Writing and Publishing News

I think I mentioned that I attended a blogging workshop while at the Maryland Writers’ Conference a few weeks ago. One thing I learned was never, never apologize for not blogging as often as you’d like. So I won’t. Hopefully, though, you’ve noticed my absence and have been eagerly awaiting my return.

Where have I been? I took a road trip to Las Vegas to watch my granddaughter compete in the Regional College Rodeo Finals. She did extremely well, but still placed out of the money. It seems that authors and freelance writers aren’t the only ones experiencing rejection and losses.

How often have you had your book or article queries, proposals or manuscripts rejected? Have you lost out to others when entering your work in contests? How does it make you feel when this happens? The way I see it, there are two typical reactions to rejection. You can either give up, call it quits, vow to never write again or you can recover, regroup and try again.

Quitting is not an option for those of you who want to establish a writing career or produce the book of your dreams. But what if you keep getting rejected time and time again?

If you constantly and consistently receive rejection letters instead of contracts, maybe something needs to change—and I don’t necessarily mean your publishing dreams or career choice. Here’s a list of considerations for those of you with more rejection in your lives than acceptances. Before calling it quits, try this:

• Scrutinize your idea. Is it truly a good one? Are you targeting the right audience? How large is your audience? Maybe this is not a viable idea.
• Consider the scope of your book or article. Perhaps you need to pare it down or bulk it up. Maybe your focus is too broad or too narrow.
• Evaluate the quality of your writing. Study other books like yours and/or other articles on this topic and in this style. Does your writing ability match up or do you need help in getting your point across? If you aren’t sure if your writing is good or you decide it doesn’t measure up, hire an editor to help you more effectively convey your message. Take writing courses.
• Reconsider your target publisher or magazine editor. Maybe you are aiming too high or you’ve contacted the wrong publisher/editor.
• Reassess your message. Is it old news, a passé subject or something that has been overdone over the years?
• Solicit the assistance of a good writing/publishing consultant or editor to determine if you’ve made any of the mistakes above and for help in rectifying them.

If you want to know more about handling rejection as well as any and all facets of writing, publishing and marketing a book (no matter your publishing choices), read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. This is a must-read and a definite elbow book for anyone who wants to enter into the world of publishing. What is an “elbow” book? One that you keep near you at all times to be used as a reference tool. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Rejection is a fact of life for writers and authors. It’s a wise one who can put rejection in perspective and move on in a better direction. Learn to accept rejection. Discover how to use it to your advantage—to improve as a writer and to make better decisions. Pay attention to this message and you will experience the success that you desire.

More and more publishing professionals agree with me that the first step in producing a successful book project is writing a book proposal. Writing a book without a book proposal is like starting a business without a business plan. People do it, but their potential success is usually compromised.

You wouldn’t construct a building without a plan, sew a dress without a pattern or develop a new automobile design without detailed diagrams and carefully developed specs. Why would anyone write a book for commercial distribution (they want it to sell by the thousands) without first devising a plan to determine:

• Is this a viable product?
• Is there a market for this book?
• What else is out there like my proposed book?
• How will I get this book published?
• What are my publishing options and which one is best for my book?
• Who is the target audience and where are they?
• How will I get the attention of my target audience?
• Why will anyone purchase a book by me on this topic?
• What is my marketing plan?
• What can I do to develop a platform?

I guess there are many people who don’t think ahead—who don’t do their homework—who make decisions by the seat of their pants. Just look at the horrendous mistakes made in recent years with regard to housing mortgages. Thousands of people are losing their homes because they didn’t look ahead. They didn’t study their options and the possible consequences of their decisions.

Publishing isn’t a whole lot different from other aspects of our lives. Here are some hard truths:

• Writing is a craft and publishing is a business. You must approach these two activities in very different ways.
• Knowledge should be your number one priority when entering into the world of publishing.
• The more popular writing and publishing becomes, the more options and opportunities will be available.
• While there are some worthwhile and credible publishers, agents, etc. eager to work with new and seasoned authors, there are also more sharks.
• Competition in the publishing industry is over the top fierce.
• Your best chance at success depends on a well-researched book proposal.
• The best time to write a book proposal is before you start writing the book.

If the idea of writing a book proposal is scaring you half to death, you might consider taking my online, on demand 6-week book proposal course. Check it out at http://www.matilijapress.com/bookproposal.htm

My latest pod cast has gone live. If you’d like to hear me talk with Phil Davis about the things you keep reading about here in my blog, check it out at http://www.authorsonthenet.com

And remember, any day that includes writing is a good day. If becoming a published author is your ultimate goal, concentrate your writing efforts on the revered, highly important book proposal.

It’s good to be home. Flying from Baltimore, Maryland to Santa Barbara, California makes for a very long day, especially when I just made the trip going the other direction two days earlier.

Today, I’m playing catch-up again. I’ve been setting priorities all morning. Paying the first-of-the-month bills was first on my list. And I’ve also been reflecting on the writers’ conference, the people I met and the things I learned. I hope that all conference presenters and attendees take the time to do this. It’s sometimes enlightening, sometimes painful and always worthwhile. If we don’t learn from our experiences—both positive and negative—why bother getting up each morning.

I meet the same hopeful and struggling authors at every conference I attend:

• Those who have just emerged from their writing rooms and are eager to quickly land an agent or publisher.
• Hopeful authors who have collected so many rejection slips they are practically despondent and terribly discouraged.
• Those who are still in the writing stage and who are curious about what publishing is all about.
• Those who have done some research about aspects of the publishing industry and have formed some definite opinions and biases.
• Authors who have “self-published” with a fee-based publishing service (they paid to have their books published) and are overwhelmed by the task of promotion and marketing.

Everyone comes to a writers’ conference with an agenda. Which attendees are most likely to have a successful experience at a writers’ conference?

• Those who are open to at least hearing the material and messages presented.
• Those who network with other writers on a give and take basis.

As a presenter, I also have the opportunity to learn at events such as this. I always learn something about people in general and about writers and authors in particular. I find it fascinating to discover what drives them, what motivates them, what resonates with them, what inspires them. I always learn something more about the publishing industry—and if I do, you know that you will—if you will just pay attention and care. I learn about my peers and, most importantly, I learn something about myself.

If you haven’t yet attended a writers’ conference, I recommend that you do this year. Tell me where you are or where you want to go and I’ll find a conference for you. PLFry620@yahoo.com.