sherrystruthtofiction

I get this question at my writing workshops and from most aspiring authors. They ask, “Do I have to be represented by a big publishing house to be a successful writer?” Twenty years ago, I would say that held very true. However, modern technology has given the unknown author an edge. With the right marketing using the internet, twitter, and other social networks, the little guy can be noticed as a contender on the largest publishing markets. Getting an agent to help introduce your writing to the right people does help to move your career in the right direction.

First you have to begin with a good product. Let’s assume you have a solid manuscript that you feel is complete. Have you spent time editing your work or have you hired a professional editor? Producing a print ready product free of errors and formatted correctly is the first step. This is the most important step. If you produce a manuscript full of incomplete descriptions, or flawed plot, regardless of how pretty the writing, it will fail to find a successful audience. But once you have a manuscript that has been through several rewrites and edits, you may decide to move forward with publishing.

Finding the right publisher or printer is the next obvious step. There is an abundance of new self-publishing options on line. But which one do you choose? Beware of those that do not offer examples of the work they have produced. If possible, purchase a book printed by that company for viewing. Also, check out the printer’s business history through the better business bureau and any consumer reports services in your state. If there are complaints about the publisher, dig deeper to see if it is a one time complaint or if the history reflects poor business practices.  Before taking an offer to publish your book, consider if you want to risk paying the publisher if they have no identified history of successes. You should never invest in publishing your book with a pay to print company without a contract. However, if you are paying $1000 with 25 copies of your book and only 5% profit of all sales up to 5000 copies (as was offered by a company I went with) then you will likely not see much success from your large investment.

There are small publishing houses that promise editing services (for a fee), marketing services (for a larger fee), and cover design and formatting (for another fee) but the finished product sits on your shelf and are offered online without much movement on sales. Unfortunately, these pay to print publishers are more interested in making money than marketing your manuscript. They expect you to do the real work in marketing the product. Often this type of company offers editing that only includes spellcheck and making sure your manuscript fits into the formatting model to print. If your storyline doesn’t make sense, or has problems of verb tense or grammar usage, it will not be corrected. Make sure you speak to a representative that can answer all your specific questions about editing, marketing, and reimbursement for sales clearly – before you write them a check. Ask for a printed copy of their contract, and do not sign off or agree to anything on line that you have not thoroughly investigated.

The literary agent who has experience and references is the best representative of the author who intends to make a career of writing. Be aware that if the writer doesn’t get paid, the agent often does not get their commission.  If you have to pay the agent to represent you before you have a published work, then you are with the wrong agency.  Scammers are out there and will take advantage of an author who seeks instant fame and success from  writing. There are books, such as “Writers Market” by Robert Lee Brewer, and “Guide to Literary Agents” by Chuck Sambuchino that are a great reference for new authors looking for representation.

Self-publishing success is possible. There are writers who have self-published before getting picked up by large publishing houses. Using your search engine, investigate the following authors: Alan Sepinwall, Terry Hawkins, and Theresa Ragen. These authors all self-published and through smart self-marketing platforms and speaking engagements they brought attention from large publishers and agents.  There are those that will openly say that a self-published author is not really an author.  If you listen to those critics and stop writing, who does that benefit? As strong as those critics defend their point that real success is shown by your representation, I often refer them to the classical authors of 200 years ago who were never recognized in their time, but whom we now count as the masters of literature on which we base good writing techniques. If the writing is good, it will stand the test of time, no matter how well known the author.

The information is available at your fingertips to publish successfully if you have a realistic understanding that you will have to market yourself by using the technology available to you. My advice is to do your homework, believe in yourself, and never stop trying to improve your work.

It has been a couple years since I interviewed someone for an article or essay. Today I revisited this type of writing after an interview with a lovely lady entrepreneur in Columbus, Indiana. Her business  has taken off after only ten months and shows no sign of slowing down in growth. It was exciting to see another business woman succeeding.  It was also a challenge to step out of my comfort zone of editing and writing fiction to return to non-fiction. When a writer gets comfortable, their creativity can stall.  I know that when I am forced to write in a controlled manner with a limited word count, I have to pick and choose my words carefully. This results in my appreciation for journalism, and also reminds me of how much I enjoy the freedom that comes with writing fiction.

You Don’t Have to Be Old to Write a Memoir

Ann Frank wrote in her journal daily and her story has been told through a book and movie. Other authors who write do so to share their misery, their fame, their politics, or their ideas of how to do or not do what they did in life.  Writing down these moments of an individual’s life offers a public witness to their existence in the world. As people age, we often forget that our grandparents lived life much as we did. They had worries, bills, kids, friends, and jobs. They had hardship and sadness, and said things they regretted. All the people that ever existed lived with the same emotions we have today. The times were different, challenges different, but the emotions they had as friends, lovers, parents, and children were much the same as ours.

When we die and our children’s children take over this world, will we be remembered? Will a funny story we always told at Christmas be repeated or forgotten because we are long gone? Writing your story, writing any part of the life that you experienced, if only the memory of one special event, will become a treasure someday to a family member.

No memoir is a waste of time. Short or long, it leaves behind a trail to who we were in our family. It speaks from the past in a distinct voice that those who knew us heard clearly. It whispers to our grandchildren that they are because we were first.

It sounds a little desperate to grasp at witnesses to our being through writing. But that is what we do as writers. We are leaving bread trails with each word dropped so that someone, anyone will follow. Someone will note that we made the effort, that we were here. So write moments, write memories, and be proud of being at whatever age you are.

Writing Memoirs Workshop on February 15th at 9 am – Traylor Writing Services Center, 3025 25th Street, Columbus, In. Call 812-348-2590 to register now. Also Friday, March 1st Memoirs class available.