I like to tell new and hopeful authors, who are overwhelmed by the scope and breadth of publishing, to look at it as if it is a giant puzzle. What if there were puzzles pieces designed just for you and, when used, they will fit perfectly to form your ideal publishing needs and requirements?
Most people enter into the world of publishing without enough of the puzzle pieces. They have minimal knowledge about the publishing industry. They don’t know that there are options in publishing and that not all options are right for every author and every project. They don’t understand that there are many decisions to be made on behalf of their book projects and that it is up to the author to make the right ones. They don’t know what their responsibilities and their obligations as a published author are.
New authors see books in bookstores. They buy books and see other people buying books. They watch interviews on TV with authors and they read book reviews in magazines and at websites.
They hear terms such as, Best Seller and Award Winning. They are fully aware of the books that are bringing in large royalty checks and they think this is the norm. Many of them believe that all you have to do is write the book. It will be published and then you become rich. Oh yes, and the author lives happily ever after in his luxury home office writing sequel after sequel. Wouldn’t it be nice to have all of the correct puzzle pieces handed to you the minute you decide you want to publish your great works?
Sure some authors land sweet publishing deals. Some of their books get Best Seller and Award Winning status. A few of them even receive large royalty checks. But this is NOT the norm. The majority of authors today must work very hard to produce and promote their books. Most of those who do, are barely making it. Those who neglect to search for the right puzzle pieces—who don’t know how to make the right decisions on behalf of their books, are losing ground and will, most likely, fail.
So what do these puzzle pieces consist of?
- Knowledge of the publishing industry.
- Available publishing and marketing options.
- Clues and solid information to help you make the right decisions.
- Guidelines to lead you along well-mapped routes.
- Resources of every kind.
- Tools to help you use what’s available in order to reach your publishing goals.
And where do you find these puzzle pieces?
- Through publishing organizations such as SPAWN, SPAN and IBPA. That’s Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network, Small Publishers Association of North America and Independent Book Publishers Association (formerly PMA).
- Through books such as those by Patricia Fry, Dan Poynter, Mark Levine, Brian Judd and other professionals.
- By attending good writers conferences, http://www.shawguides.com.
- By frequenting informative blogs and reading the top newsletters available in the industry: SPAWN Market Update (for members only: http://www.spawn.org), IBPA Independent (for members only: http://www.pma-online.org), Para Poynters (http://www.parapublishing.com) and others (see resource list at http://www.matilijapress.com)
- By working with a carefully chosen professional mentor.
Have you located the pieces to your publishing puzzle? Or are you still struggling to understand your options, find a publisher, to self-publish your book, to get book reviews, to locate speaking engagements to promote your book or to sell copies of your book? If you feel that you’re missing pieces to your publishing puzzle, consider delving into the resources listed above. And keep in mind that while writing is a creative endeavor, publishing is a business and must be approached as such.
| About Patricia Fry Patricia Fry is a full-time freelance writer, editorial consultant and the author of 28 books, including The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and her brand new ebook, for those with stalled books, The Author’s Repair Kit. Read her informative blog daily: http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog. Contact Patricia at PLFry620@yahoo.com. |
