- Editorial
- Design, including cover and interior
- Formatting and other production issues
- Distribution
- Marketing
- Promotion
- Licensing and publishing rights
You’ll learn that indie authors don’t wait for validation from others. They have the courage to trust their own creative process and find their own engaged readers. And they are incredibly supportive of each other.
Author
As an author member, you have self-published at least your first book and are looking to hone your skills, perhaps building your author business and author brand. You have likely already discovered that being a successful indie author is about far more than writing well.
Benefit from advice on when to hire, who to hire, and which elements of the seven stages of the publishing process you keep yourself.
Remember that you're not alone as you set out to market your book, and to write and self-publish your next one. ALLi offers many resources that will help you reap the benefits of being an indie author.
Partner
As a partner member, you have been vetted and approved by ALLi's Watchdog and you've been deemed to meet ALLi's rigorous Code of Standards.
Your primary aim is to enable other authors to effectively write, publish, and sell books.
As an ALLi partner member, you recognize that “self” publishing and “independent” authorship are relative terms.
Almost nobody who publishes a good book works alone. You'll be partnering with other writers, editors, designers, publicists, distributors, booksellers and readers with courtesy, in a collaborative manner, through one or more of the seven stages of the publishing process.
You're never alone as you continue to assist other indie authors to self-publish. No matter how long you've been at this work, the landscape is continually changing (think Amazon!). ALLi offers many resources that will help you answer questions and make the right decisions for your author clients.
Authorpreneur
As an authorpreneur member, you have already achieved a great deal. We offer our services on the assumption that your goal is now to ensure your business is sustainable and foster further growth. We offer advice on business models for authors and share news and information in the Authorpreneur Rights and Business Facebook Focus Group.
Coming Soon
In the coming weeks we'll be publishing a series of blog posts that each go into more detail about each member category. There's much to know and to leverage in each category.
All members of ALLi are welcome to join one of ALLi's private member Facebook forums, where you can connect with, advise, and receive advice from other indies who have been-there-done-that.
As a member, you'll know this already, and if you haven't yet joined us, this is something we'd like you to know: the Alliance of Independent Authors is the only global, nonprofit association for self-publishing writers. ALLi aims to foster excellence and ethics in self-publishing; to support authors as they make and sell their books; and to advocate for author independence by helping them build sustainable digital businesses.
My ALLi membership helped me figure out how to publish my first book... second... and beyond. What's it done for you? Click To TweetOVER TO YOU
