You love writing. You love the craft. But that love might be exactly what is keeping you stuck.

In this episode, we confront the mindset that separates authors who survive from authors who thrive. The romantic myth of the suffering artist. The permission problem. The business decisions that make creatives uncomfortable.

We cover:→ Why the starving artist myth is a twentieth century invention→ Five identity shifts from artist to entrepreneur→ The difference between a writing life and a writing career→ What you are actually selling (hint: not paper and ink)→ How to make peace with marketing without selling out

This is the episode where we stop waiting to be discovered and start building to be found.

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Resources mentioned:

• The Architect's Method podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/65N4rQG15xvZzsyYtAf7Qa

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Have questions? Reach out at rondanini.com

Your book just sold 5,000 copies and earned you £7,500 in royalties. The author next door? Same sales, same publisher — but she made £50,000 last year. What does she know that you don't?

In this episode, we break down the four income pillars that transform a modest royalty stream into a sustainable author career: workshops, courses, speaking, and consulting. Learn why your book isn't the product — it's the door. And discover how to walk through it.

We cover:→ The real economics of author income streams→ How to price your expertise (and why you're probably charging too little)→ Permission-based selling that feels authentic, not pushy→ Which pillar to build first based on where you are→ The long game: seeing your book as a decade-long asset

Plus: A recommendation for writers working on their next book — introducing The Architect's Method podcast.

Episode 5 asked what authors actually earn. Episode 6 asks what authors can actually build.

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Resources mentioned:

• The Architect's Method podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/65N4rQG15xvZzsyYtAf7Qa

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Have questions? Reach out at rondanini.com

💰 The uncomfortable truth: the median author makes £2,000 per year. So where does the real money come from?

In this episode, Luigi breaks down author income across publishing paths (traditional, self-published, hybrid). Learn actual royalty structures, the ecosystem model that successful authors use, and how to make strategic decisions about your publishing future.

You'll discover:

- What book advances really are (spoiler: loans, not gifts)

- How royalties actually work (paperback vs ebook vs hardcover)

- Why the book is the credential, not the income

- The three publishing paths compared with real numbers

Perfect for: Authors considering publishing, anyone wondering if a book deal will pay their rent.

Previous episodes:

Episode 1: Why Rejection Isn't Personal

Episode 2: The Business Side of Publishing

Episode 3: Building Your Platform Without Burning Out

Episode 4: What Agents & Editors Are Really Looking For

👉 Full essay

📋 Interactive calculator

🌐 Rondanini Publishing:

You hit send on your query letter and wait. But what's really happening on the other side? What do agents see in those first 30 seconds? Why do editors who love your book sometimes still say no?

In this episode, Luigi Pascal Rondanini pulls back the curtain on the entire acquisition chain—from the moment an agent opens your email to the 12-person approval process that determines which books get published.

What you'll learn:

• What agents actually look for in the first 30 seconds of reading your query
• Why "agents sign authors, not manuscripts"—and what that means for you
• The real acquisition process: editorial meetings, sales, marketing, finance, and publisher sign-off
• The invisible "yes factors" that make you easier to champion
• Myths that hurt writers (and why rejection isn't about your worth)
• How to position yourself as someone agents want to work with for the next decade

This isn't about perfection. It's about clarity. It's about understanding the business well enough to navigate it strategically—without losing your voice or your integrity.

Perfect for: Writers querying agents, authors on submission, anyone who wants to understand how publishing really works

Related episodes:

• Episode 1: Why Rejection Isn't Personal
• Episode 2: The Business Side of Publishing
• Episode 3: Building Your Platform Without Burning Out

In this episode of Unseen Author Journeys, Luigi Pascal Rondanini explores what every modern writer fears: building an author platform without losing your sanity.

We break down what “platform” really means, why publishers care about it, and how even introverted writers can build sustainable visibility without becoming influencers or chasing algorithms.

You’ll learn:

• The only 3 channels authors actually need

• A weekly system that takes 30 minutes

• How engagement matters more than numbers

• What publishers really look for in your online presence

• How to grow authentically, slowly, and without burnout

Read more of Luigi’s essays on Medium — and discover our new creative space at essay.rondanini.com.
If you’d like to contribute to the Essay section, you’re warmly invited to get in touch.

Follow, like, and leave a comment to support the podcast — your engagement truly helps.

Most writers think publishing is about talent. But behind every acceptance — and every rejection — there’s a business equation. In this episode, Luigi Pascal Rondanini breaks down the real economics of the publishing industry: risk, cost, audience, and the platform numbers publishers never tell you they look at.

If you’ve ever wondered why publishers ask about your followers… or why great manuscripts still get rejected… this episode will change how you see the entire industry.

🎙 What you’ll learn:

• Why publishers reject books they love

• The three-part framework every acquisitions meeting uses

• How to calculate a real break-even point

• Why audience size isn’t everything (but engagement is)

• How multimedia publishing changes the game

• What authors can do today to build a platform that attracts publishers

📘 Resources mentioned:
Download the Publisher’s Break-Even & Pitch Checklist at:
👉 https://essay.rondanini.com

📩 Have thoughts or questions about this episode?
Visit rondanini.com or comment on the companion essay.

In this debut episode, we explore the unseen challenges authors face:

the reality of publishers, hidden costs, sharks in the market, and the hope that keeps writers going.

Hosted by L. P. Rondanini.