Successes and Failures

As a young adult, I knew the New York Times Bestseller list was a big achievement, and when I started writing, at almost 40 years old, of course I wanted to be on that list. Everybody seems to want that.

I wondered, How do you get on it? What do you have to know? What do you have to do? How many books do you have to sell? And then I realized I didn’t even know how to get into a bookstore, let alone be on a big list like that. It’s an elusive thing. The “insiders” rarely discuss it. It’s something aspirational, not necessarily realistic if you don’t have the connections and money to be in that realm. I say that to assist you in setting realistic measures of success, especially as a self-published or independently published author. The New York Times Bestseller list is not the be-all, end-all of success. There are other lists!

To talk about success and failure, you have to determine what that means to you personally and professionally. Some of us have done well producing quality books which others enjoy. Some have produced homemade-looking books and have sold quite a few because of the subject matter. Others of us have nearly lost our shirts, savings, and future earnings because we made mistakes or trusted the wrong people. Still others have earned a nice living and are prospering in the ever-evolving world of publishing.

You should learn from experienced people what they did well, so you can duplicate accordingly; and learn what mistakes they made, to avoid them when possible. With experience comes wisdom and savings, if you listen.

We’ll discuss these things and more in our October 10^th meeting at the Richmond Heights Community Center. Learn firsthand from several members of the St. Louis Publishers Association as we speak about what works, what doesn’t work, and what tips, tricks, and choices got us where we are. Informative, interactive, and helpful — we hope to see you there!

St. Louis Publishers Association Monthly Meeting:

2nd Wednesday of the Month (October 10, 2018)

THE HEIGHTS: Richmond Heights Community Center, in The Argus Room

8001 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, MO, 63117