Why do we expect books to pay us back? ROI vs. Eternal Impact -- Which means more to you?

 

There is something I see over and over again, and it quietly stops people from ever writing their books.

Aspiring authors often treat books like investments that must pay them back in order to be a valid endeavor.

They ask questions like:

• Will this make money?

• Will I get a return?

• Is the work worth it, financially?

I understand those questions. Producing a high-quality book isn’t cheap. However, I always want to ask a couple of questions in return (pun intended).

1. Do you ask for a return on investment from anything else you love?

2. Many people spend thousands of dollars each year on things they enjoy and never expect a financial return. Why is writing a book treated differently? 

For fun, I researched the top 10 hobbies for American adults AND how much we spend on them. Interesting. Here are the results:

• Gardening, up to $1,200 per year

• Arts and Crafts, up to $1,500 per year

• Gaming, up to $1,500+ per year

• Fitness and Wellness, up to $1,800+ per year

• Music (learning or playing), up to $2,000+ per year

• Fishing, up to $2,500+ per year

• Golf, up to $3,000+ per year

• Home Improvement and DIY Projects, up to $5,000+ per year

• Hunting, up to $5,000+ per year

• Travel, up to $8,000+ per year 

Think about where else friends, family, and you spend money. Is anyone paying for what you produce, create, or accomplish?

These are still meaningful pursuits. I am in the Smoky Mountains, where thousands of brown trout and rainbow trout dodge flies atop Little River daily. I have never met a fly fisherman who spent eight hours wading and casting, expecting to make a profit. That said, I bet every fly-fishing enthusiast will tell you that the time and financial investment are worth every minute and penny. 

People invest in passions and hobbies because those experiences bring joy, growth, and fulfillment. They may also create multigenerational memories, but when it comes to writing a book, something shifts. The expectation becomes transactional. I don't like that.

Here is what I believe.  A book is not just a creative outlet. Your book is an evergreen contribution to the world, starting with your family and community and, most importantly, readers who will benefit from what you have to share.

Let’s revisit that list and think about how this all plays out financially over a decade so we are comparing apples to apples, if you will. This is something that people don’t usually think about: Most of these hobby and passion project expenses repeat every single year.

• Gardening, up to $12,000

• Arts and Crafts, up to $15,000

• Gaming, up to $15,000+

• Fitness and Wellness, up to $18,000+

• Music (learning or playing), up to $20,000+

• Fishing, up to $25,000+
  Golf, up to $30,000+

• Home Improvement and DIY Projects, up to $50,000+

• Hunting, up to $50,000+

• Travel, up to $80,000+

• Don’t even get me started on AAU basketball and travel baseball!

I recently read that Americans spend an average of $3,000 per year on IMPULSE shopping for non-essential items out of boredom, consumerism, and maybe "retail therapy." Did you know that writing is one of the best forms of self-care?

When it comes to investing and returns, a book is different. The majority of the investment happens only once, during the writing, editing, design, publishing, and early marketing phases in Year 1.  Then the book continues to serve. Your book reaches people you will never meet. Your content influences conversations you will never hear. In some cases, books shape families, stop damaging cycles, launch and serve businesses, and set in motion positive, eternal consequences. The return is profound and immeasurable.

You may never fully understand the effects your words have. That does not make the impact any less real or the effort any less worthwhile.

Instead of asking, “Will this pay me back?”

Ask, “What message has been entrusted to me, and how will it serve others?”

Then ask, “What is the cost of keeping that message to myself?” 

Jody Dyer
Founder and CEO, Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media

What Most People Miss About Book Design

I keep talking to writers who wait until their books are almost finished before they think about cover and interior design.

Actually, in my experience, most people do not think about book design until the very end. That’s a mistake.

They spend months, sometimes years, writing and refining their manuscript. Then, once the content is finished, they turn their attention to the cover and interior layout.

That approach is understandable, but it can create problems.

Book design is not just about how a book looks. It shapes how the book is experienced. A well-designed book guides the reader through the content with ease. It supports the message, rather than distracting from it.

When design is rushed or treated as an afterthought, even strong writing can feel harder to read and less engaging.

This does not mean you need to make design decisions before you begin writing. It does mean you should understand, early on, what kind of book you are creating and how it will function for the reader.

A thoughtful approach to design considers:

• How the book will be read

• What kind of tone it should convey

• How the layout can support clarity and flow

These decisions do not have to be complicated, but they should be intentional.

If you are working on a manuscript or thinking about starting one, this is something worth keeping in mind. Good design does not draw attention to itself. It quietly supports the reader and strengthens the overall experience of the book.

If you would like guidance on how your book should look and function, I am always glad to help you think that through. We have a short guide that I can send you, too, so if you'd like it, reply to this email (a snippet of it is pictured below to show you how cover design can vary).

If you are an existing client looking for help with a current or new project, schedule a call here: Next Steps Call for Existing Clients

If you have not worked with my team before, you can schedule a call here: Publishing Pathway Call

Books live forever!

XOXOXO
Jody

P.S. If you know someone who is or should be writing a book, please introduce us:)

About the Author

Jody Dyer is the Founder and CEO of Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media, two publishing companies that help writers turn meaningful ideas into professionally published books.

Jody and her team guide authors through writing, editing, publishing, and marketing so their books create impact, credibility, and long term legacy.

If you are thinking about writing or publishing a book and want thoughtful guidance before making decisions, you can schedule a free Publishing Pathway Call to explore your next step.