Well, I suppose this is a long time coming. To be honest, I had to figure out what exactly this blog was really about. Now, I believe I have it nailed down.
In other social media platforms, I see so many new authors struggling to avoid the pitfalls and traps that have sprung up seemingly overnight in the publishing industry. So my new aim id to make this blog a forum for those who wish to publish, for those who are already published, and for publishers to come together to improve the industry and clean out the scammers.
It's easy to be overwhelmed by all the things I want to say, to the point my brain becomes clogged, and nothing comes out. But I didn't get five novels on the market by letting "brain clog" stop me. So I'm going to break this series down into bite-sized pieces, and we can chew the fat on each one. And if we need to dwell on one point or another, we can have more involved conversations about it.
Five, you say. Only five? Sure, five. That hardly makes me a subject matter expert in so many points of view. But let me ask you: How many books have you published? Not trying to be rude. But let's get real here. The guy who's been there only has to get there a few times to be identifiable to someone who hasn't been, but wants to be. And let's face it: Stephen King is a little too busy to be mentoring newer authors.
First things first: What I share here is my own opinion. You what opinions are like. Here's a clue: Everyone has one, and they all stink. Seriously, though, my opinions are posted here based on real data that I have accumulated over the years. Remember, what worked for me may not work for you. My aim is also to remain correctable.
The bottom line is that new authors have new tools in their toolboxes, and they can smell a scam when it comes across their feed. So let's dive in.
The first question, of course, is this: What method of publishing do I pursue? There are pros and cons on each method, some are pretty questionable at best, and others are outright scams.
The two most respected methods are Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing. We'll look ate each type, and discuss what might be right for you.
TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING
I also call this Contract Publishing. It used to be the only way you got your book in print, unless you had deep, deep pockets. You submit your manuscript to the acquisition editor's staff, and hope to catch their attention.
What happens is this: Your manuscript goes to the bottom of a stack called "The Slush Pile." The slush reader (usually an apprentice or college undergrad) would read the first three or four pages (more if you're exceptionally good), and decide if it goes to the actual acquisitions editor. Bear in mind, most publishing companies receive hundreds, if not thousands, of manuscripts per month. In short, they are looking for a reason, any reason at all, to reject your MS. In which case, you'll get an email or letter stating, "After careful consideration, we have decided that this manuscript is not for us. We wish you luck in your future endeavors."
It's important that you note two things: First, it is critical that you don not take these rejections personally. It's nothing against you, and it doesn't mean your story sucked. It just means that your baby has not found a home yet. Look through your MS again, see if it needs some surgery, fix it if necessary, and try again. I got rejected over forty times before my first novel was accepted for publication. The key is DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE UP. Take a short breather if you have to, but never quit.
The publishing industry is highly competitive, and there are a thousand other writers out there as good or better than you are. If you want that contract, you're going to have to work for it. The fact is, less than 2% of beginning authors are accepted and signed to a contract.
The second thing to remember is this: You must follow their submissions guidelines TO THE LETTER. No fancy stationery, no "special" fonts or lettering styles, no brightly colored fonts. The guidelines are there to see if you can follow instructions.
Scott Edelstein wrote a book some years ago that saved me a whole lot of heartache. It's called Manuscript Submission. I gave my copy away some time ago, but I'm going to buy another copy and keep it this time. Do yourself a favor and read it. It's no scam job, I promise.
Pros of Traditional Publishing:
- No out of pocket costs by the author. Let me repeat that louder: NO OUT OF POCKET COSTS BY THE AUTHOR. The publishing house will assign you an editing staff and a cover artist. You will work with the staff assigned to you to polish and present your little beauty and get her ready for Market.
- Possible advance payment. Depending on the house and the terms of your contract, you may receive an advance payment. This is an amount based on how much your publisher believes they can sell in a certain time. This can be somewhere in the thousands of dollars.
- Book store space. Stores like Barnes and Noble sell their shelf space, and the larger publishers pay big money to occupy space to the detriment of smaller publishers.
- You have little to no control over your cover. The house will give you a cover and say, "This is it." Remember, though, these are professionals who have a vested interest in giving you a bright, shiny baby that the public will love.
- No active promotion. Most publishers already throw their advertising budget at authors they know will sell big. The established authors are the ones who get the billboards, radio ads, and book tours. As for you, you are on your own. Some publishers might give you a mention here or there, but you are responsible for your own marketing.
- That advance we were talking about earlier? That may be all you get. The house will pay little to nothing more until you "sell out" that advance. And chances of that are pretty slim for most new authors.
90% of authors on the New York Times Best-Seller list still have to work day jobs just to make ends meet. To make Stephen King/JK Rowling money, you have to hit the right nerve at the right time, and even a brilliant story may or may not be the one that sells big. My first novel won the EPIC Award for Best thriller the year it was released. This was voted by editors and publishers. In my mind, that gives it a little more credibility than a reader's poll, which can turn into a popularity contest based on who can activate the most friends and family rather than the quality of the story itself. Not that reader's polls are to be ignored. But award-winning stories don't always equate to sales.
Today we looked at some things to consider about Traditional, or contract, publishing. In subsequent posts we'll look at other options that are available. We'll also look at ways to polish your baby to a squeaky sheen and get it actually ready for the public.
Stay tuned, and if you have anything you want to add, we do allow comments. Keep it civil, folks.
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