“…the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause” ~ Vince Lombardi
On Saturday, at the Colorado Independent Publishing Association event, www.cipabooks.com, Eric Boss of the traditional publishing house, Penguin Group, revealed his viewpoint on what books sell. From what I heard, it’s anyone’s guess! There seems to be no proven, tried and true formula to writing a top selling book. What a bookseller feels will be a sure thing can sometimes disappoint. A book that seems to have a lesser chance for outstanding sales can produce surprising and fulfilling results!
There are some things, however, that can increase the selling potential of a publication. The cover design and even the spine design needs to make the book pop and stand out from all the rest. Also of great importance, is the choice of title and tagline. The potential buyer to has to be compelled to pick up the book, and curious enough to want to know what is in it for them. If those elements are there – the odds are much better that the book will be sold. Ka-ching! Ka-ching!
According to Boss, right now, there are two kinds of books that are not selling well – computer books and self-help books. Computers have become so much more user friendly, people are not seeking direction from computer manuals like they used to. I was surprised at the downturn in selling in self-help books, but perhaps during this time, people are deferring to the advice of professionals to better ensure success.
Although the chances of writing a top earning book can be a bit of a gamble, does that mean a writer should abstain from jumping into the publishing industry? Absolutely not! People by the millions enter into book publishing each and every year. Why? Because they believe in the end, they will have a story to tell with a fulfilling outcome. And you can’t win if you don’t play.
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