On its face, the notion that "you've got to spend money to make money," is not a very realistic philosophy. Take my wife (please), if all it took to make money was to spend money, we'd be millionaires.(Just kidding. My wife is AWESOME, and very financially responsible, disciplined, and patient with her husband who works in book publishing. I just couldn't resist the old Henny Youngman bit. It really makes the point.)
I had an author contact me in response to the Story Problem post to make a really good point about the philosophy of spending money to make money--a position I often advocate when other factors for success are in place. Our own Rose Keefe used that same phrase in a recent comment about spending her own money to promote her books.
In fact, that may be a good test as to whether something is a good idea for your publisher. Would you spend your own money to do it? Would you take out a loan in your own name to pay for the idea? Do you really believe you will earn it back in royalties? If so, can I interest you in an American Express Platinum card?
1 comment:
"In fact, that may be a good test as to whether something is a good idea for your publisher. Would you spend your own money to do it? Would you take out a loan in your own name to pay for the idea? Do you really believe you will earn it back in royalties?"
BINGO!
That's it exactly.
In my experience, there are two types of 'good story ideas'. The first is a good idea with a limited popular appeal, and might be better off as an article in a niche publication. The other is a good idea that adds a new dimension to a topic that the public is already generally aware of, or is so shocking/enlightening/amazing that it could practically create its section in the bookstores.
Many writers are so enamoured of their idea that they'll automatically say that it falls into the latter category. Then we get to the true test of faith- once it becomes a book, would you spend your own money to increase its sales? If the answer is no, protect your credit rating and whittle it down to article size. If the answer is yes, go for it and good luck!
Rose
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