Or, Why Your Book Will Change Your Life…Just Probably Not the Way You Expect

Darlings, gather ‘round.
It’s time for the Queen to speak plainly about a little malady that plagues authors everywhere: unrealistic expectations, and its equally tragic cousin, unexpected success.

Yes, you read that correctly. Many authors don’t realize their book will open doors they didn’t even know existed…while the ones they obsess over (“When Oprah calls…”) quietly slip from view like untrained footmen.

So let’s talk about what your book should do for you—and what it might do for you if you let it.

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Step Away From the Oprah Manifestation Spiral

When I ask authors about their professional goals for their book, I often get a few versions of the same answers:

• “NYT Bestseller!”
• “Oprah interview!”
• “Retire on my royalties!”
• “Buy an idland!”

Beautiful dreams. Wonderful dreams. Keep them. Frame them.
Just don’t confuse them with business goals.

Here’s the royal decree:
Unless you’re already famous—or friends with Oprah’s cousin’s dog walker—those goals are not goals. They’re fantasies.

There are twelve million books on Amazon right now.
About 99.99999999998 percent of them were not written by people Oprah has ever heard of.

This doesn’t mean your dream is impossible; it’s just not your book’s job description.

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Your Book Is a Business Asset

Your book isn’t a lottery ticket.
It’s a lever.

A strategic tool.
A credibility engine.
A neon sign flashing “EXPERT HERE!” in front of the exact people you want to influence.

If you’re writing fiction, your book is a whole ‘nother story (literally and figuratively). You novel is a gift of entertainment. Unless you were not raised better, you know you give a gift without any expectation of getting something in return.

However, you can still use your novel as a strategic tool in your assembly of other tools, which I’ll talk about in future post. Meanwhile, what I say here can still apply to you.

Back to what I was saying…when we talk about professional goals, I want you to think SMART. (Yes, I know. The Queen has become the peasant who talks about SMART goals. Let’s all breathe deeply. They stick with us because they are handy.)

Ask yourself:

• What do I want this book to accomplish for me professionally?

And

• How will I know when it has succeeded?

This is where things get delicious.

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Real-Life Author ROI: Receipts From the Realm

Here are actual outcomes from actual authors—not fairytales, not hypotheticals, but cold, hard, crown-worthy ROI:

• Goal: Become a corporate speaker
  ROI: First paid gig over $10,000
• Goal: Expand speaking engagements
  ROI: Went from 6 a year to 13
• Goal: Build credibility before launching a course
  ROI: First round: 5 students enrolled at launch
• Goal: Land a higher-level job
  ROI: Got hired as a CEO
• Goal: Increase revenue in industrial warehouse sales
  ROI: More than 20% revenue growth
• Goal: Grow their podcast
  ROI: 15% more listeners + 50% more ad revenue

That is what business goals look like.
Not “Oprah.”
Not “bestseller.”
Actual. Quantifiable. Measurable. Useful.

But wait—this is where the plot twists…

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The Delicious Surprise: Your Book Has Secret Plans for You

Now let’s talk about Steven Andrews—one of my favorite “plot twist” authors.

Steven originally wrote his book for a very straightforward reason:
He wanted a high-quality, professional book to use as required reading in his real-estate investing course.

Simple. Strategic. Sensible.

But then his book landed in business media, and he was interviewed on podcasts and entrepreneurial platforms.

Guess what happened next?

He started getting approached for consulting. He started getting invited to speak. Neither of these was even on his radar. But both turned into entirely new revenue streams and a more rewarding career than he’d originally imagined.

Darling, your book is not a one-trick pony. It is a royal entourage.

You think you know what it will do for you. But your thoughts might be too narrow.

Because your book will do things you didn’t plan for. It can introduce you to people you didn’t expect. It can create opportunities you didn’t know existed.
You just have to put it out there and be open about where it can take you.

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The Queen’s Royal Edict on Author Expectations

When you write a book, aim for:

• A goal you can measure.
• A dream you can enjoy.
• And an outcome you can’t yet imagine.

Your professional goals give your book structure. Your dreams keep you inspired. But the unexpected benefits—the invitations, the consulting, the stages, the credibility—those are the jewels your book hands you quietly, humbly, while you’re busy doing the work.

So write your book with purpose. Launch it with intention. And be ready for the doors you didn’t even know were in the castle to open for you.

If you’re ready to define your goals—and unlock the surprises waiting behind them—the Queen of the Rewrite is here to help you build your book, your brand, and your empire.