I wish we could tell! There isn't a way for anyone to link a specific sale with a specific tiktok (post or trend). You can see if they match up and it could tell you something, like if a book is big on TikTok and sales bump the next week, but what if it takes 2, 3, 4 weeks to bump, even after the trend has subsided? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
From what I understand, the USA Today bestseller list is not a list for indie authors. It once had a lot of indie authors on the list because it was based on sales numbers alone, unlike NYT which refuses to include most if not all indie authors no matter what their sales may be. But now, since the USAT list has returned, indie authors are no longer making the list based on higher sales as they once did. Now WSJ is the only list that seems to include indie authors, but only if print sales are significant.
An excellent piece today! I’m one of the lucky ones to have NYT in my bio. I do not take that for granted for a second. It does open doors—but it also raises the level of expectation and if the next book doesn’t hit the list, nor the one after that, your trajectory changes. It’s a great goal, for sure—but it’s much healthier to have goals you are in control of. You have absolutely zero control over the list. But you do have control over your work. Write the best book you can, every time. My goal is finishing. Finishing keeps you in the game — and staying in the game is what makes your career. Not the list.
Somehow making it onto the List has never been my goal. I love to write and I don't want to miss any of the other myriad markers of success that are possible.
oh how bad I needed to read this! thank you for this post. As a non-fiction author who been having trouble landing an agent because of having a small platform, this reminds me that my goal is simply to publish books consistently even if they don't make the list.
Agree with everything until the last paragraph. It’s shown again and again that publisher support is the primary thing that moves the needle. Authors can only do so much — otherwise we would all self publish and reap the profits.
This may be my favorite newsletter from you yet! Content⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ but, as a writer, it’s the voiciness I just LOVE. So fun and kind of breathless. Is that the negronis?🤣
I'd love to know what the impact of Tik Tok or booktok is on the New York times' algorithm
I wish we could tell! There isn't a way for anyone to link a specific sale with a specific tiktok (post or trend). You can see if they match up and it could tell you something, like if a book is big on TikTok and sales bump the next week, but what if it takes 2, 3, 4 weeks to bump, even after the trend has subsided? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
From what I understand, the USA Today bestseller list is not a list for indie authors. It once had a lot of indie authors on the list because it was based on sales numbers alone, unlike NYT which refuses to include most if not all indie authors no matter what their sales may be. But now, since the USAT list has returned, indie authors are no longer making the list based on higher sales as they once did. Now WSJ is the only list that seems to include indie authors, but only if print sales are significant.
great post. thank you for sharing
Brilliant. Thank you x
An excellent piece today! I’m one of the lucky ones to have NYT in my bio. I do not take that for granted for a second. It does open doors—but it also raises the level of expectation and if the next book doesn’t hit the list, nor the one after that, your trajectory changes. It’s a great goal, for sure—but it’s much healthier to have goals you are in control of. You have absolutely zero control over the list. But you do have control over your work. Write the best book you can, every time. My goal is finishing. Finishing keeps you in the game — and staying in the game is what makes your career. Not the list.
The dealmaking hair flip though!
Somehow making it onto the List has never been my goal. I love to write and I don't want to miss any of the other myriad markers of success that are possible.
Love this post, as always!
oh how bad I needed to read this! thank you for this post. As a non-fiction author who been having trouble landing an agent because of having a small platform, this reminds me that my goal is simply to publish books consistently even if they don't make the list.
This is so perfect! Hilarious and smart. And I can’t wait to pre order your book and tell people about it.
Loved the article! Thank you so much!
Thank you for posting this. As a driven, Type A, first time non-fiction author, I felt my shoulders relax just the tiniest bit. 💝
Love everything you said but mostly… THAT COVER! It’s amazing! And I preordered based on your little tidbit- thanks for sharing!!
Agree with everything until the last paragraph. It’s shown again and again that publisher support is the primary thing that moves the needle. Authors can only do so much — otherwise we would all self publish and reap the profits.
Yes to other goals!! Love this common sense, no nonsense approach as always.
This may be my favorite newsletter from you yet! Content⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ but, as a writer, it’s the voiciness I just LOVE. So fun and kind of breathless. Is that the negronis?🤣
This is very helpful!
Wise and ever so helpful about Best Seller lists!