Setting Marketing Goals That Match Your Writing Seasons
Marketing as an author can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling writing, editing, publishing, and your daily life. One week you feel energized and posting consistently; the next, you’re burnt out and struggling to show up online.
The secret to sustainable, stress-free marketing isn’t working harder—it’s aligning your marketing goals with your natural writing seasons. When your goals reflect your creative cycles, your marketing becomes intentional, manageable, and even enjoyable.
1. Understand Your Writing Seasons
Every author goes through recurring creative phases:
Drafting Season: Your focus is on getting words on the page. Ideas are flowing, but polish is secondary.
Editing Season: You’re refining, restructuring, and polishing your story. Your time is consumed by revisions and feedback.
Publishing Season: You’re preparing for launch—cover design, formatting, and promotion take center stage.
Resting & Planning Season: You’re recharging and brainstorming for the next project, building energy for what’s ahead.
Each season comes with a different energy level, focus, and availability for marketing. Knowing where you are in your cycle is the first step to setting realistic, achievable goals.
2. Align Marketing Goals with Your Season
Instead of forcing yourself to post every day or chase every trend, tailor your marketing goals to what your creative season allows.
Drafting Season:
Goal: Build awareness and curiosity
Activities: Share sneak peeks, character insights, inspiration boards, and non-spoiler glimpses of your work.
Why it works: You stay visible without interrupting your creative flow.
Editing Season:
Goal: Engage readers and provide value
Activities: Share lessons learned, writing tips, or behind-the-scenes insights. Ask your audience questions about story themes.
Why it works: Your posts highlight your craft, showing care and depth without adding pressure.
Publishing Season:
Goal: Launch and celebrate
Activities: Announce book releases, cover reveals, giveaways, or events. Invite readers to participate and celebrate milestones.
Why it works: Your audience feels part of your journey, building excitement and loyalty.
Resting Season:
Goal: Nurture relationships and plan ahead
Activities: Schedule content, plan your seasonal posts, reflect on your engagement metrics, or connect personally with readers through emails and social media responses.
Why it works: You prepare for future seasons while preserving your energy and creativity.
3. Set Measurable, Season-Specific Goals
Instead of vague objectives like “post more” or “grow my audience,” set specific, achievable goals that fit your season. For example:
Drafting Season: Post 1–2 sneak peeks per week
Editing Season: Share 3 writing tips or behind-the-scenes posts
Publishing Season: Launch 1 major promotion and schedule follow-ups
Resting Season: Plan 1 month of content in advance and engage in personal interactions
Measurable goals make it easier to track progress, celebrate wins, and avoid overwhelm.
4. Focus on Sustainable Growth
Aligning marketing goals with your writing seasons isn’t just about convenience—it’s about sustainability. When your marketing fits your natural workflow:
You show up consistently without burnout
Your content is intentional and resonates with readers
You maintain clarity, energy, and creative freedom
Marketing stops feeling like a grind and becomes a natural extension of your creative work.
5. Turn Your Goals into Actionable Plans
To put this into practice:
Identify your current writing season
Define 1–3 marketing goals that match your energy and focus
Break each goal into specific actions for the week or month
Track your progress and adjust in the next season
Over time, you’ll notice your marketing feels less stressful, more joyful, and more effective.
Get the Sustainable Author Marketing Starter Kit
If you want a step-by-step system for marketing that matches your writing seasons, the Sustainable Author Marketing Starter Kit is exactly what you need.
For just $57, you’ll get a complete, easy-to-follow kit that helps you:
Plan content that fits each creative season
Clarify your author identity and core message
Turn long-form ideas into multiple posts without burnout
Build authentic connections with your readers
This kit gives you simple, repeatable strategies to market your stories sustainably, thoughtfully, and joyfully, so you can grow your audience without burning out or chasing trends.
Start marketing your stories with intention and ease today.
