Charles Robertson

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Day 13

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In my Day 12 post I focused on finding the right literary agent.  That may not happen, and it may be just as well.  The advantage of having an agent is the possibility of landing one of the big 5 publishers.  Initially I thought that was the way to go.  I’m learning as I go in this field and now I’m finding that self-publishing or indie publishing may be better, they offer 2 big advantages.

 

The first advantage is time, self-publishing authors can have their books published and ready for sale within weeks of completing their manuscript. Traditional publishing can take anywhere from 18-24 months to reach the marketplace.  A potential 2 more years before publication doesn’t work for a fictional story set in current times where advances in AI have already created rewriting.  When I started writing Primis there was no Chatgpt, much of the AI in the story seemed futuristic.  Two years later, much of the AI is commonplace.  Two years from now my story may barely be sci-fi.  

 

The second advantage is potential income.  Royalties from traditional publishing average 12% while self- publishing averages 60%.  Let’s say Primis sells a fair to good amount – 10,000 copies.  At $10 per copy, the payout would be $12,000 versus $60,000.  Deducting $15,000 from self-publishing for editing and marketing still leaves a $33,000 advantage ($12K vs $45K).  Once sales reach 3,125 both publishing options pay the same ($3,750) but if sales go beyond that number, the payoff advantage for self-publishing grows quickly, as mentioned in the 10K sales figure above.  

 

I realize traditional publishing would likely provide more sales, however, in the above scenario, to make up the $33,000 advantage, traditional publishing would need to sell 27,500 more copies than self-publishing.  Highly unlikely that could happen for a first time author. 

 

Indie publishing is the middle route between the big 5 publishers and self-publishing, it offers advantages from both.  An indie publisher is a small publishing house, sometimes so small they’re called micro publishers, that usually specialize in one particular genre or a niche market. It’s a nice in-between option with more freedom than working with a much larger publishing house.  Going the indie route would allow me to keep full creative control.  

 

Creative control could be the deal breaker if a big 5 publisher wants to take on Primis.  They & I are pursuing different goals.  They want sales, I want my Christian message to reach an audience, unfiltered or reduced.  Large publishers typically struggle with books like mine with a Christian theme.  Too much Christian theme will land Primis in the Religion section where sales are lower than sci-fi, action adventure.  I could expect requested editing (reduction) of Christian content which as mentioned is a deal breaker.  

 

Should Primis do well as a first novel there’s a stronger case for using a big publisher for a second novel.   

In that daydream, I’m in demand, like free tickets to a Taylor Swift concert.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Which publishing route will I choose; I need some wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”  James: 1:5

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