difficult to get into.~One of the more difficult tasks for the new author is finding a publisher.} Writers such as Stephen King or John Grisham make a good living writing, but they are in the minority. It takes a best seller to enable you to give up the day job. I would like to write a book but I struggle to find the time. I guess I’ll make time if I want it badly enough. The book market is very competitive. There are less independent publishers now and the big companies don’t want to take too many risks on a new writer. They’re not always smart about their choices either. J.K. Rowling was rejected several times.

I read occasionally about people who have sold their very first story and been given a large advance to create another novel or book. Just when I’m fuming with envy, I hear that they sold the film rights for millions of money! The most annoying factor is when a celebrity is commissioned to write a book, only to hire an anonymous ghostwriter. Sports personas seem to do that often. They take all the credit and most of the money. English soccer star David Beckham even received a literary award for his so called effort at an autobiography.

The lucky authors are the people that have a publisher actually pushing them. A new author needs tons of advertising after they write a book. Sometimes, the public is manipulated a little into buying a book. I have seen book covers with scantily clad ladies that I know has very little relevance to the plot.

Choosing your topic is very important. Non-fiction subjects such as cookery, travel, home improvement and gardening are always in demand. Writing a book on a topic that your are not familar with will take some additional research. I could try my hand at fiction but that seems a harder market to crack. The crime and thriller genre does well but I don’t think I could come up with a clever, intricate plot. I’m more into novels about the human condition, which explore relationships and modern society. For a publisher to go with something like that from an unknown writer, it would have to be very, very good.

Occasionally, an excellent first time novelist will come along. This just proves to me that the general public is underestimated and there is a demand for thoughtful stories. Publishers, like TV networks and film producers should stop dumbing down.

Book Cover Designer
Book Cover Design Process