Why Would Anyone Write a Book?

As someone who writes books and publishes the works of other authors, I sometimes feel like I’m a donkey trying desperately to screw itself.

Publishing is inherently a predatory business. Lost Art Press tries to be as fair as any publisher on the planet – we pay two to three times the royalties of corporate publishers. But still, we make some of our money off the backs of others.

Authors are – in general – not business whizzes. They have something they want to say to the world. Money is not the prime motivator. But still, as the T-shirt says: “Shakespeare Got to Get Paid, Son.”

So why would anyone write a book? You’re likely to get screwed. Your vision for your book on woodworking joinery will end up featuring a Hooters server on the cover and splashed with the title: “Butt Joints or Tongue & Groove?” And if you work with a major corporate publisher, you will likely end up with about $10,000 in your pocket (before taxes) for something that took you two years to write and clipped your lif…