Kelly McClymer's Blog

The operations/management section  is one of the easiest sections for a writer to fill in on a business plan. [Unless you're James Patterson, who runs more of a writing corporation (he hires other writers to write novels based on his ideas and outlines, and has several editors assigned to him at his publisher). If you want to follow Patterson's model, then research him and write your business plan accordingly.] Basically, this section translates to: You da Boss.

This section defines: ownership, skills and personnel needed to run the business; management responsibilities, policies and procedures; and — most importantly to a writer, professional services required. Here’s what mine looks like:

Ownership, skills and personnel: Solely owned and operated by Kelly McClymer, who performs every duty from first draft to final polish. [See? Easy. It's all up to me, the writer. Ironic that the easiest section to write is the hardest to fulfill.]

Management responsibilities, policies and procedures: Kelly McClymer is in charge of everything, and expected to pay attention to any policies or procedures she sets, while keeping track of just how well those p&ps work, in the event they need to be changed. [This is a little tongue in cheek, but some authors hire an assistant, and create a job description and p&p to make that the most productive relationship possible. I don't have an assistant. Yet. If I did, I would create a job description, and some minimal p&p, just to streamline our communication and productivity. I probably should add a bit to this section, to set a procedure for tracking non-fiction queries, deadlines and payments -- not to mention noting deadlines and when advance payments and royalty statements are due. Hmmm.]

Professional Services:

-Agent (15% commission): reputable in YA, AAR [it can help to list what you want in an agent]

-Literary Attorney (fee based, no more than 10% of advance): 10 + years experience

-web designer (maximum of 2% of advance): design author-maintained website

-pr person (maximum of 2% of advance): set up book signings, interviews, blog tours

[This section is where your agent fits in (or a literary attorney if you don't have/want an agent). Some writers do any and all of these professional services themselves. For beginning writers, a list of the top ten agents representing work in your field might be a useful focusing tool as you craft a novel. For writers who are juggling and trying to fulfill contracts, hiring outside help to maintain a website or hunt down promotional opportunities can save much time. However, it is good to set the payment cap in advance, and peg it to the advance for a project. While agents take a standard cut, attorney, web and pr service costs vary wildly. Champagne service for a beer advance does not often translate into money well spent.]