Unpublish — A Dirty Word?

Before getting into the main part of this post, I’d like to mention that all digital editions of The Writer’s Lexicon are still half price. You’ll find more information and links on The Writer’s Lexicon book page.

And now, the post …

This information is meant for every writer who is tempted to unpublish a book. Before you do something you’ll regret, take a day (or ten) to contemplate your plans.

You Might Want to Unpublish a Book for One or More Reasons

• The information in a nonfiction book could become outdated.
• The book might provoke a flood of unfavorable reviews.
• It might not sell well — or at all.
• The book aggregator or publisher could go out of business.
• The storyline might contain plot holes or inconsistencies.
• Cousin John might threaten to sue because he’s sure the book is all about him.

… et cetera, and so on, and so forth.

Sometimes, unpublishing is the best option. Yes, it hurts. But before you choose, ask yourself if you’re unpublishing for the right reason(s).

Maybe You Can Learn From My Mistakes

I wrote a few books that contained a glut of internet links. You can probably guess what happened. Internet sites disappear at an alarming rate. (See the first bulleted point in the preceding section.)

The question I posed back then: What should I do next?

One book about air travel appeared a few years before the pandemic. We all know what happened during COVID-19: Airlines changed the way they did business. Therefore, many of the tips contained in the book were no longer valid.

I checked the sales links.

My response: unpublish.

Second Book, Similar Situation

Do I update, or do I unpublish?

Check the sales links again.

The second book’s statistics were even worse than the first.

Not worth my time to rework and resubmit.

My verdict: unpublish.

And a Third Book

I unpublished a third book years before these books, for the same reasons — too many non-functioning internet links and too much effort to edit and republish.

The Lesson?

Include internet links sparingly, and only for reputable sites that have been active for at least a couple of years. If you write a book that’s tied to current events such as the economy or political shenanigans, it might prove inaccurate within a year or two.

But Don’t Unpublish for the Wrong Reasons

This is for “MB.” As you read this, please pay attention.

Sales data shouldn’t be your only criteria. You may have written a great book that just needs the right set of circumstances to become a bestseller.

Maybe you’ve been intimidated by an editor or a one-star reviewer. If you spend any time looking at book reviews, you’ll find that even the most popular authors provoke disparaging comments. Reading is a subjective pursuit. What appeals to Mary might not appeal to Harry. We all have preferences, prejudices, and triggers.

“We all” includes me and you — with our own preferences, prejudices, and triggers.

Oh, and editors, as much as you might choose to disbelieve it, are part of the “we all” group. They are burdened with their own baggage and long-held ideas that affect their decisions.

Do You Know How to Find Your Sales Statistics?

Whether you publish through Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, or a book aggregator like Draft2Digital, Lulu, BookBaby, or IngramSpark, you should be able to find sales data for your books.

It might take some digging, and each site will offer different data. If necessary, contact Support to find the information you need.

You’ve Got This!

The next sentence is directed to every writer who feels let down by editors, book formatters, cover designers, reviewers, or readers.

Don’t let discouragement be your motivator.

If someone has disparaged you or your writing, look at yourself in the mirror, square your shoulders, and resolve to prove them wrong.