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Home » Archives for Dan Balow » Page 9

Dan Balow

Publishing in Generalities

By Dan Balowon May 25, 2022
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While agents and publishers accept book proposals because they contain a number of specific things they like, most book proposals are turned down because of a general reason.

For example, refer to the “Who We Are,” section of this website. Each agent has a set of filters we use to focus our efforts. The filters reflect our strengths and/or personal preferences. Outside of these, we decline.

Publishers also have standards for book proposals they don’t consider. If something appears outside of their stated filters, it won’t even be read and considered regardless of the author’s ability, platform, or anything else. It simply isn’t the type of book they want to publish.

I don’t know what the actual percentage is, but my guess is a high percentage of decisions by agents and publishers are based on general principles, rather than on the details of a specific proposal. For instance:

“I represented a book like this before, and it didn’t sell.”

“We published a book like this before, and it didn’t sell.”

“We already have a book like this.”

Generalities govern more than agents and publishers.

In general, Christian books sell less than non-Christian books. It makes sense, since the majority of people in the world are not Christians.

Overall, women buy and read more Christian books than men, so books written for women sell better than those for men.

In general, publishing decisions are made by people who have a profound interest in books, love well-written projects, and are relatively difficult to please.

In general, publishers generate a substantial majority of their revenue from a relatively small number of projects they publish. You’ve heard of the 80/20 rule? In publishing, it is probably closer to 80/5, where 80% of publisher revenues come from 5% of their products.

In general, few books succeed in a dramatic way. According to Bookstat, 2.6 million different books sold online in 2020; and only 268 of them sold more than 100,000 copies, which is .01% or one for every 10,000 books.

In general, books sell more in their first year and decline in sales afterward.

In general, traditionally published books sell better than author-published books.

The life of an author is governed by a series of generalities as well.

In general, those who work harder and longer to develop their writing will see more success than an author who doesn’t work at it as diligently.

In general, those who work to develop a platform to promote their books do better than those who do not.

In general, a small percentage of authors become financially successful writing books.

I am fighting the temptation to focus on the exceptions to the “rules” and generalities that seem to govern so much of book publishing.

Sure, there are writers who come from nowhere and succeed. Their first book hits the top, and it’s a wild ride from there. But when you consider the thousands upon thousands of books published every year in the US Christian publishing industry, focusing on the three or six or ten that defied the odds isn’t something on which to build a stable career or company.

Maybe consider exceptions as an example of serendipities that pop up everywhere in the life of a Christian, allowed by God to remind all of us He is still there and active. Generally speaking, of course.

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Category: Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, Inspiration, The Writing Life

Does Faith Limit Creativity?

By Dan Balowon May 12, 2022
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No, it doesn’t. Look at nature or biology or astronomy and see how creative our God is. If anything, a Christian can see things clearer and be inspired to even greater creativity than someone who is not a Christ-follower. But, I think writers of Christian books have limited their vision for what they can write about; and maybe, just maybe, publishers have a role to play in limiting creativity. A …

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Category: Creativity

What Are You Doing This Summer?

By Dan Balowon May 4, 2022
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Writers conferences have been scrambling to maintain a connection to writers in two years of COVID restrictions, but maybe we are working our way toward a day when most can meet in person and get back to the best part of conferences: the planned and unplanned conversations that lead to inspiration and encouragement for everyone taking part. How will I spend some of my summer this year? May 11-14, …

Read moreWhat Are You Doing This Summer?
Category: Conferences

The Way Publishing Never Was

By Dan Balowon April 21, 2022
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In 1999, the book The Way Things Never Were: The Truth About the “Good Old Days” by Norman Finkelstein was published. I have a copy. My family grew weary of me referring to it in every conversation twenty years ago, so there it sits on the shelf. It is less than 100 pages, with plenty of pictures, so no one has the excuse that it is too long and complicated to read. Chapter titles …

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Category: Book Business, Career, Publishing History

Writers Groups

By Dan Balowon April 13, 2022
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Writers need good, personal support structures because so much of the work is done in solitude. Christian writers conferences, whether they are held online or in person, are part of this structure, as one receives training; exposure to different ways of thinking; critical review; advice from people with experience they lack; and, most importantly, relationships. But another level of support is …

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Category: Communication, Conferences

Stormy Writing

By Dan Balowon March 31, 2022
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It is safe to say we all tend to learn and grow more spiritually from difficulty than from the good times. Both reveal God’s presence in our lives, but our hard heads and hearts seem to need a good bit of humbling before we “get it.” Most people write more powerfully under duress. A couple months ago, while reading a manuscript of a long-time acquaintance, the tone surprised me a bit. I wondered …

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration

Fearful Writing

By Dan Balowon March 23, 2022
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It is important for Christian writers to be bold, not worrying so much about who might be offended by the gospel or who might take biblical truth the wrong way. Despite society being fragile these days with so many people triggered by the littlest thing, this situation shouldn’t stop us from proclaiming God’s truth. We all need to be more fearless in the way we live and communicate. After all, as …

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Category: Career, Christian, Inspiration

Disciplined Creativity: The Key to Platform Development

By Dan Balowon March 10, 2022
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An ever-present part of developing an author platform is the content in it. List all the various media an author can use to connect with potential book readers, and one quickly realizes they are nothing but empty containers until filled with something. Some media are better than others for certain types of messages to certain audiences, but without a clear idea of what you want to communicate, you …

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Category: Platform

The Full-Armor Writer

By Dan Balowon March 2, 2022
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Christian communicators need a clear view of what they are getting into. No matter how creative you might be, if you are carrying the banner of Jesus Christ, you will become the target for attack. Pick any subject; and the world will object to it, going to varying lengths to marginalize it to the lunatic fringe. Thank you, social media. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. The times of “cultural …

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Category: The Writing Life, Theology

Watch the Jargon

By Dan Balowon February 17, 2022
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In early 2018, a corporate consulting firm, Grant Thornton, did a detailed analysis of Fortune 500 company websites, press releases, and social media. What they found was not surprising, but still proved how the use of business jargon (commonly used phrases) pervades the corporate world. What was the most commonly used phrase by Fortune 500 companies? “Best in class” Rounding out the top ten most …

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Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Branding, Marketing, Pitch, Pitching, The Writing Life
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