The 'Easy' Way to Make Money In Publishing

It can be difficult to break into the publishing industry and make a name for yourself as an author. With so many talented writers out there, it can feel overwhelming to try and stand out in the crowd. However, there is one strategy many authors use that has proven to be successful time and time again - writing to market.

What exactly does writing to market mean? Simply put, it means figuring out what is currently popular in the world of literature and using that as inspiration for your own writing. This might sound like selling out or being unoriginal, but in today's fast-paced society where trends come and go quickly, it can be the key to success. 

One of the easiest ways to make money in the publishing industry is by tapping into a popular genre or trend and creating your own unique spin on it. For example, if vampire romance novels are hot at the moment, you could write your own vampire romance story with a fresh twist that will capture readers' attention. By staying on top of current trends and giving readers what they want, you are more likely to sell books and gain a following.

For example the popularity of hockey romance novels began with the success of Elle Kennedy's bestselling book, "The Score," which features a college hockey star's romantic journey. This led other authors to write their own hockey romance stories, resulting in a surge of books in the genre. Notable series like Sarina Bowen's "The Ivy Years" and Helena Hunting's "Pucked" followed. Social media helped authors connect with readers, creating a dedicated fanbase and making hockey romance a popular subgenre in contemporary romance literature.

But simply writing within a popular genre is not enough. In order to truly succeed with this approach, you also need to have a killer blurb and an eye-catching cover. These two elements are crucial when it comes to marketing your book and attracting potential readers. Your blurb should entice readers and give them a taste of what your book has to offer, while your cover should accurately represent your story while standing out among others in the same genre.

Another important aspect of successfully writing to market is speed. Once you have identified a popular trend or genre, it's important to write and publish multiple books in that series as quickly as possible. This not only keeps readers interested but also helps establish you as an author who consistently delivers quality content within that specific niche.

In addition to writing multiple books in a series, another key factor to success is marketing. While writing to market may increase your chances of selling books, it's still important to promote your work in order to reach a wider audience. Investing in paid ads and promotions, such as Bookbub, can greatly increase your book's visibility and attract new readers.

Lastly, building a collection of 5-star reviews can also boost your success as an author. Positive reviews not only help attract new readers but also act as social proof for potential buyers. Encouraging readers to leave reviews and engaging with them on platforms such as Goodreads can greatly benefit your writing career.

While there is no guaranteed formula for success in the publishing industry, writing to market has proven to be an effective strategy for many authors. By staying on top of current trends, creating captivating blurbs and covers, publishing multiple books within a popular genre or trend, investing in marketing tactics, and building a strong base of positive reviews, you can increase your chances of making money and standing out in the competitive world of publishing.

But if hockey romance, Mermaid Erotica or whatever is hot at the time you read this, isn't what lights you up., then I am by no means telling you this is the ONLY way. I write what I love, not because it's trendy. Do my books sell as well? Maybe not, but I know the writing is better because I was truly writing from the heart. If the story doesn't captivate you, its unlikely it will captivate a reader.

Want to learn how to write an irristable first 3 chapters that readers won't be able to put down? Watch the Hooked From Page One Masterclass now.