I’ve been thinking a lot about the plight of new authors trying to sell books. My novel Symbiosis is still being edited and I haven’t decided whether I’m going to aim for the publishers I’d most like to see on the spine of my book or whether I’m going to try to go it alone.
When I imagine the sheer numbers of titles available online places like Amazon, I wonder what is it that will bring a reader to mine? To depend on luck of the draw seems futile. So I’ve been writing short stories and working on getting them placed in the publications readers of my genre are likely to traffic.
One of the questions I have for authors who have already published is this:
Before your book was released did you write short stories and get them published in the genre magazines?
I know at least in fantasy and scifi, the fan community read magazines like Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, or Asimov’s or the few other upper tier publications. Authors with stories in those markets are getting seen by a large section of readers in that genre. If I can get my stories into markets like that, when I do have a book ready to sell, my name should at least be recognized by a few.
If you did not write short stories, did you do anything else to get your name out there so readers would have some name recognition?
I haven’t a clue how many is a good amount of page loads per day, still feeling around in the dark on that end of the game.
And last, do you have a blog and if so, what kind of traffic are you getting there and do your blog followers buy your books?
Agent, editor, publisher, or publicist, if you are reading these questions, I’d love your input.
And last again, how many copies of your books do you expect to sell in the first year they are released?
Okay. One more. This is really, honestly, the last question:
Do you have a business plan to make all this happen?
***
Hmmm.
There was a programme on BBC tv the other night. the figure quoted for usual total sales for an “ordinary author” is between 1k and 3k, and often much less, and this is those published by a traditional publisher.
I did and do write short stories, but apart from a few published in various magazines round the world, I didn’t make any sort of effort. I don’t write a particualr genre, that might make it easier to target.
I do blog. I was blogging long before I decided to go independent. I get an average of about 100 hits a day and as far as I am aware, a significant number of readers also buy my books.
Expectation of sales? Hmm. No idea. But putting my first book onto Kindle meant sales soared. The second one sold more in the first month than the first did in its first year.
No, no business plan. This is very much feel my way. I think that things are changing too rapidly to have a realistic hope of any plan staying on schedule. Time to think on your feet and watch the tides, all the time.
Hope hat helped.
The only thing I had published was four articles in scientific journals
Not something I could put in a query letter but something I’m proud of just the same! I actually began building my platform long before I self-published my first book. I had Facebook and and a blog to start and then quickly got a website and Twitter account. I get some traffic on my website (average of about 25 hits a day) but it’s small potatoes compared to some. I keep hoping it will steadily increase over time but it just seems to go in cycles.
I WAY too optimistically thought I would sell a few thousand books my first year (HA!) and haven’t come even close (couple hundred is more like it). It’s hard not to get frustrated and want to give up (self-publishing is EXPENSIVE!!!) but I am not a quitter
Actually, I didn’t have a plan at ALL when I first started. I just saw what others were doing and did some Google searches and just sort of did lots of stuff. I figure if I get my name out there, it’s gotta be good for something, right??
Thanks Shay and Viv. I’m going to have to have a plan, even if there are dozens of contingency plans to use in the event one becomes impossible, lol. I just can’t operate without it.
Writing the shorts is part of the plan, but what if I never get any published in the markets I’m shooting for? That would cause me to fall back on a contingency, I guess.
*Sigh*
I’m going to have to keep thinking and start reading some of the advice columns by the ones who’ve done something similar to what I’m trying to do, keep editing, and hopefully have a course plotted by the time I’m ready.
I started with a novella, then a novel, then short stories, all on Smashwords. Much later I put the novella and novel on KDP. I started blogging 2 years ago when I started putting out my graphic novels (which didn’t sell, in case you were wondering!
) – when I also opened my FB “fan” page (at the time that was what it was called – some strangers “liked” me, but none of them bought any of my stuff).
And my blog is mostly for writers, no readers yet – but for them, you only need a web page with updates only on upcoming books and stuff like that.
I don’t expect any particular number for sales, I know it will be very slow the first year, but as long as I keep churning out books, my readers will eventually find me (I’m at 17 on Smashwords, 7 on KDP and lost count on Lulu).
And yes, I do have a business plan now that I’ve learned to think like a publisher (but it was a 5-year plan from the beginning, based on the 1000true fans theory that made me start blogging)!
I didn’t publish any short stories before a novel. At that time, we were going about things the traditional route with ads and a tour. Now I’m doing social media, and am reaching a far greater number of potential readers than before. Also, you almost always lose money on physical books.
I have a blog. The traffic is so-so, because I only post once a week, but it’s all I can handle right now. Some of my readers there have also bought my books.
Several friends have told me that their initial ebook sales were slow at first, but do seem to pick up after they’ve been out there a while. So I don’t expect to sell a great lot.
I don’t have a business head, but I’m learning, because I have to. I did follow Kristin Lamb’s strategic plan, though, in “The Writer’s Guide to Social Media” and “Are You There, Blog, It’s Me, Writer”.
Thanks, Mike. I’m one who likes to plan ahead and this topic has been on my mind all weekend. I needed feedback from those who have ‘been there, done that’.
Hi Barb, I’m surprised your graphic novels didn’t sell. But that’s part of the things I’m thinking about… how to get product sold. Do you have any idea why?
5-year plans is how I work too! Everything big I’ve ever done in my life were done on 5 year plans. Some were multiple 5-year phases
Thanks for your input!
I have attempted to get my name through to larger magazines and whatnot, but as I walk through some bookshops I see the physical copy is dying. The magazines insisting on mail copies and no digital copies on the market are going to find out a hard lesson quickly.
I have a few inferior short stories/novellas out there when I was in a rush. I admit I didn’t have a plan, but I do now. I am using the platform built off my blog and social media to keep in touch with people who like what I do and reach out to others who will enjoy it in the future.
The real thing to worry about is HOW you sell yourself and your product. I’ve been absorbed in The Language of Trust and how to identify with people during this skeptical time, I can’t recommend it enough for authors or anyone else looking to sell their wares.
Plans will be planned when the planning phase is planned… or something.
You’re right, there aren’t too many print only zines left. What’s your genre? If you use Duotrope, there’s so many others to choose from and easy to access from their database.
The ‘How’ you’ve mentioned is exactly what I’m trying to get a handle on. I’ll look up that book. It sounds useful to me whether I go traditional or self-pub.
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hi , i don’t know if you are familiar with his blog, but if you’re not, you should check out dave farmer’s blog. his last entry (and the comments below it) have to do with some of your questions. http://davefarmersblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/nanowrimo-winners-badge-but-what-next/ is a link that should work.
cheers,
heike
Thanks. The reasoning he went through in that post is nearly the same as the reasoning I found myself thinking. Appreciate the visit and comment!
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