Writer's Digest Questions and Quandaries - Marketing

How Do I Track Book Sales?

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:34:48 GMT

Q: Is there a way to find out the current sales for a given book that may (or may not) be in print? —Tony P.

A: The short answer to this is no. Due to the volume of distribution channels, there is no outlet where you can find an accurate and reliable sales figure for any book. The only one who has access to total sales numbers are a book's publisher, and that publisher typically won't share specific sales information—unless, of course, the number is so high it can be used as a promotional tool (e.g., "More than 5 million copies sold!").

Jane Friedman, editorial director and publisher of Writer's Digest and Writer's Digest Books, says it's worth noting that most publishers subscribe to the Nielsen Bookscan service, which tracks book sales through chain bookstores, independent bookstores and a handful of other retail outlets. But it is not a complete picture of book sales (as it doesn't include books sold at conferences, direct-to-consumer sales, etc.), and the service is available only to publishers and industry professionals and is extremely expensive (think five figures). In other words, it's not available to the public.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Will Newspapers Review Self-Published Books?

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:11:14 GMT

Q: The book critic at my local newspaper mentioned in an article that she doesn’t review self-published books. Is this common procedure? Are there any major dailies that do?—Joyann Dwire

A: Some newspapers won’t review self-published books simply because they’re concerned about legal issues. Self-published books aren’t subjected to the rigorous editing process employed by publishing companies, particularly the legal and plagiarism issues that most concern newspapers. Publishing companies do all the legwork and guarantee the book is original, fact-checked and libel-free—after all, their reputation is at stake. And while you may have quadruple-checked your facts, newspapers can’t rest their reputation on your shoulders.

Of course, there may be some snobbery at play at some publications, as the odds of a newspaper being sued over a libelous book review are slimmer than Paris Hilton. But some newspapers insist it’s a legal issue and, like it or not, they have that right.

Not all major papers completely turn their backs on self-published books, though. John Marshall, book critic for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, says that while his paper is hesitant about it, the editors will review them from time to time. “It’s true that self-published books don’t have the editorial screening that commercial presses have,” he says. “But we’re willing to make exceptions. Often the ones we do mention have either sold well or won awards.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer’s book page content editor, Jim Knippenberg, takes a similar view. “We don’t have a blanket policy,” he says. “It’s on a case-by-case basis. If it’s a recognizable name, like a notable local person, we might review them. In that case, often we’ll do a piece focusing more on the author than the book.”

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

What is a Blog?

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:21:21 GMT

Q: While I've read several sites referred to as "blogs," I'm not really sure what a blog is. What is a blog? —Christopher B.

A: From writers at award-winning newspapers, to magazine editors to your neighbor's teenage son, almost everyone seems to have a blog these days. But ask three people what a blog is, and they'll all give a different answer because blogs have taken on many different shapes and sizes.

According to MerriamWebster.com, a blog (short for "Web log") is "a website that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." In other words, blogs are easy-to-update sites where the writer is in complete control and posts all of the content.

Blogs are updated frequently, from once a week to several times a day. Entries are typically short (ranging from 50 to 1,000 words) and posted in reverse chronological order. Topics range from politics to sports to dog lovers, but the most successful blogs have very specific, focused niches. For example, Whitney Matheson's Pop Candy blog on the USA Today website focuses on links to pop culture stories she finds on the Web. Cincinnati Enquirer sports reporter John Fay blogs daily on Cincinnati Reds baseball news. And besides this Questions & Quandaries blog, I also have a blog dedicated to the trials and tribulations of being a new father.

Blogging is a very cheap and efficient way to offer your writing up to the masses—even if your masses consist solely of your mother, grandmother and your grandmother's bunko friend. As a writer, it's not only a good way to practice your craft but also a way promote yourself and your work without having to know technical code like HTML, JAVA or any other acronym-sounding computer language.

(Note: For excellent advice on creating a successful blog, check out Maria Schneider's 20 Tips for Good Blogging.)

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Novel and Short Story Word Counts

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:48:36 GMT

Q. How long is the typical short story supposed to be? How about novellas and novels? Are there guidelines with regard to word count for a first-time novelist? —Molly Heyl

A. There are general guidelines for each literary category: Short stories range anywhere from 1,500 to 30,000 words; Novellas run from 30,000 to 50,000; Novels range from 55,000 to 300,000 words, but I wouldn’t recommend aiming for the high end, as books the length of War & Peace aren’t exactly the easiest to sell.

Agent Lori Perkins of the L. Perkins Agency in New York says it’s much easier to market a first-time novelist’s book if the word count falls between 80,000 and 100,000 words, or roughly 300 double-spaced, typed pages—the average novel length.

“One-third of the novels that come into the agency are rejected because they’re too long or short,” Perkins says. “The cost greatly increases on books larger than 100,000 words, so agents and publishers are less likely to gamble on a manuscript the size of a dictionary.”

When you’re writing, though, don’t impose word limits on yourself. Let the story flow without interruption. Wait until you finish the first draft to go back and tighten it to a reasonable length. Save every scene you cut, though. It may lead you to another story.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Hiring a Public Relations Specialist

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 18:09:06 GMT

Q: I’ve finished my book, landed a contract and have a publication date. Should I hire a public relations specialist to spread the word? –Ozzie G.

A: While most of us don’t have loads of extra cash to drop on hiring a PR specialist, most of us don’t have a bestseller on our resume either. But if your book is purchased by a publisher and you want to see better sales results, it may be worth at least entertaining the idea.

Publishers tend to put few (if any) resources into marketing books, particularly books from first-time authors. Hell, you’re lucky if you get your own page on the publisher’s website. A good PR representative can open marketing avenues that you either don’t have access to or hadn’t crossed your mind. And a great PR rep will help increase your visibility in places where it counts.

Searching for a PR rep is kind of like searching for a babysitter—you need someone you can trust, someone who will do a good job and someone who will give your “baby” the attention it deserves. After all, you don’t want to waste your money on someone who will send out a few faxes and call it a day. It’s important to check references. Ask what results she has had with similar books and seek proof of those results. Also, check out the Public Relations Society of America’s local chapter or the communications program at your local university. Here you can find a list of publicists to choose from.

The cost of some PR reps can be high—from $500 to $4,000 per month or higher—but you have to think of this as an investment. Always expect a return on this investment. And even if you decide that a PR rep isn’t for you, just by doing some research you may be able to pick up on a few of their best practices.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Friday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

No Agent? No Problem

Fri, 04 May 2007 18:27:27 GMT

Q: I would like to know what an author is to do if a publisher were to offer up a contract to him or her when there is no agent involved?— C. L. Freire

A: Negotiating a book contract is a lot like buying a car—there's some give and take, not everyone will get the same deal and sometimes you have to pass on the sunroof to get the deal done. It's helpful to have an agent, of course, but not everyone has that luxury. So how can you, a first-time author, make sure that you're getting a fair deal?

When a publisher wants your book, she'll make an offer. Most companies have a standard contract, or boilerplate that they use. Nearly all of these standard contracts have language that favors the publisher, so it's up to you to haggle out a better deal. Assume that everything is negotiable, though keep in mind that what's flexible in one publisher's contract may not be so flexible somewhere else. Topics most often open for negotiation are:

- royalty v. flat fee
- anticipated royalty %
- anticipated advance
- expenses to be built in
- second use rights (including electronic)
- free copies of book
- cost to author to buy copies

If there are certain areas that are nonnegotiable, the publisher will tell the author that. Accept it and move on. Also, if you have questions about anything, ask. Contracts are complicated and often need explaining.

Before navigating the minefield of book negotiation, it's essential that you read up on publishing contracts. The Author's Guild offers several tips on how to negotiate a fair contract (http://www.authorsguild.org/?p=101). If you're a member of the National Writers Union, you can hop onto their site (http://www.nwu.org) and get extra advice. Plus, there are several good books on the topic—read as many as you can.

Should you involve a lawyer? I asked Writer's Digest Books acquisitions editor Jane Friedman and she says it's OK to ask a lawyer for advice, but often they can be a real headache if they're not familiar with publishing law. "They may ask for terms or stipulations that are unreasonable," Friedman says.

As long as you've done some homework, you'll be in good shape when hammering out your book deal. The more times you go through the process, the better you'll get. And one day, if you're lucky, you'll be able to get that sunroof.

Brian A. Klems is the associate editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Friday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.