I Used To Get Excited Over Book Sales
By RK Finnell
@irishidid (8687)
United States
June 14, 2016 7:25pm CST
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate my readers and I am thankful for them. It's just that I know when someone who said they were going to buy my books actually do. Now if I was making a ton of sales a month I would never know unless that particular person either posted a photo of one of my books or they gave a review.
The last person to buy my books was a relative. I know this because he told me he was buying them and he's one of the most honest people I know. In addition, he also bought copies of my first book to give to others.
The fact of the matter is writing a book is no guarantee of success and neither is having your book "traditionally published" by a publishing company. The saying "Don't quit your day job" applies here. Yes, there are exception to the rule but even a good book doesn't always prove fruitful for the writer.
4 people like this
4 responses
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
15 Jun 16
I can still get excited about book sales. I have to get my second book ready and it is taking me forever. The first one really isn't selling much at this point.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
15 Jun 16
There's nothing wrong with that. I'm currently waiting on a book to go through editing and have a third book in a trilogy I'm still working on.
Better to take your time than try to rush a book. I broke even with my first book which I'm pretty happy about.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
15 Jun 16
@Marty1 Action/Adventure/Thriller for lack of a better description. Those who have read it tell me they've enjoyed it. I write under the pen name Pico Triano and I'm with Inknbeans Press out of California.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
15 Jun 16
@Marty1 I write under the name I use here. Writers should never edit their own work. I hire an editor that will work with my budget. There are some pretty high priced ones out there but for a basic edit you can get a copy editor at a fairly reasonable price. The two books I have out now are part of a series so you would want to start with the first of those.
When I say I broken even, I mean I made back the money I spent on editing, cover art and having the book formatted.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
15 Jun 16
Oh I'm happy to see the book sales but I'm realistic about it.
1 person likes this
@annierose (21977)
• United States
15 Jun 16
I admire you for being able to publish a book of your own and getting money from what you love to do. I have read "The Alchemist" before which was written by Paulo Coelho and I think he mentioned that he did not know that his book will be very popular. I think we never can tell what will be the outcome number of readers in the book that we published unless it is already in the malls.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jun 16
I was astounded to learn how little some authors get for their books. There seems to be a lot of 'middle men'.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
15 Jun 16
@Marty1 Everyone involved from the publisher to the seller gets a portion with the writer getting what's left over. I've received as little as 15 cents royalty when it sells through a bookstore so I don't sell that way.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jun 16
@Marty1 As @irishidid says, the author may not get much at all for each book even if they are expensive to buy.
