In No Writes or Wrongs, I discussed the fact that all writers have different methods. Everyone’s creativity is driven by unique forces, so how can any of us deem somebody else’s process wrong? While we enjoy such freedom to hone our craft according to our own style, there are areas where we need specific skills and conduct, especially once you reach the professional level.
Last month, The Wild Rose Press, my publisher, held a live stream to celebrate 17 years in business. During it, Editor-In-Chief Rhonda Penders shared some of the things they look for in authors they take on. Obviously, a good story is the right start, but her comments revealed that there’s more than your writing alone that makes you publishing material.
For starters, we need to be adept in marketing. If you’re like me, that sentence in itself probably makes you groan. When I began querying publishers, I considered it a deal-breaker if a company requested a marketing plan. I used to think, “Aren’t they supposed to do that for me?” A webinar taught me otherwise, however, as an author who’d been published by a major publisher shared that even they delegated the brunt of the marketing to the author. Why? Because they have numerous projects in the pipeline at any given time and can’t afford to market each one on their own.
The good aspect of marketing is that, like writing, it too comes with flexibility. Each of us has different resources to work with and various expectations of the heights we want our books to attain. For my part, I can’t afford a publicist or some of the contests and services out there. Hence, I seek out the myriad of free or cost-effective tools, including book fairs, reaching out to local press outlets, and yes, social media. Since I never cared to utilize social media for a number of reasons, that was a tricky one for me, but it’s a must nowadays if you want to attract readers to your book.
Besides marketing, Rhonda brought out another big contributor to your success is interacting in a respectful way with your publisher and editor. As I’ve highlighted before, editing is usually the most intense part of the whole process, and it can feel like a stranger is picking apart your baby. The first couple of times I went through it, I had my defenses up, wishing I could preserve my work as is.
An important fact you need to remember, however, is editors are your friends, not your enemies. In a typical company, the reason you’re offered a publishing contract in the first place is that an editor—whether it be the one you eventually work with or not—deemed your book worthy. They saw the value in it, even if they identified some sharp edges or pieces that need some shining. They, along with their superiors, invested time, effort, and in the end money to bring your story to life on their shelves, so they don’t want to change it altogether. Rather, they want to enhance it and make it as successful as can be, both for them and you.
We all spend countless hours sculpting our stories to draw readers and publishers to them. To make them worthwhile, then, we can’t neglect coupling our craft with these other necessary facets that lead to success. In today’s world, masses of books can easily flood out yours. But if you’re demonstrating “The Write Stuff,” you’re on your way to standing out.
Also See
Editors: A One-Person Jury or a Friendly Doorman to the World of Readers?
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