How many times have you started the day rested and inspired, before something knocks you off track? You are constantly balancing creativity with spreadsheets, deadlines, and daily life. Life can hit you with a sick pet, a leaking toilet, an issue with Amazon, a stressful news cycle, a sore back, or any myriad of other unexpected things that can make it feel like progress is brutally slow. In short, running an author business is hard.
If the chaos feels like it’s catching up to you, don’t worry: you’re not alone. Today we want to tell you about a proven way to turn that chaos into calm. Enter the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)—a framework designed to help you build a thriving, organized business while keeping your sanity intact. Let’s dive into how EOS can organize your author career so you can achieve your goals, not just keep your head above water.
Writing is an art, but being a modern author? That’s a business, and businesses need systems. Systems aren’t about stifling creativity—they’re about clearing the clutter so creativity has room to stretch out. Systems aren’t your enemy—they’re your secret weapon. With systems in place, you can focus your brainpower on being wildly creative.
Here’s how systems can save your time and sanity:
The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) was created by Gino Wickman and introduced in his book Traction. It has traditionally been used by tech startups and small businesses to get organized and fuel growth. Guess what? As a modern author you are a small business, and the EOS principles apply perfectly to authors who are serious about their craft and career.
EOS for authors is built around four pillars:
For the next sections, read through each pillar with an open mind. At the end of the article we’ll get to the tactics of how to actually implement EOS. We have a link to a spreadsheet you can copy and start filling out.
Your vision is the foundation of everything you do. Without a clear vision, it’s easy to get stuck in the weeds of daily tasks and lose sight of your bigger goals. Don’t just think about your vision, write it down.
Use the Vision Traction Organizer (V/TO) to clarify:
Here’s a concrete example:
Now here’s another example from a writer with a totally different approach:
The point of the previous examples is that it doesn’t matter what your mission is, what matters is that you write it down and stay true to it. Once it’s written down it becomes a powerful way to guide your action.
It’s often helpful to think about these questions in a quiet place and journal to help uncover the answers. Everyone’s journey and motivation are different, and that’s okay. The important part is figuring out your unique vision, and putting pen to paper.
Big dreams are built on small, actionable goals. EOS calls these goals “Rocks.” Why Rocks? Think about trying to fill a jar with sand, pebbles, and big rocks. If you start with the pebbles and sand, you will never get the big rocks to fit, but if you start with Rocks, you can add the sand and pebbles afterwards to fill in the jar. Focus on the big stuff first.
Each quarter, choose three SMART Rocks:
Goals only get achieved if you track them, and tracking is half the battle. Create a scorecard with 5–10 key metrics that align with your goals. For authors, these might include:
Tracking can be a great way to stay motivated. Watching yourself hit your numbers is exciting and satisfying. Less is more here, if you can only think of 3 numbers to track, then just track 3! Don’t get stuck, just pick a few important ones and start monitoring them.
Rarely do things stay on course perfectly week after week. Life happens. Your pet bunny might chew your internet cable and shut down your entire home office for a few days (maybe that’s just me). That’s why EOS includes structured problem-solving. If a goal is off track, ask:
EOS calls this process Identify, Discuss, Solve (IDS). As a solopreneur author, you can skip the Discuss step. The important part is not to dwell on the problem, but to move swiftly to a ‘solve’ so you can make progress.
Accountability isn’t about pressure—it’s about support. When you share your goals with someone, you’re more likely to stay motivated and celebrate your wins. Accountability is a cornerstone of EOS. But what if you’re a team of one? Share your goals with someone—a writing group, a trusted friend, a spouse, or even Written Word Media! Tell your goals to anyone who will listen. You can always email your Rocks or goals to accountable@writtenwordmedia.com for encouragement and follow-through.
We are here to support you!
EOS is great, but use it in a way that works for you. Whether you’re juggling two kids and a pet bunny, or focused solely on your next bestseller, you can adapt EOS to fit your needs. It’s okay to start small:
And remember, if you need marketing help, Written Word Media is here for you with proven services like Freebooksy, Bargain Booksy, and Reader Reach Ads. We can take some of the marketing weight off your shoulders so you can focus on writing your next masterpiece.
Ready to get organized? Ready to achieve goals? Let’s do it! Download the EOS for Authors template here.
Systems don’t just make your author business more efficient — they make it focused, fun and successful. EOS is a system that can help you stay on track and keep the chaos at bay. Take a deep breath, grab that Vision Traction Organizer, and start planning your author’s success story. 🌟
Need an accountability partner or have questions? Drop me an email at accountable@writtenwordmedia.com. You’ve got this!