When There’s Infinite Shelf Space, Getting Shelf Space Isn’t Worth Much
Riffing on my blog from yesterday here. It's way easier to do some creative things today compared to the past, but also much more difficult.
Consider that before Amazon and a robust internet, a writer's challenge comprised finding teachers (locally), finding editors (usually locally), relying on snail mail to send stuff, finding an agent, being rejected a lot, finding a publisher, being rejected a lot, and then if you made it that far, you could find your book on a shelf in a store and begin making a modest living.
Today, the writing of a novel is way easier. Internet, a million teachers and coaches at your fingertips, editing software, DIY book covers, Amazon for self-publishing. Yes, making the book is easier.
But with infinite digital book shelves, getting a spot on the shelf is almost worthless. The cold hard truth is that most books on digital platforms only sell a few copies (to family and friends). So there may be many more published writers these days, but very few actually make a living at it.
What can you do?
Two things:
One: write an amazing story that appeals to a small but committed segment of the population (no mass appeal) so much that they tell others in that community about it. Identify as specifically as possible who you audience is, and write for them. And make that story amazing.
Two. Use social media properly to generate more interest and sales. This doesn't mean posting garbage every 10 minutes, or yelling the loudest. That's noise. That's garbage. Instead, seek permission from your audience to engage with them. Then share with all kinds of helpful, interesting stuff. This builds trust. Your audience gets to know you. If they like you and become engaged, perhaps they'll support you with a book purchase too.
Writing a novel and publishing it on Amazon does nothing. That's the easy part (comparatively speaking). Finding an audience, earning their trust and permission, engaging with them = long term success. That's the more challenging part.
Consider that before Amazon and a robust internet, a writer's challenge comprised finding teachers (locally), finding editors (usually locally), relying on snail mail to send stuff, finding an agent, being rejected a lot, finding a publisher, being rejected a lot, and then if you made it that far, you could find your book on a shelf in a store and begin making a modest living.
Today, the writing of a novel is way easier. Internet, a million teachers and coaches at your fingertips, editing software, DIY book covers, Amazon for self-publishing. Yes, making the book is easier.
But with infinite digital book shelves, getting a spot on the shelf is almost worthless. The cold hard truth is that most books on digital platforms only sell a few copies (to family and friends). So there may be many more published writers these days, but very few actually make a living at it.
What can you do?
Two things:
One: write an amazing story that appeals to a small but committed segment of the population (no mass appeal) so much that they tell others in that community about it. Identify as specifically as possible who you audience is, and write for them. And make that story amazing.
Two. Use social media properly to generate more interest and sales. This doesn't mean posting garbage every 10 minutes, or yelling the loudest. That's noise. That's garbage. Instead, seek permission from your audience to engage with them. Then share with all kinds of helpful, interesting stuff. This builds trust. Your audience gets to know you. If they like you and become engaged, perhaps they'll support you with a book purchase too.
Writing a novel and publishing it on Amazon does nothing. That's the easy part (comparatively speaking). Finding an audience, earning their trust and permission, engaging with them = long term success. That's the more challenging part.
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