Writing and Publishing News

I frequently get suggestions from authors and freelance writers for blog subjects:

“I want to see more about promoting fiction.”
“What is the best book promotion idea?”
“How can I make money through my writing in this financial downturn?”
“What does a publisher really want in a book proposal package?”
“Do I have to write a book proposal?”

And I attempt to cover all of their requests and concerns in articles for magazines and newsletters, in my books as well as in this blog.

It’s fairly easy to be a writer&#8212to sit down at a computer or with a pad and pencil and pour your head or heart out through well chosen words. Many of you reading this have files and drawers and boxes of writings. Where writing becomes difficult is when you decide that you want to make something of it&#8212something more than the simple pleasures that the process of writing can bring. There comes a time in many writers’ lives when they want to start publishing what they write. And this is not advisable for all writers.

Who should not attempt to publish?

• Those who don’t actually write very well and have no interest in learning important techniques and skills.
• Those who can’t shift their mindset from artist to business person.

Writing is a creative endeavor&#8212a craft. Publishing is a business&#8212a highly competitive business. And it requires, not only the heart of a writer, but the head of at least a somewhat savvy, willing-to-learn and stretch businesswo/man.

A freelance writer must seek out opportunities for publication. She must pitch her ideas and be willing to alter her stories on request. She needs patience, for the periodicals industry does not operate on any logical or desired schedule. And she must be prepared for disappointment, because this business is fickle and, in this economy, even more so. As a freelance writer, you may be required to write on topics or use slants that you didn’t originally envision&#8212that is, if you want to become successful. You may think you are in charge&#8212that you are operating your own freelance business&#8212but, in reality, in order to succeed (or even survive) there’s a lot of call for flexibility.

A hopeful author, too, must be willing to bend. He deals with tons of rejection&#8212rejection by agents, publishers and even consumers. It’s no fun to sit at a book festival or a book signing, watching person after person walk past paying no attention to your marvelous book. But it is a reality of publishing and authorship. An author puts even more of himself into his book through emotion, energy and time. And rejection is even more painful. An author may put all of his eggs in one basket with the novel he’s spent the last 5 years perfecting or his recovery memoir or reference book. Everything depends on the success of this book. And the hopeful author is even
more at risk for failure.

What is the secret to publishing success? Give up the idea of doing things your way. It’s time to go into aerobic mode by being willing to change, bend and stretch. And it’s also vital to know
when it is appropriate to do so. My advise? Learn the basics of the “business” you plan to enter. If it is freelance article or story writing, read books on the subject, take online courses, attend conferences that offer workshops for freelance writers. For information on all of the above, visit my website at:
http://www.matilijapress.com

If you have a book to publish, again, read appropriate books starting with my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Join organizations related to publishing. Start by checking out SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network)
http://www.spawn.org
Subscribe to newsletters related to publishing and book promotion (many of them are free), hire a consultant who can guide you through the maze, attend writers’ conferences and sign up for online courses. Learn more about opportunities in all of these areas at:
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 5:36 am and is filed under Publishing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.