Novel Survey Results

Jeremy · Mar 18, 2010

Novel Survey Results

Jim C Hines has conducted a survey with information from over 200 professionally published novelists on how they broke into the business. He utilized actual data to confirm or bust some of the myths about making it as a novelist.

Novel Survey Results, Part I
Novel Survey Results, Part II
Novel Survey Results, Part III

I found the survey results confirmed a lot of what I was expecting on how to break into the business and the common route of becoming published, but it is nice to see this backed up with raw numbers and examples.

In the beginning of the survey, Jim credits Absolute Write in helping with the data, but I couldn’t find a thread discussing the results of the survey, and I was interested to hear the opinions of people on here and get a discussion going.

Chris P · Mar 18, 2010

Wonderful data! Cold hard facts are sometimes in short supply. This info is very encouraging.

Incidentally, I object to the idea that self publishing is the way to get your first stuff out of the way and to establish yourself. Vanity presses hear that and wait for the manuscripts and cash to roll in. Everyone thinks they're going to be the next great thing, but many of the credible people recommending SP/POD as being more than it is forget the effect that this idea has on a starry-eyed newbie (such as myself; I'm one of PA's 12,000 "happy" writers). I'm glad someone has debunked it with facts.

Jeremy · Mar 18, 2010

1 person out of the 246 pro writers surveyed self published first and then got picked up by a major publisher. Definitely not the best way to go.

In addition, I have personally talked with Larry Correia, who initially self published and eventually did get picked up by Baen. Even with getting professionally published going that route, he recommends others to not do it.

lucidzfl · Mar 18, 2010

Note: This data is already disputed on other sites.

gothicangel · Mar 18, 2010

I think the main message is: there isn't an established route to publication, therefore no-one knows and all we can do is speculate.

We can spend all day speculating or writing. The choice is yours.

After thought: So small publishers aren't professional publishers?

Irysangel · Mar 18, 2010

lucidzfl said:
Note: This data is already disputed on other sites.

Can you cite where it's being disputed? I'm curious and interested in both sides of the argument.

Thank you!

blacbird · Mar 18, 2010

The results were heavily weighted toward SF/F, which is no surprise, given that it was a fantasy author doing the study.

No shit (see graph number one).

It would be nice to see a similar set of statistics across a less "weighted" range of genres.

caw

James D. Macdonald · Mar 18, 2010

blacbird said:
It would be nice to see a similar set of statistics across a less "weighted" range of genres.

Authors who write in other genres, who have popular blogs, are encouraged to repeat the experiment.

Chris P · Mar 18, 2010

Do you really think genre makes that much of a difference? (serious question)

The SP avenue is being urged for literary on one recent blog, and I poo-pooed the idea. I'd be VERY happy to be wrong.

James D. Macdonald · Mar 18, 2010

I have a gut feeling that genre is an important variable. But the data to say that's true or false isn't yet available.

blacbird · Mar 18, 2010

Chris P said:
Do you really think genre makes that much of a difference? (serious question)

Dunno (although I agree that the concept of self-pubbing is a no-go). That's why I'd like to see further stats.

caw

Chris P · Mar 18, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
I have a gut feeling that genre is an important variable. But the data to say that's true or false isn't yet available.

So, if you were a newbie writer, would you go SP? Again, serious question that I'm sure doesn't have a simple answer.

Second, if worthwhile, how to encourage SP in a way that differentiates it from vanity press? Sorry if these are ignorant questions

James D. Macdonald · Mar 18, 2010

Chris P said:
So, if you were a newbie writer, would you go SP? Again, serious question that I'm sure doesn't have a simple answer.

It does have a simple answer: No.

jchines · Mar 18, 2010

Authors who write in other genres, who have popular blogs, are encouraged to repeat the experiment.

What he said

I know the survey wasn't perfect, but I'd also be curious to see where the data is already being disputed.

Not perfect, but hopefully a huge step up from the anecdotal and hearsay we usually get in discussions on how to break in.

There's another thread here where I asked people to participate in the original survey. My thanks again to everyone who did, or who passed the survey link along.

Jeremy · Mar 24, 2010

Novel Survey Results, Part III Is now up.

Jim covers new ground on his survey with: Can You Boost Your Odds, Survey Flaws, Other Resources, and Final Thoughts.

Found the boosting your odds section the most enlightening of Pt III. I’ve heard and read about the benefits of attending conventions and writing groups, but I think I’ll be putting more stock into them now. Wouldn’t hurt, eh?

Anyway, I enjoyed reading the survey results. I found them very helpful. Thank you Jim for taking the time to do it.

jchines · Mar 26, 2010

Full write-up and the raw data are now posted at http://www.jimchines.com/2010/03/survey-results/

jana13k · Mar 26, 2010

I participated in the survey and was happy to find that it reinforced what I already believed about publishing; work hard, workshops/writers groups help, it takes years, most people know no one.

All new writers should be encouraged by those facts.

Thanks Jim!

job · Mar 26, 2010

Chris P said:
So, if you were a newbie writer, would you go SP? Again, serious question that I'm sure doesn't have a simple answer.

Second, if worthwhile, how to encourage SP in a way that differentiates it from vanity press? Sorry if these are ignorant questions

May I comment as well?

Self-publishing is great for certain non-fiction. Your guide to the ley lines in the neighborhood; the Pludcorcker geneology you want to present to all your relatives; the Junior League cookbook -- publish them yourself.

But not fiction. Anyone considering SP for fiction should ask themselves how many self-published books they themselves read in the last year.

Novel Survey Results

Jeremy

Infinite in Mystery

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

Jeremy

Infinite in Mystery

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Irysangel

She of Many Names

blacbird

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

blacbird

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

Jeremy

Infinite in Mystery

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

jana13k

Yep. I can.

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript