When NOT to Publish a Book
I spend a lot of time talking to authors about how to publish, and successfully publish, their books. But today I’d like to talk about when—and why—you should NOT publish your book. Read on.
If you’re not thrilled with the topic. It takes several years—yes, years—to successfully position a book. If you’re not prepared to write and talk about your book’s topic for the next three to five years, minimum, then don’t publish the book. Choose another topic, one in which you can marinate more happily for a longer period of time. Even a successful topic, done beautifully, sometimes takes time to get going. Make sure you’re sufficiently enamored of your topic that you can give your book the time it requires to fly.
If you don’t have decent credentials. These days, to be successful, authors need a platform. If you don’t have credentials that match up with the topic of your book, then run out and get the credentials, or consider partnering with someone who already has them. And if that seems impossible or untenable, then shelve the book. You can’t do a book credit without having the proper credits as an author.
If your book’s content is too changeable
If the book you want to publish won’t withstand the winds of time—or even a few minutes of shelf life—then it’s probably not the book you should be publishing. For example, if your book is filled with URLs and website citations that will constantly be changing, it will be almost impossible to keep it sufficiently updated to be useful to anyone. In that case, figure out a way to recast it so that it’s less volatile—for example, making a website for the book with lists of URLs on the website—but keep in mind that then you’ll have to keep those lists current, always. Or pick another topic entirely.
If you don’t like publicity. Many authors don’t particularly love doing publicity for their books. But if you really can’t stomach the thought of doing the necessary publicity—any publicity—then you need to reconsider whether you’re ready to do this book. You can’t sell a book successfully today without beating the publicity bushes—so either resign yourself to doing the publicity, or give up on the book idea. (And no, hiring a PR firm won’t really let you off the hook—they’ll definitely make it easier, but you’re still the one who has to go on the radio or TV show or be interviewed by the newspaper or magazine. It is still, ultimately, your book.)
If it’s not the book you wanted to write. This will seem antithetical to some authors who would write anything in order to get their name on a book, but sometimes in your career you’ll be pressured into writing a book that just isn’t the book you had in mind. Perhaps it will happen because your literary agent knows he can sell one book, even though you had hoped to write another. Perhaps it will happen because your readers will come to expect a certain type of book from you, which will make it financially difficult to write another. (Imagine Stephen King switching to the romance niche, and you understand the dilemma.) Regardless, as an author, you need to write what’s in your heart, regardless of whether it’s the most marketable book you could write, regardless even of whether it’s saleable. Sometimes, you just need to be true to yourself as an author.
So if these scenarios describe you—put the book aside for a while, and see if another idea comes along. Sometimes, the muse is just waiting for you to pay attention.
Fern Reiss is CEO of PublishingGame.com, offering books, workshops, and consulting on how to get a literary agent, publish, and promote a book. She is also CEO of Expertizing.com, teaching people how to get more media attention for themselves and their business; in the past six months, she’s been quoted in over 100 publications from the NY Times to Wall Street Week. Sign up at http://www.PublishingGame.com/signup.htm for her complimentary monthly email newsletter on how to get more media attention for yourself, your book, and your business.
Last 5 posts by Fern Reiss
- Publicize Your Novel - April 17th, 2008
- 19 Ways to Publicize Your Book - March 24th, 2008
- Publicize Via Social Networks - February 11th, 2008
- Get More Publicity For Your Book and Business - December 5th, 2007
- Sell More Books to Libraries - October 22nd, 2007
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October 5th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
I enjoyed your article and found it to be very useful.
I am presently in the very early stages of beginning a book of a religious or spiritual nature. The problem that I feel that I may have is with sufficient credentials. I was wondering if getting a few articles published first would be enough to overcome this hurdle. This may just be a problem in my own mind rather than one based in reality. I would hope that the work would stand on its own. I could use any advice that you may have to offer.
Thank you very much.
October 5th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Your materials was interesting and very good advice. I have published three books and I am speaking about the three topics for different situations: Titles: Church Folk– relationship within the church; Muh Mother) –Alzheimer’s and The Powerful Web of Kin Folk- how to develop and maintain a sound relationship within the family.
Background: Teacher/ Counselor,
October 5th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Jerry, if you are a Christian then you have the credentials to publish a book in that area. You don’t have to have the title Pastor or Minister to publish the book and or speak on the subject. I hope this helps
October 6th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Jerry, the more credentials you have for your topic, the more credibility you’ll have as an author, and (usually) the better your book will do. Having a few articles published on the topic would definitely help; another thing that might help would be to find someone known in the field to endorse the book.
Best of luck with it,
/Fern
http://www.PublishingGame.com
October 6th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Jerry, based on my experience the most important ingredient is your believe in your own writing, and the passion you feel to give your message to others.
most successful authors did not began at the top, so keep going, build your own website, start giving conferences to small groups, churches, fundations,
design your own ministry, promote yourself, and the success will be at your hands.
Axel Pineda
October 7th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Dear Fern,
I bought all your books when they were hot off the press and you’ve written an immediate marketing plan for authors.
Since then I read everything I can find you write.
Now if you could just find a way to write this book for large publishers. You think when you’re “discovered” by a large publisher and publish your book, that you’re in the lap of the Book Gods, but you’re not. Help the large publishers next, Fern.
They need help and are often underperforming the new breed of self-publishing marketing saavy authors.
Keep writing!
Colleen
October 9th, 2006 at 8:24 am
Fern,
Do interviews and comments from well known people inside a Old West historical reference book needed? Are book jackets needed with this information? really how important is the cover? So simple cover sell because of content..
Thanks
Colonel Bain
Ps you find me at New West (Unfiltered)
October 19th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Fern,
I had a book of poems published in 1994 by a vanity press. (At the time I knew nothing about the publishing industry.) Dumb huh?
Well, my question is: If I self-publish the poems from that book, does the vanity press(who failed to give me a contract. I agreed to a court documented session that I would be willing to compensate the publisher for his services which has been paid.)
Where do I go from here?
Thanks,
Martha
October 31st, 2006 at 10:41 am
Your advice has already helped me and I just read it five minutes ago. The book that I had written, I am not exactly comfortable with it. So now I know it isn’t the right message that I was wanting to send out. So thank you for your help!
November 5th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I have successfully mentored my son to become a multi-milioniare before the age of 30. I did this by creating a unique modality that can help parents world-wide. A recorded CD-ROM and journal is available, and I have started to write a book. The problem is: I am confused over whether it should be a manual, a handbook or a how-to. I have also done some public
speaking. Any advice is appreciated.