Although we sometimes talk about the point of your story or the purpose of your book, that isn’t what I mean here today.
My question, “what’s the point of your book?” refers to how you view your book project.
What do you expect from your book? Do you expect that it will earn you some money? What if it doesn’t? If you knew that it wouldn’t make a profit, would you write it and produce it anyway?
I’ve had an email conversation over the weekend with an author who seems to be concerned only with profiting financially from his book project. Sure, it’s wise to consider the cost of producing a book, to understand your role in promoting it and to be planning your marketing strategy. It makes sense to think like a businessperson—to crunch the numbers and explore your options. Why continue with a product that isn’t likely to turn a profit?
Now there’s the question. And that’s what I mean when I ask, “What’s the point of your book?”
Sure, publishing is a business and moving forward with a book that probably won’t do well is not a good business decision. But are there other reasons for writing and even publishing a book? Certainly, there are.
As much as I teach and preach the importance of going into publishing wearing your business hat, I realize that producing a book is quite emotional for some authors. I try to convince you to curb your emotions if you plan to approach publishing as a business. But what if you do not have a business head? What if you have no intentions of heavily promoting your book? What if you don’t care if your book becomes a blockbuster? What if your project is emotionally driven and not financially driven? It happens and it is okay. But you must come to terms with your true objectives and purpose for your book.
There are reasons other than money to write and produce a book. People, who can afford to, might publish a book purely to feed their egos. That’s okay with me. Maybe you just want the experience of holding your published book, sharing it with others, knowing that your book made people laugh (or cry). Perhaps you simply want to pass your legacy down through the generations. For some, it is the joy of writing that moves them to publish.
It’s all good. The opportunities are in your favor. But, if you go into publishing from an emotional place, with no intention of promoting your book outside of what’s comfortable for you, and you expect to create a bestseller or at least make a large profit, then you’re being unrealistic.
I suggested to a client recently that she separate the emotional pull of her project from the business aspects and determine which was stronger. She so wanted this book published, but she was fighting my recommendations to write a book proposal, devise a marketing plan, etc. Once she realized that the point of producing her book was for her own personal pleasure—that she just wanted to prove she could do it—we both relaxed. And she found more joy in the process.
We forgot about the book proposal and the marketing plan. I dropped my suggestion that she approach medium-size publishers and I steered her toward a reputable, inexpensive Pay-to-Publish company. She ordered 2 dozen books and took great pleasure in wrapping them as gifts for her loved ones that Christmas.
What is the point of your book? Why are you writing it? What do you hope that you will accomplish with it? Why is this important for you? Once you have this sorted out, then re-examine your options and re-evaluate some of your choices.
You’ve heard/read my constant rants that, if you are going to publish a book, you’d darned well better follow the proven, reasonable business protocol. Well, for some, that is hogwash! Some of you have no interest in promoting a book, selling boxes and boxes of them, getting involved with booksellers, distributors, etc. And that’s okay. Just know that your approach to publishing will look much different than that of someone who enters into it from a business standpoint. And understand that you will probably not make a profit.
For more on all aspects of publishing, read my writing/publishing-related books. http://www.matilijapress.com
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http://www.spawn.org
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