Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemurion
but the average book sells fewer than 150 copies.
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I propose that if you were to count the publisher's slush pile in your trad numbers, the picture there would look very much the same. We all know VERY few make it to be published by a publisher, and of those that do, VERY VERY few are on the shelves for more than a few months. Joe Blow with a book has almost no chance of hitting it big going through traditional publishing. A gazillion books are rejected for every one that hits the shelf and even if accepted Joe Blow's books are tied up for a year or more while he tries that route.
The primary difference is that with self-pub the slush pile is public. Otherwise the chances are better for the self-pub to make it alone - if they have good business sense and a good book.
Check this post:
http://yearoftheindie.blogspot.com/2...lers-sage.html
As you can see the top seller, Elle Casey, sold 46,000 books in July ALONE, as a self pub from home in France. She is a NY Times best seller. It can be done, if you write good books and have good business sense. Authors like her turn down traditional publishing contracts because they would
lose money.
The bottom of the list is in the 10's. At 10 per month, the worst selling indy in the list will beat your 150 in 16 months - which in some cases is faster than a traditional author can even get on the shelf (based on first hand reports).
All I am saying is you are under selling selfpub by A LOT and over selling trad pub, IMO. I will say it again, if you write good books and have good business sense, you can make it as a self pub and even have a shot to make it big.
Please understand, I am not demonizing traditional published authors or publishers. I think that is a valid option for today. I am merely defending the self-pub option as just as legitimate and just as reasonable.
