After several decades of working with writers and their quest for publication, you start to pick up on a recurring theme: the tremendous lack of knowledge the average writer has for the business side of publishing. With these "writer's realities" articles, I provide authors with an awareness that things may not always be what they assume them to be. If you are a writer, you should definitely work to educate yourself on the business aspect. Gone are the days (if indeed they ever existed) when a writer can simply sit back and let the publisher take care of all aspects of the publication of a work. There is no point that can prove more contentious in publishing than sales.
It's not surprising because money has been called the root of all evil for good reasons. Money can bring out our worst selves. Despite feeling compelled to write and wanting to share with the world, nearly every writer I've met seeks to publish their writing because they want to make money. That fact doesn't make a writer any less creative. It also doesn't make a writer any less sincere in their reasons to write. Wanting to make money from your work is not an indictment, but be realistic in noting that goal and doing your work to make it a reality. When it comes to sales, you are likely to be disappointed when you get the first report whether you have your work with a publisher or whether you self-published. Understand that the nearly all of the writers that you know and have read represent a small fraction of all published authors in the world. That's the first sales reality check you have to make. Most writers, some even that you picked off the shelf at your local bookstore, do not make enough to write alone. While that has always been the case, it has become even more true than in previous times. With the explosion of the Internet, the means to print more cheaply and the rise of a variety of publishing options, more people are publishing their work than ever before. The publishing dilemma for most authors has changed from one of can I get published to can I make a living off my writing. Again, the answer is largely - no. The big names that you see having their books made to films, that dominate the best-seller's list and that you likely enjoy reading are the exceptions. Expect to make less. Whether you are self-published or with a publisher, you most likely receive sales information from sources other than yourself. If you are with a publisher, your contract likely shows when you can expect such reporting. If you are self-publishing, you probably keep track of your own sales, but if you have opted to use a wholesaler or distributor, and your really should, you will be still be receiving third-party information. Here's your second reality check when it comes to sales, most companies, either publishers or wholesalers/distributors, are not crooks out to steal from you. You may feel disappointed and you may feel upset, but resist the urge to fire off an email to those businesses until you've let your emotions settle. It will not do you any good to alienate those businesses if they are with the large majority that are good, reputable businesses, and if they are crooks, they aren't going to admit it to you simply because you have reacted angrily. Once you have a bit of perspective, take a look at why you think those numbers are wrong. Then submit your proof and reasons in a professional manner. Your next writer reality for sales comes from an evaluation of your inner circle, your friends and family. Over the years, I have had many an author lament that they know their sales cannot be accurate because Aunt Martha or their good friend Bob bought copies and loved the book. Nearly all such claims simply didn't pan out. These people love you, but consider that they may be telling you that they bought a copy simply to protect your feelings. Of course, it can happen that a sale of this nature might be missed, but before you reach to a business to claim a missing sale, talk to your inner circle, have receipts that you can provide to show a sale that you feel might be missing. You just might find that the 100 copies you thought your inner circle bought was more like 25. If you're like most newer writers, I bet you check sites like Amazon.com and BN.com regularly to see how your book is "doing". What is the reality of that "doing" though? If you think views, reviews, ratings, genre best-seller lists or any of the other information a retailer site might offer equal sales, you are most likely wrong. Truly, there is no accurate way to tell by looking at such site information about how your book is selling with them. Non-human roving sites might be accessing your book's information, adding a "view" to the tally or someone might have been researching a topic that is a keyword for your book and then added yet another "view". As far as any best-seller list goes, they are all flawed. There is no true best-seller list and it would likely even prove to be impossible with the sheer number of new books published each day. I encourage you to look up the criteria for selection to the revered New York Times Best-seller list to see how even it is truly not indicative of overall sales. I think all authors would do themselves a favor to go easy on looking at supposed indicators of success via such unreliable information. Can a company make a mistake in your sales reporting? Absolutely. Most likely it's going to fall under the category of an innocent mistake, likely a clerical error. In checking your reality on sales, you of course, have a right to question a sales report you believe to be incorrect. The keys to doing it right, are to know your contract or agreement with the business in question and what it says on sales reporting and an audit if needed, have your solid proof (think receipts or other such tangible evidence) in hand, do not rely or quote how your book is "doing" on the basis of unreliable information like website views or best-seller lists and do so in a tactful manner. If you approach the subject of sales with such knowledge and reality, you will find that you have a happier and more successful relationship with the good businesses that can help you achieve your goals.
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