dont quit your day job - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Mike C · 05-10-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleCPA

I actually think non-fiction writing economics may work better.

Interesting perspective... thanks!

SeattleCPA · 05-10-2007, 11:14 PM

I know that this isn't very exciting, but I really think that self-publishing via the web offers writers really, really excellent economics these days.

I have heard more than one writer (okay, well, maybe the number is two) say that one can do white paper length documents that make more money for the author than a little piece of a bestseller does.

Think about a $20 book, e.g.. B&N or Borders or Amazon gets $10 of that.

Of the ten dollars that's left, the printer gets $2. And the distributor or book rep maybe gets $1 or $2.

The publisher, despite what you may think, isn't really stupid. She wants $4 or $5.

Sure, that technically leaves you, the author with a $1 or $2... except your agent wants 15% of that.

In comparison, if you write a booklet about great B&Bs in Montana or about tuning an old piano yourself, you may be able to sell 1000 copies or more... and make maybe $30 a unit.

Apologies for typos I'm sure are here.... I'm too tired to edit. Long day.

Mike C · 05-11-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleCPA

you may be able to sell 1000 copies or more...

Sure, and many have. But they're the ones who've planned their business and their sales. It's impossible to sell 1000 - or even 100 - copies by accident.

valeca · 05-11-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Sure, and many have. But they're the ones who've planned their business and their sales. It's impossible to sell 1000 - or even 100 - copies by accident.

It's not impossible, it's just unlikely. I sold more than 300 'by accident', with no business plan and zero marketing. And it was fiction. As far as I know the only family/friends to buy a copy was Selorian--the rest of them I didn't bother telling, nor would they have really cared.

SeattleCPA · 05-11-2007, 07:12 PM

I think targeted self-publishing projects can sell easier than you might think. And easier than the alternative. With a self-publishing project, for example, you're thinking of a publication that'll be worth enough to some group of readers that they'll give you money...and then you'll use a web site or whatever to promote.

With non-self-publishing, in contrast, you've got a long chain of buyers... first, you try to make your book stand out to an agent so he or she accepts it.. second, you try to make your book stand out on a publisher's list so it gets some TLC from the editorial staff.. third, you try to make the book stand out (again) on the publisher's list so it gets some TLC from the sales staff after it's done... fourth, you want to your book get PR so people will know about its very existence (via book reviews, media appearances, etc)... fifth (and sort of simultaneous with preceding two steps) you need to make your book stand out to bookstore buyers who have thousands of alternatives (even after you've come this far!)... and then, like sixth or something, you want your book to stand out to readers looking for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon at the beach.

If any one of these links fails or breaks or whatever, you're basically wasting your time (if you goal is either to have readers or make money).

So, seriously, you think the non-self-published route is easy? Yikes. Not me. It sometimes really sucks.

Also, a closely related point: You don't get to skip thinking about the audience (which is how I'd sum up the subject you're referring to as business planning) if you're asking somebody else to publish your work. Making the publisher's profit and loss statement work for your book is one of the key things you need to cover (at least implicitly) when you talk with publishers.

G. Palmer · 05-11-2007, 08:32 PM

I reckon you'd get a lot more satisfaction from getting a book through the publishing industry then publishing it yourself.

SeattleCPA · 05-12-2007, 09:32 AM

The first time (probably the first few times) you see something you've written in print, it is awfully fun. The books even smell good.

Walking into a bookstore and seeing your books on the shelves is awfully fun, too.

Seeing a title on a bestseller list is awfully fun.

But like everything else, I guess, after a while, the thrill (or much of it) goes away.

Working with John Wiley & Sons and their Dummies press (they publish my currently in-print books) is really, really good. My editors there and publishing execs are good people. But rewinding the tape of my life a bit to some of the other people who've published my books in the past, I got to tell you that one gets pretty tired arguing over some paragraph with a young editor who doesn't like some word you've used. (Seriously, I remember a long argument over "may" versus "might"...And one gets pretty bummed out to put blood, sweat and tears into some project and then have the sales force abandon it a few months later.

Also, at some point, writing truly does become just another job. And you need to make sure that you're getting paid top dollar for your skills.

Sorry if I'm bumming people out. I would say this. You need to make sure you're having fun writing, making whatever living you need to make, and doing work you feel good about doing. You can do that via traditional or non-traditional routes to your audience.

evadri · 05-12-2007, 08:00 PM

I think publication through either route would be equally satisfying. Through a company, because it's a sign that other people are interested in your work. Self-publishing, because it's entirely your project and so if you succeed in getting it out there and generating interest, you have only yourself to thank.

As for quitting the day job, well... My (part time) day job is soooo boring and mindless. And sometimes that is depressing. But on the days that I've had enough sleep, it's the perfect time to brainstorm. The fact that I'm doing something unrelated with my hands seems to jog my mind into action - more than if I'm just sitting at my desk trying to think of an idea. So there is value (besides the money) in me having this job that requires no mental exersion. While I've been at work, I've written entire songs, I've come up with entire plotlines - probably because that's not what I'm MEANT to be doing, so there's no pressure. Would I like to quit this job and work full time on writing and music? You bet. But I do understand that this job is a balance and creative catalyst.