Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Thirteen Things Being Published Taught Me

Jean Marie’s excellent post inspired me to stay with the Thursday Thirteen theme. Today I’m writing about things I’ve learned from my first foray into the publishing industry.

1. Getting the “call” (or e-mail, in my case) is great validation for the years spent on novels that will never see the light of day. Writing “the end” is great, but finding out someone else enjoyed reading your story is even better.

2. Don’t stop writing new stories. Depending on the publication schedule there will be a few weeks or months after your story is accepted before it’s time to start edits. Write. Submit. Repeat.

3. Non-writers don’t understand the difference between micro-presses, vanity publishers, and New York publishers. Don’t waste your time explaining. Just take their congratulations and hope they buy your book.

4. Self-doubt doesn’t go away with that first contract. Being published helps explain your reluctance to accept yet another volunteer position, but inside you still wonder if it’s just a fluke. More experienced writers will have to tell you if that feeling ever goes away.

5. Editing is a completely different skill than story-telling. You’ll hear the term “self-editing” tossed around on many writers’ loops and how-to-books. I agree that learning to self-edit is important, but books need editors to be ready for public consumption. Accept that fact now. A good editor makes your story better. See Jean-Marie’s post.

6. Deadlines are good. Deadlines mean your story is on its way to getting published. Editors and publishers are working with many authors and books. Deadlines help the whole process move along as it should.

7. Publishing is an industry. You are only a small part of it. Cover artists, marketing staff, editors, owners, and writers: all of us have vested interested in producing good, successful books. Even though editors and publishers are often viewed as the gate-keepers and road-block to a career, remember they are doing their job. It’s about getting good books into the hands of readers who want them.

8. Your writing is public. All of it. Every forum post. Every Blog comment. It’s all out there in the open. Plus, your real life and your writing persona can intersect. A pen name isn’t a perfect shield.

9. Publicity is important. Not easy, but important. No one can read my book if they don’t know it exists. Just like editing, there is a whole other skill-set needed for promotion.

10. Waiting for your first review makes time slow to a crawl.

11. Reading your first review is scary. (Do I really need to explain these two?)

12. Writing for an industry in flux can be daunting because there are no guarantees that you can map your career in the same way authors from the 80’s and 90’s did. The publishing industry is changing as e-publishing grows and NY houses add more internet content. Choosing what manuscript idea to work on next is still a challenge.

13. Keeping records is important. Royalty statements in hand you can finally go to your tax man and say, “Here is my income and here are my deductions. It’s not just a hobby anymore.”

Have a great Thursday! Now I’m off to play with my daughter who is celebrating her 5th birthday. Maybe that should be #14—don’t let life pass you by as you stress about your next book :)

~Margo
I Want My HEA!