Stop Worrying About Being Published.
“I’m still in the middle of writing my collection of short stories, but I’m wondering which is better, getting an agent or self-publishing.” Someone’s comment in a writer’s group.
Last week I joined an online writer’s forum, figuring I should rub shoulders with other literary folk. You have to make the effort, otherwise you end up talking to your dog. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. once said, “I tend to spend too long on the rug chatting with the dog. He eventually moves away, looking thoroughly embarrassed.”
I’ve embarrassed a few dogs myself — not to mention cats and hamsters — so I’ve decided to stick to embarrassing people. Not that I take any particular delight in embarrassing people, but it seems hard to avoid when you read some of the comments on these forums. My favorite came in the other day: “I WILL HAVE A BOOK PUBLISHED IN 2017. I don’t know what the story is going to be; But I will do it; that’s a Promise.”
For all I know, she’s writing query letters now, getting a jump on the silly stuff—like actually writing the book. Sort of like the guy who wrote: “I’m still trying to turn my amazing dream into a book. Will publishers accept point form?”
Now, we’re all anxious to be published — even if we are published. Some of us are currently on the bookshelves (even in public libraries). But that doesn’t stop our anxiety. One book hardly represents a career, although that’s hardly what people want to hear. They're fully committed, in other words. To read some of their comments, though, you get the impression they wouldn’t mind embarrassing a few dogs if it gets their names in print.
I’m quite concerned with the impatience out there. It used to be “You learn to write by writing,” Today, it’s “You learn to write by publishing.” How we got to this stage is a bit of a mystery. I know it has something to do with the ease of self-publishing today. Why waste time waiting for a publisher when you can publish right now— before dinner, if you like.
In our mad dash world, this seems utterly practical. With one simple keystroke, you’re a novelist. You can stand with other novelists and say you’re a novelist. If someone doesn’t believe you’re a novelist, you can pull out a copy of your book and prove you’re a novelist. Then it’s only a matter of time before a publisher sees your book online and snaps you up, right?
Well, first of all, publishers rarely snap up self-published books. I know you’ve heard stories (yes, “Fifty Shades of Grey” was self-published first), but most are like romance novels. You’re more likely to get kidnapped by a handsome pirate (and you know how few pirates there are out there — even in Somalia).
Authors lucky enough — and talented enough — to get snapped up by a publisher usually aren’t “snapped up” at all. Most publishers only accept agented manuscripts. Agents are rarer than hen’s teeth. In fact, you’re more likely to run into a hen with teeth than an agent with teeth.
Even if you’re lucky enough to find an agent, this isn’t the end of the publishing process. You’re only at the beginning. By the time you finish with the agent, you’ll wonder which is harder, writing a book or publishing a book.
Here’s essentially how it works (and I’m giving you my own experience since I’m the only one here besides the dog and he isn’t published — at least not yet)
Between the time I finished my first novel and found an agent, it was well over a year. In that time, I rewrote my novel four times. When my agent (Peter Riva of Transactions International) took me on board, my novel had to be rewritten before it went to the Frankfurt Book Fair (this is the largest trade fair in the world).
The rewrite required me to change the location of my novel. Peter said he couldn’t sell Canadian locations, so I had to relocate to Chicago (not me personally, just the book; I couldn’t afford to go to Scarborough). I ended up using topographical maps along with four virtual real estate sites (I plan to do the same thing when I vacation in the Azores next spring).
All of this had to be done in three weeks (that’s when Peter left for Frankfurt). There was no interest in my book at Frankfurt. That meant two more complete rewrites with an editor who tried to join all my paragraphs together.
At the same time, I had to write book cover copy, hire a book designer, a proofreader, then apply for copyright through the Library of Congress. The book title was rejected twenty times and the cover design four times.
When the book was officially launched, five years had gone by. And, again, this was just the beginning. In most publishing contracts, you’re required to spend at least 6 hours a week promoting your book. That includes having an official website, and turning the side of your house into a billboard.
You also have to do some giveaways, which means handing over all eight of your author copies to people who are more interested in getting something free than writing a review. Out of those eight copies, you might get back two reviews — and some can be pretty nasty.
Now, okay, it’s nice to see your novel on the shelves. It’s even nicer having people call, saying they read it. But, by then, you really don’t care anymore. The anxiety you felt worrying about getting published, is now replaced with the anxiety of being published. Every day, you check the sales rankings, waiting for that moment when it skyrockets into the best seller list.
Trouble is, people pay for the best seller lists, just like publishers pay to have certain books put on the tables at major bookstores. I tried cozying up to one of the salespeople, but obviously it takes more than two subway tokens to sway these folks, and that’s all I was prepared to offer.
If you’re saying now, “Well, that’s why I’m self-publishing. I don’t have to go through that hassle. I just send Amazon my manuscript, they print it, throw it up online, and the next thing you know, I’m replacing “Fifty Shades of Grey” and getting interviewed on Charlie Rose.”
Look, even my dog knows it’s not that simple (and he’s a dog). Self publishing requires just as much forethought, attention to detail and promotion as any published book. And forget those companies claiming they can put you in a million homes. All they’re doing is selling mailing lists to each other.
Not that I’m discouraging the self-publishing route. Just don’t expect miracles. It’s like Hollywood where every car jockey and waitress is an actor. Most remain car jockeys and waitresses. The few who make it (and it’s a very few) make it because they work harder than anyone else (yes, even Tom Cruise works harder than anyone else).
And remember, writing isn’t about your life story, or your feelings, or the great dream you had. It isn’t about going on a writer’s forum, saying, “I’ll be published in 2017.” It’s a process of persistence, of writing every day, giving up weekends, giving up friends, giving up everything. It’s a constant, unrelenting struggle. Those who make it rarely describe how much they’ve lost financially and emotionally.
“You learn to write by writing,” Hemingway once said, and even my dog knows that’s the truth. Not that he cares anymore. If he has to listen to one more complaint from me, he’s threatened to become a hobo (and I’ve seen him look out the window with just that intention in mind).
Fortunately, a small royalty check came in yesterday, so he gets to eat, or he thinks he’s going to eat. I don’t have the heart to tell him it’ll probably only buy two cans of dog food. Once he realizes he’s getting more Kibble than meat, he’ll go back to the window, dreaming of life on the road with other hobos (probably more than a few former writers).
So please, everybody, stop worrying about being published. Learn to write first. Then at least you can say you’re a writer. That’s what my dog believes as well (but he thinks he’s getting a full can of dog food tonight — the fool).
Robert Cormack is a novelist, blogger and freelance copywriter. His first novel “You Can Lead a Horse to Water (But You Can’t Make It Scuba Dive)” is available online and at most major bookstores. Check out Yucca Publishing or Skyhorse Press for more details (you can also buy my book from them).
""
Articles from Robert Cormack
View blogWithout selling yourself short. · “We marry, have kids, do our jobs, provide food, education. Job do ...
Why I screamed and upset the dog. · “We’ll never get rid of crazy people.” Michael Moore · I wish I ...
All I did was write the first Canadian rock jingle. · I still remember how we wore our jeans with le ...
Related professionals
You may be interested in these jobs
-
mechanical draftsperson
Found in: Talent CA 2 C2 - 3 days ago
EMEC Design Group LTD Surrey, CanadaEducation: · Expérience: · Education · Other trades certificate or diploma · Tasks · Prepare engineering designs and drawings · Develop and prepare design sketches · Prepare construction specifications, costs and material estimates · Prepare contracts and tenders · Write techni ...
-
painter - motor vehicle repair
Found in: Talent CA 2 C2 - 6 days ago
10688436 Canada Inc. Peterborough, CanadaEducation: · Expérience: · Education · Secondary (high) school graduation certificate · Tasks · Professionalism in customer service · Review damage report and estimates of repair cost and plan work to be performed · Clean and maintain work space · Instruct apprentices · Replace ...
-
legal assistant
Found in: Talent CA 2 C2 - 6 days ago
Tisel Law Edmonton, CanadaEducation: · Expérience: · Education · Secondary (high) school graduation certificate · Tasks · Schedule and confirm appointments · Maintain filing system · Record and prepare minutes of court sessions, meetings or conferences · Determine and establish office procedures and rou ...
Comments
Robert Cormack
6 years ago #38
It takes a lot of time to convince young people how much is involved in writing, Joyce \ud83d\udc1d Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee. My stepdaughter was a natural writer, but never had the discipline. She went to Europe instead and became a mother.
Robert Cormack
6 years ago #37
Pascal Derrien
6 years ago #36
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
6 years ago #35
Robert Cormack
6 years ago #34
Dominique 🐝 Petersen
6 years ago #33
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #32
Paul Walters
7 years ago #31
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #30
Quite true.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #29
Quite true. Perhaps there is a saturation point.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #28
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #27
I'm sure instant gratification plays a role. We see movies were people write a book and ten minutes later (with a few dissolves), they're famous authors living in splendor. This is like couples thinking they're as funny together as Mork and Mindy. We lose a sense of reality and, therefore, expect this instant gratification. The whole idea of music and movies you can download in a minute, it all plays to the same theme, and it's reducing so much of the artistic quality. An artist friend of mine is quite proud of the fact that she produces a painting a day. My mother, an artist, produced maybe two paintings a year. Four of them hang in my house. I never grow tired of them (and not because they're my mother's). She spent the time learning, studying and perfecting. That's what you add to basic talent. Maybe we'll saturate the market with bad work. Let's hope that's when we change.
Zacharias 🐝 Voulgaris
7 years ago #26
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #25
There's actually some controversy over whether Grossman owned Big Pink or he'd bought it for Dyan in his capacity as business manager. In any event, Dylan admitted spending more time at Big Pink than he did at his own home (not far away). As the kids came, and his motorcycle accident, Dylan spent more time at his own home (which went on for many years).
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #24
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #23
No, it doesn't get any easier, Paul.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #22
Paul Walters
7 years ago #21
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #20
Many do, Robert, that's a fact.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #19
Yes, the "Basement Tapes" were never something Dylan wanted distributed. In fact, they sat in someone's garage in Woodstock for many years. The loose quality of Dylan's and The Band's work allows a certain amount of leeway when listening. There's an interesting version of "You Ain't Going' Nowhere," that's worth a listen, also "Wheels on Fire." Robbie, in particular, learned a lot from Dylan, particularly on the lyrics side. There was so much creativity going on back then in The Pink House (Dylan was actually the landlord).
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #18
Sure, there's always a chance of having a best seller. I still think that chance increases exponentially with time spent making your work better. In other words: "Haste makes lousy fiction."
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #17
I've written about both (saves time coin-flipping).
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #16
I thank you, and my dog thanks you."
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #15
A friend of mine wrote a book specifically to help promote his business. I think it worked out pretty well for him. That's definitely a different part of publishing.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #14
Jim Murray
7 years ago #13
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #12
#18 This raises an important point about objectives, don't you think? If a writer's objective in writing and publishing a novel is to gain literary recognition, then however long that takes is worth it, or at least is what it is. But if a writer writes to generate income, then I suggest to you that one might want to re-assess book writing and publishing in the context of contemporary digital publishing. For example, about three years ago, I published an eBook that I give out free (well, not exactly free, but in exchange for an email address to build my prospect list for my consulting business). I submitted the eBook to multiple industry-specific editors for review and received very strong reviews and notices in a dozen legitimate publications, both trade and consumer. Distribution is now passed 5,000 (PDF) copies sent out by email in answer to requests. No direct revenue, but I can attribute at least three solid consulting contracts, worth tens of thousands of dollars, to prospects reading and liking the eBook. ( https://www.bebee.com/producer/@friedman-phil/ten-golden-rules-for-successful-yacht-build-projects ) More recently, I wrote an eBook for hire for a management systems software firm, which they use to build their own prospect list, in an extreme example of "content marketing". In this case, the work did not generate anywhere near the same revenue, but -- and this is important, I think -- in one fell swoop, it generated more than some authors make on a published "book" and with less than one tenth the time and labor input. ( http://tinyurl.com/zsjt9n9 ). So, what I am saying is, the issue of book writing and publishing is at the same time more complicated and less complicated than some would have us believe. If writing and publishing a book is a purely business decision based on ROI, that is one thing. But if about something else, like literary achievement, quite another. Cheers!
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #11
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #10
Jim Murray
7 years ago #9
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #8
Thanks, Ben. We passed about 20 titles past women, since they make up about 75 percent of the buying public. And, yes, there is a lot of "crap" as you say, but I contend there wouldn't be as much if people took their time. David Ogilvy never sent out copy the same day. He always gave it an evening and a night. That's one of the cardinal rules in "Confessions of an Advertising Man." I always wait a day before I post a story. I also wait three months before I start the second draft of a novel. There's a discipline to writing and eager (let's say aspiring) writers should be aware of that.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #7
Yes, every Geico spot is genius. I love their stuff. I always laugh when people ask what it's like coming up with funny 30 second commercials. If only they knew how much work is involved, how much talent you need. You really have to know your craft to write for 30 seconds. It takes so much discipline. In some respects it's like a short story. Every word counts. Elmore Leonard wrote a short story collection later in life and admitted it almost killed him. "Short stories are a bitch," he said. "Way harder than novels." Same goes for advertising. Back in my agency days, we'd have journalists come on board, thinking copywriting would be a breeze. They only lasted a couple of months. We scared the crap out of journalists.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #6
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #5
Well, Robert, I guess I understand your emphasis... but haste about what? Becoming a competent or even "good" writer? Haste to have a novel published? Or a book, because not all "books" are novels? Haste to be peer reviewed and accepted in a literary "small" magazine for poetry or short stories? If it is haste simply to "be published", then that is easy to solve these days with the wide variety of digital self-publishing platforms such as LinkedIn or beBee. However, an aspiring "writer" is still then faced with whether he or she is being read. Easy to publish. Hard to be read amidst all the ambient static and noise. Perhaps, you mean haste to become a "writer" worthy of the appellation? If so, then I agree. Developing one's craft as a writer takes a lot of writing. Never mind that in this age of templates and software, the expectation is often that any half-wit can become a writer for a $129.95 investment. And even if one adequately refines one's craft as a writer, that may still not be enough. For before writing comes thinking. Which is why I personally value exchange and genuine conversation so highly. Being eloquent is nothing if one has nothing to say. So, if that is what we're talking about when referring to haste, then I agree... I think. Well, let me ponder that for a while. Cheers!
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #4
@Gerald Hecht, if you're having fun, great. A tattoo would be nice.
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #3
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #2
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #1