Self-Publishing: Debating the numbers.

A while ago I did a post on book sales from both traditionally published authors and self-published authors (or as I like to say Indie authors). Most of my figures a few years old, because the publishing industry isn't very forthcoming about its sales figures. 

Well, my friends, it seems like I’m not the only person who’s been wondering how Indie authors fair compared to their traditional counter parts.  Dana Beth Weinberg did a series of articles entitled The Self-Publishing Debate.  In the three parts she talks about all the usual issues: Why self-pub/traditional pub? How many titles do self-pub/Traditional/Hybrid authors publish? What kind of income do they make?

Her analysis is based on the 2013 Digital Book World and Writer’s Digest Author Survey; that surveyed 5,000 authors. Not nearly a complete look, but a nice sample.

Here are some of the highlights from her report:

About 19% of self-published authors in the sample also reported no annual income from their writing, compared to 6% of traditionally published authors and only 3% of hybrid authors.

(At the top earning, $200,000) less than one percent (0.6%) of self-published authors, 4.5% of traditionally published authors, and 6.7% of hybrid authors who reported on their income.

Self-published authors in the sample earned a median income in the range of $1 to $4,999, while traditionally published authors had a median writing income of $5,000 to $9,999, and hybrid authors earned a median income of $15,000 to $19,999.

Digital Book World’s analysis created a bit of a stir in the Indie publishing world. Especially when a colleague promoted her post on Forbes with the following title: How Much Money Do Self-Published Authors Make? And to answer that question he stated: In short, not much.

Indie authors from all over the web came out to cry foul.  What were their issues?  

Who they sampled for starters. Many active indie authors (who claim to be high earners) said they weren't asked take part in the survey despite being affiliated with Writer’s Digest. When you do informal surveys like this it’s hard to get a repressive data set. Is it likely they missed the mid-level and higher earners because they were busy working on their careers? Yes.

One comment mention that there was no distinction between new authors (with only a few books under their belt) and authors who've been publishing for years.  Time is an important factor in building an audience. So there’s a higher likelihood that the traditionally published/hybrid authors in the survey have an advantage over the indie authors because self-publishing is still in its infancy.

The other issue that I think is more than fair was broached by Hugh Howey. He complains that the survey is reading the data wrong. He argues:

But that compares ALL self-published authors and only a small fraction of people who go the traditional route. I've been hammering this point home for years, but it still gets left out of these comparisons. When you look at earnings and sales figures for traditionally published books, you have to take into account the huge percentage of books that never make it out of the slush pile. Why? Because those are authors and books attempting to go that route.

He makes a good point. Look at it this way.

If I've written a book and am trying to publish through the big five publishers, I spend my time submitting my work, tweaking it, and resubmitting it.  Sometimes for years. If my own writing contacts are indicative of this route then it’s likely these authors have several unpublished books waiting in the wings for a publisher to give them a golden ticket. None of these writers are counted on as traditionally published authors that have no income from their writing. Because the survey is looking at PUBLISHED writers.

BUT on the other spectrum. I write that same book, prepare it for self-publication, and despite my blood offerings to the gods of Indie authors, I don’t sell a single copy.  I’m counted in the survey as making no income on the book because I've published.

One of the main problems and greatest advantages to self-publishing is there are no gatekeepers.  No one stops you from publishing a book of poetry about your cat mittens. No one tells you that caveman erotica won’t sell. You can publish what you want (within the distributor’s guidelines).  

So Howey has a point. If we are counting the multitude of authors who self-publish (even when they shouldn't) why aren't we counting the publishing slush pile? 

Personally I like the landscape Howey paints for the self-publishing industry:

Even if you just guessed at the number of [traditionally] submitted manuscripts that make it to publication being at 1% (which I think is awfully generous), you would immediately see a completely different landscape. Take the top 1% of self-published books and compare their earnings with traditionally published books. That would be something to behold.

While I think he’s being a little too generous there, but he could be right. Amazon recently reported that 25% of their digital best sellers (top 100 kindle books) for last year were indie titles. That is something to behold!

#IWSG When Life Interrupts Your Writing

Purpose of IWSG : to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds
To join IWSG visit Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh here

November is dead.  Long live December.

I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that November is over.  My day job and family drama have been a huge time suck this November. I expect some work crisis to crop up every now and then, but to couple that with my husband having a major falling out with his parents...It's just been a nightmare. (If you don't know I work for my in-laws. Yep, that makes for an awkward work day) And then my parents are having issues with my younger sister....

 So my grand plan to have my book edited and ready for beta readers by December 1^st has failed miserably. I'm eager to finish and move on to my next project, but I can't eke out the time. When I do open my laptop I stare blankly at the screen, unmotivated. L

I have managed to get out ‘part one’, the first 14 chapters, edited and ready to read.  I'm looking forward to the feedback.  I've had readers throughout my process, and the feedback has been good from the people who participated in what I like to call “Gina’s Read-Along Book”.   My writing friends who've read chapters as I produced them, raw and filled with grammar errors, are the main reason I've made it to the other end of this process.  But this is the first time I’ll have someone read my work, start to finish.

It’s a little unnerving. This is the first full length novel I've written. Short stories and pieces for anthologies are so much easier to get feedback on.  I want people to be honest, but I also realize that asking someone to be a beta reader is a big commitments. I've come up with some guidelines.  A few things I’m looking for from my reads:

1. Consistency.- I’m interested in VOICE consistency. I want to know that the voice stays strong throughout the novel.
2. Where Would You Stop Reading? - I’m hoping no one comes to this, BUT if there IS a spot where you went: “Nope, I’m done!” Let me know where, and why.
3. Parts you skipped: If there’s any part in the novel where you just skipped or skimmed b/c you felt the information was boring or repetitive please mark that.
4. Plot holes. If you notice a plot issue let me know. I made some major changes at the end of the novel and had to edit the changes in the entire book. If things don’t sound right or people’s names (or jobs) change suddenly...

I’m hoping that people are honest. I don’t need my ego boosted. I've been writing long enough to have a thick skin. What I need is helpful feedback (even if it’s not what I want to hear). But like any author, I hope my readers like my book.  Now I just need to finish the last half and wait to hear what everyone has to say.  

I'll be posting the first chapter of the book on my blog. If you're interested in beta reading, shoot me an email. I'm always looking for a few good readers.