For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers
What's Your Biggest Challenge with Your Book?
I'd be interested to learn what authors/publishers on this network think their biggest challenges are with their book. I wonder if there's any common, pervasive challenge we all face.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dario de Judicibus on
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...their biggest challenges are with their book
Well... sell them, by sure! ;-) Seriously, writing a book may generate some challenges, but none that a good writer cannot face and win. It is a matter of time: unless you have a date to deliver your work to an editor, the only thing you have to do if you cannot go over an obstacle is just... to wait. Do not be in hurry. No ideas? You cannot render what you feel by words? A phrase does not looks like you wish? Stop, take a walk, listen to music, go shopping... Take your time: that is the secret of a good writer. Or go the web and make some research to learn more about the period, the environment, the subject of your book. If you cannot write, learn.
But once you have a book, and it is a good one, and even it will be really published, you get in a world were you have no control. Does not matter how good you are, or how good is your book: the possibility to have success depends on so many parameters which have no relations with you and your book, that sometimes it is really discouraging.
Another guy or gal have written something which is worst but he/she has a fried in a TV channel, or he/she knows a journalist who writes on a national newspaper. He/she has success, you have not. You wrote a good novel, well documented, with a good style. Another one is placing in his/her book some crazy hypothesis on an international conspiracy, or so much sex that it looks like more a porn book rather than a romantic one? Success, by sure, but not for you. Unless you published with a big publisher, who has a budget for marketing, you have no hopes.
Being a good writer is not enough, even when you are one of the few lucky guys and gals who got their book published.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Frank on
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There's little doubt that it's not easy to market a book. In this hypercompetitive environment, it takes a combination of skill and luck to become a leading author. The books are called best sellers, not best written, for a reason.
Back in 1982, when Tom Peters and Robert Waterman self-published "In Search of Excellence," it only took 25,000 copies to become the best selling business book that year. Was it the best written business book that year? No. Peters and Waterman had a platform, however, that got them into the boardrooms of many leading companies. They were both consultatns for Booz, Hamilton. They knew their niche and had a way to reach that niche. The rest, as they say, is history (BTW, "In Search of Excellence" is the best selling business book of all time).
One can make one's own luck. Finding one's niche, knowing one's potential readers, finding one or two tricks to help better sell one's book increases one's chance of being lucky. That's why social networks, such as this, are so vital to exchange ideas. Who knows? Someone reading this today may be inspired by something written about virtual tours, blogs, video book trailers that launches them to the next level. Or another may see a book referenced on this site that gives them the kernel of an idea that separates his/her book from the rest of the pack.
It's all about sharing. Authors and publishers are a very collegial group - very willing to share. Most authors and publishers don't compete directly with others. I may have a business book but that is different than your cooking book, so I'm willing to share ideas because I'm not threatened by what you do. In that way, I may learn something that worked well for you and apply it to what I'm doing to increase my chances of success.
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Permalink Reply by Penny Owen on
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I think the biggest challenge for me is the marketing. It takes a lot of time to prepare and get out there and market yourself in a world with so many authors, especially the not so famous. It is a challenge, but it is also very demanding. I would like to see my book on bookshelves, but most bookstores don't put them their unless you really are a known author or your book was published by a big publishing company. So there are many obstacles for new authors to overcome.
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Hi, Penny. Marketing is cumulative. No one thing will cause you to be successful. Rather, it's the total of all the little things you do that gets you to your goals.
Distribution for your book is probably the one thing you can do to help you get closer to your goal. As you say, you'd like to see your book on the bookshelves. The best way to do that is through a distributor. You're right. Most bookstores want to purchase books from a distributor they know, not directly from the publisher. There are distributors that are more friendly to self-published and small authors. Companies such as Midpoint Trade, Biblio (a division of National Book Network) or Greenleaf are willing to help smaller presses distribute their books. There are also specialty distributors for certain niches such as New Leaf for Mind, Body & Spirit or Nutribooks for food and nutrition books.
Be careful what you wish for, however. Distributors take a hefty price to make your books available on booksheves. Typically, they take around 70% of the list price. For a $20 trade paperback, therefore, the distributor gets paid $14 and the publisher gets paid $6. Bookstore distribution is always a financial decision.
Most small presses are better off distributing their books through Amazon (which only takes a 55% discount). If one looks at the financial performance of Amazon in 2007 compared to its bricks & mortar competitors, Amazon far exceeds the others. Amazon is a force and small publishers are taking advantage of that fact.
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Permalink Reply by Meghan Wier on
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I suppose that the biggest challenge question can only be answered by what is the goal of writing the book. If the goal was to document your life, or share your experiences with others, than the challenge is in the writing of the book. If the goal is to make money, the challenge is in writing the book AND then marketing the book. We write for many reasons: therapy, education, the challenge itself, profit--sometimes and often it is a combination. But each writer's journey is in finding out why they are called to put pen to paper or sit at the keyboard.
Meghan Wier
Confessions of an Introvert
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Hi, Meghan. Thanks for commenting on my subject, again.
I agree with what you write. There are a variety of reasons why a book is written. I believe that EVERY book should be written. Not every book should be published, however, unless it can be published profitably. Publishing is a money-making venture - a business. I concede that there is an element of "getting one's voice heard" to publishing. No publisher, no matter how large, can produce books that consistently lose money for long periods of time, however.
So, by all means, write what needs to be said. Uncover the truths of the ages. Expose wrong doing or injustice. At the same time, however, think about who will read what you write. Think about what it will mean to them to read it. Think about what benefit(s) you bring the reader. If you do, you'll find it easier to find your audience and fulfill their needs.
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Hi Bill - No problem. It just struck me that in reading all of the posts that people and their books fit into a couple of categories and depending on the author's motivation in writing the book the challenges are a little different. That said there are always the common ones - i.e. marketing onc e the idea to "sell" the book becomes part of the mix.
This has been a great topic and your advice very helpful. Thank you for posting and keeping it going.
Meghan Wier
Confessions of an Introvert
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I need help with an Amazon stratgey for my ListMania, please. This is one of the 17 Amazon marketing strategies an author can utilize.
I'm asking everyone who reads this to go to my ListMania and vote on my list. The URL is:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Books-on-Book-Publishing/lm/R2UM0DC9JU1W...
Go to the upper right-hand corner where it says List Stats. Where it says Rate It!, please vote Yes. That tells Amazon my list is helpful to you. Amazon will raise the value of my ListMania, thereby making all the books on the list more important to searchers on Amazon.
Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by SusieSunshine on
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Gone and voted! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help you in some small way for all the help you have given to me! (btw I own the first two books on the list. *smile*)
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Permalink Reply by david b mclaughlin on
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Bill, I was happy to vote for your list. Your input on this network has been incredible. Thanks so much for your time!
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Permalink Reply by Feon Davis on
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I would say "SELLING" your book. Rather oline or attending events, getting the word out, creatively doing business cards, etc.
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Feon, you bring up a good point about using business cards to promote a book. Many authors don't consider how powerful a business card can be. I recommend that all authors have business cards printed in four-color on two sides. On the one side is the contact information (name, address, telephone number, e-mail address). The other side is the image of the book cover. When a person receives the card, they immediately are reminded of the book. What a great tool.
There should be an integrated strategy with the business card, letterhead, envelopes, bookmarks and postcards. Each should have an image of the book on them.
If an author has multiple books, then the emphasis shifts to putting the publishing company logo on the business cards, etc. The only exception to this rule is if the book is published through a POD publisher such as Lulu.com, Infinity, iUniverse, etc.
Many authors overlook the opportunity with bookmarks, too. Readers love bookmarks. Bookstores can sometimes be convinced to distribute your bookmarks even if they don't sell your book. What better way to get your book's information into the hands of potential readers. Include the book's image, ISBN number, and contact information on the bookmark so potential readers know where to contact you.
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