Eureka!

I lived in gold country in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains for a number of years. The site of Sutter’s Mill was a twenty-minute drive away. I’m no expert, but I learned a few things growing up there. Writing fiction is a lot like living in a gold camp. There’s a lot of excitement and everybody believes they are going to strike it rich panning for gold. People get rich, that’s for certain. Very few of those who do are miners.

Print on demand, the ease of self-publishing, and social platforms reaching around the world have filled every would-be writer with dreams of striking it rich. Like so many miners of old, they end up walking away broke and disheartened while others make all the money.

I’m not talking here about Amazon, Simon & Schuster, Random House, and the like. They make a profit, but they always have. I’m talking about the drummers who rolled into the gold field to feed off the dreams of the folks busy panning. Long ago it was people putting up saloons, dry goods stores, selling hardware, and a few more saloons. Today those folks are called marketers, freelance editors, cover designers, video trailer creators, and presses that charge to publish.

As with most drummers of old, their business is not illegal, immoral, or compulsory. There are scammers and predators out there, we’ve all been contacted by them. There are also honest people offering a service. This is where the money is to be found. Do you really want to write a book that sells? Write a book teaching others how to write, market, or sell a book.

I spoke with a gentleman at a book event who told me he invested $4700 in publishing his book. That is, he wrote it, poured his sweat and blood into it, then paid editors, cover designers, and marketers $4700 to be able to hold his book in his own hands. I tell writers all the time it’s a great feeling to hold a book and see your name on the cover. Nevertheless, I think I’d rather have $4700 and let my less-than-professional slip show.

I received some advice about writing very early on in my career. Don’t give your books away (not even to get reviews), don’t sell cheap, and most of all remember “Money flows to the author”. Am I the rare miner who struck it rich? No, I’m the guy writing books and putting money in my pocket every month. The thing is, I’m good with that outcome. It’s better to be realistic and grow your dreams than to feed the shopkeepers while you starve.