How to Evaluate Author Opportunities Before Saying Yes
How to Evaluate Author Opportunities Before Saying Yes
A new opportunity lands in your inbox.
A podcast interview.
A speaking invitation.
A book-signing event.
A collaboration.
A conference.
A chance to contribute to something new.
And your first thought may be:
Someone asked me! I should say yes!
Not so fast, my author friend. 😄
Short Answer: How Do You Know If an Author Opportunity Is Worth It?
Before saying yes to an author opportunity, consider whether it fits your values, boundaries, budget, available time, business goals, audience, and personal energy.
A good opportunity is not automatically a good opportunity for you.
And sometimes learning to say, “That sounds wonderful, but it isn’t the right fit for me,” is one of the smartest business decisions an author can make.
Let me tell you about a television.
Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
I always get a little chuckle out of this topic because it reminds me of my sister, who is also an author.
Years ago, she decided to spend some extra money from the family budget on a huge television for her office.
And I do mean huge.
She proudly wrestled the television into her car and drove home smiling all the way.
Then came the next part of the adventure.
She nearly had a cardiac event trying to get the thing out of the car and into the house during the brutal Alabama summer heat.
After recovering sufficiently to continue the mission, she dragged, wiggled, pushed, and prodded the television into her office.
Success!
She even managed to get it onto the top of her high-backed desk, where it seemed like it would fit perfectly.
She sat down in her chair, let out a deep breath, admired her accomplishment...
…and tried to watch television.
There was just one teensy problem.
Her office was tiny.
The television was enormous.
And from her desk chair, she was sitting so close that the TV was practically its own zip code.
She couldn't comfortably watch it.
The television itself wasn't bad.
The purchase wasn't bad.
It simply wasn't a good fit for the space she had.
In case you're wondering, the giant TV eventually found a happy home with one of her daughters and her family.
And my sister gave the rest of us a lesson I've remembered ever since:
Just because you can buy it—or do it—doesn't mean it's the right fit for you.
The same is true in your author business.
Not Every Good Opportunity Is Your Opportunity
As your author platform grows, opportunities may begin appearing more often.
That's exciting.
But saying yes to everything can quickly leave you overcommitted, overspent, exhausted, and wondering when exactly you're supposed to find time to write the next book.
Opportunities have a cost.
Sometimes that cost is money.
Sometimes it's time.
Sometimes it's preparation, travel, books, hotel rooms, meals, promotional materials, or follow-up.
And sometimes the biggest cost is simply the energy you no longer have available for something that matters more.
That's why you need a filter.
Not a complicated 47-point spreadsheet requiring an accounting degree and three cups of coffee.
Just a simple way to ask:
Does this opportunity fit where I'm trying to go?
The Author Opportunity Fit Check
Before you say yes, walk through these six checkpoints.
1. Know Your Boundaries
Your boundaries are a great place to begin.
I've recently concluded that I will rarely—and I do mean rarely—do outdoor events to sell books.
Why?
Well, let's review my likely locations:
Texas has heat.
Colorado has wind.
Alabama has humidity.
Apparently, I've chosen three states determined to test the durability of both authors and paperbacks. 😄
Books can also be difficult to keep in excellent condition when you're dealing with wind, moisture, dirt, or extreme temperatures.
So an outdoor book sale would have to be an exceptional opportunity for me to say yes.
That's one of my filters.
Yours will be different.
Perhaps you don't travel overnight.
Maybe Sundays are protected family time.
Perhaps you won't participate in events that require you to purchase a large amount of inventory.
Or maybe you've decided you won't accept speaking engagements that don't give you enough time to prepare well.
Boundaries don't prevent opportunities.
They make it easier to recognize the right opportunities.
Action Step
Write down three boundaries you want to protect in your author business.
Start with:
I generally don't say yes to opportunities that require ____________.
2. Count the Financial Cost
Before you get swept up in the excitement of an invitation, do the math.
Ask:
Is there a registration or vendor fee?
Will I need to travel?
Is lodging required?
Will I need additional books or promotional materials?
What will meals and transportation cost?
Is there a speaking fee or honorarium?
Is there a realistic opportunity to sell books or gain clients?
A $75 vendor table may sound inexpensive until you add gas, meals, inventory, signage, and six hours away from other work.
This doesn't mean every opportunity has to make money immediately.
It means you should know what you're investing before you invest it.
3. Count the Time Cost Too
Money isn't your only limited resource.
Your time matters.
An event listed as “10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.” might actually require:
An hour to pack
Travel time
Setup
Four hours at the event
Tear-down
Travel home
Follow-up afterward
Your four-hour event may suddenly become an eight-hour commitment.
And that's before you collapse on the couch and explain to your family that dinner has been canceled due to authorpreneur exhaustion. 😉
Before agreeing, ask:
What will this opportunity really require from me?
Then look at your calendar—not the imaginary calendar where you somehow have 37 hours in every day.
The real one.
4. Does It Align With Your Beliefs and Message?
This is a non-negotiable filter for me.
Ask:
Does this opportunity align with my beliefs?
Also consider whether it fits the message and reputation you're building as an author.
An opportunity may provide terrific exposure but put you in front of an audience that has little connection to your books, message, or values.
More exposure isn't always better exposure.
You aren't trying to reach everyone.
You're trying to connect with the people you are uniquely equipped to serve.
So ask:
Are these my people?
If the answer is no, saying no may free you to say yes when the right audience appears.
5. How Will This Move My Author Business Forward?
This is one of the most important questions:
How could this opportunity move my business forward?
Notice I didn't ask:
How much money will I make?
Profit isn't always financial.
Sometimes you may participate in something for free because:
You believe strongly in the cause.
You'll meet people you'd genuinely like to know.
You'll gain valuable experience.
You'll be introduced to a new audience.
It strengthens an important professional relationship.
It gives you useful content, photos, testimonials, or connections.
You simply want to contribute.
Those can all be legitimate returns on your investment.
The key is knowing why you're saying yes.
Novel Marketing frequently teaches authors to think strategically about marketing rather than chasing every possible promotional tactic. That's a valuable mindset here too: your marketing choices should serve the audience and author business you're actually building.
Before saying yes, finish this sentence:
If I participate in this opportunity, I hope it will lead to ____________.
If you can't think of an answer, that's worth noticing.
6. Will This Bring Life—or Drain It?
Here's a filter I've become much more comfortable using:
Will I enjoy this?
I'm at the point in my life where, if something doesn't seem enjoyable, I'm probably out.
That doesn't mean every worthwhile opportunity has to be easy.
Sometimes the things that stretch us are incredibly valuable.
But there's a difference between:
“This makes me nervous because I'm growing.”
and
“Everything inside me is saying I don't want to do this.”
Pay attention to that distinction.
Ask:
Will I enjoy the people involved?
Will I enjoy the environment?
Does this kind of activity energize me?
Will I be glad I did it afterward?
Will this bring life to my business?
Will it bring life to me personally?
Your author business is part of your life.
You're allowed to build one you actually enjoy.
Create Your Own Opportunity Filters
My filters don't have to become yours.
In fact, they shouldn't.
Your season of life, finances, family commitments, personality, goals, beliefs, books, and audience are uniquely yours.
That's why I encourage authors to establish their filters before the next shiny opportunity appears.
Otherwise, excitement tends to take over.
And excitement is wonderful.
It's just not always a terrific accountant. 😄
Your Opportunity Evaluation Questions
Before your next yes, ask:
Does this fit my boundaries?
Can I afford the financial investment?
Do I realistically have the time?
Does it align with my beliefs, message, and audience?
How could it move my author business forward?
Will it bring life to my business and to me personally?
Then add your own questions.
Your filters might include travel distance, family commitments, accessibility, audience size, expected book sales, networking possibilities, speaking experience, or something completely different.
The goal isn't to eliminate opportunities.
The goal is to recognize the ones that deserve your yes.
Waypoint Challenge: Build Your Opportunity Filter
Before another invitation hits your inbox, take ten minutes and create your own Author Opportunity Fit Check.
Step 1
Write down three business or personal boundaries you want to protect.
Step 2
Decide how much money you're normally willing to invest in an opportunity.
Step 3
Determine how much time you're realistically willing to give.
Step 4
Write three questions every opportunity must pass before you say yes.
Step 5
The next time an opportunity comes along, evaluate it before committing.
And remember:
You don't have to respond immediately.
“Thank you for thinking of me. Let me check my calendar and get back to you” is a perfectly acceptable sentence.
It also prevents you from discovering three hours later that you've volunteered for something you don't actually want to do.
Ask me how I know. 😉
A “No” Can Protect the Right “Yes”
Authors sometimes worry that turning down an opportunity means they're missing their chance.
But every yes uses resources.
Your money.
Your time.
Your creativity.
Your attention.
Your energy.
So choosing carefully isn't being ungrateful.
It's being intentional.
You're not trying to collect the greatest number of opportunities.
You're building an author business that has direction.
Sometimes the wisest thing you can say about a perfectly good opportunity is:
“That's wonderful—but it isn't the right fit for me.”
Your sister's enormous television may be magnificent.
That doesn't mean it belongs three feet from your desk.
Choose the opportunities that fit your space, your season, your mission, and the direction you're heading.
Then give those opportunities your best.
And sometimes, when I was willing to step out in faith, God opened doors I never could have opened myself.
That’s why evaluating an opportunity isn’t only about avoiding the wrong fit. It’s also about being willing to recognize the right one—even when it stretches you a little.
Discernment matters.
So does courage.
The goal is not to say no more often.
The goal is to know why you’re saying yes.
Question for You
What is one filter you need to use more consistently before saying yes to an author opportunity?
Or is there an opportunity in front of you right now that deserves a closer look before you commit?
Continue Your Journey
If you're beginning to receive more author opportunities, don't rely on sticky notes, inbox searches, or your highly optimistic belief that you'll remember everything.
Read How to Track Author Opportunities: Organize Submissions, Deadlines, and Follow-Ups and create a system for keeping track of the opportunities you decide are worth pursuing.
Recommended Resources
Novel Marketing Podcast with Thomas Umstattd Jr.
Explore practical episodes on author platforms, promotion, publishing, and strategic book marketing.
The Authors Guild – Book Marketing & Publicity Resources
Explore resources on book events, marketing, publicity, author careers, and connecting with readers.
Final Thought
A successful author business isn't built by saying yes to everything.
It's built by learning which opportunities fit the road you're traveling—and having the confidence to pass the ones that don't.
Not every good opportunity is your opportunity.
Choose wisely.
Then keep moving forward.
Related Resource
Need a clearer way to evaluate your next author opportunity?
Explore DeeDee Lake’s Author Resources for practical tools, encouragement, and guidance to help you navigate the business side of writing with greater clarity.
Related Compass Stops
How to Track Author Opportunities: Organize Submissions, Deadlines, and Follow-Ups
How Authors Can Find Speaking Opportunities Using Their Books
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#BookMarketing #AuthorPromotion
