People who love to read often ask me how much does an average book writer make. It is usually followed by some version of, “I want to be a writer, but I don’t know if I can make a living at it.” While it is true that book writing can be a lucrative profession if you’re best seller, it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of opportunities for an average writer to make a good living without breaking the bank. In fact, I’ve written this article to help debunk the myth that book writing is only a financially viable option for the wealthy or those who signed with a big name publisher. While it is true that traditionally publishing a book can be a profitable venture, it’s definitely achievable for anyone with a decent writing style and strong desire to succeed in this field.
Traditional Publishing
If you’ve ever shopped at an upscale retail store, you might have walked past a shelf of new releases and noticed all the options for traditionally published books. Publishers like Random House, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster hold a special place in the literary world because they were the first to implement the mass production of books. Since their inception, these powerhouse publishers have helped countless authors get their books published and gain recognition for their talents. While this type of publishing can be very lucrative if you’re well-known enough, it can also be very frustrating if you’re not signed with one of these big name publishers. In the past, it was almost impossible for an unknown writer to gain any significant attention or sales without signing with a commercial publisher.
The good news is, things have changed. Self-publishing has become a viable option for all sorts of writers — even those who don’t necessarily fit the mold of a traditional author. With a little know-how, self-publishing can be a profitable endeavor for anyone who wants to pursue this line of work. Many well-known and accomplished writers have chosen to go this route after realizing the benefits it provides. Traditional publishers still exist, but they represent the minority as far as book publishing is concerned. Today, self-publishing has become so popular that the lines between the two have blurred.
Viable Alternatives To Traditional Publishing
If you’ve decided that you’d like to write a book and try your hand at self-publishing, it’s important to know what other options you have. There are many different ways to get your book published, and it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go the traditional route to do so. In fact, there are plenty of viable alternatives that can provide you with all the benefits of a traditional publishing deal without the hefty price tag. Here are just a few of the things you can do.
Find A Platform
The first and most critical step to taking your book writing career seriously is to find a platform. This can be anything from a blog to a website or a social media account. The important thing is that you find a place where you can actively engage with your audience. Once you’ve found this place, you can move forward with the other steps to publishing your book. Your platform will decide how much interest you can generate, and it’s up to you to prove to publishers and potential customers that you’re worth investing in.
Build A Following
Just like with any other business, the more people you have following you, the more successful you will be. When it comes to book publishing, this especially applies to blog owners and YouTube creators who have large followings. If you can get a significant audience to follow you, you can rest assured that they will be interested in your book when it’s released. One of the best things about building a following is you can choose to work with a publisher you feel confident will give you a good deal, or you can go it alone and see how much money you can make from online sales. The choice is yours!
Find An Agent
Agents are important when it comes to getting your book published because they will be representing you in the negotiation process. Just like when you’re going through a traditional publisher, you will have to go through an agent to secure a deal for your book. However, finding the right agent for your book can be quite the task, especially if you don’t know where to begin. To make things easier for potential clients, some literary agencies will handle the entire publishing process for you. If you’re looking for an agent, make sure to do your research before making a commitment. You can find out more about them here. Once you’ve found the right agent, you can rest assured that your book will be in good hands and that they will do all they can to get it published professionally. On that note, here are a few things you should know about agents:
- They usually get paid a commission when a book is sold
- They sometimes have to negotiate the terms of the contract
- They can sometimes get you better deals than the ones offered by the publishers
- They can introduce you to a whole new audience that you might not have found otherwise
The Bottom Line
Traditional publishing is still around and quite viable option for those who want to pursue this line of work, but it’s definitely not the only way to go about it. Self-publishing has become such a popular and viable option that it has blurred the lines between the two. If you’ve decided that you’d like to author a book, it’s important to do your research and find out what’s out there to help you make the most out of this opportunity. There are plenty of viable alternatives to traditional publishing, and it doesn’t have to be hard to find success as a book writer. All you need is the will to succeed and the desire to write a book that someone will want to read. From there, the rest will take care of itself.