by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

We writers are an army all our own. Conferences rise up, and we march gallantly to the registration desk to enlist. Once we’ve mounted our trusty steeds and made our way to boot camp, it happens. We begin to assume.

Assuming isn’t bad because the conference training camps are where we turn assumptions into reality. Still, in our minds, the old publishing model rumbles around like a tin can with a penny inside. Again, speculations come to the surface.

In my teaching over the years, the one thing I believe God has led me to do is teach in truth. Don’t hurt, don’t disillusion, but teach in truth. So many times, conferees leave my class saying, “I had no idea. I thought…” Hence, teaching in truth takes those assumptions and brings them into reality. Sometimes, we’re a little stunned that things weren’t how we thought.

It’s time for a gentle blog post or two on what we do as writers that hurt us. They aren’t things we set out to do in a bad way. Instead, they are misunderstandings, a lack of guidance, or even – fairytales (assumptions).

Let’s debunk one “old school of thought” out of the gate. Gone are the days when publishers dote over and wine and dine (for lack of better words) their authors. The commonality of this ended with a change in economy. Publishing houses closed, editors lost their jobs or shifted with massive mergers to keep the companies alive through financial disaster. The entire country reeled, wondering how we would recover. Many publishers did not recover, but those that did made huge changes to how they managed things.

1. Houses merged. Editors were laid off or moved around.
2. The days of accepting unsolicited manuscripts through the mail ended.
3. Agents became the gatekeepers to help publishers filter through massive submissions.
4. Fewer books were contracted.
5. Focus on the author’s platform (How the author can help sell books) took hold. Things changed, and none of us, publishers included, had control over the financial chaos that ensued during that time. Because of these changes, more and more of the responsibility of selling the book shifted to the author. Larger, more established publishers have funds set aside for marketing. But those dollars are spread among all their authors, and many times, more to their higher producing authors. The wonderful thing about social media, podcasts, and blogs is that there is little cost to the publishers, so they can cast their marketing nets out and bring in “influencers” who help spread the word. For those smaller publishers, marketing is a bit tougher for two reasons: lack of money and lack of reach into the market.

When you begin to bang your head against the table because publishers tell you to grow your platform, now you understand why. It’s a necessary evil. Writers can’t live in the clouds or on small islands. Not anymore. This isn’t a business where our work is played daily on the radio or seen on the big screen. It’s a privilege to write and be contracted. It’s a responsibility to help market your work. Your lack of participation hurts YOU.

Now, let’s look at how readers can hurt their favorite author and how the author can curtail some of the brunt.

1. First, by never spreading the word that their favorite author has a new book. Really. It’s true. Publishers insist on large platforms (those people and places where books will be sold and to whom). If readers see their favorite author has a new book and don’t tell their friends and show excitement, others won’t know or buy. Ouch! That hurts YOU. Encourage your followers, friends, and family to spread the word. Your next book contract may depend on it.
2. The second way our readers hurt us is to expect a free book just because they know you. Someone must pay for those books…and guess who it is? The author. Agents can negotiate a small number of free books for the author, but these are meant to be given to influencers who will interview, write reviews or blog posts about the book. Here’s the reality. If an author sells $200.00 worth of books and then gives away $200.00 in free books because folks expect it – they’ve earned $0 for months to years’ worth of work. Big ouch. Of course, there will be folks that authors want to gift books to, but holding out for a free copy kicks writers in the shins. Would you give all your honey buns away if you owned a bakery? No. You can’t afford to and have money to buy ingredients for the next pan full.
3. Finally, the most significant hurt to an author is when readers buy and then pass a book to all their friends. This well-meant action is a real killer. For every person that readers give their copy to, they prevent a copy from being sold. One primary way publishers contract those authors is based on book sales. When you or your readers pass a copy around for others to read, they pull the rug out from under their favorite author, causing sales to falter. The result is that the next book may never happen. Not enough sales prevent the best writers from landing the next book contract. It is important to help your readers to understand this devasting act of kindness. As an author, it’s up to you to educate your readers. Saying you don’t mind if they give their copy away to someone else is removing sales that may tip you over the edge for a next contract.

Authors know their readers mean no harm, but as authors and responsible readers, these are things that we need to think about before we do them. You can be a wonderful writer and have good sales, but the truth is, good is not always enough, and the next contract may not come if the numbers aren’t better than good.

Your help as a consumer and reader keeps the books coming. If, as an author, you know the stakes, you can help educate your readers and keep the books you love to read and write coming. Now you know.

Read books, share the news, encourage others to purchase, and work to make all authors successful and readers happy.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.