A Word Of Caution
By Jerry D. Simmons | November 28th, 2005 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Recently I was invited to attend an open house for what was described as a new kind of publishing company, one that will take your manuscript and edit, package, print, promote, and market everything, for a price. After a two-hour introduction that was in fact a build-up to the pitch for classes, workshops, seminars, training in public speaking, how to host your own radio talk show, and a menu of other items, the group was given a set of guarantees. I was okay with most of what was being said to the group, EXCEPT for the part about the GUARANTEES.
To everyone who is reading this blog, please make a note: THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES IN PUBLISHING! No exceptions. Current best-selling authors are the closest thing to a guarantee because everyone knows copies will sell, but there are no guarantees as to how many copies will sell. Aside from that fact, there are no guarantees. If you read information about workshops, seminars, classes, or anything else regarding writing and publishing, and there is any kind of guarantee, please run!
My specific problems came when a speaker told the audience: “We can get your book on Amazon and into Barnes & Noble, no problem.” Followed by, “We know the formula to getting your book on the New York Times bestseller list.” Both statements blatantly untrue! No one, not even the biggest publishers in the world can say they guarantee any book will go into any bookstore or online company, that is just not possible! As for the formula for getting a book on the New York Times bestseller list, well, that one completely dumbfounded me. There is no formula, no automatic level of books that must be sold within a certain amount of time to make the list.
So for any of you that may be reading this blog, please make a note and remember: THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES IN PUBLISHING!
Tags: Book Distribution, Book Marketing, Book Publishing, Book Sales
Leave a Reply
