0 Books to 0k

Some folks claim to be “beastmode” writers. That’s not me.

But I’m in a group called “20 Books to 50k”, and the high energy there is palpable. I can’t decide if being in that group is more inspiring than intimidating, though I’ve definitely picked up some good industry tips along the way.

For those unfamiliar, the simple premise of 20 Books to 50k is that self-publishing twenty books on Amazon will (almost invariably) net you $50,000+ in sales per year. The group’s core consists of enthusiastic, self-published authors who often post sales data to back up their claims.

But it’s not all sales data. My favorite type of post is whenever a member completes a book. Especially a first book. They take a photo of their computer with “The End” visible onscreen and, for that added personal touch, members are asked to have their favorite beverage in frame. They also share their personal journeys that got them to the finish line, and it can sometimes get emotional.

Thanks to Craig Martelle’s careful moderation over the years, and the motto “A rising tide lifts all ships,” the group is an overall positive and encouraging experience. (I can’t say that about many writing groups these days.)

Last I checked, I’m 0 books at 0k, so the idea of twenty books feels like a pipe dream. However, the $50k part doesn’t matter to me. I’m not after money so much as I just want to publish a book, or at least get a short story published. It sure would be nice seeing my work in print somewhere.

The group often touts a “rapid release schedule” in order to get the Amazon algorithm to work its magic. To pull that off, I’d need about four books done (with a fifth being written) before even attempting to launch my first book. Yeah, I’m going to go with “intimidating”.