You've got an amazing, awesome, terrific book. It just needs a little editing and a good cover, and it'll be a hit. So someone says you should self-publish it in hopes of picking up a traditional publisher and getting published.
MYTH
A very common myth, and one many, many debut authors fall for. I do mean it's exceedingly common, which is why I'm posting this. Here's why it's a myth:
1) Self-publish. When you self-publish a book, you are published. 100% published.
2) Traditional publishers do sometimes pick up self-published books, stick covers on them, and officially distribute them. They do this with self-published books that have already hit the best-sellers chart. If you've sold over 20,000 copies, or about 1,000 copies a month, this might be an option. Otherwise, shop another book.
Traditional publishers are out to make money. Therefore, when they look for a self-published book to pick up, what they're looking for is a proven money-maker. See #2. If a book does not have large sales already, it's a proven non-money-maker, or at least evidenced as not being earning potential. They're not interested in purchasing a book that has been published, thus already having been marketed to potential readers and possibly tapping out the market, that has not already made money. It's technically possible that you'll get picked up--technically.
It's sort of like selling cupcakes at a roadside stand, hoping that the local festival would give you one of their 30 designated food stands for that very night--if people aren't lining up by the hundreds to get more because they're just that good, well, you've already sold cupcakes to most of the people who are hungry for them. Why would the festival want to risk selling cupcakes when they could give that spot to the pie-maker, whose pies haven't been out on the market yet? Nobody's had their pie craving filled yet, so the festival (we assume it earns a commission based on your sales) will probably earn more from pies.
That's why publishers are more likely to pick up unpublished authors than self-published authors unless the self-published author can bring in a guaranteed clientele. It's no benefit to the traditional publisher. They have to invest money into cover art and editing, for sales that might already be tapped out, for a book that's possibly already gotten a reputation for being poorly edited.
On the other hand, the news isn't all bad if you're one of the many who have fallen into this myth. Since you plan on being a career author anyway (I assume you are, since the best way to sell books is to write more, and the only way to make a continual salary is to write more--you won't be able to support yourself for a lifetime from the income of single book!), you've got another manuscript in the works/ready to go/formulating in your head. Shop that one to publishers. It can be published under a different name if they're worried about your brand.
Or, decide to go completely self-publishing. Write that second book, edit it, get professional cover art. Learn the ins-and-outs of self-publishing. Become business savvy and go the self-publishing route on purpose. You can make a sustainable living through self-publishing, and with the higher royalty rates, you can do so selling fewer books than you'd have to through a traditional publisher to make a living. Yes, it's a higher initial investment--but it can pay off.
Lots of authors are going the self-publishing route these days. It is a financially sound decision, and there are good reasons for it, just like there are good reasons to traditionally publish. There are also the authors who go hybrid, traditionally published authors who self-publish, and successful self-published authors who make traditional publication deals after reaching that 20,000 sales mark.
Either way, your first step is to clean up your first, self-published book. Get it edited. Get a better cover. Take down the old version and put up the improved version. Track your sales, network, and learn the ins-and-outs of marketing (you'll have to do that any route you take).
No, you shouldn't self-publish a book you want to be traditionally published. But there's no reason to be discouraged if you did--after all, you can write a different series and traditionally publish that, or decide that self-publishing is the right route for you, after all.
 |
| Towel Bunny says, "It's a trap!" |
A very common myth, and one many, many debut authors fall for. I do mean it's exceedingly common, which is why I'm posting this. Here's why it's a myth:
1) Self-publish. When you self-publish a book, you are published. 100% published.
2) Traditional publishers do sometimes pick up self-published books, stick covers on them, and officially distribute them. They do this with self-published books that have already hit the best-sellers chart. If you've sold over 20,000 copies, or about 1,000 copies a month, this might be an option. Otherwise, shop another book.
Traditional publishers are out to make money. Therefore, when they look for a self-published book to pick up, what they're looking for is a proven money-maker. See #2. If a book does not have large sales already, it's a proven non-money-maker, or at least evidenced as not being earning potential. They're not interested in purchasing a book that has been published, thus already having been marketed to potential readers and possibly tapping out the market, that has not already made money. It's technically possible that you'll get picked up--technically.
It's sort of like selling cupcakes at a roadside stand, hoping that the local festival would give you one of their 30 designated food stands for that very night--if people aren't lining up by the hundreds to get more because they're just that good, well, you've already sold cupcakes to most of the people who are hungry for them. Why would the festival want to risk selling cupcakes when they could give that spot to the pie-maker, whose pies haven't been out on the market yet? Nobody's had their pie craving filled yet, so the festival (we assume it earns a commission based on your sales) will probably earn more from pies.
That's why publishers are more likely to pick up unpublished authors than self-published authors unless the self-published author can bring in a guaranteed clientele. It's no benefit to the traditional publisher. They have to invest money into cover art and editing, for sales that might already be tapped out, for a book that's possibly already gotten a reputation for being poorly edited.
On the other hand, the news isn't all bad if you're one of the many who have fallen into this myth. Since you plan on being a career author anyway (I assume you are, since the best way to sell books is to write more, and the only way to make a continual salary is to write more--you won't be able to support yourself for a lifetime from the income of single book!), you've got another manuscript in the works/ready to go/formulating in your head. Shop that one to publishers. It can be published under a different name if they're worried about your brand.
Or, decide to go completely self-publishing. Write that second book, edit it, get professional cover art. Learn the ins-and-outs of self-publishing. Become business savvy and go the self-publishing route on purpose. You can make a sustainable living through self-publishing, and with the higher royalty rates, you can do so selling fewer books than you'd have to through a traditional publisher to make a living. Yes, it's a higher initial investment--but it can pay off.
Lots of authors are going the self-publishing route these days. It is a financially sound decision, and there are good reasons for it, just like there are good reasons to traditionally publish. There are also the authors who go hybrid, traditionally published authors who self-publish, and successful self-published authors who make traditional publication deals after reaching that 20,000 sales mark.
Either way, your first step is to clean up your first, self-published book. Get it edited. Get a better cover. Take down the old version and put up the improved version. Track your sales, network, and learn the ins-and-outs of marketing (you'll have to do that any route you take).
No, you shouldn't self-publish a book you want to be traditionally published. But there's no reason to be discouraged if you did--after all, you can write a different series and traditionally publish that, or decide that self-publishing is the right route for you, after all.
What are your opinions on e-book publishing? It's a direction I'm more interested in than self-publishing physical books.
ReplyDeleteOne of my professors has published several traditional books but with his latest one his publisher wanted to make so many changes he and his agent decided self-publishing an e-book was the way to go. He said that with the rise of e-readers e-book publishing is rising in popularity. Of course you still want to get a professional editor and get a professional cover.
Just curious since you make no mention of it.
By self-publishing, I mean e-books. It's almost senseless to self-publish a physical book if you aren't building an audience through e-books; it's also enormously difficult to make a profit by going print-only. Generally the term "self-publishing" defaults to e-books today, with many self-publishers also offering versions of the story available in print through print-on-demand publishers as a service for fans, but not as a primary vehicle for the majority of their sales.
DeleteHowever, the reverse nomenclature is NOT true: traditional publishers put out e-book versions of books concurrently or even before physical versions nowadays, too, so it's not something just self-publishing authors produce. Therefore, while self-publishing usually means e-books (only or mostly), e-books do not mean self-publishing. In fact, many traditional publishers are beginning e-first lines, which means the book will at first be available only in e-book format.
Hope that clears things up! Thanks for commenting, Chloe!
The thing that most scares me is how much the industry has changed in just the time since I started writing my first complete (and still unpublished) novel. Only a few years ago, self-publishing was still sneered at by "serious" writers and I was aiming for trad print publishing. Now the possibilities have opened up enormously, and I feel like I'm shooting at a moving target.
ReplyDeleteIt's terrifying, yeah. The industry has changed as much in the past 5 years as it has in about the previous 200. But it's also exciting: now the possibilities have opened up! That means you have more opportunities than ever before, and more say in how and when your book is published, because there is no "one right way"--so it's a moving target, but it's 100 times wider than it used to be stationary. Intimidating? Heck yeah. But your chances have never been better.
Delete"May you live in interesting times," indeed, eh?
I am currently in the midst of self-publishing my next book. I've been traditionally published, and like you say in your post, I was one of those authors who was not pleased with the cover or design the publisher chose for my last book. Nor was I pleased with their (lack of) marketing efforts. So for the book I'm currently working on, I am thrilled that I get to choose the cover, help design the layout and which photos are used. It really will be a reflection of what I hoped to achieve with the book, and I'm betting that the chocolate-loving public will agree. (I'm writing a series of books about the best chocolate and chocolate experiences of the world.)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with self-publishing! It sounds like your book will be fantastic. Or maybe that's just because it's about chocolate... Mmmmm, chocolate. ;) But then, the siren lure of being able to devote the care and attention to get what your book deserves does make a difference, doesn't it?
Delete"Skedesa-Spartascus sister" and "The Living Treasure" two of my books great for movies= Looking for a good directors!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love the way you spell your name. Secondly, this is good, honest sound advice. I have been wondering along these lines, and you have cleared up several questions for me.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found this useful! And thanks for commenting!
DeleteI self published four books. No one marketed them well and they now sit in a closet...
ReplyDeleteWell written. When all this time I thought e-books are evolving greatly over printed books. Often I heard about best selling printed books that are now available on e-books, but never heard marketing e-books through traditional published ones. Well, unless you try it to me. I'm still coping up with the e-book trend, since I started making a living with SEO. Rarely did they publish printed manuals about it. But way back in my teaching years, books are my best friend.
ReplyDeleteGood books are always good friends. ;) Thanks for commenting!
DeleteWhat a great article! Thank you for these tips. I am currently in a situation where I am trying to follow my dream and this is exactly what I needed to hear! http://indresult.com
ReplyDeleteI am a self published author, my book was published over a year ago. I just recently was picked up by a traditional publisher. I am pretty excited about it. For me personally, it solidifies that I have written a quality book. My friends and family are going to tell me it's great of course but when someone who reads and writes books often themselves tells you that your material is unique as well as interesting it just means so much more. My book is titled Ananse Presents: An Emotional Journey Through Love and Lust by Mr Cheverro Ananse Savage
ReplyDeleteLink: http://amzn.com/148195220X
You also feel that being with a traditional publisher gives you credibility. It is just a good feeling all around. It gives me the confidence to be more aggressive with my next book and go all out.