War is Good.

What Writers Can Learn from Tsu Sun.

Yes, I used a bit of clever wordplay to grab your attention. Words like sex, power, and war tend to spark curiosity—especially when paired with a bold or provocative statement. No, I don’t believe war is a good thing, but… I just revisited Sun Tzu’s book, The Art of War while developing a character who’s skilled at outmaneuvering just about everyone around him. I figured weaving a few quotes from the book into his dialogue would add depth and authority to his persona. I first read it years ago during a leadership course, but this time, reading it through the lens of an author, I found myself connecting with many of its concepts in a whole new way. I thought you might enjoy hearing what I gleaned from it—and who knows, maybe it’ll inspire you to read the book yourself.

Here is some of what I learned from this powerful book:

• Success requires preparation, observation, and decisive action. Unfortunately, simply thinking about writing without actually doing it won’t get you anywhere.

  Start by identifying your goals and prioritizing what’s most important.

• As authors, we’re pulled in many directions: writing, editing, marketing. Even with a publisher, much of the marketing often falls on us. Only you can determine what matters most to you. Is it selling millions of books or simply making enough to fund your next project?

• Strength isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things at the right time. Sometimes, we fall short. We delay contacting book launch teams or sending ARCs on time and then wonder why readers aren’t engaging when the book is released. Remember, reviews drive purchases, and a lack of preparation can hinder success.

• Stay flexible when new opportunities arise, but don’t chase every one. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. While it’s wise to consider them, avoid saying yes out of fear of missing out (FOMO). Balance is key.

• Ask yourself: Are you positioning yourself for success or simply reacting to external forces? Are you leveraging your strengths? For instance, if dark suspense is your forte, why pivot to another genre just because someone suggested it might sell better? Focus on your strengths rather than chasing trends that might not align with your skills.

• Consider your health and limits. Is pushing to produce five books a year worth it, or would three be more sustainable? Prioritize long-term health and productivity over short-term gains.

• Work smarter, not harder. Identify ways to reduce unnecessary effort. Could outsourcing some tasks, like social media management or marketing, free you up to focus on what you do best—writing?

• Avoid “difficult ground.” If you’re writing in an oversaturated genre like paranormal, are you prepared for the challenges? Do you have the commitment to world-building and producing long, detailed books? If not, it may be time to reconsider.

• Leverage your environment and trends. Study what’s happening in your genre. For example, dark suspense is branching into subgenres like gothic, mafia, and bully romance. Are you able to incorporate these popular tropes into your existing series to capture a broader audience?

• Stay informed. Monitor market trends, bestselling books, and resources like K-lytics regularly. The publishing landscape changes quickly, and anticipating shifts can give you a competitive edge.

• Discipline is essential. Are you building on your established series to grow your career, or are you distracted by ideas that lead nowhere? Writers are flooded with ideas, but success comes from following a focused plan, not chasing every shiny new concept.

• Know your business. Writing is only part of the equation. Understanding market demands, maintaining focus, and acting with purpose are critical to navigating the complexities of the industry. Study your genre and adapt accordingly.

• Timing is everything. Sometimes, holding back a release can make more sense. For example, if the second book in your series is still selling well, delaying the third book to release another stand-a-lone or book from a different series could be a better decision.

Lastly, the most important takeaway from The Art of War is how it can help you define success on your own terms. What does success truly look like for you? Many of us are influenced by societal norms and external markers of achievement—rankings, money, five-star reviews, and so on. While those things can be rewarding, most of us embark on the author journey without fully considering what we hope to achieve beyond publishing a book. And don’t get me wrong—publishing a book is a huge accomplishment. But after you’ve done it a few times, it’s time to create a plan.

Where do you want your author journey to take you? Who are your readers, your community? Success begins with setting goals and aligning them with your core values. Grab a piece of paper and jot down a few ideas. It doesn’t have to be a detailed business plan—just a starting point. Write something like: “In three months, I want to… In six months, I hope to… By next year, I aim to…” If you have a vision for where you want to be in five years, even better. Writing it down significantly increases your chances of achieving those goals.

This small book contains so much wisdom. I’ve shared a few key concepts that resonated with me, but you’ll likely uncover different insights or even more profound takeaways when you read it yourself.

Now that we are knee deep in holiday preparations. I’ll give you a heads up to my holiday publishing schedule. I’m taking a hiatus over Christmas, but I will return December 31.

As this will be my last message before the holidays, I want to take a moment to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and express my heartfelt appreciation for your support. Many of you have been with me since my first year here, others joined in my second, and some of you came aboard this year. No matter when you joined, the fact that you open my emails each week and keep my open rate as high as it is shows me that someone out there is reading what I write—and for that, I am deeply grateful.

Wishing you all a happy, blissful holiday season!