by Debbie Cosby
If you're like most authors, your workload is overwhelming. There are only twenty-four hours in a day, but you keep losing time. You're drowning in work and are wasting precious time trying to serve too many masters. Why spend hours on tasks which aren't your strengths? When you want to do less and write more, a virtual author assistant is the way to go.
In order to write, publish and promote books, there are certain tasks that must be accomplished. The author can choose to do these him or herself, but the cost of the author’s time could often be much more effectively spent on revenue-generating activities.
What Is A Virtual Author Assistant?
A Virtual Author Assistant (VAA) is a business professional who provides virtual services for an authors. Performing certain services can make the author’s life so much easier. A VAA plays many of the roles and takes on many of the responsibilities that fall to the author, but which the author may not have the time or expertise to take on. However, their main responsibility is focused on giving authors more time to write.
A Virtual Author Assistant Has Different Skills They Specialize In.
The author’s assistant does a wide variety of work, and may specialize in one or more aspects of the author’s workload. Those specialized skills usually fall under two categories: administration and marketing.
On the administration side:
- Sending information about the authors/books to those who request it;
- Updating websites;
- Organizing spreadsheets;
- Pulling sales reports;
- Setting speaking engagement;
- Doing research and fact checking;
- Proofreading and much more.
On the marketing side:
- Following up with individuals who will be reviewing the manuscript;
- Creating book jacket copy;
- Running street teams;
- Creating newsletters.
What Kind Of People Use A Virtual Author Assistant?
- Busy entrepreneurs
- Business consultants
- Business coaches
- Financial planners
- Professional speakers
Every bestselling author has an author’s assistant – someone the author can call on to do many of the tasks that surround the successful completion, publishing and marketing of a book. You need someone who can make sure the books you’ve written are professionally edited, and printed and delivered on time. Where are you going to find the time to do that yourself?
The occupation of the VAA has been around for over hundred years. Virtual Author Assistants are well known inside the publishing industry, but not recognized by many outside of it. It is predicted that will change very soon because of the increasing numbers of authors who are getting published, either as independent publishers or via the more traditional route with established publishers.
The VAA is now a key component in the success of these entrepreneurial book publishing efforts as new authors are using virtual services of all kinds instead of hiring employees. Even established publishing companies themselves use virtual services.
One of the most important things when looking for a VAA is to make sure he or she provides the skills you need.
A Virtual Author Assistant Can Help You By:
- Saving your valuable time. This is the top reason to hire an author assistant. Just because you CAN do a task does not mean it is cost effective. Most authors simply do not have enough time in the day to complete their writing and the other marketing and admin tasks they need to. By hiring a VAA the author has more time to focus on what only they can do, write!
- Supporting and encouraging you. Having another passionate team member is valuable. A VAA can be that needed force to help overcome deadlines, bad days, and overwhelming times.
- Motivation and goal setting. Sometimes you just need someone to keep track of things and keep you going towards your dreams. A VAA rock at that.
Ask yourself if there are things you know you should be doing but don’t have the time to accomplish without sacrificing sleep or writing time? Are you willing to delegate your work? If you answered yes to either of these questions it may be time to consider hiring a VAA. Don’t go it alone. Get the support you need and you will be well on your way to publishing success.
