lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2009
- Posts
- 46,467
I just finished uploading my 250th e-book. I technically have close to 275 but some of those are compilations of previously written stories and some are anthologies done with other authors.
But today marked my 250th completely original solo book.
Published my first e-book in March of 2011, got seven sales that month and a $13 royalty payment that at the time I felt was the best 13 bucks I'd ever made.
I had no idea how far I'd go or how long I'd go. I recall Keithd-under his SRplt handle-talking about his 200th some years ago and thought, goddamn, that's crazy, I'll never get close to that. On this note I wonder what his final tally was, because the guy was a machine.
But here we are and honestly a couple of years ago I was close to thinking I'd burned out and was done, but a couple of months later a story hit me, then another, and I was rolling again.
The market isn't just about the writing. There's a lot of drama and bullshit. Witch hunts, constantly changing content rules, rules for covers, platforms come, you spend a lot of time getting your work there, and then they close up shop, and often burn authors out of money. There are scam publishers out there by the bucketload, and of course there are unfair one star reviews because Amazon used to let people drop reviews on books they never even purchased. People will say you need a thick skin to deal with some crap here, but its an entirely different level of aggravation at the selling level.
But it also comes with the reward of knowing someone spent money-even a small amount-on something you wrote. Bigger thrill if you have books in print and do events and you get to sign one of your books for someone.
Knowing I was close I began pulling together reports, quickly said fuck this, but the publisher I use on some platforms got curious and did it for me, and as close as they can figure I've sold close 140,000 e-books. A fair number on platforms that no longer exist
A fellow author I met here, but left a long time ago, sent me a message last year when they saw I was still going and the size of the library and said "You're one of the most tenacious sons of bitches I've ever met"
Because in the end, tenacity and drive-as much as having the stories to tell-is the most important trait for long term work in any field.
We get people here all the time asking about getting started, and I think some here tend to be a bit negative, that you won't make any money, its not worth it, market is flooded, etc.
Those things can all be true, but you don't know until you try and once you start, and you're serious minded, just keep pushing, don't stop, don't quit, eye the prize.
What's the prize?
The next one.
Already have the cover art for #251
But today marked my 250th completely original solo book.
Published my first e-book in March of 2011, got seven sales that month and a $13 royalty payment that at the time I felt was the best 13 bucks I'd ever made.
I had no idea how far I'd go or how long I'd go. I recall Keithd-under his SRplt handle-talking about his 200th some years ago and thought, goddamn, that's crazy, I'll never get close to that. On this note I wonder what his final tally was, because the guy was a machine.
But here we are and honestly a couple of years ago I was close to thinking I'd burned out and was done, but a couple of months later a story hit me, then another, and I was rolling again.
The market isn't just about the writing. There's a lot of drama and bullshit. Witch hunts, constantly changing content rules, rules for covers, platforms come, you spend a lot of time getting your work there, and then they close up shop, and often burn authors out of money. There are scam publishers out there by the bucketload, and of course there are unfair one star reviews because Amazon used to let people drop reviews on books they never even purchased. People will say you need a thick skin to deal with some crap here, but its an entirely different level of aggravation at the selling level.
But it also comes with the reward of knowing someone spent money-even a small amount-on something you wrote. Bigger thrill if you have books in print and do events and you get to sign one of your books for someone.
Knowing I was close I began pulling together reports, quickly said fuck this, but the publisher I use on some platforms got curious and did it for me, and as close as they can figure I've sold close 140,000 e-books. A fair number on platforms that no longer exist
A fellow author I met here, but left a long time ago, sent me a message last year when they saw I was still going and the size of the library and said "You're one of the most tenacious sons of bitches I've ever met"
Because in the end, tenacity and drive-as much as having the stories to tell-is the most important trait for long term work in any field.
We get people here all the time asking about getting started, and I think some here tend to be a bit negative, that you won't make any money, its not worth it, market is flooded, etc.
Those things can all be true, but you don't know until you try and once you start, and you're serious minded, just keep pushing, don't stop, don't quit, eye the prize.
What's the prize?
The next one.
Already have the cover art for #251
Congratulations! That's a real achievement.
