Sometimes we get so bogged down in the minutiae of the writer's life, that we forget to look where we're going. So it's time to take a step back as we hit the mid-year and review your strategy and plan for your author life. And if you don't have one, well, today's the day to start! In the introduction, I mention Kris Rusch's article on agents and learned helplessness, as well as michael-lewis-audiobooks.html">Audible's expansion with non-fiction writer, Michael Lewis – and my take on discoverability for audio in the coming years. Plus, sense prevails in #cockygate as the Author's Guild reports freedom to publish. [Publishing Perspectives]. I also give a giddy update about my writing progress 🙂 How to Write Non-Fiction is out in audiobook format, and I am excited to be in the starting phase of my next thriller, working title, Valley of Dry Bones. I did a research trip to Madrid and Toledo. You can see my pics on Instagram.com/jfpennauthor. Today's show is sponsored by IngramSpark, who I use to print and distribute my print-on-demand books to 39,000 retailers including independent bookstores, schools and universities, libraries and more. It's your content – do more with it through IngramSpark.com. Johanna Rothman is a Management Consultant for software managers and leaders specializing in agile project management. She is known as The Pragmatic Manager. She's a professional speaker and author of 12 non-fiction books, as well as short stories and romance. You can listen above or on iTunes or Stitcher or watch the video here, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below. Show Notes * Why creatives fear the business side of being an author * Why it’s important to take a step back and look at your author business as a whole * Deciding what matters and saying no to other opportunities based on those values * On short-term and long-term planning * Balancing charging for time vs. creating assets that are scalable * Evergreen books vs. those that need to be updated * Overview of a simple two-page business plan * The difference between a business plan and a to do list * Being flexible with your plan when life happens * Tips for authors about project management You can find Johanna Rothman at JRothman.com and on Twitter @johannarothman.