So you want to be a "Published Author" -- facts about the publishing world
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The Dream
So you’ve written your first book and it’s great – all your friends and relatives say so.
You haven’t worried about professional editing, because it’s
the ideas, the content that’s important, and a few grammatical errors, typos and
such don’t count. That’s all editing’s about right? Your brilliance will shine
through despite a few unimportant little errors – things only of concern to an
anal sort of person. Editing and re-writes, who needs 'em.
As soon as you finish researching how to write a query letter and write one, you’ll land an agent, for sure. Such a work of genius is bound to be recognized by anyone with half a brain and the instincts to match. In fact, let’s write our soon-to-be-agent a letter informing her/him of his/her good luck – the next John Grisham, the next Nora Roberts is here, offering them the rainmaker of the year. An agent is a done deal.
Armed with such a literary gem as yours, that agent will have no trouble selling any of the major publishing houses on your project – and your name and photograph will star proudly on the back of dust jackets in every major book store in the country. The publisher will lavish all kinds of funds for promotion of your golden words, the ‘big book’ of the day; your own publicist will send out the news releases, the advance copies to the reviewers, invitations to the press parties, the print ads, the tv commercials ….
Your book will hit all the major best-seller lists, and your name will become a household term.
And best of all, you’ll be rich. No longer will you worry about the credit card bills – you’ll pay ‘em all off with your advance, and still have enough to take the family to Disneyworld. Once those royalty checks start pouring in, life will be beautiful. Sit back and watch the bank accounts grow.
Make a list of all the cities you want to visit on your book tour, that whirlwind of four star hotels and five star restaurants, book signings where they line up around the block to get your autograph on the front page of their copy of your book, radio interviews; TV talk shows – Good Morning America, here I come. Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien can fight over you. Did someone mention Oprah?
Ahhh! Ain’t a rich fantasy life great?
Okay – time to wake up now.
Agents and finding an agent
The original request I'm to answer in this hub is can I suggest a source to provide assistance in securing the services of an agent -- in particular, considering the number of scams out there and the one I wrote about in Avoid This Agency Scam -- WLWriter's Literary Agency. linked below -- a place where trustworthy information on agents and agencies is found.
The answer is YES! I highly recommend Preditors and Editors, a priceless source and registry of agents, lawyers, editors, and publishers. The link is given below.
There is no shortage of information out there on how to write a query letter, how to approach an agent, so I won't go into all of that again. I have linked those sites on these subjects I consider useful.
But please keep in mind: an agent may receive 1,000 to 1,400 queries a month and may only have openings in their agency for one or two new authors. No matter how clever your query letter, the odds are long. Can you spell reality?
What does work? Constant work, developing a readership in other venues, social networking (and no one is beneath your notice -- you never know) and just generally building up a reputation no matter how small.
- Preditors and Editors -- a registry of Literary Agents
Preditors and Editors, and invaluable source of information for those seeking a literary agent. - AuthorAdvance | The Writers\' Community
AuthorAdvance is a free social network for writers with agents, markets, publishers, resources, services, products and submission tracking tools. - Write a Query Letter to Gain a Publisher\'s Interest!
Knowing how to write a query letter correctly will save a lot of time and possibly avoid rejections from major book publishers. - Warning to Writers -- Avoid this agency scam -- Writers' Literary Agency
Why did I write this? Consider it a public service announcement. This agency, WLWriter's Literary Agency is a scam.
About editing and editors
Contrary to the buzz I’ve picked up here on the forums and a few questions and answers on this subject: What is more important substance or style? Is the content not more important than correct punctuation and grammar? There have been many such debates here on hubpages. A couple of times I’ve thrown in my two-bits worth, but was shouted down. Intellect wins over form it seems – at least according to the unpublished (and often unreadable) dabblers here.
Okay folks – listen up. As a professional writer with a bit of a track record, lots of friends in the industry and experience – I’m going to tell you the truth – any work you submit to an agent or an editor had better have been edited, rewritten, edited again and rewritten until it is as polished as it can be. No agent, no editor is looking for some rough gem to refine.
I am going to say this in the plainest language I can. Your work needs editing – not just for punctuation and grammar, but for content and character continuity, for plot defects and for story line lapses. You’re serious about being a writer – then find an editor!!
What can you expect an edit of a novel length manuscript to cost you? -- $1,200 to $2,500. Is it worth it? Yes. Do I personally pay for editing services? -- Yes! Yes! and Yes! And it is worth every penny.
If you can't afford it, there are many writer's coaches who will work with new writers helping them to attain a level of professionalism. Seek them out. You may contact me for assistance if you wish -- and when I am able, I will endeavor to direct you to the right source.
- P&E: Editing Services
Preditors and editors maintains a registry of professional editing, copy-editing, writers' services organizations. This is a good place to begin. - Home
My content and copy editing services for new writers.
Reality
Let’s say that against the odds, your manuscript is slated for success – on your two hundred and thirtieth query, you find an agent who recognizes this diamond-in-the-rough and wants to represent your work. And against even steeper odds, after some judicous editing, and pruning, she sells your book to a publisher.
Now the riches pour in – right?
Wrong.
In fact, the percentage of authors who earn their livings solely from their writing careers --- much less make huge amounts of money at it --- is exceedingly small.
Rather, the hard reality is that the vast majority of authors cannot earn a subsistence income. Lucky are those earning even a comfortable --- much less a luxurious --- living from their writing careers, and, unless they have access to other sources of funding (such as a working spouse, a trust fund, investments income), are frequently compelled to take other jobs to put a roof over their heads, food on the table and pay off the bills. Hence – the ever popular line: Don’t quit your day job.
The reality of self-employment
All authors are self-employed, and as such, they are subject to the same difficulties every self-employed person must face: no guarantee of either a steady income or work, no company-provided life insurance and health benefits, and no paid vacations, sick days, or maternity leave.
So, just like all other self-employed people, authors must assume all responsibility for providing all these things for themselves, as well as paying self-employment taxes (because self-employed persons do not have employers contributing to social security, they must pay a higher amount into social security than non-self-employed people do).
All authors are freelance writers. They conduct business by signing contracts with publishers for the production of one or more books, for which they agree to accept as payment for writing and delivering the book(s) either a percentage (royalties) of the profits from the book's sales or books' eventual sales, or else a straight flat fee (work for hire) for the book(s).
What are royalties?
When a contract is negotiated between an author and a publisher, the author is usually paid an advance -- an advance against royalties yet to be earned, and only once that advance amount is recouped through actual sales (net of returns) will any further royalties be paid.
An author signing a first contract can expect to receive an advance of anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000, on average, per book. Naturally, there are exceptions but it would be unwise to base your financial plans on being that rare, unknown author who garners hundreds of thousands (or millions) in advances. No, let’s attempt to stay within the bounds of reality; the author receives a $10,000 advance, for a single book. That means the author would need to earn $10,000 in royalties from the sales of that book before receiving any additional income from it.
How are royalties calculated?
In general practice, hardcover books pay standard royalty rates of 10%, 12%, and 15% of the cover price --- 10% on the first 250,000 copies sold, 12% on the next 250,001 to 500,000 copies sold, and 15% on anything sold above 500,000 copies. So if an author's hardcover book has a cover price of $25.00, then the author will earn a $2.50 royalty on the first 250,000 copies.
This means that if 10,000 copies of the author's book are the total sold, then the author will earn only $25,000. You’re thinking, not important, most people buy paperback. Yes, the prices for paperback are less, therefore the author earns less per book but the paperback sells in higher volumes thereby earning the author more.
But -- the standard royalty rates for paperback books vary from a low of 1% to a high of 10%, with the average royalty rate falling at 6%. So if an author's paperback book has a cover price of $6.50, then at a 6% royalty rate, the author will earn only a $.39 royalty on every copy sold. Therefore, if he sells another 10,000 copies in paperback format, he earns a whopping $3,900 in royalties.
But there’s something else entering the equation – returns. Books are one of the few commodities on the market sold as “guaranteed” sales. This means that the retailer accepts shipment of the book knowing if it doesn’t sell, he can send it back. So a publisher may print and ship a million copies of your book (but 15-20,000 is more likely) and find that 999,999 will eventually be returned as unsold. And guess what? The publisher expects not to pay royalties on books returned, and will deduct those amounts from royalties outstanding.
Here’s a true-to-life example
For a mass-market paperback book with a minimum first printing of 25,000 copies, an average return rate of 50%, an average $6.50 cover price, and an average 6% royalty rate, an author would earn only $4,875 on the sales of that book --- and 15% ($731.25) of that sum would go directly to the author's agent, leaving the author with a gross (before taxes) profit of $4,143.75.
If, as is not at all unusual, the author had worked all year to produce that book, then the author would have achieved an annual income of less than $5,000!
But I will sell millions, you protest.
- how many copies must a book sell to be considered successful Search Results Backspace: The Write
A link to BackSpace.com, a site for writers, and an article answering this question by Noah Lukeman, President of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd.
Reality check number two
Publishing statistics
There are 17 new books published each and every hour of each and every day, meaning 148,920 books are published yearly in the U.S. This past year 2009, saw 1,879,000 books in print (currently available.)
80% of the book sales are controlled by five
conglomerates: Bertelsmann (Random House), Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, Time
Warner, Disney and Viacom/CBS. -- Andre Schiffrin, The Business of Books in
the Washington Post -- with US sales of
$4.102 billion and worldwide sales of $5.68 billion. (2009)
- Random House: $2.1 billion worldwide
- Penguin Group: $1.3 billion
- HarperCollins: $1.1 billion
- Simon & Schuster: $690 million (est)
- AOL/Time Warner: $415 million
78% of the titles published come from the small publishing houses or self-publishers. So in other words, 78% of the book titles compete for 20% of total book sales.
But, I hear you protest, my work is so good, sure thing it will be picked up by one of the big five.
First of all, publication by one of the big conglomerates is no reflection on quality. Let’s not get confused with bigger equals better. Some of the best writing published is produced by the smaller publishing house.
Still, if you are dead set on landing that contract with one offshoot of the big five or other, let’s take a look at their statistics.
- The Authors Guild
The Authors' Guild holds much good information on the reality of the publishing business. Recommended.
Book Printing Facts of Advance paying traditional publishers:
Most initial print runs are 5,000 copies. 4,986 was the average first press run; second printings averaged 4,776.
The first print run for a mid-list book by a larger publisher is 10-15,000 books. A larger publisher must sell 10,000 books to break even.
Your publisher is unlikely to lavish much in the way of publicity funds on a first time, unknown. Much of that work will remain your responsibility (and your expense.)
A successful fiction book sells 5,000 copies.
A successful nonfiction book sells 7,500 copies. (information from Author’s Guild – link to the right)
As we’ve already calculated, the author is unlikely to see more than a total of $4,000 (if that much.)
Well this isn’t easy street, you think, somewhat deflated, watching those riches dwindle until they become a payback of pennies per hour. I may as well self-publish at these rates. At least then I’ll earn more than .40 per unit.
Well, maybe so -- per unit you’ll make more. But how many units are you likely to sell all by yourself?
Self-publishing options:
“Createspace published 10,269 titles!” 352 titles or 3.4% had sold more than 300 copies. 1,463 or 14.3% had sold more than 200 copies. The average per-publication sale number of a Createspace title is about 30 copies.
“Xlibris has paid out $1 million in royalties” (to some 9,000 authors since the company was founded in 1997 -- about $111. each. Average amount paid to Xlibris by those authors to earn their $111 in royalties -- $700.) The average sales of the 9,000 titles is 33 sales per title).
Authorhouse claims to have sold 2 million books -- their 18,500 titles listed make that 108 books/title.
“iUniverse says their titles have sold 750,000 copies” -- ie. 10,000+ titles (75 copies/title). One year later they state: Of iUnivers's 17,000 titles, 84 have sold more than 500 copies.
So, yes you will receive more income per copy, but you will also pay for printing, shipping, registration-- everything (anywhere from $200 - $5000) and publicity expenses will be 100% yours.
Explain to me again how this is a better deal.
So, are you saying it's not worth it to write and sell your work?
No -- I'm asking you enter into this business with a sense of reality. Maybe -- just maybe, you will be one of the few whose work "catches on" and you'll find your name up there as one of the "hot" ones -- and you can then write your own ticket (more or less.)
But don't go planning your life, in particular your financial life, around that possibility. Possibly you'll win the lottery, too.
I recently went three rounds with a client who had not yet written anything beyond an introduction and wanted me to review and edit a query letter. This client had never written anything before, certainly never published and required strong editing of anything he did produce -- but suddenly he wanted to write a proposal and "line up commitments" prior to writing the piece. I asked him why he thought an editor who receives 100+ proposals a day for projects from some pretty high-powered individuals, would suddenly take an interest on a newbie, with no credits to his name, and no track record to prove he is capable of doing the work and no ... well you get the idea.
In truth, this client has financial woes and took my encouragement as to his writing ability to mean he could buck the system and the odds and parlay an undeniable talent (but one that is far from rare) into a financial fix.
If you are entering the writing world to pay your bills -- please, find another means of support.
What I've tried to show you here is the reality that is the publishing world. This reality should remain uppermost in your mind throughout your dealings with its vagaries -- always.
- Are you looking for a literary agent? Want to vent a little?
A look at literary agents and their role in the publishing game.
Some interesting articles
- Self-Publishing and Publishing -- Reecca E.
I can almost hear you on this one, self-publishing??? Self-publishing? you? Why would you want to self-publish? I know, but hear me out, publishing and self-publishing don't need to be mutually exclusive,... - Self Publishing to do or not -- Merlin Fraser
SELF PUBLISHING. To Do or Not To Do, that is the Question. Want a single word of advice? DONT ! Least ways dont do it until after you have read some of the facts below. Then if you still want to...
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Maybe I will edit after all!
Your knowledge of these things is incredible.I can say ,as one married to a man who has pubblished 9 /10 books-that there is definitely more profit if you choose the self publishing route-which he /we did with one book,but you have to be prepared to work around the clock,literally, to get it out there.It's exhausting!
I rated this up...it is good to have a realistic view and solid info....thanks for writing this...
Good info here. Now, back to work!
"Can you spell 'reality'?"-- very good line, both in the overall sense, and about editing. Your raelity check (just kidding) and your expertise are much appreciated by a lot of us.
I find this semi-depressing, but informative.
I'm glad you're out there telling the truth about the industry. I've lived it and I know. All this reality doesn't mean it's impossible to fulfill a dream--only that it takes hard work and common sense as well as an active imagination. Thanks, as always, for your wisdom.
Is it the case then that there are great novels lying unpublished and gathering dust all over the world? Or is the measure of a book its ability to make the breakthrough against the odds? Is a piece of writing that hasn't run that gauntlet worthless?
The truth of the matter is we must all Get Real! Whether it be writers expecting to get published; an affiliate expecting quick bucks; a gambler expecting that 5-fold accumulator to pay off big, all have high expectations but little chance of it's fruition. Chance, luck, that is the critical component of the calculation of fruition. I once heard the phrase "You make your own luck". It stuck in my head. It takes consistently hard work to make anything. A salutary lesson for all those thinking they can by-pass the effort stage. Although not completely on topic I have linked to this article so that more 'freshmen' get a reality check. Yet another great infomercial by an eminently readable author.
Thank you so much for a great piece of writing. It is a heartbreak when all your hopes get crached times and times again. I can accept that I am the only one trying to get a book published; I can accept that there are better writers than me but what I can't accept is that they have agencies which deal with it, in other words they don't even look at it. That goes for all the writers not only me. I think shouldn't. I know they get thousands at day but there should be somebody with a knowldge to go through. I can't see a agency does this. I think this is why writers get hundreds of rejection letters because they just mill it through. These publishers earn not just a penny for not affort to employ people with knowldge. It would also give writers a chance to earn some money. I am sure the charges from a Agency is not low and it would be, more or less, the same. I think, eventually, they cut their own throat with that sort of method because the self-publishers and Internet is increasing enormously. Thank you for a great down-to-earth hub. I respect you for your straight forward and always down-to-earth manners.
Thank you Ann. Yes, we all need that dose of reality. Without it we are sitting ducks primed for exploitation. Thanks for the comment.
I itakins -- yes the self-publishing route may look more profitable -- providing you put no price or fiscal value on your own time, and assuming you know the basics of PR and marketing and have the personality to pull it off. If you and your fella did this once out of ten -- I can understand why it stayed at once.
Thank you Enlydia and nice to see you.
Hi respenser -- and I hope the work goes well.Thanks for the comment and I'm glad the info does no dishearten you.
Hi rochelle -- Yes, I can spell reality, and a few more words too. Thanks so much for commenting.Nice to know my efforts are appreciated.
Hi Angela-michelle -- the truth is often depressing, but is still the truth.
Kathryn -- how nice to hear from you here. Yes, you would know all to well of the vagaries of the business. New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Lynn Davis -- perhaps you would like to write about that for us one day. I recently read an article by a late member of that particular honor -- four weeks on the New York Times Best sellers list and this author showed when all was said and done, she netted an income of around $31,000 for what amounted to twenty-months work. This is reality. Thank you for your comment.
Hi Dixon. Yes I'm sure there are several thousands wonderful novels sitting around collecting dust (and one or two were written by me) waiting for that "break" that never came, or missing the bus when it did. I would hesitate to judge a value of a work based on it's commercial success, simply because so much of that success is due to timing, the right person, the right moment, the right combination, the right moment in the marketplace. Thanks for coming by.
Hello humagaia, yes, writing is not a game for those looking for easy money. It requires determination and perseverance. Thanks for you wise comment.
Hello there my dear Hello, hello -- yes for the writer beating his head against the wall of agents and editors, it does seem the world is stacked against you. We need to keep in mind the publishers are not in business to make life easier for writers, but to make profits. They want what they think will sell, with the highest assurances it will sell. I also do not believe the self-publishers will undo the traditional publishing industry either. Right now, because there are no standards set in self-publishing -- anyone can publish any bit of garbage -- it offers very little so far as credit to your reputation, and as the numbers show, usually only sell a couple of dozen copies-- unless you prepared to work at it with a tremendous passion. Are you submitting a manuscript at the moment? I'd be more than pleased to look at it for you -- after all we have become friends and colleagues. It would be my pleasure.
My fella -I love that-I think you are picking up a Dublin accent:)
Nope -- that's pure Alberta. We're right in the middle of an incredible thunderstorm here in Florida this A.M. which explains what I'm doing online at this hour (and why I might have sent you a comment on your hub twice.)
Oh dear,I heard about a tornado in Mississippi-hope all ok!
Yes, we're fine (though the mastiffs might disagree) and we are under a tornado watch but then we always are when we have a thunderstorm, so why worry about it. This has been going on for hours though and quite spectacular.
Thanks, Immartin, for the reality check. I have published on Serenewoods and on createspace and am still groping in dark for the wonderful promotions idea, sitting on the sales number of 20 on serenewoods.com. Anyway, plan to start with writing something more, possibly a collection of poems or a novel.
Some wonderful information here, and food for thought. Thank you.
Thank you saket71. I am not familiar with Serenewoods and will have to check it out. One of the fastest growing industries related to publishing is the promotional services for self-published authors. Had to happen -- right? Thanks for your comment.
Hi E Nicolson -- glad you found this article helpful.
Thanks Lynda, for giving us a much needed reality check. Years ago I learned of the dangers of self-publishing and decided then and there I would stay away from it. At the time it was considered suicide for the writing career (maybe it still is? I haven't heard of Vanity Press/Publishers lately....)
Once again, I'm bookmarking this hub. Thanks for including all this (other) wonderful information. :)
Writing's not a game for softies that's for sure. You need both talent and tenacity to make it as a writer. No wonder so few make it to the top of the pile!
The truth is always a wake up call. It's hard to become well known. The successful people around here write simple books. They write what the public is wanting, not what they are good at. We all dream and sometime dreams dont' come truth. Keep up the educating us, and helping us to get started.
Hi Rafini -- The problem with self-publishing is there is not quality control in place and some of the drivel printed tarnished all self-published authors with the same brush. Claiming self-publishing credits won't do your rep much good in the traditional publishing world, but then those that do enjoy a modicum of success with it claim that doesn't matter. For me, the issue has always been lack of marketing support. I can't afford to hire a marketing person, and while I'd gladly undertake any task providing someone else is in charge, I'm not a marketing type myself. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Amanda. Well said. Tenacity and a very thick skin. Thanks for dropping by and glad to see your smiling face again. Lynda
Thank you for your comment, Nan. I suppose if your motivation for writing is success then it pays to write what people want. If you hope to put a roof over your head and food on your table, you'll supply the market with what it demands. Makes perfect sense. On the other hand, if you're writing to express your self -- then marketing shouldn't enter into it. Lynda
Thank you. Reality checks are always good.
My first book is coming out this summer under an imprint of Wipf & Stock. I cannot tell you how many rejection letters over the years. Likely enough to wallpaper a room.
"I recently went three rounds with a client", I did not realize how confrontational editing can be. After reading this it would seem editing is the only way to make any money in this business at all. Do I know the person you are referring to? How can a talent that is not rare be undeniable?
As usual your Hub has great information and a lot of common sense. Unfortunately many writers (not authors) have a voice and a message that needs to be heard and the commercial publishing houses simply will not listen.
80% of the money the top four publishers spend is on books by famous people that are mostly ghost written, pictures books, political people, nut-jobs from FOX and a few recognized sure thing writers of fiction.
Some areas like religion are controlled by the right of center churches and their followers.
Independent voices have moved to the web for many reasons not the least of which is the difficulty in getting any access to the publishing Gods.
Like our economy at large, that is controlled by monopolies, so too is the publishing market.
Thanks again for you very professional Hub…
Hi Ken and thanks for your comment. I can believe how many rejection letters (or emails) and sometimes the emails with the thanks but no thanks arrived two minutes after the email is sent. Oh well -- glad to hear it worked out for you.
Hi Mordechai -- do you know this particular client? I don't know. He is a nameless, faceless example of unrealistic expectations -- that's all. As for editing being the only way to make money -- no, not so and editing is hard work. I don't charge many of my editing/coaching clients. As far as confrontational -- I think you are attacking a figure of speech. But yes, sometimes as a coach/editor I do enter into debate. Talent is undeniable -- but there are a number of talented individuals and talent alone will not open doors. An acquisitions editor sees a lot of talent -- that is my point. Thanks for your comment.
Hi jcrevelator -- You are right. Publishing houses aren't likely to support a talented voice over one with a proven sales record -- they are businesses. I recently had a run in with a "religious" publisher and I agree, ultra conservative and fundamentalism rules the day. Yes, it is wonderful that the internet provides a platform for those voices overlooked by established publishing industry.
Thanks for you comment. Lynda
Great Hub Sister which I have printed off, will reference this one many times over.
I might comment as well there are the Publishers out there who will promise you the world and yet produce nothing but lies and deceit, catching the unsuspecting or unknowing writer who get caught up in the promises. If there is one thing I have learned if it sounds to good to be true, well it is.
Getting published is an entire whole new world and an eye opener, it gives an appreciation to the reader of those who have succeeded in the game.
Blessings on this hub... very well done indeed.
Thank you Quill. How true -- if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Something we all need to keep in mind. Thanks for you comment -- as always, a pleasure to hear from you. Lynda
Gosh I never thought I get down here. No, I gave up after all these rejection letters. I found HP and I clicking away there ever since. I have a few finished and half finished stories and manuscript and maybe I should get back to it. Lynda, you are the kindest person I have come across for a long time. Thank you so much for your offer.
Hi Lynda - Perhaps I just skipped over the part where you said that going broke was lots of fun for most writers who, as a group, are much too busy to feel pain.
Gus ;-O
If you could see I am giving you a standing ovation in my living room. I stress this in my writing sometimes, and to new writers that I happen to come across. People think I'm cynical but I'm not I am truthful. I set my goals low and people think that I do not care. I correct them and say It's not that I don't care I am being realistic. This is a tough business and Im in it for the love of the written word, not for fame. I am happy with any little bit I can get paid for, for my work. I got stories that I wish to share and one day maybe just maybe I will get there.
Thanks so much JannyC -- and how true your words. Nice to meet a kindred spirit and fellow writer. Should you wish to share some of your experiences in writing, feel free to email me. Love a lively correspondence. Lynda
Hi Gus, Your comment kind of sneaked in there. Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore it -- particularly one so succint and on point. Yep -- don't quit the day job. If someone could arrange to get power and internet connection under all bridges, we'd be okay. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi again, Hello-Hello. Well anytime you want to dust them off and spruce 'em up, you know where to find me.
The pain! Crushed I am, the toppling pillars of my fantasy world laid low about me in ruin. Fame, wealth, easy-street, each now but ash between my bleeding lips, sucked dry the last vestiges of my dying hopes. How can one hub so rub clean the slate of dreams?
Great hub. Thanks again Lynda ;)
Better this hub now than real life later. Wow, what great writing -- definitely worthy of the dark and stormy night contest that I'm STILL waiting to hear from the hubteam. SIGH! Thanks for the comment. I am truly impressed. Lynda
LOL just glad I love writing...I'm glad of the few dollars I make doing something I love. Thankfully I have a brain in my head to tell me that only the truly lucky can get a book to be a bestseller. I really enjoyed this one Lynda...A lot of people need to read this...Your score is great right now...Good show! Talk to you later.
I too love to write, and to teach writing, and to help a new writer find their voice. Sometimes no one wants to hear the reality. That can often make me rather unpopular. Oh well. So thanks -- and are you coming back full time now?
Thank you for your great informative writing. I'm sure, to know the behind-the-scene mechanics of publishing is very helpful to a lot of folks here, me included.
as always you are a beacon of light......thx
Lynda thanks for giving us the complete picture - I like that you didn't make the making money out of it easy and reminds you of why most of us write - because we enjoy it :)
Hello Moncrieff -- thanks for the comment. Yes, it is good to know the reality behind the myth.
Thanks loveofnight. Always good to hear from you.
Hi billyaustindillon -- if it is not a labor of love -- it won't be good. Thanks for the comment.
Thank you Linda,
It may not be what most of us would like to hear, but is the reality of a writer’s world, life and destiny; the only consolation remains that most of the best writers never made a decent living and died more or less broke, so we are, in the best of cases, following a tradition of being “famously” ignored while hoping against hope.
Yes, Petra, we are following the tradition of the starving artists in the garret -- I wonder why we do it. Is it because we simply must? Thanks for dropping by.
Thank you dear one for writing this REALITY of what the publishing world is really like. Years ago I too ran this gauntlet before I realized what the facts were.
So with that being said I also realized that my love for writing would not stop but it had to find another avenue, so I turned all my books into AUDIO'S---it has so many advantages and is much cheaper especially if you record them yourself. (Now I have an excuse for talking to my self and it is a great way to EDIT.)
Many of the book stores are closing because we are into the electronic books and devices. The electronic world has opened doors for many such as the blind and others.
The sad part of todays paper publishing world a lot of great authors will be buried in the PAST.
(WE WALK FORWARD NOT---BACKWARDS)
Thank you Ginn Navarre and what a great idea. I hope you write a hub explaining this business model for writers. If you do, be sure and email me and let me know. Thanks very much for your comment.
Immartin---I wrote that hub and several others on this subject some time ago. (Writing & Publishing-In the box or out of the box) I hope it might help. thanks
Thanks once again Ginn Navarre and I will be over to check it out soonest possible. Lynda
This is a brilliant hub! Thank you Immartin for sharing the info and your insight!
You're very welcome keiranthapa. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Darn it Lynda, nothing like cold, hard facts to put a damper on your creative fire. Well, I appreciate your expert advice and knowledge. Thanks for enlightening us on the reality of the dream. In the meantime, I will keep writing, because that is what I love.
Namaste friend.
Namaste.
If your dreams can't withstand reality, they're not made of much and better off abandoned. Nowhere do I say give up; it's not worth it -- no I say understand what you are about to step into, and be ready to scrape it off. That's all.
Thanks for your comment, dear Deborah.
thanks for writting such and informtived Hub it's seems to be hard work.
Thanks for your comment Williamjordan. Writing is hard work, but is usually a labor of love.
Well, Dearest Lynda...
Nobody said life was a rose garden! Great achievements, take great efforts and sacrifices, without losing faith in the process. Better be warned and thread lightly, so hit-backs do not make you bleed, than walking in a cloud of dreams and not surviving the dreadful fall! Thanks for sharing this eye-opener!
Thumbs up! Rated up and Stumbled!
Warmest regards and infinite eternal blessings,
Al
Thanks Mystique for your comment. Yep -- we still slog along. And blessing upon you and yours. Lynda
Wow - I have been slogging through the zillion sites out there that offer "help" for writers who are looking for a publisher or an agent. It has been a real uphill battle so far, and some days I just plug in to Hub Pages and find things to write about here. Thanks so much for all the links and solid info.
As a novice writer, I found this hub very informative! Thanks for sharing.
Exactly what I needed. Concise, crisp information. I will contact you in regard to editing my book, Eyes Wide Shut: An Enigma. 100,000 words, Fiction genre. Website: www.eyeswideshutanenigma.com I am more 55% complete on first draft. It is very "raw, unedited at this stage... I will contact you for more details.
Thanks,
Dallas
Hi Redelf -- yes it is a jungle out there. Grab a machete and start hacking. If I can be of help, feel free to contact me.
Thanks for your comment and nice to know my efforts have been of help.
Hi Mixfitness -- glad to be of help. Thanks, Lynda.
Hi Dallas93444. I look forward to hearing more of your project. Thanks for leaving your comment. Lynda
This is very interesting.
I'm an english major, who has found a passion for poetry, short story and novel writing. I do not have a lot of experience, but I feel like I'm learning quickly. I'm planning on trying to going to grad-school to become a professor, or at least a high school teacher. I hope to keep writing, and probably take this as a long term goal at getting published sometime later in my life.
From this hub, it seems like becoming an editor could be pretty lucrative but there's probably a reality check for future editors too.
It's always good to get in touch with reality.
good hub.
It's all true. I've never been published but it's hardly a stretch to believe this is how it works. Nothing we ever think will be all puppies and rainbows ever turns out that way. It's kind of sad that writers have as much trouble as they do. Writing and refining a book is a lot of work, but the amount of pay isn't proportional to the amount of work, and it never will be. Sometimes we have to pretend the fantasy success is possible in order to force those books out there, otherwise a lot of books would never get published.
It's true, M.T. Dremer -- if we didn't have these fantasies to hold on to, far fewer books would be written. Still, it's a wonderful dream. Thanks for your comment.
Hi mboosali, Yes -- there is a reality check for editors -- and by the way, if you consider a novel is 100,000 to 120,00 words and you are editing for $1,200 (what I pay my own editor -- on my last novel of l12,500 words -- $1,300 for a job that took 12 weeks. You read the work in entirety -- twice, once to get the "feel' of the project and once critically. Then you look at content -- what is missing, what is needed/ then put it all together as a whole -- then, take it apart: line by line until each sentence is as strong as the whole -- well, lets say that by the end you are lucky to be earning $5 -6 hour. How's that for a reality check??
Very good hub, Inmartin - and very realistic. The chances of ever getting a book published through an agent/publishing house without paying for it yourself (which must surely be the best way) is more remote than many hopefuls would ever imagine. I read somewhere that the chances of a new author ever getting their manuscript accepted is less than 1% - so the saying 'Don't give up your day job' speaks volumes.
I agree with much of what you say -- though I think the chances are a little better than 1%. As far as self-publishing surely being the best way, I beg to differ. Statistics show sales of self-published book average 33 copies -- hardly enough to justify the thousand or so dollars spent. Secondly, because there is no quality control, most people look down on self-published works (and many of them are crap.) It doesn't do your reputation any good.
Funny, but someone commented "We don't hear about vanity presses these days. People must smartened up." Oh dear -- no, people haven't smartened up -- we just renamed the vanity press as self publishers. It's the same game, different name.
Thanks so much for commenting.
Sorry, I meant NOT following the self publishing route is the best way! It must have been the way I worded it!
I think I got the 1% thing from one of the writers handbooks - an older one - if I remember rightly.
Oh - okay. Funny how a little type can lead us to say the very thing we didn't want to say. Thanks again. Lynda
Writing the book is the easy part. Going back and editing it is the worst. I had someone else edit my manuscript, there were a lot of errors.
So I do agree that the big picture is what you should look at. Writing ain't easy! The information on your hub is very informative. Thanks
Hair2nv
Thanks for your hub, it was enlightening. And had no idea an author received so little of the price of a book, no idea! Ouch! Lots of good information here, thanks again.....great hub.
This is a fantastic hub! Every hubber in hubpages must have a dream to be a published writer and this hub is a guide book for them. Thanks for sharing such an educative hub!
I was 12 or 13 when, with high hopes and a sense of heady elation I sent off my story, "The Lettuce Leaf", to Seventeen Magazine for a writing contest. I received my first and only rejection letter, not because of a fabulously successful writing career thereafter, nor because I decided to end it all (writing, that is) but because it definitely dashed my hopes and brought reality in their stead. The letter on SEVENTEEN letterhead began: "Dear Nellie: We can't all be champs. . . ."
Even in the Olympics, when the contenders are almost evenly matched - they can't all be champs. One might think that only the gifted would think they could write - and be champs at it - but it can't be so, and even among those with (varying degrees of) writing gifts and skills - all can't rise to the top.
Thanks for your well-detailed article about why it is so in the writing world. It's valuable information, knowing what lies between one's hopes and their fulfillment!
Hi Jwestcattle and thanks for your comment. yeah -- reality sucks. Lynda
Hi cupid 51, and thanks for your comment. Lydna
Hello Nellieanna, and if you gave it up so easily then writing truly wasn't for you. Most of us could papers every wall in our homes with rejections (though the trend now is not so much of a rejection notice but total silence -- ignoring you -- which is harder to take. Thanks for dropping by. Lynda
This is all so true. It is too bad, though.
Have a look at Lulu.com .
They appear to have a better business model. You upload your book to their site. Theirs is a "print on demand" operation and they insist you buy one copy of your book, so you can be sure it is exactly what you thought you wanted.
Your own marketing allows customers to buy the book from Lulu at the price you set, plus postage. They take out their production price and a share of your profit. The rest is yours.
When I finish writing my textbook, all the production thinking and editing is for me to do. All the marketing is for me to do. Every time a customer sends £30 plus p&p to Lulu, Lulu print and post a book, take their cut, and send the rest (about £19) to me.
All I need to do is finish the book!
Sounds better than vanity publishing.
Hi Karen -- it is what it is. Thanks for the comments,
Hi Charles -- yes I am aware of Lulu and used them to create ebooks for trial readers and know exactly how they work -- and it is a more likely model for non-fiction than fiction.
However, not all authors are marketers and a look at their statistics shows an average of a whopping 30-50 units sold per title -- which is okay, provided you haven't put much out in expenses.
But the truth is -- anytime an author foots the bill to print his own books -- it is vanity publishing. You tell me the difference.
yeah. . .
that's a reality check, HA!
Kinda expected that much. . .But I still like the idea of writing and editing. . .
hmmmm
but I'm still just 20, I got a lot of time to figure this out.
Mboosali -- thanks for coming by. Certainly, we writers will not stop writing simply because the going is rough. Lynda
What a fantastic hub and a great reality check !
some great comments too from your many readers... I'm only sorry your hub was not around before I thought I may be the next Dan Brown.
For what it's worth I think all us wannabe writers have the same problems, writing is the easy bit. Finding a half decent agent is quite a challenge and like most I could paper a good sized room with rejection slips. Yet I know I can tell a yarn and hold a readers attention to the end.
Could it be that there are just too many of us Newbees around and too few opportunities for discovery ?
I think that's part of it Merlin, but also because the industry has changed somewhat. Most of what is printed is "guaranteed" money makers -- the big names (no matter how repetative the work may be.) Unless a publisher believes a work/writer to be profitable, they are unlikely to take a risk.
Thanks for your comment. Lynda
Well that was depressing, hahaha. Thanks, though for providing the real story. It makes me want to work harder because success in the industry is quite an accomplishment!
You have a good attitude Matt. Keep on writing. Lynda
Hi Lynda,
You are so right about publishers chasing guarnteed profit, and let's face it who can blame them it is after all they who risk all to bring a book to market.
True, they also have the ablity to 'Hype' a book into the best seller list if they want to because people are still gullible!Such is the media driven cult of celebrity.
If I may be so bold you may like to steer some of your readers to one or two of my Hubs that warn the unwary about the cost and hidden costs of Vanity or Self Publishing.
But if I sometimes come across a slightly negative I am not, I struggle on and still dream, 'One Day !'
WOW! Thanks for the insight. Great information and practical.
Hi Merlin -- went and read your hub and linked it here. Thanks for steering me to it -- good read and excellent information. Lynda
Hi hgbotoe -- thanks for the comment.
Thanks for that information i am sure it will be helpful.
A very good hub and very informative. Thanks immartin!
What a fantastic hub. I have a dream to be a published writer and this hub is a guide for people like me. Thanks for sharing such an educative hub.
Thanks for the comment Rose.
You too, jamesbrownbete.
And thanks to katrinasui as well. Glad to know you find it helpful.
All that you said is very true, I know this. My personal aspirations as an author are not to be rich, though I do enjoy imagining myself as famous. Or, more so, imagining my WORK as famous. However, I don't think the answer to this 'reality' is self-publishing. I've read countless articles on the subject over the past few years, and it seems to me to be just a plan for the desperate. It allows to you to say "I am published!", but that is about it. Rather, I believe in the traditional system. No, it is not 'easy', but if it is one's destiny to be a great author it will work. After all, you should be writing because you love it and because you feel you were born to do it, not because you hope to get rich or become famous.
A brilliant hub. Congratulations! As a much published author (albeit in non-fiction), I agree that breaking into print today is tougher than newbies ever imagine. Yet thousands of dreamy-eyed writers continue to attend creative writing classes (I confess it, I run some of 'em!) - or worse, pay big money to unscrupulous writing 'colleges' - lured on by illusions.
A top London agent Luigi Bonomi of LBA told me recently that he receives some 10,000 submissions annually yet takes on only 5-6 new authors each year. Your chances of impressing him are 0.005%. It's just as bad with other agents. And worse, publishers have become more cautious now than ever before, he said.
Yes, the creative writing industries are churning out far, far too many newbies. Even if all were as talented as Hemingway, the market couldn't hope to absorb them all.
Moral: write for fun. But don't ever expect to make a living out of it!
Good information. Thank you. The few lessons I learned during the process of writing my first book is, don't rush, be patient, and don't wait on the 'right' time - just start writing!
T.F. Hodge
Writer/Author/Blogger
Thanks Swan of War (what an interesting pen name) definitely we should write because we want to, not in search of fame, celebrity and riches. Thanks for your comment
Hi John Yeoman -- yep, reality sucks. But I don't think that means we can't try -- just know the reality of the industry and keep your expectation reasonable. Thanks.
Hello T.F. Hodge -- thanks for leaving this thoughtful comment and excellent advice.
Very good advice, thank you.
I write because i usually am the one with the different perspective on things I write because the stories come to me an unpublished author who got the hustle down to the t just remember me Mario Darvin my first book is title trulytransformed mind,body,spirit(already copyrighted) self help books is what I right here is my advice to you unsure authors evaluate,educate,&elevate then maybe you will find out what you are doing wrong
Perhaps you could learn how to finish a sentence. The reason for punctuation is so we can understand what is being said, and how it is being said. And before we publish -- self-publish or otherwise, it's good if we know the difference between right and write. But thanks for leaving your comment Transformtruly. I don't think we are all doing something wrong.
Thanks for exposing the realities of being an author. You are mostly talking about novels and freelance writing.Text books earn good money if the authors are well known.It is really a good income.
Ramkkasturi
Thank you ramkkasturi for your comment. I am referring to fiction and non-fiction in the traditional publishing sense. Textbooks are a specialized type of publishing with its own rules -- which will never apply to most of us.
Wow! Thanks for the major insight!
Thank you so much for this insight. I am currently writing my first novel and want it to be great! I have read many publications on how to put fire in your fiction and make it catch the eyes of agents/editors and the like. At the end of the day I don't want to make millions just get my story out there. I am very appreciative on your realistic view on the publishing industry. It definitely put things in perspective for me.
Good -- you've made my day Ms. TyTy. Certainly, approach the publishing industry, but do so understanding how it works and what to expect. Thanks so much for leaving your comment. Lynda
Hi Roxciheart -- thanks for your comment and I do hope you find this helpful. Lynda
Hi, Thanyou for the information you provided. I have a question. I was impressed to write a book for women by God in 1998, I just recently got it published in 2008. I have struggled for years in hopes this book would open doors of success for me and my family. I understand ministry is the key but I still struggle financially, I don't have many friends, I have been a loner all my life, but it's discouraging to know that this passion has been placed in me and I stepped out to do it.I didn't have any help or support, I blindly felt my way around and I didn't have my book edited, but over 200 women plus have read the book and I know the message in itself is powerful, I received a lot of phone calls, most books I gave away because I wanted the message to get out.I keep asking God what is it about me that I cannot seem to climb that ladder of success financially. It does not feel good when you tell your child you don't have $5.oo for lunch. I'm discouraged because my finances are still from pay check to paycheck, it's still hard to promote the book. it's been sitting with creata space for a year and I don't have the funds to even order 25 copies of my own book not to mention a workshop to promote the book. What kind of advice would you have for a person like me?
I don't have advice; I'm sorry to say. I don't have those kinds of answers. I believe self-publishing is a dead end for most of us for the very reasons you state here. It is a huge drain on the writer's finances with very little to show for it. (That's why it's called vanity publishing.) If your book is well written and has something of importance for a good sized audience, then I would query it to agents and editors, and focus on the Christian press market. Oh -- and definitely, you need to get an edit. Just reading your comment, I see editing will be a necessity (run on sentences, strange phrasing -- a book for women by God (?) This doesn't mean your book isn't good -- it means you need to have someone take care of the technical matters because they are important. If you wish, you can send me a sample -- 2,000 words for me to review and then, I may be able to give you a more informed suggestion. You may send the sample through my website http://www.lyndammartin-writer-editor.com/index.ht
This Hub is the cold glass of water I've been waiting to have dumped on my head. I'm awake. I'm aware. The dichotomy between the writer's reality and the writer's dream has resurfaced, thanks to this insightful article.
I appreciate you putting it together.
Much as it sucks, reality is better. Thanks for your comment. Lynda
Wow... did you channel parts of my brain? *grin* I compare editing to tidying a house--we tidy a house before guests arrive--so tidy up the writing before you send it out.
Thank you for all your advice--and the reality check.
Amazing Hub, thanks!
Ah, Lynda, I can always count on you to give it to me straight. I've pretty much come to these conclusions all on my own in the past few months, but it hasn't stopped me. I'm still working on my novel. And the learning curve for all the different aspects are kinda cool (a little difficult maybe, but I love to learn).
The one thing I keep hearing over an over again is that even with the traditional publishers the new author must do most, if not all, of their own marketing. That strikes the biggest fear in me. I'm so bad at it!
It hasn't stopped me though.
But you don't just stop at giving us our dose of reality, it appears you have provided a huge resource of information, which I will be following up on!
Great article and greatly appreciated.
Glad to hear your not discouraged. It's not my goal to stop anyone, only to encourage going forward with knowledge of how things really work. Thanks for your comment. Lynda
Wonderful insight into the "world of writing and publishing"
Thank you ECDupree.
Very good and usefull blog. This is like a A+++ lol Not that you did not know that.
In my opinion, pay ahead for all the publishing costs if you want to publish something without headaches.
Thanks again for a brilliant post!
Why thank you, Mr. Happy.
I respect people that don't sugar coat. Way to tell it how it is! Thank you.
You're very welcome. Lynda
I very much enjoyed you hub and the dose of reality that went along with it. This is a very good fact filled hub, although I must say the first part sounded lovely. I am working on a book but have no real expectations at this point in time. Thanks for all the great information.
This is a reality check for aspiring writers before ending up in a state of depression. LOL! But seriously, you've shared a good advice and thoughts to ponder on. We can really learn a lot from experienced people like you. Great hub!
Thanks very much Pamela99. Writing without expectation is by far the best way.
Skip the depression, Tina V -- not worth it. Better to know ahead of time, rather than walk in blind and foolish, don't you think?
Thank you so much for the information throughout your article. Many useful tips and tricks. I was very impressed with the details. Many young and aspiring authors never know the true facts until it is too late.
Thanks Jason, and how true.
Helpful info and all around hubpages the sounds of bursting bubbles are deafening. lol Cheers.
Your hubs are like a peak into a world that is kept very shadowy. I don't know why it's so hard for aspiring writers to get all this information. I really appreciate you offering it up so succinctly, and not in the form of a 12$ ebook. Thank you!
Hi ladjane -- bubbles are better burst -- don't you agree?
H ar.colton -- glad to be of help. We're all better off dealing with reality rather than drifting about in a fantasy world of how we'd like things to be.
Very useful and Im glad I found your hub. But I still think that deep down all us budding writers think we'll be "the next big thing." It's a subtle arrogance passed down through the years from Shakespeare to Wilde, and from Wilde to Bukowski, and so on, and so forth.
Certainly we may dream Mojojojo but when we act it must be from an understanding of reality. Thanks for your comment.
It's fun to dream, but it's also important to not lose sight of the reality. Well, this serves as a great reminder to remember to write for the love of it and to make our work the best it can be, whatever does (or doesn't) come of that.
I'll save the fantasy for my stories :)
Good plan, Lora
My final tuppence-worth. Writing is an addiction, like tobacco, but worse: it's hard-wired into us. We all need to impose pattern on the chaos of the natural world. So the unlettered tell anecdotes and the rest of us write stories. We couldn't stop if we wanted to.
Couldn't we lobby for government help? I'd be the first to register for a subsidised Quit Writing support programme. It would be of unspeakable benefit both to myself and the community.
Save trees, kill an author! What a vote-winner for any political candidate! (Sorry, Lynda. You have made it clear: publishers are already fulfilling that role...)
You're not serious -- your final tuppence-worth? Surely not! I will be seriously disappointed if it is so. Lynda
The thing to realize is just this: Write because you have a story to tell, something you want to share with the world. Don't write because of the money you hope to make.
Whether one wants to publish to make money, or because one wants to reach people with our stories, we still need a publisher. So no matter what the motivation we are faced with the same problem. Thanks for your comment Sharonl.
Publishing has its own problems, as any publisher will tell you.
Many published authors complain privately about their publisher, their agent, and the inadequate marketing and publicity.
With vanity publishing, at least the tail can wag the dog. It is a one person operation, and I/we will receive immediate reward and feedback from our marketing efforts. And compile email addresses of those who bought our first book to inform about our second book.
On the textbook I am writing I am looking at a £19 per copy return, as against a £1.50 -£3.00 return going through a conventional publisher. There is really no contest!
I accept that for fiction writers marketing is much harder, as the bookshops often trust the publisher rather than the unknown author.
Hi Charles,
For textbooks, how-to's, prescription books, and some other non-fiction, yes, self-publication (not necessarily vanity publishing) can be a viable alternative. It is easier to build your platform and market for such material.
Fiction is a totally different problem, and much more difficult to 'platform'. As I am a fiction writer, I chose to go with a small,independent publisher who would allow me to retain control of artwork, style, etc. And I am quite happy.
Most of the time, self-publication for fiction is the proverbial kiss-of-death.
Thanks for commenting and I wish you nothing but good luck. Lynda
This is a great article, thank you for all the information and links - I found this just as I have begun searching for an outlet for my writing. The links have been most helpful.
Glad to be of help, Dave. Feel free to contact me at my website if I can of any further help. http://www.LyndaMMartin-writer-editor.com
This is great advice! Everyone thinks you can get rich writing a book, when in reality, you make more each year by writing for Demand Studios, or even Hubpages, if you do it right.
Could be. I write because I don't have a choice. The words won't stay inside me. Income is a different concern, and I don't write for that reason -- don't have to. It's true there's a long tradition of the starving artist, and not without reason. In these times, it seems to me that everyone has decided they're a writer and can make money of it. And best of luck to them. I come from a place where Demand Studios is hardly what we'd call writing -- just words put together to sell something. Now-a-days, they are promoting robots to write them for you. Doesn't that just say it all! Thanks for commenting, Amie. Lynda
I've about a books worth of poems and find your piece on publishing realities to be a humane way of letting one in on the dystopic nature of getting read genuinly should save me some time and money;)
Hi Mentalist acer. What you want to do is submit your poetry to the many journals and competitions out there. The internet has many listings for competitions. Once your name is out there, the task becomes easier -- though, as I'm sure you know, the market for poetry is limited. Trying to sell a book of poetry as an unknown or unpublished poet is bleak, to say the least. Start small, getting a poem accepted here and there, and let it grow.
Thanks for commenting. Lynda
I've entered one competition"Poems a Plenty" and submitted to poetic websites,but it seems they want my money or to spend time reading other poetry and commenting...no time,I'm not trying to get published,I just find the idea interesting;)
Very helpful article. Thanks for the dose of reality! It's true that writers have big dreams. And sometimes those dreams might come true. Most times, they probably won't. But going into it well-informed helps a lot.
Best to know your adversary, isn't that the cliche? Going into the game with a real understanding of the rules is very important, I think. Thanks for your comment. Lynda
I guess I'm in that 3.4% that has sold more books than others on Createspace. If you are in a tight niche market (one that is too small for the "big boys") but big enough for a few little guys to get out there you can make a pretty good profit. I'd say the key is market research if you are to self publish.
Glad to hear of your success paradisehunter. Of course, for every rule there are exceptions, but best not to count on being one of them. Understanding the odds and what you're up against is important in any endeavor. Tell me, do you write fiction or non-fiction? Thanks for commenting. Lynda
I'm ready for love! I need to dance, gotta dance! gotta dance... So I have three books written and nobody to read them... I'm like Van Gogh...I'll be famous when dead !
C'est la vie...as they say...Where is my guardian angel?
Tell us more about your projects. I'd love to hear. Lynda
Very informative and you definitely know your math. I liked your article. Let the truth be told. It's good to have some realistic expectations.
Not only good, but necessary, FaithDream. Only a fool leaps before looking. Know where you're going and understand books are sold one by one. Thanks for commenting. Lynda
Hello Lynda, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on publishing a book. It really is a wake-up call, making ones self aware of everything needed, and whats to be expected is very helpful. I have several ideas about a few books I am working on, but I am also aware I still have so much to learn. It's hubbers like you, that makes me so happy I found Hub pages. Thank you for sharing your gift. Take care Carter
Thank you, Carter. We are all constantly learning, or should be. When we stop learning, we die. Glad to make your acquaintance here in life's great classroom. Lynda
Hi there. I'm putting together a proposal for a non-fiction book and am looking for some stats on book publications, writer organizations, etc. Could you tell me where you got your statistics on the number of books published annually? Thanks.
Thanks!
Hi becca, my stats come from the American Publishing Association, and a few other places. Easy to find. What's your subject? Lynda
lmmartin, I had no illusions about how difficult getting published can be much less to get rich doing it. Your hub really drives the point home though. Fortunately, I don't need to derive income from writing so I can do it for the pure joy of it. If anything ever gets published, then that will be gravy. Thanks for the eye opening hub.
Excellent article, but still, knowing all that, I self published and am happy I did. But editing? Oh my gosh, you MUST edit. In fact, my co-author and I have proofread, edited, and revised our works many many times. We are not happy with them unless we are convinced after countless readings that they are without errors. Writers - you must edit and proofread your work. If you are not lucky enough to work with a very proficient co-writer like mine, then you should spend the money for a professional editor. It is worth it.
Hi Poetic Fool -- Doing anything for the pure joy of doing it is by far the best approach, and it shows. Those who write primarily for money -- well, that shows too.
Hi Karen -- While you are correct that editing and proofreading are absolutely necessary, they are not the same thing. Many self-published works are without error insofar as grammar and spelling are concerned because of good proofreading, but are not up to par due to lack of editing -- deciding which elements of the story should stay or go, be cut or expanded and so forth. That is where a good editor is invaluable.
Thanks to both for commenting here. Lynda
Ann Nonymous 2 years ago
Awww, Lynda I so enjoyed the first part!!! You really described the writers dream so well! It's like you got a look in my brain!
But wow did I need to read on! Great job helping us realize what it's like out there once we begin to get real serious! Great hub!