Very Small Niche
If the market is specialized, most traditional publishers won’t consider the proposal. How is a small niche defined? Usually, the potential is fewer than five thousand books sold. Or it could be a regional publication, such as the history of a small town.
No matter how small the market may seem, success can be around the corner. John Vonhof has a great success story. Who would have thought a book for runners on foot care would even be needed? Well, Mr. Vonhof knew it was needed, wrote it, and published Fixing Your Feet in 1997. It is now in its sixth edition and is traditionally published. The book is still sought after in the running world.
Another example of a book with a very small niche is my second book, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science for All Ages, is targeted for the homeschool market. Although this market has gained wider acceptance, my book is specific to teaching science, an even smaller market. The other minus I have with a science book is I’m not a scientist. Although the book is well-accepted by homeschooling parents because I’m not a scientist, a traditional publisher might want an expert on board. In this case, an “expert” may defeat the purpose of homeschool mom speaking to a homeschool mom.
Timely
If the book is about current stock market strategies, the author wants it out now, not two years from now. Yes, we often see books hitting the shelves within a month of a major news event. They are, however, contracted with well-known people, ghostwritten, written by a staff member, or written by someone who has a track record of speedy writing.
Poetry
I enjoy a good poetry book. I have many on my shelves, as do many other people. But they are still the hardest to get published without already having a household name.
Personal Stories or Memoirs
We’ve heard this mantra: publishers don’t want memoirs. Then we find so many on the shelf. So, what’s the deal? If writers aren’t celebrities or don’t have a publishing record, they will probably need to self-publish their personal stories. Although a compelling story may catch the eye of a small publisher.
Family Books
Many families are publishing memory books for the immediate family, family histories for other family members, or books written by their children. This is an obvious case for self-publishing.
What Has Given Self-Publishing a Bad Name?
Writers have. Writers who don’t take the time to produce a quality product; writers who don’t take the time to learn about the publishing business; writers who are only writing for self-satisfaction.
Writers who are willing to learn the business and work hard on their products have overcome much of the stigma. Good writers, experienced writers, and professional writers are producing quality products that are being sold in bookstores everywhere.
Some writers who intend to self-publish often skip the important step of having the manuscript edited by a quality, professional editor. Organizations such as American Copy Editors Society (ACES) and the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network (The Christian PEN) lists professional editors and their specialties. I’m a professional editor as well as writer, I hire an editor for all of my publications.
Self-publishing is hard work. It requires tenacity and professionalism; both of which come by learning how to do it well.
