Saturday, December 1, 2012

Spike needed

When I got my first rejection, I was THRILLED.

Suddenly, I felt like a real writer! I printed out the rejection and gleefully showed it to everyone around the office and squealed, "I'm-a-gonna get me a great big spike and I'm-a-gonna stick ALL my rejections on the spike, just like Stephen King!"

I also felt like J.K. Rowling, who couldn't get Harry Potter published if the broomstick under his bony butt depended on it, or Kathryn Stockett, whose blockbuster success The Help was rejected by 60 agents before Agent 61 swooped it up.

This, I thought, is the process. This is what happens. I was pumped.

I was still pumped when rejection #2 came along. And #3.

But by the time #4 showed up late Friday night on the heels of a crappy day, I wasn't as thrilled.

I can tell you right now, I will not be doing what Kathryn Stockett did. I will not be flogging my book out to agents for the next three years hoping someone will eventually take pity on me and throw me a bone. Gawd, I could be dead in three years. I'm old as dirt. If I want to see my book published I do believe I will have to do it myself.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, I had originally planned on self-publishing. The way the publishing economy is shaking out, the chances of being published the traditional way is slim to none, unless you're a rock star and I'm no rock star. To carry on with the music metaphor, I can sing OK in the shower but I wouldn't make it past the first round on American Idol.

I dunno, I just thought I'd give 'er a go... see what happened. Ya gotta try, you know?

You have to try.

Besides, some of the most successful books on the market right now started out self-published. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, Still Alice by Lisa Genova and The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis were all originally self-published before the authors were offered contracts.

Bonus: I just did a search for the bestselling women's fiction on Amazon and guess what: the number one bestseller is self-published (The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski).

Even better? This summer FOUR self-published titles made it to the New York Times e-books bestseller list.

I highly recommend you read this post by David Meerman Scott about Lisa Genova's rags-to-riches success story with Still Alice.

And ya gotta love Terry Fallis' determination. He shopped his book around for a year, getting nothing but rejections, before he self-published and began recording chapters and sharing them on iTunes. Having more balls than most, Terry submitted The Best Laid Plans to the prestigious Stephen Leacock Award for Humour – and won. After that, the publishing industry was knocking on his door and he finally got the recognition he deserved.

What I get from all this is you have to do-it-yourself first and, if your book is good enough and liked by enough people, you will get noticed by the publishing industry and the next thing you know you'll have a New York Times Bestseller on your hands.

I think that's the strategy I need to pursue.

What do you think?

41 comments:

  1. Yep. Rejections are written proof that we're in the game for real. An offer would be even better, but until that comes along, I'm making do with rejections.

    I am also running out of patience with traditional publishing. My plan is to give it until I've got current WIP drafted and into revisions, then look at self-pubbing the one I'm querying.

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    1. That IS a good plan. Having something done in the meantime makes perfect sense. And only giving querying a set length of time is also smart. It's what Terry Fallis did - he gave querying one year and one year only. It worked out perfectly for him. (By the way, if you haven't read any of Terry's books, you should. He's hilarious.)

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  2. I think you have to do all the work yourself one way or the other. With that in mind, it's better to just do it yourself instead of paying someone else so that you can work for them.

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    1. Andrew, that is absolutely true. It's not like you sit around on your keester these days - even published authors do all the bloody work. Good point.

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  3. I reckon you should go for it! Publishers clearly don't have a clue about what people want to read - those examples of self-published success stories prove that. Get it out there and let the world decide! :-)

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    1. I hear ya, Ermie. I hear ya. My last rejection said my idea wasn't powerful enough to warrant her consideration. And then we watched Driving Miss Daisy today, a movie ostensibly about a cranky old woman and her chauffeur, and we laughed and we cried and we thought, yeah, no shoot-outs, no special effects, but wow, a great movie with real humans... isn't that powerful enough for anyone?

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  4. Go for it. With us cheering you on. And know, that whenever you are published, however you are published the blogosphere will be queueing up to buy it.

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  5. Cathy you can accomplish whatever you set out to do by how determined you are, regardless of all those hills and valleys in the way. Hey you have survived much worse emotional rejection then what came on a piece of paper, haven't you? They should have a Rising Author Show Rags to Riches series, who would you contact to get one of those started and televised? *smile*

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    1. At first I thought, what a great idea! A Rags to Riches show for writers! And then I thought about a cast of people all sitting around writing in every episode and then thought, well, maybe it's not the most exciting reality show on the tube...

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  6. I say they've had their chance....now do it yourself and keep ALL the profits.

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    1. PROFITS!!!! I love that word. Seeing as how I don't get many, generally speaking.... I think my new goal in life will to be as profitable as possible! Book me a room at the Trump Tower, Billy-Boo, I'm coming in!!

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  7. Nothing like an epiphany. Go for it!

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    1. I always get an epiphany when I get an ephiphany. You?

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  8. Well I think you sound like a most determined person - so yay for you! I've been round the blogosphere enough to know there are lots of bloggie authors who've gone and self-published and done so most successfully! Yay!!

    Good luck and wishing you all the best!

    p.s. I still tend to hide under my duvet in the dark in a corner and sulk after every rejection...! LOL! Take care
    x

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    1. Kitty, if I HAD a duvet I'd be sulking under it. For now my comforter is making do ... that, and a bag of potato chips.

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  9. I agree you should do it yourself!!!! :D

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    1. I could think of it as a "craft!" Put some glitter on it! Whatchoo think?

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  10. I remember the first rejection slip, even remember who signed it. By the 6th, I gave up. But then I was 17 and easily dissuaded. Self-pub is the way to get a foot in these days. Go for it Cathy!!! We're all behind you!

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    1. You wrote a book as a TEENAGER??? Are you KIDDING me? Gawd, I sure hope you're still writing. I think I was still getting my diapers changed at 17!!! (Thanks Austan!)

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  11. My Mommeh loved Still Alice! Good luck to you and don't give up!

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    1. Thanks Daisy. And yeah, Still Alice was an amazing book.

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  12. Girlfriend, go for it!

    Go for it, in a big way.


    Nitty Gritty Momma

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  13. I've never been a fan of self-publishing but, as you pointed out, there are some success stories. If a writer tries to sell something that is crap then the reading audience will figure it out and there will be no 'word of mouth' sales.

    Har! Old as dirt. I prefer to think of myself as refined sand. Anyway...the Engish writer Richard Adams was 52 before his first novel was published (after 7 rejections). That was 'Watership Down'. He's gone on to publish 20 more books/short stories (most recent was in 2010) and he is now 92.

    Sign. I dream of making it to 62...

    You keep at it girl. While you are hawking that book, get writing another one. If nothing else it will be a good distraction.

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    1. "Refined sand." heheheheh

      Hi Alan! GREAT to see your smiling bearded face! (Yeah, I'll be thrilled to make it to 62, too.)

      You're right about the distraction.... and thanks for calling me girl. *blushes*

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  14. Cathy, the emotion in this post goes from euphoria, then plummets downwards, bounces off the bottom and ends part way up. Believe in yourself, and your achievements, go for it, but don't beat yourself up if others don't share your belief, that is their issue not yours.

    Old as dirt? I don't think so. And anyway, writing is nothing to do with the age of the writer, otherwise all children's books would be written by kids.

    Keep pushing Cathy, push the book, push the next one, as long as the wish is there, then the possibility is too.

    My very best wishes Cathy. Go girl.

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    1. Euphoria to black bottom .. yup, typical emotional rollercoasting for all writers, I believe!!!!! Steve, you are a wonderful cheerleader. Thanks so much for your encouraging words...ox

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  15. I think self-publishing can be a really good way to go. I expect you'll be blogging the process as you go through it, but I'm curious how much you intend to do on your own vs. hiring out (editing, layout, cover design, etc.). Are you planning e-book, POD, or both? Which services and sales channels do you have your eye on?

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    1. Oh Tim, I don't know, I really don't know. One thing's for sure, I haven't given the querying process anywhere near long enough but I think, deep in my heart, that I won't get an agent, or a traditional book deal. (I'd fall over if I did.) So I'm going to give it a while longer... seriously, I just started but I can't help think it's just a waste of time.

      In the meantime, I've already had some talented and eagle-eyed editors go through it. I will likely do the layout and cover design myself, given that I'm a graphic designer by trade. And probably just an e-book for now – but I'd have to see how that goes. As for services and sales channels, well, I'll keep ya posted! I'd definitely use Amazon, and probably Smashwords.

      Boysoboys you ask a lot of questions, Mr. Tim!

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  16. I think self publishing is a great idea and it doesn't have the same 'groan' factor that it used to. Have you had a look at Smashwords? I'm considering it.
    The thing is to get some good editing done (not saying your edit is bad, actually I dunno.) But get a really good, tight product and then flog the hell out of it. Go for it!

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    1. Definitely considering Smashwords...

      I can't say my manuscript is perfect but it has been thoroughly and tightly edited.

      So I guess all I have left is the flogging.... thanks Sarah!

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    2. Careful about Smashwords... I have heard some wariness about the work of selfpublished authors getting hijacked there.

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  17. You know what I think... ;) Why am I going to do all the work AND give someone else part (a lot!) of my profit? There are so many big names out there jumping into self-publishing now.

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  18. So, you tried to go the "regular" route, and found the whole experience very trying. Hardly a surprise these days.

    Self-publishing, like self-employment, is not for the faint of heart. But you, a sturdy soul, are up for the self-publishing task; at least I think you are.

    Best wishes, whatever you try. Please let us know when Amazon starts selling it for you.

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  19. Cathy - the state of publishing houses these days, I think you have more chance of success by going the DIY route! All best to you - but please don't get like some of the 'self-publishers' who flood Twitter & Facebook with a constant stream of self-promotion!

    Having worked in a library and seen some of the 'dross' that HAS managed to secure a publishing contract I'm at a loss to understand what agents and publishing houses are playing at - other than the fact that it seems like a lottery!

    Good luck, anyway! :-)

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  20. You know, I've been sort of negative when it comes to self-publishing, but my mind is changing.

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  21. I very quickly decided that I wanted to self publish. It means a lot of work, but the creative control is mine and mine alone, rather than being at the beck and call of a publishing team of marketing chimps.

    As to 50 Shades... I'm reading a parody of it called Fifty Shades of Earl Grey, and falling about laughing.

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