The Publishing Challenges
Author’s today face challenges on several fronts.
First, because of the ease in publishing in digital formats, more and more people are writing a book. That doesn’t mean what they write is any good – or that it will sell. But the marketplace is crowded with more titles that ever before.
I want to pause here a moment and talk about what you write. Make sure it is your passion. Otherwise you will lose interest over time. When you are passionate about your topic, it becomes your mission. The image below is an example of what happens when your passion, your strengths, and what you think the world needs (your topic) intersect.
Second, every author wants to be published by a mainstream publishing house. That has always been the sign that they have reached the “big time.” Authors spend month after month, year after year, trying to reach the magical pinacle of book success. If and when it happens, they suddenly discover that the publisher is not really selling their books. That is up to them.
So the challenge is to decide which way to go.
You can choose to continue to court publishers with your book proposals and manuscripts in hopes of getting an elusive contract. You’ll earn anywhere from 7% to 15%, usually based on sales numbers and the publisher’s royalty plan. They will “own” the book in any and all formats – literally forever.
Or, you can choose to publish your writing as an eBook. You can go through the relatively easy process of having your file converted into a format acceptable by Kindle and iPad, the two largest eReader sellers, and you will own the published work. Depending on the price point you choose, and the platform (Amazon or Apple), you will make anywhere from 33% to 70% of the book’s price.
You’ll make more from the sale of a $9.99 eBook than you will through the sale of a $19.99 print book. You’ll be an “published author.” Yes, you still need to make sales and if your are smart, you leanr about marketing a book.
Let me give you some numbers. I have a mainstream published book, Fixing Your Feet, that is available in print form for $19.95 and in Kindle form for $9.99. My royality for a print sale is 15%, about $1.50. My royality for a Kindle sale is close to $2.00. I make more from the sale of a lesser priced version of my book.
I won’t kid you. Writing a book and getting it on Amazon in Kindle format does take time and energy, and getting sales takes more time and energy. But you can either spend that energy getting sales for your publisher, for a lower royality, or for yourself, for a higher amount.
It’s your choice.
As alway’s, I welcome your comments.
Comments
2 Comments on The Publishing Challenges
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George Austin on
Mon, 13th Feb 2012 2:53 pm
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John Vonhof on
Wed, 15th Feb 2012 6:33 pm
That diagram and what you said about it was some of the best advice ever. I think that’s the kind of thing every high school student (or everybody, regardless their age) should hear.
I’m glad I found your blog.
Oh, and I’ll be at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. Hope to see you there.
The interesting thing is that this applies to life in general too. Thanks.
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and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
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