I write a lot, and have more than 50 books. So…which ones are the good ones?
Let’s face it – many authors write books that don’t sell. I’m no different, and have quite a few books that would qualify as duds. Oh, they might sell a copy here and a copy there, but if at the end of the year they’re not getting at least a few sales a month, they’re probably a dud.
Bummer, but what can you do? I typically move on, putting another, hopefully non-dud-book, up on the shelf. I’ve done a pretty good job of it so far, as I’ve sold more than 2,600 books.
(You might remember a post called I’ve Sold More than 3,000 Books a couple months ago, but sadly, I was counting some free books from Smashwords into that total.
So I’ve sold around 2,600 books and looking at my sales, it’s clear that just 10 books make up most of my sales, or 63%. You can see a graph of that here:
Let’s face it – many authors write books that don’t sell. I’m no different, and have quite a few books that would qualify as duds. Oh, they might sell a copy here and a copy there, but if at the end of the year they’re not getting at least a few sales a month, they’re probably a dud.
Bummer, but what can you do? I typically move on, putting another, hopefully non-dud-book, up on the shelf. I’ve done a pretty good job of it so far, as I’ve sold more than 2,600 books.
(You might remember a post called I’ve Sold More than 3,000 Books a couple months ago, but sadly, I was counting some free books from Smashwords into that total.
So I’ve sold around 2,600 books and looking at my sales, it’s clear that just 10 books make up most of my sales, or 63%. You can see a graph of that here:
Taking it a bit further, this is how it breaks down between fiction and non-fiction:
Wow, people like me writing nonfiction, obviously. I guess it make sense – that’s what the university trained me to do. It’s nice making money writing history, and I’d be willing to bet that puts me in the top 10% of history grads, perhaps even better. Most seem to flip fries or check groceries.
Anyways, it takes a lot of work. If you want to get anywhere, you have to work, and I worked hard putting those books out. Unfortunately, most of that work took place from 2010 through 2013.
Yeah, the only recent book on that Top 10 list is Dulce Base, which I put out in December 2014. All the rest were put out in 2013, and the other three fiction books were all written from 2010 to 2011 or so.
Anyways, it takes a lot of work. If you want to get anywhere, you have to work, and I worked hard putting those books out. Unfortunately, most of that work took place from 2010 through 2013.
Yeah, the only recent book on that Top 10 list is Dulce Base, which I put out in December 2014. All the rest were put out in 2013, and the other three fiction books were all written from 2010 to 2011 or so.
Have I lost my touch? Many would argue I never had one to begin with, but putting that aside, perhaps I have. Recently, I can’t seem to write a book that will sell to save my life!
Or maybe I’ve just gotten off track, been putting out rubbish. Perhaps no one wants what I’m selling, and a lack of sales attests to that.
So what to do?
I’d like to think I have some winners coming up to bat.
That’s the idea, at least, and I hope you can help me with that. A review, buying a new book, or signing up for my email list all help. It’s hard being a full-time, professional author, but with your help I get by.
Thanks!
Or maybe I’ve just gotten off track, been putting out rubbish. Perhaps no one wants what I’m selling, and a lack of sales attests to that.
So what to do?
I’d like to think I have some winners coming up to bat.
- First, there’s Colter’s Winter coming out soon, and that should appeal to the Montana audience I’ve built up.
- Then, Dulce Base 2 will come out, and since Book 1 sold I’m assuming Book 2 will as well.
- Next, I have Montana Book 5 coming out this summer, and even though none have matched the success of Book 1, I keep hitting away at it.
- Finally, I’ve stopped writing about politics, so won’t be pissing away so many words anymore. Instead, I can redirect those words to fiction or nonfiction books, actually making money from them.
That’s the idea, at least, and I hope you can help me with that. A review, buying a new book, or signing up for my email list all help. It’s hard being a full-time, professional author, but with your help I get by.
Thanks!
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