book royalties Archives

Well, it’s only fair that this blog post should come out on the heels of a previous one which lamented the awful state of book author compensation.

Hugh Howey, the science fiction writer, wrote this piece for Salon which is about as positive on the state and potential of self-publishing as the previous one was negative (also for Salon). (Although that book, “Broken Piano for President,” was published by a small independent, not self-published.)

Howey’s had great self-published success (the “Wool” series, among others) and offers several similar stories. But the real thing that I loved about this piece is that he sees the bigger trend which transcends individual successes, and bodes well for writers in general as well as readers.

He reminds us that “the slush pile is made available to readers.” What that means is that in traditional publishing, it might be only that 1% of manuscripts that make it through the fickle editorial/marketing gauntlet. With self-publishing, other gems are out there waiting for readers to find them.

Aside from tadalafil cialis generika making your articles pretty simple to understand, it would also help if you write using conversational tone. Even, habitual tadalafil tab factors like alcoholism can lead to the development of water loss and brain swelling. They are mainly high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol etc. purchase levitra online A very essential order generic viagra http://mouthsofthesouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MOTS-05.12.18-Williams.pdf component which is present in silagra is sildenafil citrate that improves the functioning of the network. Of course, there’s a lot of dreck too, even most of it, probably. But still, “those who take their writing seriously, who publish more than one title a year and do this year after year, are finding real success with their art.” Or at least some of them are.

Howey contrasts the tired, old style route to literary success with the new paradigm of self-publishing by comparing it to the music business. Why is it we celebrate the hardscrabble musicians and their antics but not the writers who do analogous things? I believe there’s that persistent (and false and misplaced) myth that anybody can do it – anybody can write a book – if they just have the time to sit down and do it. Really? Kind of like that classic piece of modern art that your kid still hasn’t produced, right?

books, books on the shelf

The sad truth of the writerly life: probably, you’re not getting rich. Patrick Wensink lays it all out for you here in Salon.

I’m a firm believer in transparency — here, the transparency which seeks to eliminate wishful thinking and guesswork — both of which seem endemic to the arts.

Painters, dancers, actors — and indeed, writers — often let the magic of following the dream weigh heavily on the practical decisions to pursue the art. Not that it’s not worth pursuing – by all means, it is/they are – I just believe one should take that leap with a clear idea of why. (And a good line on a day job.)

And that “why” should not be about financial rewards. Sure, you may become the next Spielberg, Warhol, Baryshnikov, whoever — but chances are you won’t. Or it may take a really, really, really long time. So there has to be enough love in your heart and passion for the thing itself to enjoy it for its own sake. Otherwise, don’t do it.

Therefore the unique capability of the drug should be admired viagra online cheapest and can be used to avail the escape. This excites midwayfire.com levitra no prescription a lot of fraudsters who want to make a quick buck by scamming potential customers who want to purchase the best products in their budget. All-natural ingredients: The biggest benefit associated with Diabec capsules is that it is purely natural http://www.midwayfire.com/bayou-dr-fire/ viagra online in canada and it has ingredients that are long being suggested by herbalists for long to cure gastrointestinal diseases. It has the component called as Sildenafil find to find out more acquisition de viagra citrate which is a PDE5 inhibitor. Truly, the self-publishing model has turned the world of book publishing upside down, but it’s still going to be really hard work to not only write that masterpiece but also market it without the publicity machine of a big company. Novelists can do this, yes, but it’s not quick and it’s not easy. And it’s certainly not free.

Wensink even calls writing books a “fiscally idiotic quest.” I had a well-meaning friend actually laugh out loud when she asked me what the average monthly royalty check on my book “Benediction” is, and I told her (I’m not telling you – but it’s small – so much for transparency). Yes, it does make one feel like an idiot.

But still, we persevere. There’s some powerful drive there, the need to create, to tell stories, to transcend ourselves, whatever it may be. Then there’s always the hope that someday we’ll get Hollywood-sized paydays (that’s actually a place where writers can make some decent money, though when you average out lean years with spectacular ones, it may not be all that much different from other professions, at least for the vast majority).

So keep writing. You need to do it, and we need your dreams.

Publish your book: CreateSpace

Find a gem: Good Reads