When I started my first romance novel, I was already counting the advance checks that I'd be getting. I first queried to Dorchester about a year before that company completely changed. Back then if they said yes to a book it was $3000 per book unless it sold really well and you started making beyond the advance. I was a fast writer and I figured that I could put out three novels a year which would mean $9,000 at least until I could sign up with a better company like Avon Romance and start making even more.
If you've followed my blog then you know that it didn't happen. I hit that brick wall that most new writers find, reality. I spent almost a full year after that first rejection letter trying to find an agent, a publisher, anyone who would give it a chance. I was writing my second book at the same time and despite the horrible series of punches to the gut that was the querying process I decided to put my second book through the same thing. I had a little better luck but in the end nothing came of it.
I didn't exactly give up. I was still writing down ideas. I finished a third novel, started a forth. I had some hopes and dreams but at that point I finally understood why so many writers just throw in the towel. My new goal wasn't really to make money, it was to not quit trying.
When e-publishing came along I shook my head. I wanted those gate keepers at the big industries to love my book and after seeing a few really bad e-books I didn't want to find myself lumped together with them. It wasn't until some of the experienced authors began turning away from their publishers and turning to e-books that I gave it another look. Just because the big-time guys weren't interested wasn't to say that others wouldn't like my books.
My first book didn't make much waves and I didn't do anything to promote it or myself. Still the dozen sales that trickled in over the past two months felt good and they kept me going. Then I released my second book just last week and much to my surprise I sold eighteen books in a week. That isn't a lot of books and it doesn't make me a lot of money, maybe about $40 once everything is said and done. I can't go quit my full-time job or anything.
But those sudden eighteen sales made me ecstatic. After three years of rejection letters and disappointments I had started to feel like no one wanted to read what I wrote. Then eighteen separate people decided to pay three dollars to give it a try.
So I finally do have some advice for all of those writers just starting to create their first book or those who've just opened their first rejection letter. Ahem..."The key to being a successful and happy writer, is setting your expectations very low and working twice as hard to get there. It can make $40 suddenly seem like a life-long dream realized."
That said I'm now trying to figure out what I did right so that next time I can do it even better. I'd still love to make enough money off of writing that I could quit my day job. Come on, I still have to dream big, don't I?
