The Steve Laube Agency

Writers write.

That may seem just a tad obvious, but it’s true. We write. But—brace yourself—that’s not the whole story, at least not for writers who publish. Those folks wear many hats, so to speak. Some fit better than others, but we ignore them to our peril. Here’s a baker’s dozen of a writer’s many hats, mixed metaphor or not:

1. The writing task requires editing skills, as even the most gifted among us must rewrite and edit his or her own work. Ad infinitum. Ad nauseum.
2. Good writers are always learning, improving, adding to their skills and knowledge of the craft and the industry.
3. Marketing professional. Writers who publish must also pay regular, even constant, attention to their audience, building a platform (speaking events, podcast, email newsletter, social media followers, etc.) that will augment a publisher’s marketing efforts.
4. A book is only one delivery vehicle for a writer’s message, so speaking to audiences—especially for nonfiction authors—expands an author’s impact.
5. Computer and software tech. These days writers must acquire, maintain, and update computers, programs, and other forms of supposedly helpful technology.
6. Website and social-media manager. Every author needs a sharp website and a well-managed, strategic social-media presence, so either a writer must do that himself or herself or engage someone else to do it.
7. Booking agent. See #2 and #3 above. Someone has to book those events, right?
8. Travel agent. See #2 and #3 above. Someone has to get the writer to and from all those celebrity appearances, right?
9. Purchasing agent. Someone has to order the supplies a writer uses, books a writer reads, coffee a writer consumes, and books a writer gives away (for reviews, etc.) or sells at events, right?
10. Disbursement clerk. Someone has to pay for the books a writer gives away or sells at events and process the proceeds from all those sweet, sweet book sales, right?
11. Warehouse manager. Someone has to find a place to store the books a writer gives away or sells at events, right?
12. Shipping clerk. Someone has to package and ship the books a writer gives away or sells at events, right?
13. Accountant and tax professional. Whether they produce income or debt, writers must track income and expenses and pay taxes accordingly.

I’m sure that’s a partial list. Readers of this blog may want to add roles I’ve overlooked in the comments. And also, perhaps, remind me why we put ourselves through all this.