Introduction
Your words don’t have to stay confined to books. If you’re an author, you’re already sitting on a body of work that can translate into multiple income streams—many of which pay more consistently (and generously) than royalties alone. Speaking engagements, teaching opportunities, and licensing deals aren’t reserved for celebrities. They’re available to any writer willing to package and present their expertise. This post breaks down how to turn what you know into revenue that extends far beyond book sales.
Reframe Your Expertise
Authors often dismiss their own knowledge. Who would pay me to teach this? Isn’t this obvious? If you’ve spent years researching, writing, and refining ideas, you’re already an expert to the people a few steps behind you. Write down what you know deeply, what people ask you for advice about, and what transformations your work helps create. This becomes the foundation of your offers.
Start with Speaking
Speaking doesn’t have to mean keynote stages with thousands of people. It can include workshops for organizations, panel discussions, guest lectures at universities, or podcast interviews that often lead to paid gigs later. Speaking brings paid engagements, book sales from event exposure, and increased authority. To get started, create a simple speaker page with your topics, bio, and past appearances. Reach out to local associations, conferences, and groups. Let colleagues know you’re available for panels or workshops.
Package Teaching Offers
Teaching can be live or pre-recorded. You might host in-person workshops, virtual masterclasses, ongoing group programs, or self-paced courses. If you write nonfiction, teach your framework in depth. If you write fiction, offer workshops on character development or story structure. If your work blends personal development and writing, create programs that combine both. Teaching leverages your knowledge for scalable income that grows over time.
Explore Licensing Opportunities
Licensing allows others to pay you to use your content in their programs or materials. A company might distribute your ebook as employee training. A university might license your course materials. A membership community could buy access to your workshops. To begin, identify organizations aligned with your content and prepare a proposal outlining how your material adds value. Negotiate fees, usage terms, and duration. Licensing can provide large, lump-sum payments for work you’ve already created.
Use Your Book as the Credibility Anchor
Even when you’re offering services, your book remains your strongest proof of authority. Use it to establish credibility in pitches, offer as a bonus for speaking engagements, or provide as pre-reading for courses. A well-positioned book opens doors to opportunities that far exceed its cover price.
Build Simple Sales Assets
You don’t need complicated funnels to get started. What you do need is a professional speaker or media kit, a landing page describing your workshops or courses, and a clear contact form or booking process. Clarity makes it easier for people to hire you.
Price Based on Value
Avoid pricing your expertise by the hour. Price by the transformation you deliver. Speaking fees can range from $500 to $5,000 or more per engagement. Workshops often command $100–$500 per participant. Licensing deals can reach into five figures, depending on the scope. Be willing to start small to build your portfolio, but don’t stay there forever. Your experience deserves to be compensated fairly.
Keep Your Pipeline Warm
Opportunities come from relationships. Follow up with event organizers. Stay in touch with past clients. Share updates about your work on LinkedIn and your email list. Consistent visibility leads to steady inbound inquiries.
Final Thought
You are more than your book sales. Speaking, teaching, and licensing let you monetize your expertise without relying on algorithms, bestseller lists, or unpredictable royalties. Your knowledge is an asset. Treat it—and price it—accordingly.
— Sloane MacRae
