Writing a Book

[LongtimeLurker]

Surely there are plenty of authors on this forum. Did you choose the self-publishing route or did you try and get an agent and a publishing deal? Would you recommend the route you took? Was this route successful?

TLDR backstory is I wrote a book, have edited it, and think its ready for consumption by the public. I have reached out to some publishing agents and gotten crickets or polite rejections and wanted some info/advice.

[Smokystache]

I've had a non-fiction research-practice book for my professional field (psychology) published with one of the big presses (Routledge, owned by Taylor-Francis). I didn't have my own agent - just worked with my editor). I'm glad I did it, but DW and I joke that my 6 month royalty check can "almost" cover sushi for our family of 5.

I'm working on a new book that would broadly fall into the self-help/personal wellness category. I plan to self-publish -- and will likely do so even if a professional publisher showed interest. My reasons include:
- I want complete control of the title, content, cover, timeline,etc.
- I don't expect that sales of my book could be all that significant, but it's possible that it could lead to paid speaking gigs and consulting
- I want the option to sell my book directly from my own website.
- I want complete control over the price, giving away numerous free copies, and control of the e-book and audio book
- Traditional publishers won't invest anything in sharing/promoting your book until it's already selling well ... and if I put the work into making it sell well, then I want more than a 10-15% cut.
- There are more and more options that allow you to possibly get a self-published book into bookstores. I think that was impossible when I published my first book (about 10 years ago). 

There are huge differences based on the type of book: fiction, non-fiction (how-to), historical non-fiction. Can you share a little more about your book. And congrats on finishing it! As you've already experienced, many people will say "I should/could write a book" but there's only a tiny fraction of those who actually follow through.

[reeshau]

The most recent episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, from Freakonomics, discusses the economics of romance novels.  While I have no idea if their royalty percentages are typical, a good deal of the short (21 minutes) story is on a general switch to self-publishing and ebooks--to the better for the authors.

[LongtimeLurker]

Thank you for your responses. I will check out the link, definitely. The book is fiction, in the contemporary adventure/mystery genre.

[solon]

@mjchamb wrote a book

[Smokystache]

@Nick_Miller  has been writing for a while and has shared his experiences with writing fiction

[Chris Pascale]

I went through a vanity press back in 2006 and learned that even with a product not fit for the market, and a disreputable publisher, you could still get into stores if you're making the phone calls.

My short novel was very obviously influenced from a few Charles Bukowski stories, but it made its way into some Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Waldenbooks, college bookstores. I put together a 25-event book tour (mostly within 2 hours of my home) where I sold an avg of 7 copies per event. Some bookstores would take 5-10 copies, and if they weren't selling they'd offload them to the county library buyer, or someone else that came around buying books indiscriminately.

After that experience I didn't like that EVERYTHING made the cut with self-publishing. It's why I don't have a website of my own now. I like having feedback, a second set of eyes, and someone who has to put their own stamp of approval on the work.

If it's rejected and I really believe in it I try to publish it elsewhere. For example, the Journal of Accountancy was going to publish this piece before backing out at the last minute - https://agnituslife.com/surrogacy-as-a-tax-deduction/ - but I thought nope, this needs to be out there so I tried lots of tax and law journals, parenting sites, civil rights sites, law firms with blogs.

50 or 60 attempts later, it's on a site run by my uncle.

[JupiterGreen]

I went through a vanity press back in 2006 and learned that even with a product not fit for the market, and a disreputable publisher, you could still get into stores if you're making the phone calls.

My short novel was very obviously influenced from a few Charles Bukowski stories, but it made its way into some Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Waldenbooks, college bookstores. I put together a 25-event book tour (mostly within 2 hours of my home) where I sold an avg of 7 copies per event. Some bookstores would take 5-10 copies, and if they weren't selling they'd offload them to the county library buyer, or someone else that came around buying books indiscriminately.

After that experience I didn't like that EVERYTHING made the cut with self-publishing. It's why I don't have a website of my own now. I like having feedback, a second set of eyes, and someone who has to put their own stamp of approval on the work.

If it's rejected and I really believe in it I try to publish it elsewhere. For example, the Journal of Accountancy was going to publish this piece before backing out at the last minute - https://agnituslife.com/surrogacy-as-a-tax-deduction/ - but I thought nope, this needs to be out there so I tried lots of tax and law journals, parenting sites, civil rights sites, law firms with blogs.

50 or 60 attempts later, it's on a site run by my uncle.

Interesting, do you know how much you made on that self-published book accounting for your time and travel? So you still get risiduals?

[mjchamb]

@mjchamb wrote a book

I'm giving a talk to ColumbusFI in February and giving away free copies. If anyone reading this is interested, message me last week of February and i'll ship you any leftovers copies for free.

Also, Solon, I had a windfall recently and am thinking I will, per your advice, pay a professional editor. I may make the edited version a separate edition...kind of leave the OG as a "director's cut".

Best,
Matt C

[Nadia Edits]

I work in the publishing industry. Successful self-publishers tend to be entrepreneurial. They handle every aspect of the process themselves, except for tasks they might hire out, like editing and cover art. Some writers find that level of control liberating, while others are understandably intimidated by it. I've heard David Gaughran's LET'S GET DIGITAL recommended as a starter guide to self-publishing if that's helpful to you.

[Chris Pascale]

I went through a vanity press back in 2006 and learned that even with a product not fit for the market, and a disreputable publisher, you could still get into stores if you're making the phone calls.

My short novel was very obviously influenced from a few Charles Bukowski stories, but it made its way into some Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Waldenbooks, college bookstores. I put together a 25-event book tour (mostly within 2 hours of my home) where I sold an avg of 7 copies per event. Some bookstores would take 5-10 copies, and if they weren't selling they'd offload them to the county library buyer, or someone else that came around buying books indiscriminately.

After that experience I didn't like that EVERYTHING made the cut with self-publishing. It's why I don't have a website of my own now. I like having feedback, a second set of eyes, and someone who has to put their own stamp of approval on the work.

If it's rejected and I really believe in it I try to publish it elsewhere. For example, the Journal of Accountancy was going to publish this piece before backing out at the last minute - https://agnituslife.com/surrogacy-as-a-tax-deduction/ - but I thought nope, this needs to be out there so I tried lots of tax and law journals, parenting sites, civil rights sites, law firms with blogs.

50 or 60 attempts later, it's on a site run by my uncle.

Interesting, do you know how much you made on that self-published book accounting for your time and travel? So you still get risiduals?

Through traditional means, I was getting $3.60 per copy sold in royalties. Copies I sold myself had a gross profit of $4.50. Retail price of the book was $9.00. Some bookstores had me handle the sale of my book separately and others put it in their own inventory, but let's say it's $4.00 a copy x 800 copies sold.

Gross income was about $3,200. Initial payout on the ripoff vanity press printing was $8,950. I probably had a net loss of $7,000.

Have not gotten a royalty check on that book since 2009, but during the book tour I landed a contract with a traditional publisher for my next novel. Unfortunately, he went bust in the housing crash so asked if I'd split the cost with him. Having had the bad experience with the vanity press, I balked, but maybe should have given it a shot because of what I might have learned about setting up my own distribution, advertising, etc. I would have been able to obtain valuable contacts, maybe. Also, his version of "going half" might not have been that much in the end.

[Chris Pascale]

@mjchamb wrote a book

I'm giving a talk to ColumbusFI in February and giving away free copies. If anyone reading this is interested, message me last week of February and i'll ship you any leftovers copies for free.

Also, Solon, I had a windfall recently and am thinking I will, per your advice, pay a professional editor. I may make the edited version a separate edition...kind of leave the OG as a "director's cut".

Best,
Matt C

Tell me more about ColumbusFI.

[JupiterGreen]

I went through a vanity press back in 2006 and learned that even with a product not fit for the market, and a disreputable publisher, you could still get into stores if you're making the phone calls.

My short novel was very obviously influenced from a few Charles Bukowski stories, but it made its way into some Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Waldenbooks, college bookstores. I put together a 25-event book tour (mostly within 2 hours of my home) where I sold an avg of 7 copies per event. Some bookstores would take 5-10 copies, and if they weren't selling they'd offload them to the county library buyer, or someone else that came around buying books indiscriminately.

After that experience I didn't like that EVERYTHING made the cut with self-publishing. It's why I don't have a website of my own now. I like having feedback, a second set of eyes, and someone who has to put their own stamp of approval on the work.

If it's rejected and I really believe in it I try to publish it elsewhere. For example, the Journal of Accountancy was going to publish this piece before backing out at the last minute - https://agnituslife.com/surrogacy-as-a-tax-deduction/ - but I thought nope, this needs to be out there so I tried lots of tax and law journals, parenting sites, civil rights sites, law firms with blogs.

50 or 60 attempts later, it's on a site run by my uncle.

Interesting, do you know how much you made on that self-published book accounting for your time and travel? So you still get risiduals?

Through traditional means, I was getting $3.60 per copy sold in royalties. Copies I sold myself had a gross profit of $4.50. Retail price of the book was $9.00. Some bookstores had me handle the sale of my book separately and others put it in their own inventory, but let's say it's $4.00 a copy x 800 copies sold.

Gross income was about $3,200. Initial payout on the ripoff vanity press printing was $8,950. I probably had a net loss of $7,000.

Have not gotten a royalty check on that book since 2009, but during the book tour I landed a contract with a traditional publisher for my next novel. Unfortunately, he went bust in the housing crash so asked if I'd split the cost with him. Having had the bad experience with the vanity press, I balked, but maybe should have given it a shot because of what I might have learned about setting up my own distribution, advertising, etc. I would have been able to obtain valuable contacts, maybe. Also, his version of "going half" might not have been that much in the end.

That is really interesting. Thank you for sharing your numbers!