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aspiring authors, author survey, authors, data on authors and self publishing, hybrid authors, self-publishing, should i go down the self publishing route, stories, traditionally publishing, what are the reasons why authors self publish or traditionally publish, what type of author earns the most, what type of author published the most manuscripts, writing
I found this blog post with some fascinating data. The writer Beth ran a survey this year and interviewed nearly 5,000 authors. It turns out, that hybrid authors (who self publish and traditionally publish) have the greatest median number of published manuscripts.
I wonder why this is the case? Hybrid authors are the most productive in not only traditionally published works (when compared to traditionally published only authors) but also in their self published works (when compared to self published only authors). So, maybe the debate about which form of publishing is redundant. They are both useful for different reasons and that maybe incorporating the two ways of publishing is the new way to go.
In regards to reasons for publishing, hybrid and traditionally published authors were most motivated to making money. Whereas, self-published and aspiring author’s main reasons were to satisfy a lifelong ambition. All four author types included ‘to build my career as a writer’ as a top priority for getting published.
In regards to income, after the $1-$4,999 brackets hybrid authors made just as much money as traditionally published or more. In the last three brackets encompassing $60,000 – $100,000 +, there were more hybrid authors who reported earning that much than traditionally published.
Fascinating stuff, eh? I think that maybe these trends can be attributed to the fact that hybrid authors want to make writing a living and they use every avenue available to them. They publish more. They earn more. Their reasons for publishing are often money-related. What do you make of it all?
Check out Beth’s posts which includes more information and data about the trends she found for author’s income, number of manuscripts and reasons for publishing.
– Ermisenda Alvarez
Ermilia 
I really didn’t self publish for the money. More so I could leave the book on my coffee table for guests to read it and ask my questions about it.
And I think many self-publish for that reason. I don’t self-publish to gain money because that would be the silliest investment ever. Let alone it may never be fruitful. I just thought these were some interesting stats to throw out there about the different types of authors and how they publish. 🙂
This is my experience/tally so far:
In 2010 I self-published a book of poems, via a well-respected poetry publisher. In 2013 that book was given a ‘second imprint’ by a different publisher as an eBook, at no cost to me.
In 2012 my first novel was published by an indie publisher, under a commercial contract.
In 2013 my second collection of poetry was published by a poetry press.
Also in 2013 my second novel was published by the same indie publisher that published my first.
I have been involved, in an editorial capacity, in a handful of books that have been self published by someone else.
I don’t know where that puts me. Hybrid? My overall aim is certainly conventional publishing.
A nice little break down. Thanks for sharing. I would think you’re more traditional than hybrid but yeah, you sound like a hybrid. 🙂