I often tell excited prospective clients and workshop participants that my superpower is being a buzz kill. This usually gets a laugh, but I'm only half joking.
The competition for shelf space and reader attention is fierce. The reality is that most books aren't commercially viable.
I could focus on the positive and blow smoke and sunshine, but I believe it's wise and ethical to first "think negative" because the buzz brought on by the idea of publishing a book comes with a sting.
If you're a long-term thinker like I am, you probably agree that it's better to face the sting before you invest time, energy, and money than after because when you know what you're up against, you can make educated decisions and take calculated risks.
“Ultimately, when presenting to a publisher, I provide a cross-section. If a book has 250 reviews with 4 and 5 stars, and 70,000 in sales, this author has a lot of promise. Alternatively, if a book has 200 reviews and only 10,000 sales, it’s going to be so much more challenging to present them and say, ‘You should invest money in this author.’” (17, 18)
High Achiever: The Shocking True Story of One Addict's Double Life by Tiffany D. Jenkins was originally self-published in 2017 and sold to Harmony Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, on 3/22/2019. (19, 20)
Note that she has over 2,000 reviews on Amazon and a 5-star rating.
How do you feel?
Mixed feelings are a sign that you're approaching your project more objectively and that you'll be better prepared to meet the needs and expectations of editors, literary agents, publishers, and bookstore owners when you’re ready to pitch, publish, and promote your book.
If you'd like a free, objective consultation to discuss your goals and project, let's connect.
My clients include a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and IndieBound bestselling debut novelist and Today Show Read with Jenna book of the month, GRAMMY Award winner, physicians, attorneys, scientists, entrepreneurs, advocates, and activists many of whom are book award winners. I have relationships with literary agents, publishers, and other industry pros and am always strategically expanding my network for the benefit of my current and future clients.
For authors who aspire to be traditionally published, I highly recommend the Print Run podcast.
For self-publishing authors, I recommend The Creative Penn podcast.
All authors and aspiring authors will benefit from both, but each speak to the unique needs and considerations of their audience and market niche.
Related: The Cold Publishing Equations: Books Sold + Marketability + Love, Which Publishing Option Is Right for You? and The 4 Phases of a Book Project
Recommended Reading: The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli (survivorship bias and other logical fallacies)
1 Number of new titles published in selected countries worldwide in 2015 (in 1,000s)
2 Bowker Self-Publishing Report* (see 3 for deeper analysis and no-hype stats)
3 Bowker Self-Publishing Report Analysis-5 Surprising Findings for 2019
4 How many books does Amazon have for sale?
7 Whalin, Terry W. Book Proposals That $ell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success. Write Now Publications. Nashville, TN. 2005. Print. (p. 16)
8 Whalin, Terry W. Book Proposals That $ell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success. Write Now Publications. Nashville, TN. 2005. Print. (p. 16)
9 I've used this towel 8 times. Can I throw it in?
10 Whalin, Terry W. Book Proposals That $ell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success. Write Now Publications. Nashville, TN. 2005. Print. (p. 22)
11 8 Tips From Literary Agents About How to Get Published
12 Why Agents Reject 96% of Author Submissions
13 Why Agents Reject 96% of Author Submissions
16 Writing Non-Fiction: Building Your Platform Through Publication
19 High Achiever: The Shocking True Story of One Addict's Double Life
20 Publishers Marketplace (paywall)
21 Print Run Podcast Episode 115, 28:50-29:00
Photo Attribution: Pixaby.com
Cristen Iris
CI Communication Strategies