How many pages do you need to publish a book?

You need a minimum of 24-48 pages for print-on-demand (like KDP) to bind it, but typical published books range from 200-400 pages for fiction/non-fiction, while shorter works (novellas) or children's books have different norms, and eBooks can be as short as 2 pages, with length primarily dictated by word count and genre, not a strict page rule.

How many pages do I need to publish a book?

Minimum number of pages for a book will depend on several factors, one if it's a booklet, nouvella, novel or an epic that you are writing. The minimum number of pages for an informational booklet could be as low as 4/8. For a nouvella minimum, pages could be 40-50; for a novel, it could be 130-140.

What is the 5 finger rule for books?

The number of fingers they're holding up by the end of the page tells them if the book is the right level: 0-1 fingers: It's too easy. 2-3 fingers: It's just right. 4-5 fingers: It's too hard for independent reading (best read aloud with a buddy).

How much does an author make on a $20 book?

For traditionally published authors, royalties range between 10% and 15% of the retail price of the book. If a book sells for $20 and the royalty rate is 10%, the author would make $2 per book sold. But remember, publishers don't pay royalties out until the author has earned back their advance.

How many books do you need to sell to make $100,000?

If you're self-publishing, you'll need to sell roughly 25,000–30,000 books to hit $100K. For traditionally published authors, the number climbs to 60,000+ depending on royalties. The journey is long—but achievable. With the right strategy, even a first-time author can join the six-figure club.

Your Complete Guide to Publishing a Book in 2025

How many books do first time authors sell?

First-time authors typically sell modest numbers, with many debut novels selling only a few hundred to a few thousand copies (e.g., 200-5,000) in the first year, especially in traditional publishing, while most self-published books sell under 250 copies unless strong marketing reaches beyond friends and family. Success varies greatly, but 1,000-5,000 sales can be solid, with blockbuster sales (10,000+) being rare for debuts, according to this Quora post and this Reddit thread. 

What is the 3 book rule?

In his famous book the 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferris shares this theory that if you read 3 books on a topic from different authors, you'll become more knowledgeable about it than 99% of people you know. It's a bold claim but it makes sense. Tim's not saying you'll become an expert surgeon by reading 3 books on surgery.

How much do first time authors make?

First-time authors' earnings vary wildly, from $0 to over $100,000, depending heavily on the publishing route (traditional vs. self-published) and genre; traditional advances can range from $1,000-$10,000 (small press) to $10,000-$100,000+ (Big 5), while self-published authors earn no advance but can get higher royalties (up to 70% on ebooks) but face high marketing costs and initial low sales. Many debut authors, especially with traditional deals, earn little initially as advances must be "earned out" through book sales before royalties kick in, making $0-$500 in the first year common for those with single books and limited marketing, while successful self-publishers might see $300-$1,500 monthly after building momentum. 

What 30 year old makes $1.8 million self-publishing on Amazon?

Meet Alex Rivera (not his real name, but his story is fiercely real). Alex turned 30 last year. He doesn't live in a mansion (yet), but he did pull in $1.8 million in revenue last year.

Are books good passive income?

Books are a great way to generate passive income in your business. To rapidly increase the passive income you generate, I highly recommend you continue marketing your book after the launch through content marketing and paid advertising.

What is the #1 most read book?

According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 6 billion copies sold and distributed as of 1995.

What is the 7 second rule book?

He discovered that when people were given 7 seconds or less to decide their opinion, they were more likely to base it on gut instinct rather than analysis or logic. The 7-Second Rule was first popularized by Thomas Corley in his book Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.

What are the 7 habits of a good reader?

To improve students' reading comprehension, teachers should introduce the seven cognitive strategies of effective readers: activating, inferring, monitoring-clarifying, questioning, searching-selecting, summarizing, and visualizing-organizing.

Is it hard to publish a book?

Yes, publishing a book is hard, especially through traditional routes due to intense competition (1-2% acceptance rates), requiring agents, queries, and patience, but self-publishing offers an easier technical path, though marketing and professional quality (editing, covers) become the author's responsibility and expense, making success challenging in both avenues. 

What author was rejected 23 times?

Frank Herbert's science fiction classic, Dune, was turned down 23 times. After it was published, 20 million copies were sold. That's 869,565 books sold for each denial of his dream. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Persig was rejected 121 times.

Is it worth it to sell books on Amazon?

Yes, selling books on Amazon can be very worth it, offering access to a huge customer base and potential for profit, especially with low-cost used books, niche titles, or as a self-published author, but success requires strategy due to high competition and fees, so it's best for those who can find profitable inventory (like rare books) or effectively market their own work, rather than just flipping common titles. 

Can I make $1000 a month selling on Amazon?

Most Amazon sellers earn between $1,000 and $25,000 in monthly revenue, translating to roughly $200 – $5,000 in net profit after fees, inventory and advertising costs. Top 20% surpass $50k a month, while around 30% start under $500 but grow within a year.

Who is the richest self-published author?

The most successful self-published author is often considered to be Amanda Hocking, who became a millionaire by self-publishing her paranormal romance novels. Her success story helped prove that self-publishing could be a viable path to financial success in the publishing world.

What company pays $200 per book read?

The most prominent company known for paying $200 for reading and analyzing a novel was WordsRated. This company ran a program called the Bibliophile-at-Large initiative from around 2022 through mid-2024. WordsRated is a non-commercial research organization focused on conducting data-driven literary research.

Do self-published books make money?

Yes, self-published books can make significant money, with authors earning high royalties (up to 70% on eBooks) and some reaching six-figure incomes, but profitability isn't guaranteed and depends heavily on factors like strong marketing, quality editing, niche selection, and building a dedicated author platform, as many authors only earn a little or nothing.
 

What is 20 books to 50k?

The 20booksto50k method is a strategy for independent authors to reach five-figure monthly income. It was created by author Mark Dawson and named after his own experience. He wrote and published 20 books in two years, and within a year, he was making over $50,000 a month from his book sales.

Is selling 5000 copies of a book good?

Most Books Don't Sell Many Copies

Just 2% of books sold more than 5,000 copies. So, publishing companies are like venture capital investors: their profits come from just a relatively few hugely successful books, while most books lose them money.

Why do books have 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1?

That sequence of numbers (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 or similar) on a book's copyright page is a "printer's key," showing its print run; the lowest number indicates the printing (e.g., '1' for first, '4' for fourth), with publishers removing the lowest number with each new run to avoid re-typesetting, letting readers and collectors know which version it is.
 

Can a book have three povs?

Unless you're writing a first-person mystery (and I've read first person mysteries that successfully incorporate a second or even third POV in alternate chapters), you can use more than one POV in a book. It's your story. If it is best served with one POV, write it that way.