Everything you wanted to know about book sales...

[Marc Joan]

I thought this was quite interesting; some of it has been covered before in other threads, but overall it seems like a useful summary of the way things are regarding book sales ...
Everything You Wanted to Know about Book Sales (But Were Afraid to Ask)

 

[Marc Joan]

One of the interesting things (for me) in the above link was the assertion that a lit fic novel often sells more than a genre novel, which runs counter to much prevailing wisdom. And something interesting in the below link is the idea that some publishers won't consider publishing a novel unless they think it will sell 30,000 copies or more. That is quite a hill to climb, but as the blogger says, it helps to know how high the bar is-: More About Book Sales -

 

[Emily]

Does this kind of information make anyone else want to run into a dark corner to rock on their hunkers with hands over their ears and eyes screwed tightly shut, while emitting a frantic hum?

No?
Just me, then?

 

[E G Logan]

Not just you.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

I have to admit that reading this makes me feel a whole lot better about my low sales numbers--the smaller the publisher, the smaller the number of units they sell per title. I'm a VERY small publisher.

But, yes, most of the time when I see stuff like this I put my hands over my ears and say, "La! La! La! La! I can't hear you!"

 

[Rachel Caldecott]

Does this kind of information make anyone else want to run into a dark corner to rock on their hunkers with hands over their ears and eyes screwed tightly shut, while emitting a frantic hum?

No?
Just me, then?

Me too!
I remember my mother going to the Los Angeles book fair (1978) and being cross because when US publishers asked about her books, they weren't at all interested in what her books were about, but rather what their sales figures were. She thought it all very 'American' and 'vulgar'. Nevertheless, she didn't flinch and ended up with about 30 books published and a steady stream of royalties (which, even though she is dead, my brothers and I are benefiting from). Not huge royalties admittedly, but having read this article they impress me more. She had been writing since childhood and suffered many years of rejections... but never gave up and finally had success in her mid-forties with The Tall Stones. That trilogy, I believe, has been in continuous print since 1975 and is considered a 'classic', in publishing terms.

I'm not just babbling about my mummy, my point is really DON'T give up. Don't run into a corner, humming or otherwise. You write well. Keep going. If you have the writing bug, you wouldn't be able to stop writing now, even if you wanted to... money or no money.

 

[Emily]

@Rachel Caldecott-Thornton , that is *fascinating*, I would love to know more about your childhood and your mum. I must look for her books in our library.
And thank you; I've always been a writer and have no hope of stopping now, irrelevant of whether I make a red cent or not

 

[Ann B.]

Me too!
I remember my mother going to the Los Angeles book fair (1978) and being cross because when US publishers asked about her books, they weren't at all interested in what her books were about, but rather what their sales figures were. She thought it all very 'American' and 'vulgar'. Nevertheless, she didn't flinch and ended up with about 30 books published and a steady stream of royalties (which, even though she is dead, my brothers and I are benefiting from). Not huge royalties admittedly, but having read this article they impress me more. She had been writing since childhood and suffered many years of rejections... but never gave up and finally had success in her mid-forties with The Tall Stones. That trilogy, I believe, has been in continuous print since 1975 and is considered a 'classic', in publishing terms.

I'm not just babbling about my mummy, my point is really DON'T give up. Don't run into a corner, humming or otherwise. You write well. Keep going. If you have the writing bug, you wouldn't be able to stop writing now, even if you wanted to... money or no money.

That's amazing @Rachel Caldecott-Thornton , I agree with @Rainbird. Your mother must be such an inspiration to you. And yes, money or no; I think writers will write regardless.