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 This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC |
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This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario. An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"  Feel free to comment and interact. |
| Five Things to Know About Being Published This comes from the Insecure Writer's Support Group and is based on an article by Nicola Morgan (10 Dec, 2018). This is based on being traditionally published, but four of these can also apply to self-publishing. Reminder: traditional publishing the author is not required to pay a single thing; self-publishing, the author pays for everything; vanity-publishing, the author and publisher share costs. I will never ever recommend vanity publishing. There is no typical story of being published and no right way Everyone’s publishing experience is different. In fact, a lot of publishers have different stories. My 5 books were all published by different companies, and I have 5 very different experiences based on each of them. But the problem is if a person hears stories about publishing, and then their own experience mirrors that, they think that is the norm. Morgan listed the following: “You need to know someone in the industry, otherwise you don’t stand a chance.” “Most authors are disappointed in their publishers.” “Publishers do nothing but keep almost all the money.” “Authors have no say in their cover design.” “Publishers don’t use editors/copy-editors/proof-readers nowadays.” And I will say that all of these are not correct, but they can happen at times. I am proof number 1 is wrong, for example. Every book is different, and so are the authors, publishers, book-sellers, genre expectations… everything. Do not compare, just do you. Every “successful” author is hiding failure and disappointment Just because a writer has been published does not mean all the troubles are over, or that the past troubles have been ignored or forgotten. For someone at my level, it’s the question of who is going to pick up my next book? For someone without publication credits it is, who is going to even read me? For a famous writer it might be seeing sales dip or whatever. In the past, we all have rejections that are best left in the drawer. Even an author (term used advisedly) like EL James whose first book was picked up and became a best-seller has a huge issue that she hides from the public (I know someone who works for her publisher): the negative reviews really got to her. Really got to her. Her confidence has been harmed. Don’t think people care? Go to Twitter or Bluesky or Facebook and ask a random group about even a small author and you will find enough negativity to make you want to curl up in a corner and cry. Or Amazon reviews. Or Goodreads reviews… A successful book does not mean a better writer Let’s quote Morgan here: “shit often sells and diamonds are easily lost between floorboards.” I’ve said it before: do NOT compare! I have a friend who is a strong short story writer. She recently sold her first story! Compared to some stories I’ve shared anthologies with, she should be more successful, but sometimes there is more luck than we care to admit. Good publishing is a partnership based on mutual respect This is the one that is probably only for traditional publishing. And this is a two-way street. The author and publisher both need to have a bit of give and take. Only one publisher has not really listened to me about things (though all have been great with covers), and some have been amazing to work with. Publishing is a team effort. Both sides need to remember and acknowledge that. The happy published writer is knowledgeable; hard-working; realistic and more This was written originally as ironic. Of course we’re not knowledgeable, but we are always learning. Yes, we are all hard-working. We are not all realistic. What Morgan wanted to point out was what we all are: Writers. I hope that’s helped someone. |
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