Classic Post: Six Things Non-Writers Should Know About Authors · 8:00pm Feb 23rd, 2018
Classic Post today folks! I'm finish up my taxes and then continuing editing work on Shadow of an Empire.
This Classic Post isn't as old as some of the others kicking around this site, being from under a year ago, rather than four or five like some of the classics I put up once again on here. But since I've never established a set "age" for such posts, and these two posts (one with five points, the other with one) are both pretty worthwhile, I don't feel that sharing them again is a bad idea.
As usual, there are excerpts below, along with links to the original posts.
Five Things Non-Writers Should Know About Writers and Writing
So then, what am I putting forth today? Well, it’s basically my shot at doing away with a lot of the misconceptions about writing, being a writer, and being an author. Because one thing I’ve found as I’ve embarked on this crazy, busy journey is that not a lot of people know a lot about it. And, even worse, what they don’t know is usually filled in with a lot of completely untrue misconceptions.
So, this little editorial is meant to set some of this misconceptions about writing and being an author straight. Because, being an author myself, I’ve heard a lot of them. It’s meant to be shareable (there are actually buttons at the bottom of the page for that), so if you’ve ever heard some sentiments to the opposite of the topics discussed here from someone, go ahead and fire this at ’em.
The Sixth Thing
It figures. Barely a day after the original Five Things Non-Writers Should Know About Writers and Writing went up, I was hit with the epiphany that I’d left something out. And I had. I’d left out a very important bit that, for whatever reason, didn’t occur to me while I was putting together the original post.
Oh well. We all know that “Five Things” feels a bit snappier than six. Humanity is odd like that, but it’s true.
Still, this realization left me with a conundrum. The first post was already up and being read; had been for over a day. So I really didn’t want to go back and awkwardly shoehorn in a sixth entry. But I still wanted the issue I’d thought of to be addressed. Hence, we come to this: a follow-up post.
See you all Monday! Or perhaps sooner ...
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I prefer Ibuprofen, myself.
Y'know, never in my personal life have I met anyone who actually thought writers make good money. Quite the opposite, I've always heard jokes about the 'poor, starving writer'. But that's the exception; I have indeed seen all the other topics in action.
Regarding #6, I've always said that I would go the indie route when/if I finally get an original manuscript ready for publication, but in truth I've always debated with myself on the matter. I know going with big publishers could mean an additional ten years of not publishing anything while waiting to beat those '1 in 10' odds, but if I go indie would my collective works get noticed with any greater speed? And that's really all I want: for people to read them. Right now I'm still leaning on self-publication, 'cause at least then I can start flooding the market now instead of when that one manager finally decides not to trash my story after a passing glance.
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I've definitely heard the other side of it as well, from those that do understand that authors don't make much money. It could just be in my case an example of perspective and selective memory, IE I remember all the folks who express shock and surprise that I can't afford a new house after publishing a single book, and since that's voice more than "Yeah, you poor" I feel like that's the more prevalent run-in. Though, to be fair, I find myself having to explain it at least half the time I meet someone new and explain what I do.
It could also be that the "You're an author, you must make good money, so I can steal your book" crowd is really loud online, and that's colored my experience a little.
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So, I actually was talking with a head editor last week from one of the larger publishers that wasn't one of the big five, and he brought up how much the industry has changed in the last ten years. One of the things he said was 'It used to be that you were only "published" if you were from one of the medium-to-large publishers. But now? If you've had people you've never met buy your book? You're published.' Things have really changed.
The market is about to see another huge upset too, since Barnes & Noble is going under like a rock dropped into the sea. B&N had massive power over publishers, being the last big physical retail chain. With that going away, who knows what's going to happen?
You know my stance. Indie all the way, unless you find a good, reputable publisher that wants you, not the other way around, and is willing to match an indie royalty or at least compensate in some other way. At LTUE, an extremely well-off and successful fantasy author pointed out that, profit-wise, he was making less than an indie author that had way less sales than he did (I can't remember the fraction they gave, so I won't guess, but it was far less). The royalty was just that much better. This author shook their head and said it was a totally valid route these days ... but that he was happy where he was at because he hated handling some of the stuff his publisher handled instead that an indie would be handling.
You know which way I lean. It's up to you, clearly. No matter what, though, I doubt you'll find a "clear" answer as tumultuous as this industry is becoming with the digital age finally catching up to it. Best we can all do is try to ride the wave out and reach the beach without wiping out!