Chapter 12 - On Publication

I spent a lot of time researching the publication path I wanted to take and knew without a doubt that at least initially, I wanted my work independently published.  I learned pretty quickly that unless you are an “A list” author at a Big 6 house, there isn’t a lot of money in anyone’s budget for marketing.  I knew there was a very good chance I was going to be pounding the pavement to establish my brand, regardless of where I ended up and decided to maintain my copyrights, control, and royalties instead of handing them over to an agency.  I’ve never regretted my decision for a minute and am proud to say that I’ve found great success in the path I’ve chosen.  However, I am always open to negotiation should the right deal come along.

With that being said, I wish I would have known how dynamic the industry is, always changing the rules just when you get the hang of it.  I wish I’d been told how much time and effort I would need to spend on marketing outside the hours I spend writing.  And I also wish I’d known from the beginning how isolating it was going to be. 

So to new authors I say:

Trust your gut.  Be true to yourself not only in your writing but in your marketing as well.  Surround yourself with great authors who understand what it’s like in the trenches and will help pull you up by your bootstraps.  Know that your books won’t be liked by everyone and that’s okay.  Just because a few people don’t like meatloaf doesn’t mean others won’t think it’s delicious.  Find an editor who isn’t afraid to be brutally honest.  And above all else, keep reading and keep writing.