All the Numbers in Publishing No One Talks About | First Draft Club Podcast

In this final episode of 2024, we’re diving into one of the most elusive and under-discussed topics in the publishing world: the real numbers behind traditional publishing and self-publishing.

If you’ve ever wondered what authors actually earn, how much you can expect to make, and what goes into these publishing paths financially, this episode is for you.

I’m breaking down the most up-to-date data and walking you through the math (yes, some math—but stick with me!).

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear, realistic understanding of:
✅ Average advances for traditionally published authors
✅ What percentage of books actually sell more than 5,000 copies
✅ Median earnings for self-published authors (and what that means for your profit)
✅ Hidden costs of self-publishing that no one talks about
✅ How to roughly estimate an author’s sales using their Amazon reviews

We’ll also compare traditional publishing and self-publishing as two very different business models and discuss how to choose the right path for your writing career. Whether you want a guaranteed paycheck or are ready to take on the risks (and rewards) of treating your books like a business, this episode will help you make an informed decision.

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.

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Let’s connect!
Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator (  / book.incubator  )

Happy writing!
— Mary

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I’m Mary Adkins, author with HarperCollins and book writing coach (for novels and memoirs). I’m so glad you found me!

Learn my Four Notebooks Method & get your free template:
http://bit.ly/3wGmMTc

Ready to write your dream book? Apply for my program The Book Incubator in just 5 minutes with no obligation to enroll and get my free 60-minute training HOW TO WRITE YOUR DREAM BOOK WITH A FULL-TIME JOB (AND A LIFE):

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Mary Adkins is a recovered lawyer, mom to a goofy kid, novelist, and writing coach.

She moved from the hectic world of corporate law into novel-writing…and has published 3 novels (and counting!) with HarperCollins.

During her career transition, she learned a whole bunch of stuff about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to writing, revising, landing an agent, and getting published. She created www.thebookincubator.com to help aspiring writers on their journey.

Want to improve your craft, get your book done, and—most importantly—make it FUN again?

Learn more about The Book Incubator™ at https://www.thebookincubator.com/