the craft. show me the money or not.

This week, I received my first “royalty” statement from publishing, so I figured it would be a good time to share with you what I know about sales so far! Lol. I’ve been navigating publishing with a bit of intuition and a lot of vibes. No one really lays out the whole process for you, but you certainly get some guidance as you get to each part of the process.

So, first and foremost, this is the first statement I’m receiving and the book was released in June 2022. It’s important to know that you won’t actually receive a statement until six months after your publishing date. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, because people want to always ask, “how is the book doing?” It’s almost as maddening as people asking what you’re working on next when you just spent years of your life working on this one thing. While your royalty statement is your most accurate gauge of how things are going, there are still things that could be missing.

An important and scary thing to note is that stores can return books! Yikes. So, while they may have prepared in anticipation for your book being the hottest thing smoking, they can return inventory if that’s not the case. And you’ll be able to see that in the statement. At the end of it, you’ll either have a number in or out of parenthesis. Parenthesis meaning, you’re in the red, none meaning you’re in the black. I’m still in the red, but that’s normal. I was honestly pleased to see that I had actually sold books. LOL. Now, I still have to go over the statement with my agent, she’s out for a bit on a leave, however, I feel like I’m on a positive trajectory. I wasn’t jarred by my numbers and felt proud of what I saw. Now, I’m not yet sure how the publisher feels but more on that later.

It’s also helpful to pull up your executed contract to understand your statement. You’ll be able to compare your percentages, and double check that all the math is mathing.

Now, you can check out sales likely through your author portal before you receive a royalty statement, but they tell you in bold letters that it won’t be the most accurate. AND, why would you torture yourself in this way? The reality is, if you have published a book, with a traditional publisher or self-published, you have accomplished a feat that most people won’t. You know how many people I meet that tell me they want to write a book someday? Spoiler alert: some day ain’t coming for a lot of folks because of the true drive and discipline it takes to write a whole book. With that being said, whether you sell five or five hundred books, I’m proud of you. Do not get caught up in the numbers game, and you know why? Your feelings may get hurt. Ha!

Selling books is hard work. Now, look, I’m not saying it’s not possible to move units. I am so proud of the amazing authors I have met recently who have gotten amazing looks for their books. From Reese Witherspoon’s book club pick to Jenna Reads book club, there are amazing opportunities for debut authors that can help move the needle. But again, there are a lot more of us that will have to sell one book at a time. One talk, one panel, one reading event at a time. I’m very thankful of a lot of the marketing that my book received pre-pub because that does not happen for everyone.

Right now, Colleen Hoover has four spots on the top five of the New York Times Best Sellers List in trade paperback. And only allowed Taylor Jenkins Reid in there with her. Partially, this is because Hello Sunshine recently released the scripted series of Daisy Jones and the Six. If you notice, we aren’t in there. No Black or POC writers to be found unless maybe you scroll down a bit further. And not because we’re not as talented. Certainly not because we don’t read which publishing has tried to make us believe for years. But for a whole host of reasons that we don’t have time to get to in one newsletter.

Ultimately, stay the course. Keep working on marketing ideas, content, and building your network to get your book out there. Because after that like the first month or two of your book being on the shelves, it’s on you, friend.

And, in a conversation with some other authors, you don’t necessarily have to earn out to get another book deal. Listen, publishing is much like the music industry in that Drake keeps the lights on for a lot of other artists at the label. Same with publishing. You wonder why books like Harry, or Will are such big deals and it’s because they bring in the revenue for publishers to help support stories they believe in that may not be top earners right away. I say all the time, are you trying to release one book or build a career? Some debuts will be on fire out of the gate. Some authors may catch some momentum on the third or fourth try. Stay focused. (Like honestly, we’re all way too distracted these days.)

Last month, my book was a February bestseller at Belcanto Books. “They ain’t never gave me nothin!” *in my Lil Richard voice.* I was very excited to show up as a bestseller somewhere. This was because of the support of another author Diane Marie Brown, asking me to be in conversation with her on her release date and Belcanto being kind enough to order a gang of my books along with hers. At the event, attendees actually purchased copies of both books. The reality is, we’re all we got. So let’s keep supporting each other, lifting each other up, and buying from Black, POC, and women owned bookstores as much as we can.

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Writing/Job Opportunities

L’Oreal Blackett is accepting pitches for R29 Unbothered. She is commissioning strong personal essays & op-eds across Black hair/beauty, relationships, health, identity, etc. loreal.blackett@vice.com.

A Public Space is accepting submissions for emerging writers for their Writing Fellowship. The aim of these fellowships is to seek out and support writers who embrace risk in their work and their own singular vision. Writers who have not yet contracted to publish a book are invited to apply. Submissions of fiction, nonfiction, and—this year, for this first time—poetry are welcome.

Vona Voices is accepting submissions for their Summer 2023 Workshops featuring author of “The Secret Life of Church Ladies” Deesha Philyaw for their in-person session. (Deadline March 19)

Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship is accepting submissions from women, nonbinary and gender non-conforming journalists whose work focuses on human rights and social justice issues.

Bolts Mag is hiring an Audience Engagement Editor.

Buzzfeed is hiring a Timely Celeb News Writer, Project Based. ($20-30/hr.)

Vox Media is hiring a Climate Editor.