A few weeks ago I spent time with several successful authors and booksellers.

The discussion at our luncheon was the publishing world and how authors survive.

It seems at the end of the day, whether traditional or independent publishing, the world is changing.

The book creator, buyer, and seller all want optimum dollars for their efforts.

With indie publishing growing, there are stories of authors selling/moving 10K units a month.

Some indie authors spout six figure earnings — in a month!

How do they do it?

Word on the street is the writing is “okay,” not the best.

So we know the best writing doesn’t always win the day.

Or even the best storytelling.

But successful stories all have that one element that hooks the reader, endearing the characters to them.

“The it factor,” I call it.

And it’s hard to say who has the “it” factor.

You just have to keep writing and figure your own “it” factor will come to life.

But that aside, let’s do some math.

One author I’ve heard of claims 10K downloads a month.

Her books are on sale for $.99 – $4.99.

She ranks under a five hundred in the paid Kindle store for the cheaper titles. Over 4000 for the more expensive title at $4.99.

Hard to imagine, eh, $4.99 being expensive!

At $.99 she’s earning about $.30 a book. If she’s ranked under 500, she’s getting 50 – 100 downloads a day.

At $2.99, she’s earning roughy $2.00 a book. If she’s ranked under 500, she’s getting 50 – 100 downloads a day.

At $4.99, she’s earning roughly $3.50 a book. If she’s ranked at 4000, she’s getting 1 – 20 or so downloads a day.

Not bad…

Let’s just do bare minimum math. Let’s say she averages 50 downloads at $.30.

And another 50 at $2.00.

And 1 at $3.50.

A day.

Her daily income is $118.

Her monthly income is $3,555. About $880 a week.

“Not a bad second income!”

Double that if she’s at the high end of earnings. $7000 a month isn’t bad money.

But CAUTION! Not everyone will do as well. Chances are you won’t come out of the gate at that speed.

But it’s good to see numbers on the table.

Ask yourself if you would be happy to start off for a $100/ month. What about $500 or a $1000?

A CBA author I know left the trad world in 2012 for the life of an independent. She didn’t match her traditional salary for a year but then doubled it her second year publishing. Tripled her third year of indie.

She writes a quality series and invested the TIME in doing it right.

What do these authors have in common?

They write branded series.

They write at least three books a year. Or more.

They have a niche. Meaning not just romance or spec fiction but a “cowboy romance in the mountains.”

Or military romance with a focus on a certain branch.

Or fantasy/spec fiction romance.

They have covers that look alike.

They are priced to sell.

There’s a group of reading consumers who read only books under $4.99.

They can read up to two books of 50kish words a day!

Indie publishing has created the “indie” reader.

Indie authors can change the price as needed. Change front and back matter to boost sales.

The weight of production and promotion is on indie authors, as well as the writing, but the control is in his or her hands.

Fail or succeed. It’s up to “you!”

Why do I tell you this?

Because I want you to be informed. I’m passing on knowledge that I’ve obtained through the industry.

However, indie publishing is not a modern day gold mine.

You may spend a lot of time as a brown pony running last in a pack of brown ponies.

Another formerly traditionally published author hasn’t seen great sales but says her indie books produce a “nice second income.”

And she’s keeping at it, and over time, her readership might build.

I get the prestige, the value, the “feather in your cap” that comes from acceptance by a traditional publisher.

It IS a big deal.

You broke through the BLUE door. Made a group of independent readers and thinkers, editors and an agent, buy into your idea. Literally.

There are not enough words to explain the thrill of “getting the call.”

If that’s your dream, don’t give up on it! Go for it!

But don’t let old mindsets hold you up.

If your book is getting buzz but you just can’t seem land the deal, seek the Lord.

Maybe indie is the way.

Or maybe you need to just keep waiting. The right traditional publisher will find you.

God’s plans, either way, are good for you!

Don’t go it alone, either. Seek advice from your MBT team. From family and writer friends.

But first, go write something brilliant.