Self-publishing

[Saigon]

"90% of Science Fiction is crap," (Wait for the outrage to subside) "then again, 90% of EVERYTHING is crap."

I may not have run a publishing company, I respect that. But I have done my homework.

Having worked in book publishing, I know anything marked 'short story', 'novella', 'sci fi', 'fantasy' or worst of all, 'poetry' is likely to be dumped staright into the bin.

Saying 90% is crap is far, far too kind.

Of the manuscripts sent to publishers, probably 99% of laugh-out-oud bad.

 

[BDBoop]

"90% of Science Fiction is crap," (Wait for the outrage to subside) "then again, 90% of EVERYTHING is crap."

I may not have run a publishing company, I respect that. But I have done my homework.

Having worked in book publishing, I know anything marked 'short story', 'novella', 'sci fi', 'fantasy' or worst of all, 'poetry' is likely to be dumped staright into the bin.

Saying 90% is crap is far, far too kind.

Of the manuscripts sent to publishers, probably 99% of laugh-out-oud bad.

Yup! And that's why we are going around you all.

 

[Saigon]

BdBoop -

Sidestepping publishers won't make terribly books sell. It gets them out there for friends and family to buy, but a terrible book is still a terrible book, even in electronic format.

Publishers do not reject books purely because they lack literary merit - but because they lack sales potential.

I don't mean to be smashing peoples dreams here - I'm just trying tp put aross the reality of publishing.

Selling a book succesffuly is no easier than launching a band and setting out to conquer the world.

 

[BDBoop]

My nephew shopped a book for a year - and when he self-publishes that one, I will let you know. The book he did release is doing great. So: I'm sorry, but I just can no longer swallow the premise that you all should be the arbiters of what people need to have access to, i.e. what will, in your estimation, 'sell.'

 

[Saigon]

Bd -

It's not about being an 'arbiter', it's about having an understanding of what works and what does not work.

It's not a 100% science, and of course some self-published books will find a niche market, and some way sell well. But based on the last ressearch I saw, around 95% do not.

At one stage, the average sale for self-published books (excluding academic books, which work better) was around 38 copies. Sales of over 100 were almost unknown.

 

[BDBoop]

At what stage.

 

[Saigon]

Bd -

I don't recall a lot about the survey I saw, but I may try to find it. It was a couple of years ago now.

The conclusion was that people like academics often do well, because they can email colleagues around the world, or speak at seminars and reach a ready audience. Likewise, someone like a motivational speakers or TV host can basically market their own book.

But people selling fiction or memoirs....most sales will be to friends and family.

 

[Unkotare]

I guess there is more money in self-publishing.

Not for 99.999% there isn't.

 

[Big Fitz]

I guess there is more money in self-publishing.

Not for 99.999% there isn't.

Sturgeons law applies even to writers. 90% of all writers never see the light of day. Out of the rest, they have a chance, but that's all.

Think of it this way, what's the failure rate of new businesses? 75% 80%? Franchises I know can be even harder. In the creative fields, what's unemployment for actors in their field? 95%? Musicians have it a little better, but not by much. Artists? Dear gawd!

I got to interview an author once about the job career and as she put it, more people are in love with the IDEA of being a writer, than with the actual effort of BEING a writer.

So, this is not a surprise that so many don't make it. It's always been that way. Self publishing only makes it somewhat easier. Unfortunately, it lowered the bar for putting out crap too.

 

[BDBoop]

I guess there is more money in self-publishing.

Not for 99.999% there isn't.

Unk, when you talk out your ass, you really go big.

 

[BDBoop]

What cracks me up is Nicholas Sparks SUCKS. But who is on the best-seller list every time he farts? BTSOOM, but his publishers are making big bank, so more of the same it is!

 

[Unkotare]

I guess there is more money in self-publishing.

Not for 99.999% there isn't.

Unk, when you talk out your ass, you really go big.

If I ever do I guess we'll find out.

 

[Big Fitz]

What cracks me up is Nicholas Sparks SUCKS. But who is on the best-seller list every time he farts? BTSOOM, but his publishers are making big bank, so more of the same it is!

Who?

 

[BDBoop]

NYT best-selling author. The Notebook, etc.

 

[Big Fitz]

NYT best-selling author. The Notebook, etc.

Again... who? These words you use mean nothing to me.