I think there is this increasing belief (most likely an unconscious belief) that agents, publishers and the business of publishing is forcing authors to have to follow a certain path. It seems as if I am reading more and more authors blogging, or commenting on the web, implying that they are being forced into decisions and that their creativity as an author is being hampered. I am sorry to say this, but the reality is that no one is forcing anyone to do anything.
Traditional publishers are not forcing writers to limit their writing. As I have said before, they have a market. They have done their market research and they know what sells to THEIR market. If they pass on your story, it is not because they have a limited vision of the business, it is simply a matter that your story did not fit that model.
Agents are not out there just to make people change their ways or write a certain way. They are there as an option for those writers that want to use the agents. Again, I have said this here on the blog before, but having an agent is just like working with a realtor when buying or selling a home. Do you need to go through a real estate office? Absolutely not. But, because you are doing it on your own, you not only increase your work load, but also have no one on your side if something goes wrong.
I fear that there are many authors out there trying to pick a fight and make this an all or nothing argument. If you take the traditional route to publishing, you're good or bad. If you e-pub, you're good or bad. If you go with an indie publisher or the self-pub route, you are good or bad. This is far from the case. This is a decision you make as an author.
I have said all along, and I will say it again, writing is for everyone. There is also a place somewhere in this publishing world for you. It may be self-publishing at the local Fed-Ex Kinkos or it may be on the New York Times Best Seller List. The decision is entirely yours.
And with that said, we also have to remember that if something doesn't go right with your personal writing and your personal project, it was you who made the decision and it is not the entire system's fault. Sales may be low because you went with someone who doesn't have a mass distribution. You self-publish and no book store wants your project. You want to write for a traditional publisher and get your project returned because you don't have an agent and don't want one. You sign with an agent that you don't know anything about and are "taken" in a scheme. All of these decisions were yours and in many of the cases, the problems may have resulted from you missing something in the submission and writing process.
Scott
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Success Does Not Happen Over-Night
It is a known fact that new things take time to succeed. When we plant an apple tree, it takes several years for the tree to establish before we see fruit. When we start a new business, it often takes anywhere between 3-7 years before it becomes a success and we have a following. The same goes for writing and publishing.
I have talked recently about the need lately for many writers to see immediate gratification regarding their writing. As soon as the first book is finished, they want to see money flowing in and not just a little either. Unfortunately, for many writers, they become extremely disgruntled about that lack of over-night success and will either end up doing stupid things with their careers, or simply just give up.
I was talking with an author a while back who was very upset with the fact that things were not going the way she had thought in terms of her book. I asked her about her career and she stated that it was indeed her first book and it had been out for a little over a month. To her, she couldn't understand why sales weren't through the roof, why editors weren't fighting over her and why on Amazon she was still in the 5 digit numbers in terms of ranking.
The issue with this author isn't unlike a lot of other authors out there. What we had to discuss was the fact that for those first several books, it is simply a building process to acquire a following. People had to know who she was to get to the point they would say "Oh [author] has a new book out!"
I have to say, this is one of the things I really love about the Harlequin editors. They know building an author takes time. This is why in the early stages of an author's career, they really do all they can to get the author's name out there. Online reads, short novellas and a succession of books one after another just to make sure the readers keep seeing that person's name. That push pays off.
I would also remind authors that the work is not just about the writing time, but also the hard work the author puts into marketing. It may seem like nickle and diming your way to the top, but it does pay off. That book signing that sells 6 books might seem little, but think of the people who might not have bought the book, but saw you and your name? The amount of money you spent on contests and give-a-ways increased your mailing list. Heck, when people see they have a chance to win something, they will sign up for anything. The point though, is this takes time and doesn't happen overnight.
Look, writers. Don't rush it. Work your butts off now and watch the rewards come in later. You will enjoy it. I promise!
Scott
I have talked recently about the need lately for many writers to see immediate gratification regarding their writing. As soon as the first book is finished, they want to see money flowing in and not just a little either. Unfortunately, for many writers, they become extremely disgruntled about that lack of over-night success and will either end up doing stupid things with their careers, or simply just give up.
I was talking with an author a while back who was very upset with the fact that things were not going the way she had thought in terms of her book. I asked her about her career and she stated that it was indeed her first book and it had been out for a little over a month. To her, she couldn't understand why sales weren't through the roof, why editors weren't fighting over her and why on Amazon she was still in the 5 digit numbers in terms of ranking.
The issue with this author isn't unlike a lot of other authors out there. What we had to discuss was the fact that for those first several books, it is simply a building process to acquire a following. People had to know who she was to get to the point they would say "Oh [author] has a new book out!"
I have to say, this is one of the things I really love about the Harlequin editors. They know building an author takes time. This is why in the early stages of an author's career, they really do all they can to get the author's name out there. Online reads, short novellas and a succession of books one after another just to make sure the readers keep seeing that person's name. That push pays off.
I would also remind authors that the work is not just about the writing time, but also the hard work the author puts into marketing. It may seem like nickle and diming your way to the top, but it does pay off. That book signing that sells 6 books might seem little, but think of the people who might not have bought the book, but saw you and your name? The amount of money you spent on contests and give-a-ways increased your mailing list. Heck, when people see they have a chance to win something, they will sign up for anything. The point though, is this takes time and doesn't happen overnight.
Look, writers. Don't rush it. Work your butts off now and watch the rewards come in later. You will enjoy it. I promise!
Scott
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
You Are Part Of A Team
When I look at signing a new client, not only do I look at the writing, I also look at the author. I am a big proponent of being a team player and every writer I have at Greyhaus recognizes that. This is not simply a matter of selling your book, it is a matter of selling the company.
One thing many writers, I believe, fail to remember is that everything they say and do becomes a reflection the entire agency as a whole. How you look at a conference, the help you provide to other writers demonstrates what the entire agency does.
You have a lot riding on your shoulders when you sign with an agency. Not only are you out there to put out your best writing and your best work, you have to also remember that you are representing the other authors at that agency as well. People will associate you in a positive or negative light with the other people in the agency. Your reputation is their reputation.
It isn't only about sales here people. It involves personality!
Just something to short to consider on a Tuesday!
Scott
One thing many writers, I believe, fail to remember is that everything they say and do becomes a reflection the entire agency as a whole. How you look at a conference, the help you provide to other writers demonstrates what the entire agency does.
You have a lot riding on your shoulders when you sign with an agency. Not only are you out there to put out your best writing and your best work, you have to also remember that you are representing the other authors at that agency as well. People will associate you in a positive or negative light with the other people in the agency. Your reputation is their reputation.
It isn't only about sales here people. It involves personality!
Just something to short to consider on a Tuesday!
Scott
Monday, August 1, 2011
If It Doesn't Concern You...
Should writers pay attention to things going on around them in this business? You better believe it! Writers cannot simply sit behind their computers, writer beautiful stories and play ignorant. With that said, I think, in the era of social media and immediate communication, that we have to be careful in the long run of what we say. Yes, I have said this before about being careful what you put out there in the world for people to see, but I think there is a bigger element here.
I tell my kids this all of the time. They will come running in the house trying to make an issue about something. What is interesting, most of the time, is that the issue doesn't involve them, but involves the other siblings, or the friends down the street. They make a huge deal out of it and then get angry when, as parents, we don't dive in and deal with the issue. One one hand, I am very proud of my kids for having a social conscience and an awareness of what is going on around them. On the other hand, they have just shoved themselves into a mess that doesn't involve them.
As a writer, you will often find yourself on a team with either the other writers in your agency, the other writers at the publishing house, or even the other writers in your local writing group. While there is a commonality here, we have to also remember that each and every writer has a single unique connection with their editor or agent. Each of those connections is unique in that the variables and that relationship have been built around that author in a unique fashion. Therefore, what you see happening to that author may indeed be something that only is happening to that author.
I was talking to a writer last week about an issue some of her writing colleagues were facing. She was a bit concerned that many were looking at her and shocked that she wasn't taking their side. The simple reason was that the issue didn't affect her. In fact, it didn't even affect them. But they were up in arms and making a big deal out of it. I had to applaud this author. She was not going to dive onto a bandwagon of public comment about an issue that didn't deal with her.
Did she stop paying attention to the situation? Absolutely not. Would she turn a blind eye if the situation affected her? Absolutely not.
As an agent, I talk to a lot of people. I hear a lot of things. There are many things that I hear happening with publishers, or with other agencies. If this is something that personally affects my clients, I will work within the context of that unique connection I have with that author and the outside force to remedy the situation. If, however, the issue does not deal with my clients, I advise them to do the same thing as this other author did. They should just focus on their own writing, make sure they don't fall into the same situation and work to the best of their ability.
I know I have said this before, but we have to be careful what we put out there. While the points we post online may be very valid, we have to consider the long term implications of what we say and do. Did that last post, or that comment you made on Twitter of Facebook burn a bridge you might need later on down the line? I hope not.
Scott
I tell my kids this all of the time. They will come running in the house trying to make an issue about something. What is interesting, most of the time, is that the issue doesn't involve them, but involves the other siblings, or the friends down the street. They make a huge deal out of it and then get angry when, as parents, we don't dive in and deal with the issue. One one hand, I am very proud of my kids for having a social conscience and an awareness of what is going on around them. On the other hand, they have just shoved themselves into a mess that doesn't involve them.
As a writer, you will often find yourself on a team with either the other writers in your agency, the other writers at the publishing house, or even the other writers in your local writing group. While there is a commonality here, we have to also remember that each and every writer has a single unique connection with their editor or agent. Each of those connections is unique in that the variables and that relationship have been built around that author in a unique fashion. Therefore, what you see happening to that author may indeed be something that only is happening to that author.
I was talking to a writer last week about an issue some of her writing colleagues were facing. She was a bit concerned that many were looking at her and shocked that she wasn't taking their side. The simple reason was that the issue didn't affect her. In fact, it didn't even affect them. But they were up in arms and making a big deal out of it. I had to applaud this author. She was not going to dive onto a bandwagon of public comment about an issue that didn't deal with her.
Did she stop paying attention to the situation? Absolutely not. Would she turn a blind eye if the situation affected her? Absolutely not.
As an agent, I talk to a lot of people. I hear a lot of things. There are many things that I hear happening with publishers, or with other agencies. If this is something that personally affects my clients, I will work within the context of that unique connection I have with that author and the outside force to remedy the situation. If, however, the issue does not deal with my clients, I advise them to do the same thing as this other author did. They should just focus on their own writing, make sure they don't fall into the same situation and work to the best of their ability.
I know I have said this before, but we have to be careful what we put out there. While the points we post online may be very valid, we have to consider the long term implications of what we say and do. Did that last post, or that comment you made on Twitter of Facebook burn a bridge you might need later on down the line? I hope not.
Scott
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