Timing staggered releases -- recommendations?

Release books as quickly as you can release quality books. How quickly any author can achieve that is dependent on too many variables to give a specific answer.

In a new book by several successful self-pubbed authors, they recommend having about 5 units ready to go when you start self-publishing. (Well, I sure didn't.) That way, people looking at you see you have a variety of stuff (meaning you're in it for a longer haul), and if they like Book 1, they have more things to buy.

If you want to stagger releases, keep in mind the 30-day new published work window, where you have more visibility for the first 30 days. Maybe publish the next thing on day 29 or something, to keep up the visibility.

I've heard that you should pop 'em out as fast as you can, since there are so many indies out there, and you might be forgotten. For me personally, I've revised/edited and published some of the books I trunked in the past few years. As for the sequel to my series, it's been seven months since I published the first one. But I'm okay with that because I have other books published.

Penguin said:

I've heard that you should pop 'em out as fast as you can, since there are so many indies out there, and you might be forgotten. For me personally, I've revised/edited and published some of the books I trunked in the past few years. As for the sequel to my series, it's been seven months since I published the first one. But I'm okay with that because I have other books published.

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I think that should be revised to "pop 'em out as fast as you can write well and get them edited."

But yes, a couple of authors who've done *koff* very well say things really started to move for them on book 7. The body of work was the biggest factor in their momentum, not the blog tours, not the marketing, not the FB ads. Having a body of work for readers to find and enjoy.

FWIW, my pro screenwriter friends have almost all said the exact same number -- they had 7-9 complete, finished screenplays before their careers really took off. (The difference being that you can put your own novels up for sale, but there's nothing you can do with a screenplay until someone buys it.)

btse1 said:

Thanks. The quality is there, my editor tells me. Perhaps I should have asked if there is too short an interval.

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Maybe in some very specific niche under very specific circumstances?

In general, I don't think there's a downside to putting up, for example, a whole backlist over the course of several days even.

Maybe if you were doing a serial or something and wanted it spaced out to build proper expectations about timing?

Maybe if you had a specific promotion plan you wanted to apply to each book and time/expense wouldn't fit in with a quick release?

But in general, as long as it's good just publish it and move forward to the next one.

Oh, look: twin threads!

Publishing Strategy

Timing staggered releases

They're not identical twins, but they sure are closely related.

Oh, look: twin threads!

Publishing Strategy

Timing staggered releases

They're not identical twins, but they sure are closely related.

Old Hack said:

Oh, look: twin threads!

Publishing Strategy

Timing staggered releases

They're not identical twins, but they sure are closely related.

Click to expand...

Old Hack said:

Oh, look: twin threads!

Publishing Strategy

Timing staggered releases

They're not identical twins, but they sure are closely related.

Click to expand...

I see what you did there...

It's deja vu all over again!