I had this idea yesterday.
On X, I saw one of those trader bros using Grok to find new investment opportunities. All he did was post a tweet in real time:
“Hey @Grok, what’s the best investment opportunity right now?”
He also had other tweets about specific sectors and income streams. But the format was always the same: he asked the AI a direct question, and the answer was what made people stop and read — including me. I forget his name, though. Once I stumble over him again, I’ll link out to his profile.
However, it kinda clicked for me. And I asked myself: Why not do the same thing for my author journey?
What if I simply use Grok to create a 5-year plan to become a successful indie author? I could have it generate specific daily tasks to help me improve my writing, find readers, and grow my platforms.
It’s hard to say whether this will lead anywhere. But my own efforts haven’t produced the results I hoped for so far, so why not test the ideas and guidance of an AI model that already knows more about the topic than I do — and will likely keep improving over time?
To start, I asked it to give me a broad 5-year roadmap. From here, I’ll break it down further and further until I reach concrete daily tasks and lessons to focus on.
Again, I don’t know if this will work. But if you’d like to follow the project in real time, follow me on X — I’ll be posting daily updates there. I’m also considering creating a weekly summary on my blog.
To begin, here’s the 5-year roadmap I’ve received so far:
Year 1: Build the Foundation – Focus on Craft and Presence (Setup Phase, Organic Growth)
Goal: Sharpen writing skills, optimize existing books, and establish a basic author platform. Expect 50–200 total sales, first 100–500 followers. Budget: €0 – everything free.
Generate Ideas: Brainstorm 10 minutes daily (e.g., with prompts in free AI tools like Grok or ChatGPT). Collect ideas in a free Notion doc. Focus: Develop 1–2 new book ideas based on market demand (research via Amazon bestseller lists).
Writing: Build a routine (e.g., 500 words/day). Improve skills through free resources (YouTube channels like Brandon Sanderson lectures, Reedsy prompts). Write 1 new book or revise existing ones. Personal development: Weekly reflection (journaling) to prevent burnout.
Publishing & KDP Upload: Revise 2–3 of your existing books. Pay attention to formatting (free Vellum alternatives like Atticus free trial). Optimize uploads: Research keywords (free via Kindlepreneur tools), enroll in KDP Select for free promotions.
Book Cover Design & Blurbs: Create covers with Canva (free templates). Improve blurbs: Write hook-driven versions (e.g., “Problem + Hook + Stakes”), test via writing communities (Reddit r/Writers).
Marketing & Building Followers: Start a blog on your domain (WordPress free). Post weekly teasers/tips. On X: Daily posts (e.g., #WritingCommunity), follow 50 relevant accounts/week (e.g., @TheCreativePenn). Instagram: Start with behind-the-scenes stories. YouTube: No own channel yet—comment on author videos for visibility. Networking: Join free groups (e.g., Facebook Indie Authors).
Additional Categories: Track metrics (KDP dashboard, Google Analytics for site). Diversification: Explore free audiobook options (e.g., ACX revenue share). Milestone: 1 new book published, mailing list with 100 subscribers (free Mailchimp).
Year 2: Expand Content and Build Community – Focus on Output and Relationships
Goal: Publish more books, leverage networks for organic reach. Expect 200–500 sales, 500–2,000 followers. Reinvest first small earnings (e.g., €50 into Canva Premium).
Generate Ideas: Build an “idea bank” (e.g., 5 outlines monthly). Use AI for plot twists (free tools).
Writing: Increase to 1,000 words/day. Write 2 new books (e.g., start a series for read-through). Feedback loops: Find beta readers via X or Reddit.
Publishing & KDP Upload: 2 uploads/year. Optimize with A/B testing (e.g., different keywords). Explore print-on-demand (free setup).
Book Cover Design & Blurbs: Improve with feedback (post drafts on X). Use AI tools for blurb variations (e.g., Grok generation).
Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: 2 posts/week (e.g., “My Mistakes as an Author”). X: Cross-promotions with others (shoutout swaps). Instagram: Reels for book teasers (free editor). YouTube: Start simple videos (e.g., writing tips filmed with phone). Marketing: Free giveaways on Goodreads, host X Spaces.
Additional Categories: Networking: Monthly collaborations (e.g., guest blogs). Metrics: Analyze what works (e.g., which posts convert). Personal development: Set weekly goals, reward achievements. Diversification: First AI-assisted audiobooks (e.g., Google Translate for ENG–DE). Milestone: First €100 revenue, community event (e.g., X thread series).
Year 3: Intensify Marketing – Focus on Visibility and Data (Growth Phase)
Goal: Use feedback for optimization, build audience. Expect 500–2,000 sales, 2,000–5,000 followers. Reinvest €100–300/month (e.g., small ads).
Generate Ideas: Market analysis (free tools like Publisher Rocket Lite). Generate 3–4 ideas/year, focus on trends (e.g., AI-integrated stories).
Writing: 2–3 books/year. Integrate AI for research (free).
Publishing & KDP Upload: Regular updates (e.g., box sets). Use Kindle Countdown Deals.
Book Cover Design & Blurbs: More professional designs (free stock images + AI enhancer). Blurbs: A/B test via X polls.
Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: SEO optimization (free Yoast). X: Daily engagement (replies, polls). Instagram: Collaborations with Bookstagrammers. YouTube: Weekly videos (e.g., reviews). Marketing: Free influencer outreach, promotions via BookBub free listings.
Additional Categories: Networking: Join alliances (e.g., Indie Author Alliance free tier). Metrics: Monthly reports (Excel free). Personal development: Coaching sessions (e.g., with me here). Diversification: Test direct sales (free Shopify trial). Milestone: €500/month revenue, 1,000 mailing list subscribers.
Year 4: Monetization and Scaling – Focus on Investment and Efficiency
Goal: Stable income, scale through tools. Expect 2,000–5,000 sales, 5,000–10,000 followers. Reinvest €500–1,000/month (e.g., ads, tools).
Generate Ideas: Collaborative brainstorms (e.g., with X community). AI for rapid prototyping.
Writing: 3–4 books/year. Outsource editing (start with free swaps).
Publishing & KDP Upload: Expanded formats (e.g., hardcovers via IngramSpark free setup).
Book Cover Design & Blurbs: AI tools for custom designs (e.g., Midjourney free tier). Blurbs: Professional feedback.
Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: Guest posts. X: Small paid boosts. Instagram: Ads (from €5/day). YouTube: Monetization (at 1,000 subscribers). Marketing: Crowdfunding (Kickstarter free), AI translation for more markets.
Additional Categories: Networking: Events (virtual cons free). Metrics: Advanced tools (free Google Data Studio). Personal development: Balance (e.g., sabbatical weeks). Diversification: Merch (print-on-demand free), courses (Teachable free tier). Milestone: €2,000/month, plan full-time transition.
Year 5: Sustainability and Full-Time – Focus on Establishment and Legacy
Goal: Make a living from it with multiple income streams. Expect 5,000+ sales, 10,000+ followers. Reinvest €1,000+/month.
Generate Ideas: Community-driven (e.g., fan polls on X).
Writing: 4+ books/year, focus on bestsellers.
Publishing & KDP Upload: Global expansion (e.g., via Babelcube free).
Book Cover Design & Blurbs: Professional designer (funded from revenue).
Marketing & Building Followers: Blog: Position as authority (host podcasts). X: Large campaigns. Instagram/YouTube: Collaborations with influencers. Marketing: Agentic commerce (AI-supported).
Additional Categories: Networking: Provide mentorship. Metrics: Annual review. Personal development: Legacy building (e.g., turn your X journey into a book). Diversification: Patreon, events, AI-narrated audiobooks. Milestone: €3,000+/month, stable career.
Yes, some of the advice is very generic: “Focus on writing bestseller.” Some may also just be wishful thinking: “Expect 5,000+ sales”.
But it’s a good outline to use in the beginning and adjust as I learn more from mistakes. Grok will also help me learn from mistakes that others made, as it goes through basically everything that is posted on X and beyond.
We’ll see where this project goes, but I’m excited to try it out. And I hope you’ll follow along.
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