SO HERE’S THE THING ABOUT AUTHORING
IN the publishing world, a writer writes for him or herself, while an author writes for a target audience, commonly designated by a “genre.” A writer doesn’t need a publisher; an author may or may not, depending on whether one wishes to “self-publish,” or contract with a vanity or “regular” press. Usually, contracting for the first time with an established press is considered one’s author debut.
I read that in today’s market, there is no need for a regular publisher. In fact, while an established publisher typically provides, but doesn’t charge for editing, polishing, proofing, publicity and marketing, it’s not uncommon to start off one’s authoring career being paid less than 5% of net sales. I know, I did. And it’s not easy to “hook up” with a traditional publisher, as the larger ones typically want only established bestselling authors. After all, it is a business. And there’s the front/back listing of which to be aware. Large publishers typically give a new release 3 weeks to several months to “hit” it big in sales, or the work, and unfortunately the author’s reputation is backlisted, never an enviable position for an otherwise “up and coming” author.
The other big consideration is publicity and marketing. After all, if one’s financial reward is tied to sales, and no one know’s the author’s name or book title, it won’t likely be found easily on the big retail market platforms of today like Amazon, GooglePlay or iTunes Books. DIY publishing or self-publishing can present a much greater return on sales, but the necessary publicity and marketing channels are much harder to gain entrance to; many authors, including authors with vanity presses end up paying for publicity and marketing. Having a small-to-medium sized, established, independent publisher with both a publicist and a marketing specialist is one of the most compelling arguments for working hard to become a published member of a traditional publishing house “stable” of authors. The ability to meet, correspond, work with and learn from other published author colleagues is another reason.
The publishing industry is challenging and changing, but the benefits of working with a publisher, for me, vastly outnumber the liabilities, as well as the time and effort involved in affiliating with one. There’s a certain place in authoring where it’s nice to have an organization behind you, whose sole income comes from sales, assuring me that the publisher is doing everything possible to help me with publicity, marketing and sales, giving me the time I need to author my next book.
Finally, I feel compelled to mention that, for me at least, author is a passion. It’s only secondarily a business, and it had to be more so at the beginning than after becoming a member of several publisher stables. Authoring is a hard occupation, much like painting, dancing or sculpture. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” For every author whose name is a household word, there are hundreds, even thousands struggling to survive long enough to have the opportunity of “making it.”
My opinion.
For individuals interested in my latest publication, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) the press release can be found at https://www.prlog.org/12825474.
Sincerely,
Raymond Gaynor
Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020)
Co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) and with William Maltese of TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009)
Author website at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/raym...
Author Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gayn...
Author Twitter site at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Amazon author page at https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Gaynor...
Amazon Goodreads author page at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Savant Books and Publications | Aignos Publishing author page at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Distributed by Savant Distribution at https://www.savantdistribution.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
$7.95 Kindle e-book version now $1.99 throughout May 2021
Soon to be an Audible audiobook read by the incomparable Peter Pollock. Purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment by K. Simmons Productions.
I read that in today’s market, there is no need for a regular publisher. In fact, while an established publisher typically provides, but doesn’t charge for editing, polishing, proofing, publicity and marketing, it’s not uncommon to start off one’s authoring career being paid less than 5% of net sales. I know, I did. And it’s not easy to “hook up” with a traditional publisher, as the larger ones typically want only established bestselling authors. After all, it is a business. And there’s the front/back listing of which to be aware. Large publishers typically give a new release 3 weeks to several months to “hit” it big in sales, or the work, and unfortunately the author’s reputation is backlisted, never an enviable position for an otherwise “up and coming” author.
The other big consideration is publicity and marketing. After all, if one’s financial reward is tied to sales, and no one know’s the author’s name or book title, it won’t likely be found easily on the big retail market platforms of today like Amazon, GooglePlay or iTunes Books. DIY publishing or self-publishing can present a much greater return on sales, but the necessary publicity and marketing channels are much harder to gain entrance to; many authors, including authors with vanity presses end up paying for publicity and marketing. Having a small-to-medium sized, established, independent publisher with both a publicist and a marketing specialist is one of the most compelling arguments for working hard to become a published member of a traditional publishing house “stable” of authors. The ability to meet, correspond, work with and learn from other published author colleagues is another reason.
The publishing industry is challenging and changing, but the benefits of working with a publisher, for me, vastly outnumber the liabilities, as well as the time and effort involved in affiliating with one. There’s a certain place in authoring where it’s nice to have an organization behind you, whose sole income comes from sales, assuring me that the publisher is doing everything possible to help me with publicity, marketing and sales, giving me the time I need to author my next book.
Finally, I feel compelled to mention that, for me at least, author is a passion. It’s only secondarily a business, and it had to be more so at the beginning than after becoming a member of several publisher stables. Authoring is a hard occupation, much like painting, dancing or sculpture. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” For every author whose name is a household word, there are hundreds, even thousands struggling to survive long enough to have the opportunity of “making it.”
My opinion.
For individuals interested in my latest publication, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) the press release can be found at https://www.prlog.org/12825474.
Sincerely,
Raymond Gaynor
Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020)
Co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) and with William Maltese of TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009)
Author website at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/raym...
Author Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gayn...
Author Twitter site at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Amazon author page at https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Gaynor...
Amazon Goodreads author page at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Savant Books and Publications | Aignos Publishing author page at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Distributed by Savant Distribution at https://www.savantdistribution.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
$7.95 Kindle e-book version now $1.99 throughout May 2021
Soon to be an Audible audiobook read by the incomparable Peter Pollock. Purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment by K. Simmons Productions.
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