I have said that it was important for every author to understand why they want to have their book published. But why is that the case? Why is it so important that you understand the reason?
Very simply, it’s important because you need to have realistic expectations.
Knowing your reasons will give you a clearer picture of what goals might be achievable.
When I first meet with an author, I always ask, “Why do you want to have your book published?” I hear all kinds of different responses—“It’s always been a dream of mine,” “I love to write,” “I experienced a tragedy and want to help others who may be going through the same thing,” “I want it for my family—I want my kids, my grandchildren, to know about their grandfather,”
Sometimes, I hear, “I hope to make money,” although usually, I hear something else first.
In fact, most of the time, it’s one of those other reasons, followed by something like, “Of course, if I happen to make a lot of money with this, that’s okay too!” or “I really want to help people, AND I just hope I can at least make my investment in this project back.”
Even if I don’t hear money mentioned, I always introduce the topic myself because, let’s face it, regardless of how altruistic you may be or whether or not you consider money to be of primary importance in your life—one way or another—most of us must think about the financial implications of something like having a book published.
The publishing business is just that—a business—and as an author looking to be “signed” by a publisher, clearly understanding why you want to have your book published will help you have appropriate expectations about what to expect.
Ultimately, in the book-selling business—as is true with any business—there are big differences between spending money, investing money, and making money. Successful publishers and authors understand these differences.
Clarity of purpose, realistic expectations, and a willingness to execute a well-designed plan of action are the foundations of success for both the publisher and the author.
In upcoming articles, I’ll explore all of this in more depth. I’ll discuss the various pathways authors can take to publish their books—the traditional route, self-publishing, subsidy, or hybrid publishing—as well as marketing, publicity, editing, and many others.
