Is writing a book worth it?

What most books really sell

Start with the uncomfortable number. In the chapter Realistic and Unrealistic Expectations for a Book, The Scribe Method notes that the average nonfiction book sells fewer than 250 copies a year and fewer than 2,000 over its lifetime. It also notes that a book generally needs to sell at least 10,000 copies in its first week to be considered for the New York Times list.

So if the plan is to earn back the cost of a book through royalties, the odds are poor. That is not a reason to skip the book. It is a reason to be clear about what the book is for.

What a book can do instead

A nonfiction book is a credential and a conversation starter. A prospect who has read your book arrives already trusting you. An event organizer who has a copy on the desk is more likely to book you. A reporter has something specific to ask about. The Scribe Method lists the main ways a book pays off:

• Authority and credibility in your field
• Leads and higher-value clients
• Paid speaking
• Promotion of your business, fund or brand
• Partnerships and media opportunities

None of these show up in a royalty statement. All of them can be worth far more than the book cost.

Notice what these have in common. Almost none of the value came from book sales. It came from the right readers: clients, event organizers and peers who read the book and then did business with the author.

Worth is not always money, either. Paul Hobby has never run a marketing campaign for Glorious Tension, and three years after launch it still brings him reader mail and invitations to speak, as his story on scribemedia.com tells.

When it is not worth it

Be honest with yourself if any of these describe you:

• The main goal is sales, fame or a bestseller list. The numbers above work against you, and The Scribe Method is blunt that a book rarely makes anyone famous.
• You cannot say who the book is for. A book for everyone usually reaches no one, and it is hard to use for anything.
• You have no time and no budget. Writing it yourself takes hundreds of hours. Getting help costs real money. If neither is available this year, wait.
• You need it in a few weeks. Good books take months. Rushed ones show it.

None of these mean never. They mean not yet, or not this way.

How to decide for yourself

Ask three questions. What should this book do for me? Who exactly is it for? What will it cost me in time or money to do it well? If you can answer all three and the first answer is worth more than the third, the book is worth it.