Small Business Savvy | Web Design, Systems, and Marketing · Kristen Doyle, web design and business strategy

160. Kind of Maybe Want to Write a Book? Kate Allyson Says Go For It

August 12, 2025·26 min·1 clip

Kate Allison says the first step is a “massive brain dump” of everything you could write.

Maybe writing a book sounds too big. The host starts right in that familiar hesitation, where the idea has been hanging around for years but the first step still feels weirdly fuzzy. She is overwhelmed by the process, which gives Kate a clean opening as the guide who has helped bring over 50 books to publication and believes anyone can become a published author. The advice does not drift into hype. Kate talks about a book as more than a physical thing that says you are an author. It can stretch your reach when you can only serve so many clients directly. It can make your expertise easier for people to understand. A finished book says you know your material, took the time, and treat your work seriously. That can change the room you walk into. Kate points to media opportunities, local news, book tours, stages, and conference applications as places where a book can help someone stand out. The examples make it feel less precious. Educators might write professional development books that teach their methods, or children's books tied to the age groups and topics they already work with. That loosens the whole idea up. The book does not have to be a stiff extension of your business if another format would connect better with the people you serve. Children's books sound fun, and Kate allows them to stay fun while still talking through illustration, grade level, and who the book is really for. The business thread stays simple: a good book helps people understand what you know and reaches people you cannot work with one-on-one. Fear is treated as normal, not as a stop sign. The conversation keeps coming back to what you already know, where to begin, and how a book might carry some of that work for you. By the end, the host pulls it back to systems, websites, and small business foundations that should make the work lighter instead of heavier.

As heard by us

A book can be a business move as much as a personal milestone.

Writing a book is treated here as both a personal urge and a practical business choice. The discussion stays with the stress and uncertainty first, then makes the path feel less intimidating by spelling out how publishing works and why authorship can carry real professional…

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If that book idea has been circling in the back of your mind, start here.

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