Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

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Because there are so many . . .

March 2, 2011

What will set your book apart from all the others? We’ve talked about the importance of titles, covers, lengths, errors, marketing, audiences, reviews, and anything else we could think of having to do with novels and their sales.

Let’s go back to covers. Covers give the first impressions, perhaps titles run a close second. The problem in bookstores is that only so many novels can be faced out on a shelf. Especially Christian novels in secular establishments. They’re usually filed back in a corner with maybe two sections of shelving under “religion” or “inspirational fiction” where no one but believers will go. A high percentage of those novels will be by Ted Dekker or Karen Kingsbury. That’s the beauty of selling online. There stands the cover and details of your novel right there for anyone to admire or pass over.

Unless you have an “in” at the bookstore(s) where your novel is featured, it’s possible very few people will notice it—great cover and all. Why? Because there are so many novels to go through, limited funds for purchasing them, and predestined selections in the minds of consumers which will not be rocked by even your great cover.

There are some outstanding efforts made by authors in the Christian fiction market to sell their books. We’ve also discussed the over the top efforts by some which tend to revolt readers like me. But there’s only so much anyone can do to sell a book. Too many books, so little time. Readers aren’t so different from any other shoppers. They find a few authors that work for them, and like any other product, they return to buy their wares: good, lousy, or indifferent covers included.

As Christians we must consider the spiritual side of this problem. Most of us will insist we write because it’s a calling. Most of us will dedicate our efforts to and for the Lord’s glory. Most of us will say we accept the path he’s designed for us, but in reality we lament that “our” books aren’t selling like we think they should—or hoped they would. Suddenly, the novels are no longer God’s books: they’re ours and apparently no one wants to buy one. Great. We consider how we’ve “failed” the Lord, and did He really ask us to write? There are so many songs and dances in which we avidly participate in our minds as the truth of no or low sales sets its claws on our psyches. What does it mean for us?

The practicality of “because there are so many . . .” hammers us like a nail into wood. What do we do to set our work apart?

Sometimes there’s nothing we can do. We’ve written a book we’re not ashamed of. We love the cover. Those who’ve read it have said it touched their hearts. But no one else is buying it.

There’s only one scripture I can give you here, and even though it’s perfect for this situation, because it’s given so often, don’t let it ring like just another cliché.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

He’s well aware of how many novels sit upon shelves all over this world. He has a plan for yours.

Father, you have a plan for each of our lives. If only we would follow it . . . In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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8 responses to “Because there are so many . . .”

Brenda Jackson

March 3, 2011

Tough subject and one I mostly avoid. I can tell you that somewhere along the line in the last several months, my mind has made the switch from dreaming of publishing on paper to publishing in e-book format (though I’d still prefer paper, at least for that first achievement).
But how to market? Haven’t got a clue. I’m very shy and hawking myself is SO not me—perhaps why I’m in no particular hurry to publish.
BUT I think I will find it easier to market online than in person. But even marketing online is huge and mystifying.
I’m still trying to figure this out from a reader’s perspective. There are people in this business who INSIST there’s a book for everyone out there among the bazillions of CBA books. Yet it’s like pulling teeth for me to find a non-romance historical.
The closest alternative a reading shopper has is FictionFinder, but even that has limited use because most people don’t enter their books their, or only partially fill out the information.
As a writer, all I have at present is a blog. A very low numbers blog. Since I’m not ready for publication, I’m not willing to gobble up even more of my time by twitting, facebooking and what have you, though I understand I’ll have to dive in someday. But even so, there’s a bazillion people on those social networks too so how do you reach them?
Marketing gives me a headache. Maybe the concept of marketing will have disappeared by the time I’m ready to publish! *-) (Hey, a girl can dream.)

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mike duran

March 3, 2011

Nicole, I think it’s easy to blame poor sales (or no sales) on “the Lord’s will,” as if writing was the “spiritual” part and marketing is the “worldly” part. I wonder that a certain business savvy is just as much “God’s will” for us. Getting an agent, growing in the craft, studying the market, jumping through hoops, may not seem very “spiritual,” but they can be parts of being a good steward with our talent. This is not to suggest that if we possess business savvy our books will sell, but that one reason our books aren’t selling may be that we need a more spiritual approach to being business savvy. Great post!

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Jan Fischer

March 3, 2011

I certainly agree with Mike. This is a great post. If ever a book was going to sell from the look of it’s cover, it would have been, “The Famous One”. It is still one of my favs. I’ll never give up praying for that one to be a success. Keep on writing them and I will keep on reading them.

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Nicole

March 3, 2011

Brenda, “hawking” myself is not my gig, either. I so understand your position. But Mike makes a good point.
Here’s my deal, Mike. I’m not suggesting that authors shouldn’t address the business end of getting published or any businesses in their lives. What I am saying is that some authors do all there is to do with minimal results. In publishing it’s obvious why a book needs to take off quickly and sustain sales, but it doesn’t allow for the supposedly best means of selling a book: word of mouth. As I’ve stated before, many readers don’t realize the power of sharing their love for a book. Word of mouth can move like a snail traveling from Seattle to Miami.
Few writers, I would guess, write solely for themselves especially if they’re willing to commit to writing a novel. They want it shared and figuring out how to do that is part of the publishing gig. For some it comes naturally but for others it’s a drag and and/or a mystery. Brenda mentioned finding the audience for your book. It could be a niche audience or a general audience. Getting the word out to them can be tricky no matter who assists you with marketing.
Ultimately, though, it’s God who brings the agent when you’ve done all you can do. It’s the Lord who opens the door to a publisher after you’ve crafted the book. It’s God period. Not an excuse but His design.

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Nicole

March 3, 2011

Thank you, Janee Girl.

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BK Jackson

March 3, 2011

Nicole, mine may not be the best example and I’m obviously not privy to sales numbers or any sort of insider information, but an example of how word of mouth travels slowly (but solidly) is Nancy Turner’s These Is My Words (general market fiction, historical).
If memory serves, this book was published in 1999/2000, but it didn’t seem like it reached it’s highest popularity until 2008 when, either because of popularity or causing the popularity, it was chosen as Arizona OneBook for 2008.
The actual sales trending may reflect something altogether different, I don’t know. I understand why authors need to be concerned, as you mentioned, about those very early sales, and I have no answers there. But clearly, books with lasting power don’t always hit like a freight train and take off, even if they are advertised.
Of course that doesn’t help us with the question “What is an author to do?”. I’m going back to my cave to write now…

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Jessica Thomas

March 3, 2011

I am definitely one who judges a book by it’s cover, sad to say. But if the cover doesn’t appeal to me, I tend to disregard the writing too even though the picture on the front really doesn’t have much to do with it.
Like Brenda said in the first comment, I’m starting to think in terms of ebooks. Yes, I would love to see my story in print, but if I self publish, electronic format makes it so easy. And since I’m scifi, I’d think my target audience would be techie enough to have an eReader. Even so, I feel I need to come up with a captivating “cover”, and I need to make sure the content is edited to as close to perfection as I can muster.
I’ve been following Kristen Lamb’s blog. She’s giving me a lot of great ideas. According to her we don’t really have to tout ourselves on social media. We’re actually more effective if we lift others up…it brings people to our blogs and keeps up from being too annoying.
I actually would like to NOT have to blog. Right now I barely have the energy for it, but I’m starting to understand how necessary it is. I also grudgingly set up a Twitter accoung. Grrr. Not using it yet, though.

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Nicole

March 3, 2011

There’s no shame in judging a book by its cover, Jess. It’s one of the most important parts of a book–it’s a lead-in to the story. Whether or not it’s austere or “happy” or haunting, it’s the first gaze at the possible story inside. Yeah, you need a good cover.
Another way to look at the e-versions of publishing your work is that perhaps it will inspire people to get an e-reader just so they can read the possible onslaught of e-books to come. Something for all of us to think about.

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