Irene Watson offers an excellent article for hopeful authors in her June 21, 2010 newsletter, Reader Views. I recommend that you read it BEFORE writing your book—or, at least before you choose your publishing option. Her title is, “Why I Wouldn’t Read Your Book.” Read it here and learn:
http://www.readerviews.com/newsletters/2010.06/21.html
Are you sometimes confused as to who, in the world of publishing, you should listen to? Once you enter into this domain, you begin to read books and articles on book publishing, attend writers’ group meetings and conferences, talk to other authors you meet in various settings and so forth. My hope is that you will begin this study BEFORE you start the writing. But most of you don’t. I should say that most of “us” don’t. For the majority of people, the writing comes first. We feel a strong urge to get the idea and the material on paper as a first step.
Whatever avenue you take, you will eventually be gathering information about publishing. The problem is, the more you gather, the more conflicted and confused you become. I can see many of you nodding your heads as you read this. You wonder, “Who should I listen to?” “Where can I get reliable information?”
Here’s my criteria:
• Pay attention to the published author who has been in the business for at least 10 years and who, preferably, works successfully with other authors.
• Listen to the author who has had multiple and varied experiences in publishing.
• Consider the variety of the author’s publishing experiences—has he/she self-published only? Or have they only been published through traditional publishers?
• Study the articles, books, etc. by several different well-known publishing experts and find the common threads. If Poynter, Jud, Fry and Sansevieri all say the same thing, perhaps it is something you should consider.
Sure, pay attention to every tidbit that comes your way, but also:
• Double and triple check everything.
• Use your common sense in the decision-making process.
• Follow your head instead of your heart.
• Consider that shortcuts often lead to disaster.
There are recommendations that hopeful authors would rather disregard. When they do, they often seriously jeopardize their projects. Here are some of the best bits of advice that many authors ignore, which is the reason why such a high percentage of books fail.
• Study the publishing industry before getting involved.
• Write a book proposal first.
• Hire a good book editor.
• Follow your good sense rather than your emotions when choosing a publishing option.
Irene Watson’s article provides an excellent heads-up for authors who are headstrong and hell-bent on heading down the publishing path without using their heads.
A good place to start studying the complex and competitive publishing industry or a good addition to the mix of study material is my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book:
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html