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Some things I did not understand until I was part of the publishing industry: - Awards ≠ sales - Critical acclaim ≠ sales - Almost all authors you see in a bookstore have another source of income, usually large enough to pay the bills - You do not have to publish to be a writer

3/6/26, 7:59 pm106 reposts624 likes

@pilcrowpress.bsky.social

If I may add as another publishing industry professional: most of the time small presses will treat a book with 10 times more care than any of the big 5.

Absolutely, we love a small press! However, in my experience, care also does not equal sales.

@pilcrowpress.bsky.social

10000000%.

A Meme Walking By

@onelordofthememes.bsky.social

FYI, all you said was said by Bradbury on at least two prologues. No need to be any other "part of the publishing industry" than a reader to understand you are just full of yourself. bsky.app/profile/onel...

A Meme Walking By@onelordofthememes.bsky.social

... either @darusha.ca's readings are totally unbonded and unburdened by Sci-Fi (Sci Fi, SF, SicFic, etc) canon, or they are indeed too full of themselves since they have 1,5k+ posts without a single mention to one of the actual masters of the genre. So, no, won't be reading them any further.

Jerry Smith, writer, motorcyclist, Sophie's dad.

@jerrysmith6559.bsky.social

There are so many ways to game "award winning" and "best selling" that both terms have lost all meaning.

mayangelsandheroes.bsky.social

@mayangelsandheroes.bsky.social

I’ve been publishing my work via Patreon and looking for a side job

@feetforbrains.bsky.social

I know, I know, but it sure is nice when something you poured yourself into makes an imprint.

@gbhhornswoggler.bsky.social

To be blunt, the general public would be astonished at how few copies so many books sell. I've been out of the salt mines for a long time, so not talking about anyone specific, but: like *hundreds* of copies in Year One. Not uncommon at all. Average book sells vastly fewer copies than readers think.

Absolutely. Readers have this view of authors that is deeply proportionally skewed.

@sagathena.bsky.social

The only way I keep on writing is by telling myself that immediate sales isn’t why I’m in this. 10 books in and a few hundred copies. But better than no one ever reading my stories.

Absolutely!

Jeff McClelland

@jeffmcclelland.bsky.social

Louder for the people in the back!

@resistsfacism.bsky.social

Same with music. :) Same with art. :)

Yup.

Sidney Quinn - Author

@sidneyquinn.bsky.social

I got this lesson very early on when I worked at a writer nonprofit. I had the privilege to meet and chat with some award-winning authors with tons of accolades. Every single one of them had at least a part time job or side hustled really hard with school visits/workshops/editing gigs.

mkn68.bsky.social

@mkn68.bsky.social

My son is an incredible writer. He is on his third book. He had to slow down on it because his son was born. It is a fantasy trilogy and I keep asking him “what will happen next?” because he stopped after introducing the characters. I know he gave up on publishing for a while-anyone have any ideas?

@insidewrite.bsky.social

I was 66 When I did it. But I did it.