There’s probably no other industry where so many people have become self-appointed CEOs as in the publishing industry. What other field has become so seriously infiltrated with mom and pop operations as publishing? Where have you seen as many start-up businesses as within the publishing industry?
If every published author in your city had a storefront downtown, your town leader would be inclined to rename your shopping district, “Publishers Row” or “The Authors’ District.”
Publishing is HUGE and authors are not your grandmother’s or even your older sister’s authors. Back in the early days, we recall hearing about and reading about (not actually knowing) authors. Authors were placed on pedestals to be admired. They were mysterious, bright, creative and, of course, wealthy celebrities. It was rare to meet one. They all resided in gorgeous estates behind carved gates. And they all relied on their New York or London publishers to promote them and their books.
My, how things have changed. Now anyone, whether they can write or not; whether they can think or not, can become a published author. And today, every author is also a businessman/woman. Some modern day authors don’t even know the names of the major publishing houses. And they live in all states in every kind of neighborhood and housing.
Instead of a few hundred, authors number in the thousands. And new books are flying off of printers everywhere daily! There are currently way more books than there are readers. Where do they go? You might think you have seen every book available when you visit your local mega-bookstore. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Those bookstores have room for just a percentage of all published books.
If you are an author, you’re probably nodding your head as you read this. And you’re reading it in hopes that I’m leading up to a solution to sluggish book sales—that I will reveal a miracle key to bookselling success.
The thing is, long-time authors and publishers and modern day authors and publishers are all scrambling to find that key. Everything has changed and many things continue to change. Each new author must, to a degree, reinvent the business as it relates to their project and their skills, energy level, time-commitment and so forth.
The one constant is that the author must promote his/her own book and the more well-prepared he is for this incredibly difficult process BEFORE he becomes an author, the more successful he (or she) will become.
As you look out over the sea of authors in your community, throughout the Internet and so forth, you will see a wide range of successes and failures among them. You’ll observe authors who are hiding away in their writing rooms selling 0 books in hopes that someone will find them and their wonderful book. And you’ll notice authors who are highly motivated to sell books and highly skilled in marketing who have branded themselves, created impressive companies around their books and are selling books like crazy.
What is the difference between these two very real examples? Knowledge, education and preparation! Successful authors are also willing to stretch and grow rather than stagnate in strictly familiar territory.
There are many ways to become educated about the world of publishing and authorship. It’s a matter of scouring the Internet and being discerning as to the models and proposed professionals/experts that you choose to follow.
Here are my recommendations: Read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book by Patricia Fry, 30+ year veteran in the writing/publishing business. I learned about this industry from the trenches. Order this book through amazon.com or here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
If your book needs a boost, read my ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit. http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html
Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network)
http://www.spawn.org
Sign up for one of Patricia Fry’s online courses:
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm
Two new courses added this year!
Catscapades Update
There’s still time to order your mother, mother-in-law, grandmother or someone who has been like a mother to you a copy of Catscapades, True Cat Tales for Mothers Day.
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html