Why do you want to be published by a big New York house?

Different writers have different reasons for wanting to see their words in print.

Here are a few thoughts and options.

I want to see my words in print.

Tons of options. You don’t need a big New York publisher.

I want to change the world.

Start changing the world. THEN write your book. Follow Al Gore’s plan: get elected VP and invent something important, like the Internet. I’m serious. For nonfiction books, which these sorts often are, you need a platform first. You need fans, followed and perhaps your own cult FIRST. Then you need a book.

I want to be rich and famous.

Go to law school. The average income for a freelance writer is around $5,000. Royalties on books range from 5%-15% of cover price. Average print runs in SF, for instance, run 2000-5000. For hard covers, the first print run may be as low as 1000 copies. It will take a year or two for your book to make it to the bookstores. Here’s what you need to know about big publishers and royalties and advances. Read this carefully, run the numbers, and then decide if this is really what you want.