Beyond royalties, authors earn money from extra formats of the same book (audio, print, special editions and translations), from selling direct to readers, and from things built around their books. That includes memberships, courses, coaching, speaking, editing services, affiliate links and merchandise. The streams that work best usually grow from your existing readers and expertise, so the right order is books and an email list first, then one extra stream at a time.

This guide groups the options by how close they sit to your books, compares the effort and risk of each, and explains which ones suit fiction and which suit non-fiction. It ends with a decision checklist to help you choose your next stream without spreading yourself too thin.

At a glance

• Start closest to the book. New formats and direct sales reuse work you have already done.
• Audience before products. Memberships, courses and sponsorships rely on readers who already know you, usually through an email list.
• Fiction and non-fiction differ. Novelists often do best with formats, direct sales and reader memberships. Non-fiction authors can add teaching, services and speaking.
• Every stream costs time, including the “passive” ones. Add one, measure it, then decide on the next.
• Check rules and tax. Platform terms, affiliate disclosure rules and tax obligations vary by country.

The options compared

Stream	Distance from your books	Upfront effort	Upfront cost	Suits
Audiobooks	Same book	Medium	None to high, depending on production model	Most genres, especially series
Print, hardcover and special editions	Same book	Low to medium	Low with print-on-demand	Gift, non-fiction and fan-favourite books
Translations	Same book	High	Usually high	Proven books with series depth
Selling direct to readers	Same book	Medium	Low	Authors with an email list
Rights licensing (audio, translation, film)	Same book	Low (others approach you or an agent pitches)	Low	Books with proven sales
Memberships and serials	Around the books	Medium	Low	Fiction with engaged fans
Courses and workshops	Around your expertise	High	Low to medium	Non-fiction, and writing teachers
Coaching, consulting and services	Around your expertise	Low	Low	Non-fiction and experienced authors
Speaking and events	Around your expertise	Medium	Low	Non-fiction, children’s and local authors
Affiliate links and sponsorships	Around your audience	Low	None	Authors with a website or list
Merchandise	Around your brand	Medium	Low with print-on-demand	Fiction with strong fandoms and art

Same book, new formats

Audiobooks

Audio reaches listeners who may never buy your ebook. The main production routes are:

• Pay a narrator or producer upfront and keep the full rights holder royalty.
• Royalty share through ACX: the narrator works for a share of royalties instead of a fee. This is only available with exclusive Audible distribution.
• Narrate it yourself, if you have the voice, the time and a quiet space.
• AI narration, offered by some platforms for eligible books, with lower costs but mixed reader acceptance in some genres.

ACX’s own help pages say its royalty model changed in 2026. Under the new model, which started on 26 May 2026, exclusive distribution pays 50% and non-exclusive pays 30%. Under royalty share, the exclusive rate is split equally with the producer. The older 40% and 25% rates end at the close of 2026 for titles that haven’t moved over. Check ACX and any other distributor’s current terms before you choose. The audiobook production and distribution guide walks through the full process.

Print, hardcover and special editions

If you only have an ebook, a paperback is the obvious next format. Print-on-demand means no stock and no print bill upfront. Hardcovers, large print and illustrated or signed special editions can appeal to fans and gift buyers, though each needs its own costing. Print-on-demand as an overlooked revenue stream covers the opportunity, and the print-cost maths is in the print-on-demand economics guide on this site.

Translations and rights

Translation can open new markets, but quality translation is a major cost and each market needs its own marketing. It usually makes sense only for books or series that already sell well. Alternatively, you can license translation, audio or film rights to publishers and producers, who take on the cost in return for a share. Read every contract carefully, limit rights by format, language, territory and time, and get advice before you sign.

Sell direct to your readers

Selling ebooks, audiobooks and signed paperbacks from your own store means you set the price, keep a larger share after payment and delivery fees, and get your customers’ email addresses (with their consent). Direct sales also suit bundles that the big retailers don’t offer, such as an ebook and audiobook together or a complete series. The trade-off is that you handle the shop, customer questions and any sales tax or VAT obligations. Note too that KDP Select exclusivity means you can’t sell those ebooks direct. How to sell books direct to readers compares the main tools.

Build around your books

Memberships and serial fiction

Platforms such as Patreon, Ko-fi and Substack let readers pay monthly for early chapters, bonus scenes, behind-the-scenes posts or community access. They work best when you already have engaged fans and can deliver reliably every month. Choose rewards you can sustain. Missing posts loses members faster than a modest offer does. For community building, see how to build a reader community you can monetise.

Courses and workshops

Non-fiction authors can turn a book’s method into a course or workshop. Novelists with craft or publishing experience can teach writing. Courses take real time to build and market. Start with a small live workshop to test demand and gather questions, then record the course once you know what people want.

Coaching, consulting and services

Expertise from your book, or from your publishing experience, can become coaching, consulting or services for other authors, such as editing, formatting or cover design. This income starts quickly but is limited by your hours. Set clear terms, put scope and payment in writing, and only offer services you can deliver to a professional standard.

Speaking and events

Schools, libraries, festivals, conferences and businesses book authors to speak. Fees vary widely by country, audience and experience, and many early talks are unpaid but sell books on the day. A one-page speaker sheet with topics, audiences and a short bio makes you easy to book.

Earn from your audience

Affiliate links

Affiliate programmes pay a commission when readers buy through your link. Recommend only products you would recommend anyway, and disclose affiliate links clearly, as required in many countries. Each programme has its own rules. Amazon Associates, for example, does not allow its links in emails.

Newsletter sponsorships

Once a list is large and engaged, relevant businesses may pay for a mention. Mark sponsored content clearly and keep it relevant, because your readers’ trust is worth more than any single sponsor.

Merchandise

Print-on-demand merchandise services handle printing and shipping, so you don’t hold stock. Margins per item are usually small, so merchandise tends to work better as a fan and brand extra than as a main income. Make sure you own or have licensed any artwork you use.

Fiction vs non-fiction: where to start

If you write…	Usually start with	Then consider	Often less suitable early on
Genre fiction in series	Audio, print, direct sales	Memberships, special editions, merchandise	Courses (unless you teach writing)
Literary or standalone fiction	Print and audio, events	Rights licensing, speaking at festivals	Memberships with heavy monthly content
Practical non-fiction	Workshops, coaching, speaking	Courses, affiliate links, direct bundles	Merchandise
Children’s books	School and library visits, print	Activity packs, special editions	Memberships aimed at adults

How to choose your next stream: step by step

1. Check your foundation. Do you have at least one book selling steadily and a way to reach readers directly, such as an email list? If not, build those first.
2. List what you already have: formats not yet published, expertise, artwork, an engaged group of fans, speaking experience.
3. Ask your readers. A short survey or a reply-to question in your newsletter shows what they would actually buy.
4. Estimate the time cost honestly, including the ongoing marketing, not just the set-up.
5. Check rules and tax: exclusivity terms, affiliate disclosure rules, sales tax or VAT, and business registration where you live.
6. Run a small test such as a pre-sale, a single workshop or one sponsored issue before building something big.
7. Measure it for three to six months, then keep, improve or drop it before adding another.

Who diversifying suits, and who it doesn’t

It suits authors with an established readership, non-fiction authors with real expertise, and anyone whose book income would be at risk from a single platform’s policy change.

It suits less well authors with one book and no readers yet. For them, the next book is usually the best income stream. It also suits less well authors who are already short of writing time, since extra streams can quietly take over the hours that produce books.

Common mistakes

• Adding streams before building an audience, then launching to no one.
• Believing “passive income” means no work. Courses, memberships and shops all need marketing and upkeep.
• Starting several streams at once and doing none of them well.
• Letting side income stop the writing. New books usually feed every other stream.
• Breaking platform rules, such as selling a KDP Select ebook direct or putting Amazon affiliate links in emails.
• Not disclosing affiliate links or sponsorships.
• Signing rights deals without reading the terms on format, territory, duration and reversion.
• Ignoring tax and business records for new income types.

Next-stream checklist

• One or more books selling steadily
• An email list or another direct way to reach readers
• Reader feedback on what they would buy
• A realistic weekly time budget for the new stream
• Rules checked (exclusivity, disclosures, platform terms)
• Tax and business requirements checked for your country
• A small test planned, with a date to review results

For list-based income in depth, see how authors build profitable email lists. For the bigger picture, see how to turn your author platform into a real business. For tools for each stream, from shops to course platforms, see the author toolkit hub. If you are still getting the first book out, start with the guide to self-publishing your first book.

Sources this guide draws on: ACX Help Centre article on how royalties work; KDP Select terms and conditions; Amazon Associates Operating Agreement; published guidance on endorsements and affiliate disclosure from consumer regulators such as the US Federal Trade Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority.

Frequently asked questions

How do self-published authors make money besides book sales?

Common options are audiobooks and other formats, selling direct to readers, licensing rights, memberships, courses, coaching or services, speaking, affiliate links, newsletter sponsorships and merchandise. Which ones work depends on your genre, your expertise and the size of your readership.

What is the easiest extra income stream for an author?

Usually a new format of a book you have already written, such as a paperback or audiobook, because the content already exists. Selling direct is another natural step once you have an email list.

Can fiction authors earn from courses or coaching?

Some do, mainly by teaching writing or publishing if they have proven experience. For most novelists, formats, direct sales, memberships and special editions are a more natural fit, because they serve readers rather than other writers.

Can I sell my ebook on my own website if I’m in KDP Select?

No. KDP Select requires the enrolled ebook to be exclusive to Amazon during each enrolment period, which rules out selling that ebook elsewhere, including your own website. Print editions and audiobooks are not covered by that ebook exclusivity.

How many income streams should an author have?

There is no set number. Most authors do better with a small number of well-run streams than with many neglected ones. Add one at a time, measure it, and only keep what earns its place in your schedule.

Do I need to declare income from extra streams for tax?

In most countries, yes. Royalties, sales, services and affiliate commissions are usually taxable income, and some may bring sales tax or VAT duties. Rules vary by country, so check with your tax authority or an accountant.

Extra income streams work best as extensions of the books you already have. Build the readership, choose the stream that fits it, and grow one step at a time.