Return on investment is important but not everything.
Last week I published the final novel of my new Savagespace sci-fi trilogy. This series is set in a distant future where humans travel the stars faster than light alongside some familiar creatures we ascribe to fantasy.
Despite the ability to travel across space faster than light, a means that’s faster still has long been sought after. When it’s finally realized, this accidentally opens the way to a dimension of chaos and darkness called savagespace.
The initial idea for this series came to me in February of 2021. This would evolve into a complex story initially written as 6 novels. However, since they were not terribly long, I combined them to create a trilogy instead.
As with my other novels, I got a cover artist and hired editors. Additionally, I hired my cover artist to draw several of my characters for me (which I have shared in my newsletter, on my website, and in other places).
Despite being an indie-author/authorpreneur, before I make any money on my work, I have to spend money. This is largely connected to editing and cover art. However, there’s also marketing to be done, some of which requires the spending – as mentioned above – of money.
Savagespace is my third complete sci-fi trilogy. Between Savagespace, Forgotten Fodder, and the Void Incursion series, I’ve written and published 12 novels. I’ve also published Infamy Ascending (a standalone fantasy/Steampunk novel), the first book of my Vapor Rogues Steampunk series, and the first two novels of my Source Chronicles fantasy series.
That’s 16 self-published books in the world. All are on Amazon. Most are widely distributed.
Have I made the ROI (return on investment) for all these books and the investments in them?
The answer is – not yet.
This cannot be done cost-free
More specifically, this cannot be done WELL cost-free.
At the very least, you need to pay someone to edit your work. I miss stuff doing my round of edits all the time. It takes another pair of eyes – preferably a professional pair – to go over your work.
Editing does, however, come in different flavors and varieties. Some are more involved than others. Whether you need a copy edit, a line edit, a developmental edit, or all the above, this is not the place to skimp. Even a professional misses stuff, which is part of why editing is a process.
Maybe you’re an artist or graphic artist. Cool for you, if that’s the case. I’m limited in my graphic arts abilities, and while I can conceive of the idea for the art, I can’t create it. Thus, I must pay a cover artist to make my books look good.
The notion that you can’t judge a book by its cover is all well and good, but not practical. I’m sorry to say that people can, will, and DO judge books by their covers. Thus, hiring an artist if you lack that skill is necessary.
While social media can be a cost-free marketing outlet, it’s not hugely reliable. Advertising has proven its effectiveness time and again. There are many, many options for this with many pros and cons.
Ergo, part of marketing almost always has some costs involved in it.
As an authorpreneur, I’m a business entity. That means I must handle more than just the writing. My time is never free, whether I’m writing, editing, recording audio, planning and plotting, or anything else.
All of this factors into the investment, and thus the ROI.
How long do you go until you get an ROI?
This is a question that plagues most professional artists at the start. Let’s face it – becoming a bestselling author on the NY Times list is too distant a target to aim for realistically. Even making the top seller lists on Amazon is extremely hit or miss.
The other issue is defining the meaning of ROI for you. For me, it is two steps. The first is breaking even, making back my investment (which, arguably, is the true definition of ROI – return on investment). The second is making money, sufficient profit to justify continuing to do the work I’m doing.
How long do you go until you get an ROI? That’s a very personal question. The answer is going to be, for most I suspect, until I decide I’ve had enough or until I succeed. What does it mean to succeed? Another personal question. For me, it is turning a profit from my work and making my living primarily as an author, editor, audiobook voice artist, and storyteller.
Easy? Nope. But that mostly keeps it interesting. There is always something new to learn, and more ways to work on getting an ROI keep coming up, and it’s good to remain open to that. Since change is the only constant in the Universe, embracing and working with that can go a long way. And who knows where that could take you?
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you, I conclude with this: How are you inspired to be your own creator – whatever form that takes?
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