Is Part-Time-Author: Learn how to write, market and sell non-fiction books on Amazon (without an audience) worth it if you’re shopping in Writing & Publishing?
You don’t need another motivational video about “finding your voice.” You need a roadmap that turns a weekend of writing into a revenue stream, without requiring you to be an influencer or a full-time author. The self-publishing space is crowded with gurus selling $2,000 masterminds, but most people just want to know if a $29 course can actually walk them through the unglamorous parts: niche selection, KDP formatting, and the first ad campaign. Part-Time-Author by Greg Lim is built specifically for the “side hustle” creator who wants to build a portfolio of small, non-fiction books on Amazon without an existing audience.
Quick answer
| Best for | Solo creators who want a low-cost, step-by-step system to publish their first non-fiction book on Amazon KDP. |
| Skip if | You are looking for fiction writing techniques, or you already have a large email list and just need advanced ad scaling tactics. |
| Price | $29 |
| Format | Video course with 5 modules + manuscript templates |
| One-line take | A pragmatic, low-stakes entry point into Amazon self-publishing that prioritizes speed and portfolio building over literary perfection. |
What you’re actually buying
At $29, you are getting a complete operational manual for the “small book” strategy. Greg Lim doesn’t just tell you to “write what you know”; he breaks down the specific mechanics of how he went from zero to over 50,000 books sold and $200k in royalties. The core of the Part-Time-Author curriculum is the “Book Edge” framework, which helps you pick a profitable niche using three specific criteria before you even open a document. This is the part most people get wrong, so having a structured way to validate your idea is the biggest value prop here.
The course moves quickly from strategy to execution. You get access to paperback manuscript templates that save you hours of formatting headaches, and a specific method for writing “fast” by thinking in layers rather than trying to get every sentence perfect on the first pass. This is crucial for side-hustlers who are writing after work or on weekends. The writing and editing modules are designed to keep you moving, preventing the common trap of getting stuck in “revision purgatory” before you’ve even published.
Beyond the writing, the second half of the course covers the business side that usually confuses beginners. You’ll learn how to create an Amazon-optimized title and subtitle, how to design covers that build a brand (not just a single book), and how to navigate the decision between KDP Select (exclusive) and going wide. The marketing and ads section is particularly useful because it addresses the “what if it fails” scenario, giving you a plan for repurposing content and handling bad reviews rather than just assuming success.
Why it’s on our radar
This course stands out because it targets a very specific, low-barrier entry point: writing short non-fiction books. Many self-publishing courses push you toward 40,000-word novels or comprehensive business books, which is a massive time commitment. Part-Time-Author argues for a portfolio of smaller, focused books that can be written and published in weeks, not years. This “breadth and depth” approach is ideal for people testing the waters of Amazon KDP without betting their entire free time on a single project.
The inclusion of real-world metrics (50k+ books sold, $200k+ royalties) from the creator adds a layer of credibility that generic “how to write a book” courses often lack. It’s not just theory; it’s a system that has been executed. For someone who is skeptical about whether self-publishing is still viable in 2024/2025, seeing a concrete example of a “side project” that generated significant income makes the investment in the course feel much more tangible.
What actually matters
Before you buy, consider your current skill set. This course assumes you are a beginner to self-publishing, not a beginner to writing. If you have never written a coherent paragraph, you might need a more foundational writing course first. However, if you can write a blog post or a white paper, you have the skills needed for the non-fiction focus of Part-Time-Author.
Check the video length and pacing. The course is broken into modules, which is good for digesting, but ensure you have the time to actually implement the steps. The manuscript templates are a key asset, so verify that they are compatible with the tools you plan to use (e.g., Word, Scrivener, or Google Docs).
Finally, look at the marketing module. Amazon Ads can be expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing. The course covers basic ad strategies, but if you plan to spend significant money on ads, you might want to pair this with a more advanced PPC course later. For the initial launch, though, the guidance provided is sufficient to get your first book visible.
Mid-check
If you are ready to stop researching and start publishing, this is the most affordable structured path we’ve seen for Amazon non-fiction. (Part-Time-Author: Learn how to)
FAQ
Is this course suitable for fiction writers? No, Part-Time-Author is specifically designed for non-fiction. The strategies for niche selection, keyword optimization, and marketing are tailored to informational books, not storytelling or character development.
Do I need an existing audience to succeed with this system? No. The entire premise of the course is that you can build a book portfolio and generate sales without an existing audience. It focuses on Amazon’s internal discovery algorithms (keywords, categories, and ads) rather than social media virality. (Part-Time-Author: Learn how to)
What tools do I need to get started? You primarily need a word processor and access to Amazon KDP. The course provides manuscript templates to help with formatting, so you don’t need expensive design software for the interior. For covers, you’ll need basic design skills or a budget for a freelancer, as the course teaches you how to brief a designer.
How long does it take to complete the course? The course is modular, so you can go at your own pace. Most students who follow the “fast writing” method outlined in Module 3 can draft a short book in a few weekends, allowing them to move through the marketing modules quickly.
Bottom line
If you want to test the waters of Amazon self-publishing with a low financial risk and a high probability of actually finishing a book, Part-Time-Author is a strong choice. It cuts through the fluff and gives you a clear, repeatable system for creating a portfolio of non-fiction titles. At $29, it’s less than the cost of a single bad Amazon ad campaign, making it a safe entry point for serious side-hustlers.