My Biggest Self-Publishing Mistake: The Thing That Took Years to Learn

[@MandiLynnWrites]

What are your thoughts on writing to market? Let me know in the comments below!

[@5Gburn]

I'm hurtling toward a 2024 publishing debut. This one will be the 1st in a YA sci-fi trilogy. However, I also write isekai (narrative, not manga style) horror, sci-fi horror, comedic fiction...you get it. I wonder if "writing to market" could be morphed a bit into "marketing to the audience"--meaning putting your beans in the jar that'll get you the most dinner. So, for isekai horror I might focus more of my dollars and efforts on Kobo and Apple Books than the other platforms, for sci-fi generally Amazon would be the #1 marketing bucket. You could also use a 1:1 ratio--Amazon: XYZ platform. What are your thoughts, O Wise One?

[@aanshikaa]

There's a question that's going on inside my mind.. WHEN TO START PROMOTING THE BOOK? I've planned to publish my book in early 2024. I've the final book cover + blurb with myself, now it's at the editor and by the end of this year each & every single thing will be finalized. so when should I start promoting it? should I do it when I've the final draft in my hands or while the editor is editing or just 2-3 months before the publishing date?

[@Rayowag]

​@@aanshikaaif you have a publishing date or at least month and a cover that you can reveal, maybe find a way to make content hinting at the story of the book and have it lead up to a cover reveal + blurb post and newsletter behind the scenes email. I mean if you don't have a newsletter list you might as well start building that now, because it's a little late starting that only when you have the final edit.

[@aanshikaa]

@@Rayowag Thankyou for sharing this and yes, I've the final book cover+ the blurb with myself & I'm working on the content making for promotion purpose related to my book. My the end of this year I'll start promoting it.

[@mlp4apc]

I write ✍️ from my heart ❤️ but I barely make money 💰 from it. I never saw the writing world 🌎 as a business and I think it caused me many sales and a path toward success. So I agree with writing to market. It's like having a job you love.

[@milenapastuszak9053]

I think it depends on what your goal is: sell some books or write a great book, which you're proud of. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can have both of these things, but if not, I would rather just write something I love and know that it came from my heart.

[@theunwantedbookclub8823]

If I were to separate the two groups, I'd say artists on the spectrum would be more hunters. Businessmen are more gatherers. Both play equally important roles when it comes to writing just like the write-to-market and the original storytelling. You can't have all of one thing or nothing, otherwise we would never pave new roads to expand or we would only cut down new paths simply to become overgrown again.

[@silviavanciniuniverse]

This video was so clear and helpful! I've always felt bad and not good enough because I write only queer romance and I'm afraid that people will think that my stories are all the same boring stuff, but this video made me understand that... it's not bad news! All the "big" authors do the same and their readers love them because of this, even my favourite ones! So I will be kinder to myself and my stories. Love from Italy! And sorry for my english

[@EmersonCaseyBooks]

I am currently working on figuring out "writing to market" by reading a ton of books similar to the one I want to write for NaNoWriMo this year. This is really important for selling books but also makes it a lot easier to make choices about how to write. Thanks for this video!

[@tbyers31]

Great video! If one is put off by Writing to Market as a concept, take this as advice to understand genre. Great advice.

[@Rayowag]

Here is an important thing you mention though that many don't when talking about writing to market: Different Pen Names. I'd personally much rather write what I wanna write and would have 2-4 pen names to keep them separate, than having to stick to one genre. I have adhd, there is no way I'll be able to continuously write romance after romance, and if I did they would definitely switch between ya and adult...which I think you technically could do under the same name in different series. The only problem with different pen names is the marketing of the different pen names I guess. You can definitely be open about having several pen names and simply segment your email list a lot, but unless you brand yourself as a person/personal brand (like being an authortuber for example) it would be hard to do social media for this many genres and pen names. I feel like that's the actual problem, at least for me as someone who has essential knowledge about marketing already, it would be an account management nightmare. Don't mind me as I spiral about that lol. I by the way think that many people pushing the conversation on writing to market assume too easily that people wanna write books to make a big profit or make it a full time career. I assume everyone else has eyes and can see that shortform writing brings more money overall through avenues like Substack and Ghostwriting. Or through serials.

[@NightWillowCrafts]

Can you please make a video (or two) discussing the tropes/expectations for the genres? I prefer your style of presenting the information compared to some others. I’m starting to write in a cozy contemporary way (at least that’s how I describe it), but I’d really love if you could describe all of them ❤

[@JessicaCMadden23]

Interesting. Thanks for this video, Mandi. I'm in the middle of deciding on which way to go with my writing. I write YA contemporary romance, but recently I have so much trouble with writing YA, and I have to come to terms with myself that I have to move on and write someone for older audiences. I'm a little scared of changing genres, but I guess I will see how it goes

[@storiesbydesirae]

Thank you for sharing and providing more insight into writing to market. I definitely have always heard of it too. You broke it down where it sounds like a better balance for our audience and ourselves, rather than solely being for the audience or the market and neglecting our interests. It's more about honing down on our interests.

[@HyperFocus410]

I've literally gotten into many bitter arguments with people about this on Reddit. I try to tell them business dictates that the average seller needs to create (or stock) products for which there is a clear and current demand. Many new writers are very resistant to this idea. They insist that you need to write what you want to write. Also, I've concluded that the majority of people in general have been brainwashed into thinking you need to have a unique idea for a product and all that is required is that you market it properly. They don't realize that marketing (in terms of positioning) starts even before you create the product. I've given up trying to convince people. If they stick around long enough in self-publishing, like you, they'll find out for themselves sooner or later.

[@MandiLynnWrites]

Yeah I think it's something everyone learns the hard way eventually. But I do think there's room for both (writing what sells and writing what you love)

[@l33lzonwh33lz]

So what does that mean exactly? That marketing starts before you've even created the product? Does that mean I need to start promoting a piece of writing before it's finished? I myself have an authortube channel and occasionally vlog about some of the projects I'm currently working on. Is that enough for a project I haven't finished yet?

[@HyperFocus410]

@@l33lzonwh33lz You're talking about promotion. Marketing is much more than promotion. For example, a suitable book title, cover, and blub are all part of marketing. The same goes for product positioning and knowing your audience. If you want to create a product that sells, market research starts before you create the product. That's when you identify the market you're targetting with that book and what the book should look like to slot into that market niche. Some people claim they don't care about money. Fair enough. But if you want to profit from your writing, you have to do some market research and find a profitable niche before you start writing your book.

[@mevia_mastropietro_author]

This was so helpful to me. My understanding of write to market was skewed more towards writing what's popular, which is clearly not correct hahaha It's writing the expectations of genre and staying true to a genre and picking your specific genre. Thank you so much for helping me see this haha

[@mevia_mastropietro_author]

Which led me of course, not to write what everyone was writing, I went totally off the wall wanting to be unique just like you said!

[@mateaukalua4426]

I feel like my literature is pretty standard mystery but exciting and engaging. I am trying to capture the attention of Millennials and Gen Zers I can't take too long. Everything needs to be crucial to the plot in a way.

[@Space_Writer]

Writing to market and writing what you love may seem to be at opposing ends until you realize the _skill and talent_ required to write to-market while maintaining your own writing style. It's not like saying, Let me force myself to fit into this cookie-cutter box the genre is making me get in. It's more like: "Oh, I have to present myself in a box... and building your own custom box to present yourself in, but still adhering to the industry standards. It's still a box, but it's *'your* box. Also, now that I think about it, as I have been watching a lot of content on how to query agents...you have to follow the rules and give them what they ask for, not what you think they want. Or else they throw out your query/story before they get to read it. Write to the market =give them what they expect, and query to the agent=give them what they ask for

[@freedomthroughspirit]

Thank you! Fair points. Appreciate your experience. ❤

[@akayshamynesauthor]

Thanks for sharing Mandi! I am trying to stay in my genre so I can write to market but now that I have opened the creative juices I have so so many ideas now 😂 My first book kinda sucked, but I’m glad I wrote it to learn what not to do. I want to create a series off of it but I’m afraid it sucked so bad the rest of the books won’t do well.

[@mlp4apc]

Love ❤️ your video. Perfect piont.

[@easybreezyliverflush]

You are such a help!

[@wordcharm2649]

Actually agree with you. I think everyone should start with their passion projects. That's what I'm doing right now. By the end of next year, I'll have invested about 4-5 years on my series, depending on how I tier my publishing schedule. But after that, I really want to pay attention more to the market. Because even though I am writing in a popular genre (not as popular as romance, but right up there), my subgenre(s) are pretty damn niche. And I knew it would be a difficult sale because of this XYZ fusion of elements. I knew some readers expecting X, would be wondering why there is all this Y in the series. And those coming for Y, would be wondering why is there so much X in the series. And both XY camps would be bonding over what the hell Z is doing in the series. LOL But, following the tried and true, write what you love, I didn't care. I've written what I've wanted to write. This is the series of my dreams. If it does well, I'll continue to write this XYZ-fusion but if it doesn't, I want write more to market (within my genre) and essentially tone down XYZ combination, and make one more prominent.

[@mateaukalua4426]

Sounds very intelligent. Most the books I like where probably unique when they were created such as Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which was written in the early 2000s and published a little later. I disliked Twilight and never read it or anything by its author. I have never read Cassandra Clare Sarah J Maas Rebecca Yarros or many of the super famous authors. Have read Jk rowling Cs Lewis and a lot of the old timers. I don't like reading the same book over and over again. Being too creative can be annoying when trying to read a book there's a fine balance honestly. However I am a man and very boring in everything I do but when it comes to books I don't want to read the same shyt over and over again its a waste of cash.

[@josemontalvo4532]

I subscribed and put notifications on, because you seem to be spot on. I really enjoy watching your videos. What should I do first, ISBN or Copyright? Does it matter? I’m at this point in my book.

[@Odessarose6]

Great information as always.

[@37_vanshiDLakhani]

This comment is a request. Totally unrelated to your video. I have been watching your videos and am in awe on how many useful tips you provide on your channel. Not being a published author myself, I strive to publish my debut fantasy series as soon as I can. But this comment is to ask for your recommendations on certain plots for fantasy, magic school trope (for writing, as I'm working on my debut series) I have build a magic world and it's a coming of age, young adult fantasy series and I would honestly love your opinions and suggestions. So basically, I feel stuck in my story despite working on it for 3 years and since you have read many stories, your suggestion would be of high value to me. It's a magic school story, with learning magic to saving it, to possessing more magic than others, there's politics, there's a social evil character trying to win over the world. I need some plot points. Some suggestions. Well, take it this way. You have read many books, seen them in the publishing rounds and you have your favourite themes. Well I'm interested in adding those themes in my novels. As many themes as you like, all are appreciated. If in the future, I do end up using those themes or anything that you wish to see in novels, I will mention your name in the acknowledgements of my book. - to be author of HEDS Series (hope soon, so you can see your name in the acknowledgements, do contact me if you find your name and want to give even more suggestions or talk to me regarding my novels)

[@GodsUnrulyFriends]

I'm primarily a musician. But I also write, and am working on a book. Is music fiction a thing? Perhaps I could write to the market under a pen name?

[@michalpitowsky]

I found this video interesting, however I am not sure I agree with you. It really depends on your goal as an artist and weather or not you perceive yourself as an artist. I am not from the US, and the book market here is pretty small. The chances on making money are very slim. perhaps that's why I have a hard time even viewing the act of writing as a pure business strategy. But I do find your point of view interesting and honest, and wonder how much of it I can apply to my efforts.

[@faithfaraday]

So I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on what the market is now? Please tell me that zombies are over! ;)

[@destresswithyoga]

Excellent points and you’ve learned so much during your career!! Is that young writer the one who had a mom who worked in the publishing industry, which really gave her a big break on writing? If so, I also think she was pushed into writing - as though she didn’t have the passion for writing, but her mom did.

[@MandiLynnWrites]

No it was a completely different person

[@donutlover9222]

@mandilynnwrites Hey, I just wanted to say you should check out T Taylors book about Universal Fantasy - The term is "Butter" - basically the 'butter' is what makes a book delicious. I feel like this is my most recent revelation. She's awesome! She has a bunch of pod casts out there as well!

[@annpippin6388]

Captioning needed

[@atella394]

So I'm myself a fantasy author and definitely not shading adult fantasy but I JUST KNOW that guy you mentioned was a fantasy writer who compares his book to Tolkien lmao

[@JimJoquico]

It’s good not to care. You’re an author, not someone peddling a commodity.

[@jimconner3983]

id write for the market when i need cash but my real stuff i dont think i can comprimise. id offer it free if they buy my bundle?

[@Novelcharlie1]

I know this video is old, three months. I get what you're saying but I do have a question I'm sure since it's been so long, you won't answer. I found a niche in erotic stories but I actually like writing more serious stories. Do you think it is possible to drag a fan base from one genre to a mixed genre? Can I take erotic stories gradually to romance, thriller stories and bring them along and gain even more followers?

[@timmysmith9991]

I hate capitalism. I do not care if I sell one book. I am not a pulp writer. I am writing for myself and writing books I want to read. If people find my books, yee haw. I am not writing to market anything. So I live in poverty who tf cares. FYI the key words to market are YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK NOW. or YOU NEED TO BUY THIS BOOK NOW. Good luck

[@lennoxwilliamsart7387]

I have to design a book next month and still have to come up with a story. But I have to write and design to market, but at the same time have to make something no one has ever seen before :/ And all of this about waters, rivers and basically climatchange. I really hate this assignment for being so contradictory :c

[@Sabedoria773]

You are a love baby girl! Kisses to you!!!

[@technoshaman001]

can you please do a video on the positive aspects of GPT like chatgpt technology and how it can allow writers to say things they have been trying to say but are not able too. 😊

[@Demion83]

The positive side of chat gtp is it's a quick and easy convenient search engine. You can have chat gtp open in another tab just asking it questions as they pop up while you're writing. What you describe sounds like the bad side of chat gtp. People cheating and pretending it's their writing when it is chat gtp's writing. I don't think any writer would see that as a positive thing, that's the biggest threat to our existence.

[@JohnFarrar-fv1rj]

I bought the program, "A Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing Books," but have questions and there is no way to contact Mandi. I've had the program for less than a day and have reviewed it twice, but now I can't find it anywhere on my iMac. There doesn't seem to be a blank template to work from and there aren't clear directions on how to edit Mani's book to make a clear template. I found the program informative, but with no way to get questions answered, I'm having a hard time swallowing that I sank $65 + $29/mo for Adobe Indesign (at her recommendation) with little concern of my success by the author. Hopefully, she will reach out and help...at least have some open line with her customers...that's just good customer support and service.