I found this wonderful post on Wise Ink Creative Publishing and am sharing. As always, there’s been some editing to add my thoughts, but you can read the original post on the Wise Ink‘s website.
10 Inspiring Facts for Indie Authors
If I had a dime for each time one of you has told me you’re going through a rough patch with your writing, I’d probably be able to get Michelangelo to illustrate my book covers (yes, I’d also have enough to build a time machine). It’s probably even harder for Indie authors, as we have to do everything ourselves. So, I thought you might appreciate these statistics that should bring a smile back on your face.
- Self-published books accounted for 31% of all e-book sales in the Kindle Store in 2014.
- Indie books account for 31% of e-books. However,
- 40% of all e-book revenue is going to indie authors. In other words, indies are raking in more money, which means that their sales figures are higher than many of their traditional counterparts. Which brings us to …
- Indie books represent 25% of books on Amazon’s e-book bestseller list. Readers aren’t nearly as prejudiced against indie books as they were even a few years ago, and their buying practices suggest it!
- You can safely dismiss the 50 Shades effect. Only 1.2% of self-published books sales are for erotica titles, which proves that you can indie publish successfully without writing a kissing book.
- In Smashwords’ 2014 survey, they found that pricing your e-book at $.99 won’t make you rich. In fact, $2.99-3.99 is the sweet spot for a bestseller, and earn more in sales than books priced higher.
- Think you can only release shorts and novellas on e-book? Think again. The bestselling books in e-book are usually over 100,000 words. Maybe because they’re easier to hold?
- If you write non-fiction, try increasing your prices. Your buyers aren’t as price-sensitive as fiction buyers, so be wary of undervaluing your work!
- According to Bowker, 458,000 books were indie pubbed in 2013 in the US. That’s up 437% from 2008! The self-publishing ranks are growing, and with increasing number comes more exciting and innovative strategies to publish your perfect book.
- It’s a good time to be a woman. Indie bestsellers are twice as likely to be written by a woman than traditionally published bestsellers (67% versus 39%).
While I’m pondering the benefits of a sex-change operation, why don’t you enjoy my children’s book, Runaway Smile for free?
Reblogged this on MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Blogs.
I don’t think my sales % fits in with the average! In fact, doesn’t even skim the 1 percentile. ;D
Lol – I just hope it’s the top 1% 😉
More like bottom 1%!
Lol – I know the feeling, believe me… 🙂
Slow and steady as they say ;D
You got it 🙂
Reblogged this on The Open Door T-Shirt and commented:
One of my favorite bloggers, Nicholas Rossis, has done it again. Another great post that is encouraging and uplifting.
Reblogged this on Michelle Eastman Books.
This is amazing !!!!!
Aw, thanks – and welcome 🙂
Reblogged this on Anne Hagan and commented:
Some great thoughts from a fellow author on indie publishing that all indie authors should read. These will give you a real ‘pick me up’!
Reblogged this on Luke Ahearn's Blog of Whatnot and commented:
This is all good news
Interesting stats. For someone considering indie publishing, this post is encouraging. At least I’m the right gender. 🙂
Lol – every bit helps 🙂
This is all good news for the indie author. Most of the books I read and review are indie.
Same here 🙂
Can always rely on you for an interesting post! But listen, someone commented on spelling your name wrong, and I just realised I have always called you Nick for some reason, and you have never pointed that out! I appologise. I know some people dont like their name being shortened.
Nich, Nick, N., everything’s fine by me. I also listen to “gorgeous” and “brilliant,” if you prefer :b
Reblogged this on C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m.
Very interesting facts, thanks Nicholas! About the last one though, I don’t think women are more gifted writers than men, I believe it’s merely due to my understanding that there are more female indie authors than male ones 🙂 I am saying this to make you feel better sweetie, in case it brought you down, LOL 😀
Lol – thanks. No worries, I wasn’t offended 😀
Reblogged this on N.D. White.
Interesting and uplifting statistics ^-^
Thanks for the great share Nicholas!
Thanks for reading and welcome! 🙂
Fantastic read, Nicolas! I’ll definitely be sharing this!
Bah! I’ve been writing scenes with my own “Nicolas” for so many hours that I spelled your name wrong! 🙂
Lol – no offence taken 😀
Thanks so much, Nat! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
To be honest, I half-expected you to comment on my post, https://nicholasrossis.me/2015/04/24/any-ol-word-will-do/
Reblogged this on Romance Author ~ R. Lynn Archie and commented:
Reposting, post from Nicholas Rossis
Very interesting. I’m reblogging.
Super, thanks! 🙂
Reblogged this on Armand Rosamilia.
I have to wonder if these figures include authors with small to medium size publishers, too. Often times the words “Indie author” relates to both, and they get grouped together. At the same time “traditional” refers to an author who publishes with a large, medium, or small house, because the process of being accepted is the same. Frankly, all the terms seem rather ambiguous, if you ask me. I wish these reports would be clear: self-published, small house, medium house, big 5, and then there wouldn’t be any confusion. I’m not knocking your post — you’re merely relaying the content, which is great — but you see what I mean, right?
Absolutely. Hugh Howey’s May report has some interesting info on that. I’ll share in an upcoming post 🙂
Great. Look forward to it.
Hey! Some good news! Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes this business feels really hard, so the boost every now and then is more than welcome:)
I know what you mean – and you’re very welcome 🙂
Reblogged this on Jan Hawke INKorporated and commented:
Re-blog of a re-blog – thank heavens for Nicholas Rossi and his eagle eyes! 😀
The indie world is looking up. Fascinating information. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I’m so glad there’s some good news! Thanks for posting it. 🙂
Of course there are good news! 🙂
Thanks and welcome!
Interesting. The erotica one is odd to me since I can’t go anywhere on author sites without running into it. Unless I’m mistaking romance with erotica promos, which is entirely possible. The book length one is a head scratcher for me since I keep hearing from authors and readers that they prefer shorter works. Maybe I’m just in the wrong crowd, but I’ve been ‘called out’ on my books being too long before. Eh, the story is what it is.
One thing I wonder is how these stats compare to the overall amount of indie books. Yes, it’s great that 31% of sales are Self-Published/Indie. I just wonder if that shows many authors finding success or just a handful of big ones. Also, what about big name authors who go the indie route for a book or two? (This is why I never did well with statistics in class or the real world. My mind always goes to things that might not have been included. I blame politics.)
Actually, we think alike 🙂 I, too, wonder about how much of the success is due to big names – I’ve even asked this very question Hugh Howey on a comment once (he never got back to me, which means he probably didn’t have the relevant stats).
As for book length, all I have to go by is my own experience. Due to a severe lack of free time, I do prefer a short read to a longer one. But numbers don’t lie, do they?
True that numbers don’t lie. Though a cynical friend of mine once said that the people behind the numbers can. He has an interest in politics, which I know is ‘so shocking’. 😛
I still gravitate toward longer works and slowly make my way through it. Guess I still think I’m a teen with too much free time. :/
Your friend is a wise man. Or, as Churchill put it (fed up with each ministry and department coming up with their own set of – usually contradictory – data), there’s “lies, bloody lies and statistics.” 🙂
You lucky youngsters, you have all the time in the world!
If only we could save some of that time of youth and access it when older. Like a ‘not going to adult’ bank.
Hmm… There might be a story there 😉
Definitely. We always see stories about losing time and it disappearing too quickly. Be different to see one where you can save it for a later date. Not sure what you would do during the moments of youth that you’re saving though.
I wouldn’t mind getting back all the time I spent in awkward silence with girls I couldn’t find the nerve to talk to… 🙂
You made it further than young me. 😉
Good tips Nicholas, and very encouraging for would-be authors too.
Best wishes from England. Pete.
Thanks, Pete! 🙂
That second-to-last statistic isn’t necessarily good news, actually, as it makes individual book that much harder to stand out. The other stats are indeed very interesting, though; thanks for sharing!
I understand what you mean. However, being an Indie used to have negative connotations in terms of quality. This has created all sorts of bias, from reviewers who refuse to review Indie works to libraries not stocking their books. As more authors join the Indie ranks, this is rapidly changing.
Great point, Nicholas! I’m just going to keep plugging away and improving. That way, when the tide really turns, my books will be ready!
10 important facts to know and learn…bravo!!!
Oh my, hadn’t seen that in a while! 😀
Reblogged this on Books and More.