Is it possible to have good sales on Booknet?

Booknet is constantly growing and there are many new authors on the platform every day. Writers know that there is an opportunity to become a commercial author on Booknet and to sell their stories. But some of them still doubt if they should create a commercial account on the platform and if it is worth it.

For this reason, we have prepared a small interview with Ashleh Queen, one of our bestselling authors that will share her experience of selling on Booknet.

Let's get started.

You have tried publishing on many platforms. Why have you chosen Booknet among other publishing sites? How did you find it?

I have published on many platforms but I guess everyone knows I have preferred Booknet over every other publishing site. And, I have talk about the reasons a lot of times with many writers who often ask me about Booknet. The first thing that I like about booknet is the visibility I get and their top section that represents all the genre’s top books. It provides every genre a chance to show up. And, second was the share of royalty. No other site I have come across offers 70 and 80%. And, there are no different contracts for different authors. Every author gets the same share as other authors on Booknet no matter how many followers you already have or you don’t have. And, this equality is not practiced by many.

A reason that was the huge catalyst for me to sell my books on booknet was the liberty Booknet offers us. You see, Booknet doesn’t bind me with all the unnecessary rights. They don’t ask for your audios, paperbacks, and other language rights and only make the contract for the thing we are going in and that is ebooks. Their contracts are super simple, not very lengthy and they don’t use vague and complex terminologies. Booknet was simple. There are these five or six things written on the contract when you are going to sign any of your books and you are clear about what you are going in. There is no confusion or second thoughts. And, also not forget that Booknet doesn’t bind your rights to them for five or ten years straight for the meager royalty and instead offers you the liberty to walk out at any time if you feel it is not for you. You see that was the thing or condition that made me wonder why I am not trying this. I remember when I signed for the first time and let me add at that time I didn’t know how much I will earn or not. I only sign thinking why not when I can walk out of it without any problem or conditions. Booknet only says what they mean without making it extra sugary. They will be very straightforward about what they offer or do for us and what they want and they never deducted the extra charges on the royalty I make in a month. Something on other platforms authors have suffered. So, for me, it has been a great journey without any trouble. I have talked about Booknet for hours to other authors and they would sometime say that I have fallen in love with Booknet and I say why not? Booknet has its traditions and is pretty much the same on all the language mirrors.

How many books do you sell approximately per month on Booknet?

It is approximately around 1400 every month. But I had the best seller day and then a week where I sold 587 books in a day and then 1200 in a week and at that time I sold around 2500 copies in a month. And, I see the number increasing in the future because as of now I have only completed three stories. So, taking more stories on sales will increase the numbers too. I mean…I hope so.

You have good sales on Booknet, does writing give you enough for living? Do you think it is possible to earn money by only writing books? 

Yes, it does. If you were going to ask me this question a year ago I was going to say no and ask you how it is possible. I only used to write in my free time with full time job going on and didn’t see myself taking the stories on sales. It was also the time when I didn’t have any single completed work under my belt. So, definitely selling seemed out of question. It seems like a huge responsibility and something I wasn’t ready for because I never sold an ebook before and it seems unnecessary at that time because I had the job and I wasn’t looking to sell my stories. But in the meantime, I have been receiving the invitations from many publishing sites and all of my other author colleagues would have received the invitation from them too if they are using an online writing app to publish their chapters for people to read, so, I knew that you can sell and you probably can earn from it too. But their lengthy contracts and years of commitment were always a turn off. And, Booknet came without these two things. I started selling on Booknet and only that made me realize that I can keep doing what I like and still earn. And, because I started earning it worked as a drive to complete my very first ebook…finally. And, from the very first month of my sales I earned as much as I earn at my work place. And, nothing can explain the joy. It seemed unbelievable. And, I thought maybe it is my first month and I had the story with many accumulated readers already. Maybe this is the reason that I earned this much and it will probably reduce with the hype vanishing but no…it never happened. No matter, how small my progress was I always earned more than the last month until it reached double what I earn at my workplace. Even then I didn’t decide to leave my work but as of now, the tension is increasing. I always have unattended comments somewhere and messages on my Instagram or Facebook. Plus, I am realizing that if I want to make it a full blown success it requires more commitment from my side. And, this is where I am going to make the decision to quit my job and I will soon be doing it once my employment contract ends. So, yea, I hope I could write more and don’t leave any of my readers’ comments at seen. And, definitely, nothing was possible without Booknet and my readers. *Hugs*

Do you think there is a special secret to becoming a successful writer?

I don’t know. I don’t consider myself a very successful writer or someone who is in a position to give the advice with only her three works finished but the things I consider writing fiction is to keep the plot a little different but catch the cliché topics too. I, as a reader, loved cliché but always wanted it to be a little different from the last one I read. I tried to keep the tension, unanswered questions, or some point for which readers are always waiting in the ongoing plot. I am still experimenting and know that I should write rather than wait for inspiration or motivation. But I guess I am not alone or the only writer suffering from this.

A writer should never be afraid to experiment but in the meantime write for your existing audience too. I mean if you have written three fantasy novels, don’t stop writing fantasy all of a sudden. If you write about werewolves or romance don’t stop writing in your genre while testing some other genre for your readers. And,…yes, keep on writing, testing, and communicating with your readers. When you are a writer you learn from your readers. Your readers are your drive, teachers, and of course target customers too.

But if you want to earn from writing…sell, sell, sell...and don’t be afraid of selling because there is no other way. This will get you more confidence too.

You should build good relations with your readers and respect their comments. It is the part of marketing too. And, let me add that you should work on marketing at some level too even if it is a small communication with your readers or arranging a huge giveaway. Like, I do get Google ads from booknet for free but I have kept my samples at so many places too in the hope of getting my work to a new audience and I do try to comment or leave the link for my works on any Instagram or Facebook posts asking for the recommendation.

The story with an intriguing plot will always sell. The plot is the core. Your agenda in your novel should be core. I have told many people to write the first three chapters of your novel and then make the synopsis from the things that are happening in the first three chapters. It is even better if you use the first two chapters. The synopsis is important and your story starts right from the agenda mentioned in the synopsis it helps readers to go on and get more involved in the story. Again, it is not very necessary I have only shared what I do or seem fit. And…also no matter how bad or insensitive it is never ever share screenshots of bad feedback or comments on your Instagram, Facebook, or blogs. It has bad effects on so many levels that I can’t stress enough here. It also discourages your readers to make any new comments and also shows readers that we are so sensitive and as a writer, I know that we are sensitive people because we are doing art. We are bound to be sensitive. But the image you build can affect your career if you are trying to pursue one in the writing.

One last thing…no matter how crazy your plot sounds, write it. You need to write it. If not for the sake of selling you should do it for the sake of getting it out of your mind. Don’t let it end up in your head. It might be next blockbuster hit for all you know.

What can you advise authors who hesitate if they should start publishing and selling stories on Booknet?

Booknet is so amazing. But selling for the first time can be overwhelming and you are scared thinking if you should be doing it or not. I can give you some tips to keep in your mind when you are coming to sell on these platforms. If it is your first time making a contract with a publishing app, remember that not losing the rights over your book for a lifetime or ten years is something like a huge space Booknet comes with. Earning and not earning comes second.

I can’t write ten books in a year. I am a slow writer so for me having the authority over my rights is very necessary. And, the moment I came across booknet and learned that they do give authors such a space and freedom I knew it was a go for me.

And, later after my contract with Booknet I came across many authors who have had a bad experience with payments on other apps and that made me feel more blessed to come across Booknet because Booknet pays all of their authors every month on the same day. You don’t need to write to them in emails to know how much you have made or when your payment will be coming. They have a stat board where my royalty can be viewed at any time and whatever I earn is paid to me in full on the day I have started callings the salary day now. Because at that very moment when I received the message I know all of my other friends who are selling on Booknet have received the royalty in their banks too. Now, you got it why I call it salary day.

Now, let’s talk about ads. I have come across many ads on Google and Fb for my friends’ work who are selling on Booknet and I share the images with them to make their day. And, I do receive such messages from my friends too and get it that an ad for my book is being run. And, once you will see that ad running for you with your eyes it will do magic for you. And, you will be turning into a full time writer before you know it. And, now I have noticed that Booknet even give the opportunity to ask writers if they have anything to write they would like to show up on their ads. And, you can give design an image and sent them to run it for you. And, everything is systemic and easy to use. I mean they have a complete section for it where you can upload the design for your ads through the site. So, yes, it has gotten even better.

Many ask me how to do it on Booknet? And, I mostly say if you have any questions no matter how stupid or mundane, discuss them with your Booknet manager. Do you feel like keeping your book for free? Discuss with them. Do you want to try a new genre other than your usual writings? Discuss with them. And, don’t just discuss…follow their advice too. Because I have realized that the Booknet team has skillful persons that are very much marketing oriented and know the trends. I wish good luck to all the authors who are writing on Booknet and hope to see them earning good too. And, more than earning I would wish that you enjoy the whole process of trying and becoming a bestseller.