Yabby,

"Ah Spikey, your problem just possibly is not the system, but it is you."

Yes, how dare I want to make a living from being a writer? How dare I make writing my business, my day and night job? How dare I want more than a 10% share of my business earnings?

It's my fault my publisher made a business decision to do a print run of only 4,000 copies. How dare I expect a smidgen of advertising from a publisher? They run a business so I mustn't be greedy.

I know, I know...if only I could be Richard Dawkins or get my books on to the Year 12 syllabus. I ought to be churning out two books a year.

"At 4000 books sold, I would say that nobody made any money really." With scores of books each year my publisher makes enough money to buy out two small publishers and cherry-pick the inventory. After all, they run a business. Passion is sold at a discount.

But I don't make a living from my percentage. So thanks for your expert advice on how to increase sales. You've obviously done your homework. What will the banks lend these days for self-publishers? Do you know of an empty garage for the storage of boxes? Tell me how to get the bookseller chains to accept self-published work? Come to the local farmer's market where I'll be researching and writing my next book on the trellis while I'm doing a Jim Cairns signing every one of the six copies I sell each market day.

Oh, no I can't sell at the markets, I forgot - I need to be setting up my web page and flogging thousands of copies on the internet.

"Fact is that you need consumers to buy what you produce, if you want to make a living from anything. It needs more then passion." Now you're dead right. Passion is passe. The world's got too much passion already. It doesn't sell.

Unless...unless (is that $$$$ I hear?) unless I do some Mills and Boon and make money out of passion.

Totally agree with the author of the article that the price of books is a "tax on learning" and knowledge, never thought I'd channel a Democrat (dear little Nats, Natasha Stott Despoya that is, who was passionate about getting a GST exemption for books at the very least), well there you go.

I travel to the US frequently so take an extra foldout bag and fill it with books every trip, and also use Amazon. I still buy the odd book here, but rarely. I can get 3 books in the US for every one I buy here, that's a big deal when you love to read.

We just get ripped off and it really grates, there is no excuse, aside from greed of the publishers. I don't understand why the ACCC cannot prosecute or do something about what seems to be cartel behaviour, they won't though, I've been there.

Why should books be such a luxury here when they are such a consumable in other parts of the world. the books are in English for goodness sake, the most published language of all.

I've had my work published and was fortunate to get contracts with a big US publisher who wanted books in my narrow little segment of engineering "how-to" books. So I know how you feel Spikey, it's bloody hard work to write a book, I didn't write in my passion area though, I wrote in an area that I knew was sought after. I know a Mills and Boon writer, the author hates them but they pay the bills. Lot's of people don't like what they do but do it as a means to an end, (sorry, not trying to preach, but you do come across as a wee bit precious.)

If we're to ever be a clever country, (what an overused phrase that is Mr Beatie) then being able to buy books at a reasonable and competitive price would surely help.

Mind you, whenever I go to New Zealand, I really feel ill - they pay even more.

*Yes, how dare I want to make a living from being a writer?*

Spikey, you can dare whatever you want. Fact is, you will just
have to live with the consequences of your actions.

Most small business starts when people have a day job, pay
off some of the mortgage of their house and when they have some equity
in that, borrow against it.

Something like 4 out of 5 small businesses fail, as the realities
of life hit home and dreams evaporate.

Perhaps it is simply not a viable proposition to spend 3 years
full time writing a book, for which there is only a market
of 4000.

OTOH you can be proud that you got something published, for I
gather that most manuscripts land up in the bin.

Come on Spikey,

Be real! Very few people who write will earn a living from it. Writers write first and foremost because they like writing. If it's all a bit of chore and makes you bitter, then don't write.

Personally,I would be happy to get 10% because it would mean I got published! The fact that I'm not published means either a) I'm not that good a writer (always a possibility), or b) because what I'm writing doesn't appeal to enough people or agents.

But you know what? I really enjoy writing, so I'll continue to put articles on my blogs, pen the odd poem and work on the never-ending novel. And if I ever earn any money from it, well I'll be happy if it pays for a short holiday somewhere.

Dear Phil Matimein,

I respect your position. It was mine at one stage in my life (and the passion part of it still is). But it is my principal source of income and has been for a decade. Half a dozen books later I can't afford a holiday. I know, I know, I shouldn't have given up my day job.

"If it's all a bit of chore and makes you bitter, then don't write." Neither assumption is true of me. So don't bother with the free advice thanks. It was my day job that made me bored and bitter.

Writers don't have to be acquiescent and let publishers run all over them. It's time they got their fair share of the income from sales, that's my claim. And if that means going OS for a better deal then 'national pride' is not going to hold me back.

There is a third possible explanation for your not yet being published: publishers are not prepared to take a risk (and your mss is never even read).