We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica LeeAnn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.
Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Yes, I’ve been able to make a living as an author full-time. I’ve learned that it takes more than just selling books to become a full-time author. It’s important that as an author you learn how to repurpose your content so it can be monetized by way of digital courses, coaching programs, consultation packages, and signature events.
The first step I took was I hired a coach. I wasn’t quite sure what all I could do at the time. That’s when I learned about the other avenues I could share my book content. Naturally, I gravitated towards coaching. I like to teach and I’m very structured. From there, I tested out the other avenues.
Over the span of five years, I’ve been able to incorporate all four avenues, which allowed me to generate over six-figures in my coaching business. I’ve worked with over 1,000 authors in the capacity of editing, coaching, ghostwriting, teaching, and consulting. I’ve been able to travel, meet some amazing people, and create a lifestyle that I’m content with.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Jessica LeeAnn and I’m a 25x published author. I started writing poetry when I was 17 and eventually started writing songs. I’m an avid reader, so I always come up with different scenarios for my books. I wrote my first short story in 2008 and shared it on a blog. Eventually, I shared that blog on my Facebook page, where I was encouraged by my social media friends to write a full book. I worked up the courage to write my first book in 2009 and successfully self-published it in 2011. After I published my first book, I quickly published my second and haven’t looked back.
My peers began to ask for my assistance with their books after seeing me share my success. I hosted book signings and attended book fairs every chance I got. I got so many requests for help that I started coaching aspiring authors in 2014. I realized that coaching was something I was passionate about, so I decided to take my craft seriously and hired a coach to help me develop a structured program.
In 2015, I launched my first coaching program, Writer’s Flow. I taught authors how to develop their book concept, helped them craft a writing outline, and set a writing schedule that allowed them to finish their book in 12 weeks. To date, I’ve worked with over 1,000 authors using my signature 90-day training method. My coaching program teaches authors how to write, market, and publish a book, or build an author brand in 90 days. My laid-back approach often eases my clients which allows them to operate as their most creative versions of themselves. Within that creativity, they are inspired to implement what they’re learning in the program to see the results promised to them.
I’m most proud that God gave me the gift of writing and teaching. I know I’m destined to teach authors about the publishing process in a relatable way that won’t break their banks. Sure, this is a business, but whether I get paid or not, I’ll always assist authors with learning how to accomplish such a unique goal. I too have been in their shoes – aspiring to become an author with little to no resources. My goal is to give you the resources and confidence to take control of your author journey and soar.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Once I quit my corporate job to pursue my author career full-time, I quickly learned about pivoting. At the time, I thought that all I would do to generate income was coach. I didn’t foresee people learning how to do the things I taught on their own. So I had to decide what other product or service I could offer that aspiring authors couldn’t or wouldn’t do on their own. That’s when I discovered brand development.
Brand development requires a level of creativity that not everyone possesses. It was also a branch of marketing that authors were unfamiliar with at the time. I learned how to create authentic, organic branding and marketing campaigns that garner positive results for my clients. I was able to restructure my 90-day program from self-publishing to brand development. Doing so has allowed me to generate income outside of just coaching and selling books.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When I first launched my business, I was a single mom, making around $35k a year. I barely could afford my rent so I became discouraged when I learned how expensive it was to launch a business. Being a single mom teaches you how to turn a little into a lot. So, I hopped on Google to see what free resources I could start with until I could save money. To successfully launch a business, I needed a website, an EIN, and a product or service. I discovered a company called Wix that lets you create a host a website for free. I learned that an EIN is free. And the service I was offering was my time, which was technically free.
Because I was technically selling my time online, I didn’t have to put up too much money in the beginning. Once I was ready to expand, I purchased a domain and hosting package. I stopped getting my hair and nails done and used that money to cover my monthly website cost.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/jessicaleeannwrites
- Instagram: @jessicaleeannwrites
- Facebook: Jessica LeeAnn Writes
Image Credits
CJ Phillips Visuals