Often a client, a SPAWN member or an author I meet at a conference will contact me and ask, “How do I find a publisher?” or “Which publishing option should I choose?” or “I have someone interested in publishing my book, but what about my first choice of publishers—the one who’s still reviewing my proposal? Should I keep waiting for his response or should I accept the new publisher’s offer?”
These authors are usually frazzled and bedazzled about the big, wide world of publishing. Most are not prepared or equipped to make these executive decisions.
Yes, I said executive decisions. While writing is a craft, publishing is a business—a hugely competitive business with many options, hundreds of possible contracts and many hundreds of newcomers trying to break in as publishers, booksellers, editors, book shepherds and so forth.
It truly is a jungle out there with giant tangles of vines creating opportunities and roadblocks; great breaks and obstacles. It’s all rather confusing.
This is why I strongly recommend that if you have decided to write a book, whether a novel, a memoir, a business book or a how-to or self-help book for publication, consider yourself the CEO of your book from the moment of conception. I mean, as soon as you decide to write that book!
What would a CEO of a company do differently than what most authors do? Well, most authors follow this path: They spend weeks or months writing the book, then they emerge from their writing room into the bright sunlight and start seeking publication. Once they run headlong into the reality of publishing, they might sit back and hold back in hopes that someone will do something to make sure his book gets published. Or the author might blindly embrace the first offer to publish his book.
No, this is not how a sharp CEO would behave. He would do his homework even before he launches a project. He would study everything he could get his hands on within his industry, listen to the professionals, ask questions, evaluate the responses and, when it came time to launch his project, he would do so with the knowledge and resources he needs in place.
If you want to become an author and sell a few books and you don’t care how much it costs, then you can do what approximately 78 percent of authors do and dive into the industry blindly and let the tide take you where it will. You’ll live your dream of seeing your book published.
But if you want to experience a level of success as an author—you want to sell more than a few copies of your book—you want to make a difference—you want to establish yourself within the publishing community, then you have some work to do. You need to take your job as CEO of your book seriously. How?
Learn about the industry you are eager to enter. Become educated as to how the industry operates. What are your options? What are the possible consequences of your choices? What are your responsibilities as a published author?
Take charge. If you don’t, you will likely make some expensive decisions that lead you away from your goals.
Study the publishing industry. Find out how you can best navigate the industry on behalf of your particular, unique project. Start by reading “Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author.” It’s at Amazon in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order it here: http://www.matilijapress.com
If you have a published book and are struggling, like so many authors, to promote it, read, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.”
Not only are these books designed to educate, they are brimming with resources to further your education.
Sign up here for my bi-monthly enewsletter: http://www.patriciafry.com Also be sure to download your FREE copy of “50 Ways to Establish Your Author Platform.”