This is a question I sometimes get from new authors. “Is it publishable?” I sometimes wonder if they actually mean, “can I make a lot of money selling this book?” Or do they simply want to know if they’d be embarrassing themselves if they publish this book?
When an author asks this, he or she usually doesn’t have a particular audience in mind. He hasn’t read other books like his in order to become familiar with the style, writing, etc. He has simply written a story or a nonfiction book that pleases him and hopes others will find it interesting or informative.
If you have a book in mind or in the works, do your homework:
• Find out if there is an audience for your book. How many people read poetry books, are passionate about their exotic fish, collect buttons or enjoy an entertaining Gothic novel, for example?
• How many books are already out there like yours? Is there room for another one? How can you make yours stand out and still keep the aspects that people want in a book of this type?
• How will you promote this book? What do you know about book promotion? Are you willing to study the process of book promotion and prepare yourself for this activity way before your book is a book?
• What do you know about your audience? What books do they want/need at this time? Where do they learn about the books they buy? Where do they buy books of this type? How do you approach this audience?
Successful authorship does not mean writing the book of your dreams and publishing it hoping someone will buy it. It means considering the points above and more. It also means opening yourself up to criticism. Sure, if you’ve done the necessary research and have produced the right book for the right audience, you’ll receive accolades. But also expect rejection and negativity from some.
All you can do is the best that you can do. But do so with knowledge and understanding. Read Publish Your Book and Promote Your Book. Available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio, as well as most other online and downtown bookstores.
For an enjoyable read, order Cat-Eye Witness, the 2nd in my Klepto Cat Mystery series. http://amzn.to/1bJiq0x