Writing to make a profit in 2013 requires either wild blind luck or choosing to write over-the-line sexual encounters. For this brief moment in history, books are a commodity: far more supply than demand.
Stick with it for 5 years, and the opportunists will have faded away or been pruned by market response.
For now, write because you have something to say. Word toward making a profit 5 years from now.
If you understand that self-publishing is a business which is connected to but not the same as the art of writing, you’re light-years ahead of many other authors.
[image: photo http://www.sxc.hu/photo/873643 by K Rayker http://www.sxc.hu/profile/krayker” width=”440″ height=”204″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-2146]
Yes, you’re in charge of it all. That doesn’t mean going it alone. There are book shepherds like me who can guide you through the process to help ensure you’re producing a quality book and not embarrassing yourself as many authors unfortunately do.
Begin by learning. You don’t have to spend a year learning everything, but read Dave Bricker’s blog. Read my blog. Read Joanna Penn, Jane Friedman, Seth Godin and see what the really sharp, forward-looking people are saying.
Prepare yourself for flak from the traditional publishing world. You will be told that a publisher should decide whether your book is good enough, that you can’t possibly publish without a professional editor, cover designer, etc. It’s all well-intentioned (okay, mostly well-intentioned) but the truth is, publishing is in the greatest state of flux since Gutenberg midwifed it 500 years ago.
Jump start now. Plan for a marathon.