Over the past several months I’ve read numerous blog posts, as well as an entire book…all on the subject of what authors should be charging for digital books. And I suppose, as with most everything in my life, I tend to be a middle-of-the-road kind of person. I can see both sides of the argument.
Unfortunately, facts don’t lie.
Fact one. In the world of books, I’m fairly new on the scene. I don’t have a big name (yet). I don’t have a NY Times best selling book (yet). So basically I’m an unknown indie author.
Fact two. As a fairly new, unknown, non-best selling indie author (for the moment), readers don’t know who I am and, therefore, aren’t burning up the internet in their haste to buy my novels (yet).
Fact three. Because of facts one and two, I have to look at all of the other facts and decide what it is I want out of this whole indie publishing thing.
Do I want to price my work at what I think it’s worth and be happy with selling ten books a month? Or…. Do I want to set my price low enough that fifty or a hundred times more people will read it every month?
Those are great questions, but the one that I needed to give the most thought to was why did I start writing in the first place? Was it because I had visions of making millions of dollars and having my name recognized everywhere I went? Well, I suppose that thought has always been in the back of my mind, but that’s not why I write.
I write because I love to write. That’s it. Plain and simple. Black and white. I do it because I love to create stories. Not because I feel I’m due a certain dollar amount for my time and effort.
How would you go about determining what your book is worth anyway? What should I expect in return for any research needed for a story? How much for creating characters and all the plotting involved? And is there enough money in the world to compensate me for editing?
I haven’t made a fortune off my writing (yet), but I’ve earned some decent mad money. Enough to pay a few bills. And that makes me happy.
Know what makes me happier?
The reviews. The fact that people are actually reading books I wrote…and they like them. Or even love them. I can be floating around on cloud nine for hours over a three or four star review. And jumping for joy over a five.
That’s why I write. It makes me feel good. Anything I earn is just icing on the cake. But it’s that cake that’s most important. It’s the satisfaction I get when I finally write the proverbial ‘The End.’ It’s knowing that people are going to be reading and enjoying that book.
Some things really are priceless.
Aww…
Kristy, I get what you are saying. I write for the pleasure as well, but I’d like to have many readers. And some writers need to support themselves.
That seems a good starting point: pricing it at the sweet spot where the writer can get readers and also earn an income, so she can keep writing.
Knowing what your goals are in writing is what’s most important, IMO. I wouldn’t write if I didn’t love it. But if I didn’t want to share it, I sure wouldn’t spend the time to revise and polish, and revise again, and…. LOL. There are so many books out there for $.99 and free, it’s no longer a guarantee for more readers or visibility. However, I’m participating in a $.99 group promo next month, so I’d be very happy to be wrong. I just bought Enza with the gift card I won from your blog hop – thanks! I love the time period, so I’m really looking forward to it! Good luck in your quest for readership!
I may bump the prices up again, but I’ve been paying very close attention to sales this year and the only one that sells well is the .99 cent one. And I mean it consistently outsells the others by A LOT. By 5,000% and 6,000% more. No, I don’t make a lot of money, but that’s okay. People are reading it…and that’s why I wrote it. Hopefully more will read the others soon.
Thanks so much for buying Enza! You didn’t have to…but I hope you enjoy it. I’ll look forward to hearing your opinion. 🙂
The cake is more important to me, too, Kristy. I think it also makes way for yummy frosting. 😉
It sure does! Like most everyone in the civilized world, I’ve had my share of striking it rich fantasies. But I knew when I was a teenager that money isn’t everything. When my mom started playing the lottery and planning how she was going to spend the jackpot, all I could think was that being able to have everything you’ve ever wanted would ruin Christmas. It’s important, but not THAT important. It really doesn’t make us happy.
Now Robert Downey Jr. could make me happy. Someone could FedEx him to my house and I’d be REALLY happy. 🙂
I’m the same Kristy. I write because I love to do so. Hey, it would be great to make some money one day but I’ll keep writing either way.
Same here, Emma. I knew way back when I was fifteen that writing is a big part of what defines me. I’ll write whether I make money or not. Glad I’m not alone in that. 🙂
I hope to be able to fix some of the stuff breaking around here someday. But ultimately it’s about the story and I sure hope people like it – no – LOVE it. That would be awesome! Not hating it, that would be nice. Time will tell.
There are always going to have haters…but that’s okay. It just makes us appreciate the people who love our books even more than we already do. And just based on what little I’ve seen so far, you’re lovers are going to outnumber any potential haters…by a lot! 🙂
I feel the same way, Kristy. Though I’d love to make a million bucks off my books (when they get published), its not the reason behind me writing them. I love to create characters and stories. Its fun and exciting. Its like meeting new friends and experiencing their life right along side of them.
Yes, the money is great but writing is the fulfilling part.
So glad that you enjoy being a published author! I can only imagine the joy to know that your books are in the hands of others – who love them just as much!
I’d definitely like to see my bank account overflow…but if it never does, I won’t stop writing. You’re right…that IS the fulfilling part. 🙂
And it is a joy to know that people are reading my books. Now I just have to get organized so I can start producing NEW books. 🙂
Yay! Of all your followers I am actually the first to like this post. Don’t check the time I did it! Glad to see what is really your greatest joy in being a published author, that is indeed priceless. L&P
It’s always fun to be the first one, isn’t it? No, I won’t check the time…as long as you don’t check the time I responded. 🙂
And writing is my greatest joy as far as being an author goes. I wrote many, many stories that collected dust through the years…just because I loved doing it. Even though no one read a word of them but me. Now other people ARE reading them…and I am loving it! 🙂