For authors, getting that first contract is a dream that always seems elusive. Time and time again, rejections flow into author's inboxes. They write and rewrite their stories. They start a new genre. They write a new book. They read everything they can, and yet, the rejections still show up.
Until one day...
They leap at a new opportunity they heard from a friend, or heard at a conference. Wow! This could be it! Instead of the normal months of waiting, the author hears back and dang it, they got a contract. They can now claim they are published. Break out that champagne and celebrate.
And yet... (you knew this was coming).
Things just don't work out like they thought. Sales are not the way they had hoped. Distribution is just not there. Maybe the final product just doesn't look like they had hoped. So what happened?
It was just not the best contract. It happened to be the first contract.
I get this all of the time from submissions. Authors who tried one approach, and yes, it is often self-publishing, only to find that it was not all that it was hyped up to be. And now, unfortunately, the author may be paying the price. In the case of self-publishing, it may be a ton of money from their own bank account. It may be bad publicity or reviews. It may just be that bad taste left in your mouth.
Here comes the line I have said over and over again. Being a published author takes time, education and talent. It is not just about writing a story on your computer and getting it printed. Yes, you may be rejected. All authors get rejected. But jumping at the first thing that comes your way may not be the best approach either.
In simple terms, look before you leap.
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