Draft book feed back (not lifting related)

[zappey1]

Well it looks like it is time for an update
As of today
643 Volume 1 (first book) 281 Volume 2 = 861 total

July was the best month I had with 78 books sold. That was with no events and just distribution to the now 11 local stores I'm in.

I just had my best event ever one day sales last weekend where I sold 46 books in 4 hours at a book fair where I did not have to pay for a booth.

I guess the mian question is: Are those good sales? I have most of volume 3 written and the local stores bug me all the time to get it done as my book is usally a best seller at their stores. I do whole sale at 45% for me 55% for the stores. I make an average of about $6 dollars on each book.

Youtube is feeling like a bust although I'm getting close to the 1000 subs it is a TON of extra work with literaly no pay. I wonder if I ever do monetize how much money I will make a month? It has not been very motivating.

My wife is finishing up a childrens book. If those book sales are better we might just switch to that.

I have been thinking about using AI for the images in my third book but am still on the fence. I would proably be looking at 1500 in illistration costs for a person as apposed to about 50 for an AI subscription for a month. I have also been thinking about using the AI to see if it can make my writing better. My wife and I have been messing around with it for love novels and it is VERY promising.

All you Exodites that read this let me know what you guys think? Is book writing lucrative enough to keep going or should I just get a part time job somewhere? Should I keep grinding on YT? Should I use AI for illistrations and content sugestions? I know my books have been doing WAYYYYYYYY better then most self published books but I always have very high expectations.

[DCR]

@zappey1, I don’t know the first thing about selling books, but some thoughts:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m assuming that you have a full time gig and this is an issue of supplemental income - stick with writing or get a part time job. I would stick with writing. You obviously really enjoy it and it’s a blessing to be able to put real time into, and potentially even profit from, something that you love.

I would stick with youtube if you’re that close to monetization.

If you’re making $6 per book, the art question is a no brainer - use AI rather than paying anyone $1,500.

Congratulations on the sales thus far!

[zappey1]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Yes I have a full-time job besides writing. I do enjoy the writing aspect but I am not a fan of all the events and people I have to meet to make decent book sales. Hell even to get the books into stores I have to approach the owners myself and give a book pitch. It is hard as I can be a reserved person when I'm around people I don't know.

The AI is an interesting conundrum. Lots of people I talk with (Artists and other writers) hate it. I wonder if I would get blacklisted in some manner if I embraced the future. I don't even know if they could tell. I'm definitely going to mess around with it

Thanks for the thoughts. Ill keep grinding on the YT when I get some more motivation