I'll be one of the luckiest authors alive if I ever break even.
Why am I doing this, you ask? Because I LOVE it. I love to write. I love to sing. I love to make music with instruments and words. I. LOVE. IT. And I want you all to hear and read what I love to do. I want to make a name for myself. I want create a solid base for a career I intend to pursue for as long as I live. So, I figured, who's going to buy my book AND soundtrack without anyone having read or heard it before, when buying the soundtrack on top of the book would set them back about another $15? My guess? Very few. So I'm giving it away, but I'm being smart about it. I'm doing it in a way that is going to get my name, and my book's name, a bit more exposure, so that when I continue to do, what I LOVE TO DO, from here on in, perhaps some people might recognize my name and buy my next book. Perhaps then I will have the opportunity to make some money. But not now. Now is not my time to make money. Now I just need to have faith, that in time, all this work will eventually pay off so that I can spend MORE time doing what I love to do.
How about you? What do you (or did you) expect to achieve from the release of your debut? If you're not a writer, but are involved in some other form of creation, are you willing to sacrifice for love?
REMINDER: Have you signed up for my String Bridge Book & Music Blog Tour yet? If not, and you'd like to, just click HERE.
Great post, Jess! Name recognition/respect have got to come before the money or else the initial money's a flash in the pan and all sizzles out. But I think this is why your poetry is so powerful; you understand life's layers. You rock!
ReplyDeleteYep, my chapbook's a surprise *blushes* but I wanted to push myself on my own terms . . . thanks for your support...I'll drop an e-mail after this holiday weekend (Memorial Day . . . burgers on the barbie today, yum!)
I keep reading about how getting people hooked on you by giving away the first book can really swing things your way with the second, but that means you have to have that second book ready. I envy your musical talents, and I sure hope this works well for you.
ReplyDeleteA debut novel isn't about making money, it's about establishing a presence. I received a $2000 advance for my debut novel and spent $4000 promoting it. But in just a few months it went into a second printing, earned out its advance (I'm now receiving royalties), and has just won an award.
ReplyDeleteA pesky problem small-press authors tend to have is friends and family members expecting free copies. For every copy Jessica gives (and mails) away, she must sell a neat stack of copies just to make up the difference. If you want to help Jessica, do the following:
1. Sign up for her campaign.
2. Preorder a copy of her novel as soon as it's available for preorder. Even if you're getting one free, as part of her campaign or for any other reason, buy a copy. Remember, books make the best gifts.
2. Review her novel on Amazon and elsewhere.
3. Promote her novel on your blog, Facebook page, etc., and tell all your friends that someone you know is going to become famous and her first edition copies will become collector's items.
If everyone who likes her and follows her blog did these things, she WOULD break even, and establish a presence, and eventually become famous, and then, in rapturous appreciation for my lobbying on her behalf, write a nice blurb for my next novel, so that I might break even too.
Great post Jessica. If we love doing something I think the money (although we all know it helps. Hehe) is not the main thing -- it's the love of the project.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait till the release. IT WILL BE AWESOME!
p.s. love the new blog look btw :)
Me to, I also love it desperatly. when im on vacation Im thinking of characters and when I close my eyes I am thinking of there next move.
ReplyDeleteIts almost sad. My head hurts a lot. haha!
OMG I LOVE your new look! And I hear ya- I think most people do it all for the love. And those who don't probably don't make it very far!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie. Those individuals who are writing because they love writing, and reaching out to others, will go far. Those who are in it only for the money will give up in no time once they experience the realities of the paycheck (!). And you're definitely in it for the long haul, Jessica.
ReplyDeleteCool idea about the music. I can't do that. My singing will only hurt potential sales. ;)
Karen, there's nothing wrong with making money. But I just know that now is not the time to expect to. Hopefully in the future I will!!! :o)
ReplyDeleteJessica, as you know, I'm not in this for the money, either. I haven't broken even with Cinders yet, either - not when compare raw sales to what I've spent. I'm not sure I'll make much on Monarch, either. I honestly have no clue what to expect. I do think I'll break even within the first year, at least.
ReplyDeleteWriting is a labor of love - that's how it SHOULD be at first, I think. I would hate to jump into careening financial success right out of the gate. I'm afraid that if I did, I'd be blinded and never write again for the true reasons I first got into this.
I know you're not in it specifically for the money, Jessica, but I agree with the others who've asked what's wrong with making money for one's efforts. Living is expensive; we deserve to make money for our hard, excellent work. There's absolutely no reason to apologize for wanting to eat.
ReplyDelete:)
LOL, Paula. As I said to Karen, I'm hoping that one day the work will pay off and I will be able to make money. But right now, I don't expect to. I just want to get my name out there. :o)
ReplyDeleteYour post is right on. It's all about building an audience. I think you do an awesome job. I look foreword to reading your debut as soon as I can get my hands on it.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. If (when the day comes) a few (okay maybe a more than a few) people read my stuff and enjoy it and want more that would tickle me pink!
ReplyDeleteHell, I knew I wasn't going to get rich. My goal was just to see if I could really do it. My royalty checks aren't big, but I have been pleasantly surprised how well my book has sold.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jessica. I don't think anyone goes into publishing to get rich, and if they do... they soon find out they're in the wrong business! We do it because we love it, and because we want people to read out work. I was thrilled to have just have readers, and for my debut novel I hoped to begin to build a platform for future books. Anything else is just gravy.
ReplyDeleteMy debut comes out in October. my first paycheck will come the following May. ALL I hope for the first book is the ability to hold it up and say, "Lookie! My book!" And then I'll have a pub credit behind me. It's just a cool thing. That's mostly it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not expecting to make money from my first novel, just get my name out there. I love to write, and would still do it no matter what!
ReplyDeleteEllie Garratt
I've had a few short stories published but never got paid a thing (the people who put the book together did, but all I wanted was my name out there). I hope that I can make some kind of profit on the book I'm working on, but I'm just excited to see it getting out there. =)
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to hearing and reading what you love to do.
ReplyDeleteI want to be read. Yes, it would be nice to get paid (and I'm aiming for that) but I want my stories to be read and enjoyed most of all.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a smart thing you're doing. I wish you the very best of success!
I would totally sacrifice for love of writing. Why don't you put all your songs for sale as singles and give each reader a song instead of an album? That way they fall in love with the music and but the rest of the album.
ReplyDeleteMoney Money MONEY!!! Muahahaha haaaaa!!!! :D
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! *snort* No, I'm just hoping to make enough to be able to Keep Doing It! Just like you~
I can't wait to hear the soundtrack, and I'm still loving the new look~ :o) <3
I love this post. Your goals pretty much echo mine - I love what I do and my goal is to keep doing it!
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jessica! I particularly like Stephen's comment and suggestions :) I will definitely get a copy of your book :)
ReplyDeleteYesssss... and then they will all become your faithful minions. Mwahahahahaha.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, that isn't where this post was going at all. Anytime I make long-term plans like this it always ends in megalomania. Your idea sounds much more reasonable.