Your Editor Is Protecting Your Feelings (Not Your Sales) episode artwork

EPISODE · May 2, 2026 · 1H 42M

Your Editor Is Protecting Your Feelings (Not Your Sales)

from Pros Talking Prose · host Stacey Smekofske

Most authors believe a simple idea: “If my book is good, it will sell.” That belief is costing authors thousands of dollars. In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we break down the real reason most books don’t sell—and why your editor may not be telling you the full truth about book sales, publishing expectations, and author profitability.  What we cover: • Why don’t good books sell? • Can editors predict book sales? • Do authors make their money back after editing? • What does it actually take to sell books in today’s market? • What is the difference between writing a good book and building a sellable product? Key takeaways:  • A well-written book is not the same as a marketable book • Editors focus on craft, not sales strategy • Most authors underestimate the business side of publishing • Book sales depend on positioning, packaging, and audience alignment • The publishing industry operates on a power-law distribution (few winners, many low sellers) This episode is for: • Indie authors and self-published writers • Authors preparing to hire an editor • Writers frustrated with low book sales • Anyone building an author business instead of just writing a book The Truth about Publishing is that most authors: • Overspend on editing without a sales strategy • Expect their editor to guide business decisions • Skip critical steps like market positioning and audience targeting Your editor can improve your manuscript, but they cannot guarantee book sales. Resources: If you want to learn how to: • Build a profitable author business • Position your book in the market • Understand metadata, pricing, and discoverability  Visit: https://printtopro.com Join our free Power Sessions & Craft Lab trainings #SelfPublishing #BookMarketing #WritingAdvice #IndieAuthor #AuthorBusiness #PublishingIndustry #AmWriting #WritersLife #BookSales #AuthorTips #CreativeBusiness #WritingCommunity #AuthorTube #AIinPublishing #ContentStrategy

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 2, 2026

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Your Editor Is Protecting Your Feelings (Not Your Sales)

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This episode was published on May 2, 2026.

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