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By Crossroad Publisher Team
Countless articles on the internet encourage people to be writers. After all, writing has several scientific benefits. However, you can achieve most of these benefits without publishing what you write. Think journaling, Twitter rants, Redditt forums, etc. But why publish a book? In this article, we list six reasons to get published.
We will discuss questions like:
But first….
Before we talk about what is the main purpose of publishing a book, it is better to eliminate the negative reasons.
Many aspiring writers fantasize about writing a book and then reveling in its fame and fortune. The fantasy includes sending the manuscript to a publisher who is mind-blown and decides to put it on the market. The book becomes a New York Times Bestseller, and the author goes on a perennial book tour while raking in royalty checks. Eventually, the book becomes a movie or a Netflix special, and the author becomes a cultural icon.
Of course, this dream does become true for some writers. But it requires more hard work, networking, and marketing acumen than most wordsmiths can muster.
Luckily, there are other, more realistic reasons as to why publish a book. Let’s get down to it.
Will you publish the next bestseller?
Here are the top reasons why writing and publishing a book is worth it.
The naysayers will tell you that book publishing is obsolete. The truth is that there is still a lot of prestige associated with being a published writer. Despite the boom in self-publishing where everyone seems to have become an author, having a published title to your name sets you apart from the masses.
Book publication also brings a sense of personal fulfillment and achievement as you go from the first draft to the manuscript to the book. But that’s not all.
For many, the question “why publish a book” is about an insatiable urge (most beautifully described by the Australian author and journalist Gideon Haigh). A story or idea consumes the writer, and she can only find rest until it is out on paper. After all this ordeal, why not share this story or idea with others?
This follows from the previous point. The process of writing a book helps you develop a distinct voice; your writer voice. It is essential to find this voice if you want to become successful a published author.
American author and poet Silvia Path so eloquently describes her own experience when she said “I write only because. There is a voice within me. That will not be still.” And many authors will agree with her.
Even if you don’t write poetry or fiction, your writing must have its unique tenor to resonate with your audience. This develops as you write and rewrite, and then receive feedback from your editor. As your book goes to the readers, you get even more feedback. This process is incredibly rewarding, especially if you keep at it and continue writing and publishing books.
George RR Martin on Finding Your Writing Voice
Learn from the G.O.A.T!Along with finding their own, authors often become the voice for others, which brings us to the next point.
The third reason on our “why publish a book” checklist is all about community. Writing is often a solitary endeavor, but once you put your work out there, you can potentially build a tribe around your work.
One can think of famous authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, or J.K. Rowling to see how books can shape communities that transcend national and generational boundaries.
Whether you are a financial expert, a self-help guru, or a horror writer, your writing can nurture a community, bringing people together around a common theme. Or cause.
In the latter case, you can become a voice of justice against violence and inequality to create a change in your society. There is a need for more diversity in literature, and aspiring authors can fill this gap.
Best-selling author Mark Manson says that “all the meaning in our life is shaped by this innate desire to never truly die.” Manson talks about “immortality projects,” things we do to keep our names alive after our demise.
Publishing a book is one such project, where you leave behind a legacy of words. In doing so, you can also contribute to culture, literature, or academia (depending on your writing niche). This is not the same as writing your biography or family history, which is known as legacy writing. In one sense, however, all writing is legacy writing as it is (or should be) an expression of who you are as a person and the values you uphold.
You may be wondering till now that book (or ebook) publishing is all about inner fulfillment. But it’s not. Authorship also brings financial rewards (apart from book sales and royalties).
First, it was the business card. Then it was the resume. And then it was your online presence.
All three still work, but being a published author is a cut above the rest. Imagine employers or clients talking about you:
Is he any good?
He literally ‘wrote the book’ on it!
Publishing a book in your niche instantly establishes you as an expert and it also serves as your portfolio. It helps you to be more attractive to employers or clients while your competitors are spending all their time optimizing their LinkedIn profiles! It is also a great networking tool and a well-written book will keep your connections engaged for a longer time than your CV or website. Not to mention, becoming an author is an excellent way to become a thought leader in your field.
One can see examples of publishing as branding in sports, entertainment, and politics. Why do you think celebrities venture into authorship? Of course, they do it for the extra income (see next point). But it is also a mixture of legacy writing and personal branding that sets them apart from their competition.
An example that comes to mind is Michelle Obama. Before she published her memoir Becoming in 2018, most people had a different perception of the former First Lady. However, when she told her side of the story, she became an icon of resilience. Not only that, it led to a string of media opportunities that allowed her to move out of her husband’s shadow and become a public figure in her own right.
Michelle Obama became an icon with her book
Finally, publishing is a great way to make additional income in 2024. The publishing industry in the United States still generates around $28 billion every year.
As an author, you can earn anywhere from 15% to 100% of the sales price of your book (depending on traditional publishing vs. self-publishing, among other factors). According to a recent survey, the median income for authors ranges from $2,000 to $5,000, which is not a bad side income.
The same survey shows that full-time authors can earn up to $20,000 in book sales and related projects. This means that you can develop writing as a side gig, and if you have the aptitude for it, you can develop it into a full-time career. Of course, book sales are just one way to make money from writing. But that is a topic for another article.
In today’s blog, we discussed the personal, creative, and financial aspects of book publication.
To sum up, why do we publish books? We do so to achieve personal fulfillment and professional advancement as authors.
This is not to suggest that you can’t make it big as a writer. But that is easier said than done. Traditional publishing is still the domain of gatekeepers. Self-publishing puts your foot in the door, but you have to do all the heavy lifting (including copyrights, marketing, and publicity).
That’s where we come in.
Have you finished writing your manuscript? Let Crossroad Publisher take it from there! We will guide you through each step of the book publishing process, including editing, formatting, design, and licensing.
But that’s not all. We also offer marketing services to maximize your readership. Contact us today to learn more about getting your writing published.
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