Entering the city with bliss bestowing hands
The responsibility of the writer is not limited to writing, editing and, polishing the story. The writer’s purpose is to get the story out to people.
You don’t have to publish; you don’t have to show your book to anyone, but if you like of what you’ve done, you should seek a publisher.
Remember, this is a story that you believed in enough to spend hundreds of hours writing and editing; it’s a story you’d like to see others read.
There are options when it comes to publishing. Choose what suits you; no matter what you do from this point you’ve achieved a great thing.
Just believe in the story. This story will be something of yourself, but your greater self, and shared with others.
This is a powerful gift.
5 comments:
Publishing is not the end. In many respects it's only the beginning. Even if you manage to secure a deal with a mainstream publisher authors are expected to contribute significantly to promoting themselves and their book. I did a great deal of reading on the subject and the publishing industry is changing, is being forced to change; new authors are products and are treated as such. Getting a publishing deal is an achievement and I wouldn't want to rain on anyone's parade but I would also not want that author to delude himself into thinking that he or she had made it. Far from it.
What? You mean the publisher doesn't magically know I exist and already love what I've written?
Damnit, BT!
Sorry, I'm making fun of myself. I keep forgeting that finishing the damn thing won't be the end of my job. Thanks for the reminder :)
Inspiring words! I'd add :
Believe and be bloody minded enough to keep going!
@ Jim, Of course, you’re absolutely right, it doesn’t end with the publishing process, which is what disturbs me about the large publishing model. An author won’t make a million dollars of their first book, and probably won’t even raise their head above the parapets. The first novel is a loss leader for a writer. Not a single publishing house has thought of advertising and selling a writer the way they have say Brittany Spears (And there are a great many writers that make rock stars look like stone punks) or a can of soft drink.
That’s why I look at self publishing and shameless self promotion as the only reliable path. I am responsible for the book from start to end and every point in between, for it to succeed, I have to do what I do well, and be creative, dynamic and energetic.
The actual marketing is not so different from the writing, in that it is a long process, and there are many points along the way where it would be easier to give up and say, “Eh,” and blame yourself for not writing The Great Novel of Our Time. Truth is, if it’s not well marketed, it doesn’t matter how well written it is, it’s not going to sell.
There is a hell of a lot to success, and good writing is just the tip of a very large iceberg.
Jim runs a great blog called, “The truth about Lies”- it’s a writing blog, but he covers a great many areas of writing, and is a fantastic resource for other writers. Think of it as a great read where you can learn a lot; Jim’s writing style is relaxing, conversational, and draws you in. The link is in the bar to the left.
@ Stella, don’t laugh, I know a lot of people who are waiting to be “Discovered,” -waiting and bewildered.
A friend of mine sent his manuscript off to Penguin and expected a phone call within the week. After six months (fairly standard if you don’t have an agent) he got a standardized rejection slip (Fairly standard) now he refuses to have anything to do with the publishing industry, writes his epic poems, and seals them in vacuum seal packs to be found, and read, after his demise (he’s spent his entire life planning for his death). He says this is his revenge on the publishing industry. Yep, that’ll teach ‘em…
Stella runs a great blog called “Stellascript” She’s one of the most aware, and funniest writers I have read, and well worth reading- check it out in the link bar to the left.
@ Mike, I always think of this quote...
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent; genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb; education alone, will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence alone is omnipotent.”- John Calvin Coolidge
It takes a particular sort of stubborn stupidity to spend the time needed on writing, it takes a particular dedication, and stupidity, and clinical obsession, but we get there in the end.
Mike French is a fantastic author, and not just for his writing. Usually I’ll lay up one link for each comment, but Mike deserves two, because of his innovative approach to being read. The first is “The Dandelion tree” (http://thedandeliontree.blogspot.com/ or check the link bar to the left) Mike releases another chapter of this novel whenever people reach fifteen digs, and so far, it’s a thing of beauty. The other blog I know Mike for is “The view from here (http://www.viewfromheremagazine.com/ or check the link bar to the left) which is essentially a writing magazine. It stands out though, for the online novel written by 12(?) writers who added to an initial story in the comments.
Thanks for the plug BT - The magazine will run another on-line story comp in a couple of months time!
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