Some more essential reading for all writers at any stage in their careers, this time from the most recent edition of The Bulletin, a semi-annual magazine published by the Authors Guild.
This article:
Castleman writes
During the entire 20th century, American publishers released 2.5 million titles. Today, that many appear every year.
Bestsellers still sell huge numbers. James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (2023) has sold a million copies. But bestseller numbers are only around 200 a year, one title in 10,000…Americans buy around 800 million trade books annually. Divide that number by 2 million new releases, and the average title sells 400 copies.
Releasing a book? Keep your expectations low. Only 20 percent of new titles sell 100 copies. On the other hand, if your book sells 100, it’s in the top 20 percent. Sell 1,000, you’re in the top 6 percent.
Castleman also writes about promoting through personal networks, blurbs, publicists, websites, social media, Amazon ranking and Amazon ads, and gives a big wave off to marketing services and good for him because they are every one of them scams.
Bookmarketing scams have become so numerous that the AG Bulletin features regular coverage. Before you produce your credit card, ask the AG Forum about the “marketer” you’re considering, or contact the website writerbeware.blog.
Sez Dana, Please do not imagine for one moment that you’re done with a book just because you’ve written “The End.”
You should read the whole thing, and you should definitely join the Authors Guild.
#thiswritinglife Chatter Authors Guild book promotion The Bulletin welcome to the 21st century