Think Outside the Book
By Martin Wiles
“I want to write a
book.”
Over the last nine years, as I have taught grammar and writing to middle schoolers, quite a few have shared their aspirations to pen a book. Although I commend them and assure them doing so is a worthy goal, I also inform them about the roadblocks, struggles, and rejections they can expect along their journey.
And through my connections
with other writers, I’ve heard quite a few of them express the same sentiments
as some of my students. Without discouraging them, I’ve told them the same
thing I tell my aspiring young pupils. Some give up the book route while
others pursue it through various means: traditional publishing,
self-publishing, subsidy publishing, or agents.
But wait. Why must
we writers have a book published to be successful at our craft? Does doing so
put us on a higher echelon than writers who haven’t published a book? Or had it
published through a certain avenue? I’ve done the book publishing thing seven
times—and through various routes—but I’ve enjoyed more success when I thought
outside the book.
According to
Scribe media, research shows the average self-published or digital-only book
sells only 250 copies in its lifetime. Comparatively, the average traditionally
published book sells only 3,000 copies during its lifetime—but only 250-300 of
those sales happen in the first year (https://scribemedia.com/book-sales).
If I’ve done my
math correctly (and I’m no math major), the average total of people whose lives
I have infiltrated with my books’ words comes to about 1,750. Not bad, but
nothing to brag about. After all, if God changes one person’s life by using my
writing, then that’s enough. But why settle for less when I could easily
influence more through other paths?
Each year when I attend the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, I pick up a copy of The Christian Writers Market Guide. While this resource lists agents, as well as book publishers who don’t require agents, the bulk of the book presents other forms of publication such as periodicals, devotional websites, drama, greeting cards, and Bible curriculum. And I would add newspapers.
For several years,
I’ve had the privilege of writing devotional pieces for three newspapers. The
combined circulation for these three papers is 26,979… in one day. Seems to me I
have the potential of reaching more people once a month—even if only a portion
of them read my articles—than I would ever reach in a lifetime through all my
books combined. And that doesn’t include the other websites and periodicals I
regularly write for.
If God is calling
you to write a book, then by all means pursue publication. But don’t limit
yourself. Websites, periodicals, newspapers, newsletters, greeting cards, and a
host of other places need good writers. And if you’re looking to let God speak
to others through you, those places might bring a high return on God’s kingdom
work.
Don’t be ashamed or afraid to think outside the book.
(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles and Amazon.com.)
Great perspective, Martin. Thank you.
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