Is Your Work Commercially Viable?

Flickr / Giovanni Orlando
Flickr / Giovanni Orlando

Writers often ask, “How do I get published?”

But I don’t like to answer that question until I know what exactly they’re trying to publish. I’d say at least 50% of new writers are attempting to publish a work that would be deemed commercially unviable by a Big Six house, at least as initially conceived.

Note #1: This does NOT mean the work couldn’t be successful outside commercial publishing. Quite the contrary.

Note #2: This also doesn’t mean that a commercially viable work couldn’t ultimately be produced, but a lot of time can be wasted trying to overcome hurdles that even a professional writer wouldn’t want to jump.

Here are indicators to help determine if you have a commercially viable work in the eyes of a Big Six publisher or literary agent (who presumably only want to spend time on projects that will turn a profit and reduce risk).

Positive signs of commercial viability

  • For first-time novels: approx. length of 80,000 words
  • Romance, mystery/thriller/crime, and young adult genres
  • For nonfiction authors: visibility and proven reach to a to target readership (otherwise known as platform)

Not as commercially viable

  • Poetry and short story collections
  • Essay collections, column collections, etc
  • For nonfiction authors: Trying to write on health/medicine, psychology, or other professional fields when you don’t have the authority or credentials to give professional advice (in other words, you’re writing based on the experience of an “average” person)
  • For most novels: length above 100K or length below 60K
  • Memoirs crossed with self-help, as well as memoirs that don’t have a fresh/distinctive angle
  • Mixed genre works that can’t be easily categorized

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the possible reasons your work might not be commercially viable, but it covers most cases I see.

What are other things you’ve heard? Do you have questions about what’s a deal breaker or not? Share in the comments.

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JaneR

It makes me feel a little better and less scared and anxious to know that my novel would be deemed somewhat comercially viable. Yay me! I’ll go write then 🙂

Thanks for the post!

Karensdiprima

Check, check and check. Slightly less terrified. Thank you for the post!

Wado2

Thank you for that information.  I’m happy to see that I fall into the “commercially viable” category, especially since I’ve sent a requested manuscript to an agent!

Wado2

Thank you for that information.  I’m happy to see that I fall into the “commercially viable” category, especially since I’ve sent a requested manuscript to an agent!

Jim Hamlett

Jane,

A good response to “How do I get published?” is another question: Why do you want to be published? The answer to that question can have a significant impact on the answer to the first.

Note #1 is an important point. I would add that if a person decides to take the bull by the horns (it IS that dangerous) and self-publish, they should still treat it as a “commercial” endeavor, if the answer to the “Why…” question above is “I want to launch a career as a writer.” As much as writers may cringe at the business side of writing, it must be addressed, even if you seek a contract with a commercial house.

‘Nuff said. You’ve already address a lot of this in previous posts. And, as always, kudos to you for raising good points.

(p.s. Really enjoy The Ether with Porter. Always look forward to it. Thanks.)

Jane Friedman

Thanks, Jim! Excellent point.

Sharon

Well, Jane, I think I’ll hang up on writing. No wonder I was told “no” in form letters countless times before I decided to self-publish, which hasn’t gone all that well commercially, by the way. And yet… I don’t know how not to do it, so I’ll take these things into onsideration. Thanks for yet another insightful punch.

Jane Friedman

Sorry for the bad news! While the work may not be commercially viable in book form, the online world presents many more opportunities to tell a story or share a message. Perhaps another medium is what you’re looking for.

TH

I read a lot of slush and find that lots of novels have a bad situation, but no story. A lot of beginning novelists don’t seem to know the difference.

Jane Friedman

Agreed!

TH

I read a lot of slush and find that lots of novels have a bad situation, but no story. A lot of beginning novelists don’t seem to know the difference.

Bri

Excellent common sense points. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been asked why I haven’t wrote a book on platform or social media. My response is that whole its a vastly marketable product the areas I work within evolve within weeks and it takes time to put a good book out. I’m better off blogging.

Plus everyone wants the same thing. The secret, super fast way to platform building and huge book sells.

I don’t have it and I’m not going to pretend.

Ashen

There was a time when educated editors championed unique point of views on the human condition to make people think. Now it seems the lowest common denominator has the power to rule culture. It’s scary. 

Joseph Schwartz

Ashen – truer words were never spoken, or written (replied?) “(T)he lowest common denominator has the power to rule culture. It’s scary.” Do we live in an age of mediocrity, where the attention and resources are granted to the hordes of kareoke singers on the market?

John Hallow

Nope, but we do we live in an age where genre fiction provides the revenue necessary for publishing houses to put out literary fiction.

😉

Gerry Wilson

So helpful, Jane. I believe this is the first time I’ve seen “commercially viable” spelled out so clearly. Note #1 gives me hope. I’ll press on . . . Thanks.