{"id":451,"date":"2009-03-05T05:47:09","date_gmt":"2009-03-05T13:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=451"},"modified":"2009-03-05T05:47:09","modified_gmt":"2009-03-05T13:47:09","slug":"putting-a-price-on-your-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=451","title":{"rendered":"Putting a Price on Your Book"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cYes You Can Make Money Writing Fiction!\u201d That\u2019s the title of my article that appears in Writing-World Newsletter<\/em> this week (March 5, 2009). It features over 50 tips and resources for those who want to make money writing fiction. Check it out at http:\/\/www.writing-world.com<\/a> <\/p>\n

But I\u2019m not the only one in the family getting press this week. Max, our handsome 11-year-old formerly feral cat has joined Terzo\u2019s MewSical Society in Canada. You can see him straining to hit a high note at Barbara Florio Graham\u2019s website: http:\/\/www.simonteakettle.com\/musical.society.htm<\/a>
\nThis news will also appear in my new Catscapades Blog http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades<\/a>. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m still getting used to the brand new, foreign format of the new blog. Hop on over there and see what we\u2019re doing. And be sure to visit regularly to read the stories we\u2019ll be sharing and view the cat photos we\u2019ll be adding regularly. Order your copy of the book that started it all, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. Both the ebook and the print (comb-bound) book feature over 30 true cat stories and NOW they include 80 photos of gorgeous, silly, impish, funny and simply delightful cats and kittens. Order your copy not at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades.html<\/a>. <\/p>\n

While the value of the books has increased considerably since we added photos of around 40 cats (and a few dogs), the prices are still the same: $10 for the ebook and $14 for the print book. <\/p>\n

Have you ever thought about how authors\/publishers determine the prices of their books? Almost every client I\u2019ve worked with over the years who has self-published (established his or her own publishing company) struggled with this issue. And most will ask me, \u201cWhat shall I sell my book for?\u201d Here\u2019s what I tell them:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tFigure out how much the book costs you to produce.
\n\u2022\tCheck prices on books similar to yours.<\/p>\n

Some professionals say that the price should reflect the cost times 5 or 8. In many cases, that would be one expensive book. Can you imagine trying to sell a 250 page paperback novel for $45.00? <\/p>\n

It makes more sense to me to price your book so that you are making a profit, but also according to what the market will bear. This is why you should spend some time at Amazon.com and local bookstores reviewing the prices on similar books. In fact, I recommend that you do this BEFORE producing the book. This might help you to make better, more reasonable decisions when choosing a cover designer, selecting paper quality, going with hardcover or soft, for example.<\/p>\n

If your book is a one-of-a-kind local history, however, the only book featuring the life and times of a well-known celebrity or a collection of poetry or photos from the archives of a famous poet\/photographer, you may be able to price your book above those you find in the sections where these books will be stocked. I sold the first edition (1983) of my 300-page local history book for $15.95. I sold the revision (1999) for $19.95. I may have been able to sell that book for as much as $25, however, because it is a comprehensive history of our community and there is no other book like it. Those who have purchased it over the years either want it or they don\u2019t. And the price probably isn\u2019t going to entice or deter sales. <\/p>\n

A novel, on the other hand, probably would not sell at a higher price than the other novels on the shelf unless it has been receiving extreme acclaim. But, without this, your novel won\u2019t necessarily sell at a lower price, either, if the author\u2019s name and the title are not familiar to the customer, the cover isn\u2019t absolutely stunning and enticing and so forth.<\/p>\n

Again, it is brought to our attention that it takes more to sell a book than simply the desire to share your story. If you are writing in hopes of someday publishing a book, do yourself a huge favor and read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong>. Let some of my customers tell you how valuable this book is to them. Read the customer comments at: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a>
\nThis is the same link for ordering the book. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cYes You Can Make Money Writing Fiction!\u201d That\u2019s the title of my article that appears in Writing-World Newsletter this week (March 5, 2009). It features over 50 tips and resources for those who want to make money writing fiction. Check it out at http:\/\/www.writing-world.com But I\u2019m not the only one in the family getting press […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t