What drives you to write? As more books earning the ire of critics become bestsellers these days, the line between writing skills and business skills has seemingly blurred. Gone are the days when writers pursue their craft for the love of it. Many writers have also seen money in books.
Self-publishing levels the playing field
With more would-be authors turning to self-publishing, the publishing landscape has seen a paradigm shift—almost everyone can write and publish. Never has the freedom of expression in the literary world been more evident. Being an author is no longer a privilege among renowned talents, such as J.K. Rowling or Stephen King but a right many seasoned or novice writers are now starting to recognize and enjoy.
Books and business on equal footing
The rise of self-publishing has greatly influenced the newfound equality between writing and business. Xlibris has helped publish potentially bestselling authors with controversial or provocative book ideas. Case in point: survivalist fiction author James Wesley Rawles whose Xlibris-published book got acquired by Plume Books, a Penguin Random House imprint; and eventually achieved bestseller status on the New York Times list.
One blog has this advice to writers who wish to churn money from their books: Treat your work like a startup. The blog also stresses the importance of careful marketing assessment if you wish to cash in on your book.
For the author seeking a career in books, creative decisions are inescapably business decisions too. “Product-market” fit—the symmetry between the book’s (e.g. product) message and the readership (e.g. market)—is the new gold standard and predictor of success … Today, books are businesses. The best way to succeed is to treat yours as one.
Business decisions are just like the writing process
The article also compares book production and marketing decisions to the writing process itself.
Economic realities, such as financing the book production process as well as marketing its existence, are just as common and important as writing realities, such as deciding on the book’s structure as well as ensuring it expresses a complete idea.
It’s all up to you
While a clear-cut reply to the question, “why do you write?” may be hard for some writers, one’s writing pretext need not be justified.
Writing is the only life worth living for Gustave Flaubert, self psychoanalysis for Joan Didion, personal freedom for Don DeLillo, and happiness for Stephen King. Your writing may spring from the tireless pursuit of money. But that’s okay.
Here’s hoping to finishing your book whatever your writing motivation is.
Know what drives some Xlibris authors to write. Visit the Xlibris Blog and the Xlibris Indie Authors Roundup. Get more free writing, editing, and book marketing tips from the Xlibris Writer’s Workshop.