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Top Ten Publishing Myths
by Erin Brown
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Editors and agents
aren’t looking for great writing anymore...it’s all about the
almighty dollar
Okay, there’s a bit of
truth to this, in that publishing is a business, and businesses
strive to make a profit. However, many, many authors who can’t find
an agent end up telling themselves that this is the reason. As if
their writing is simply too good to be published. This is not true
(sorry to that guy who will remain nameless who sent me a ten page
email about how brilliantly talented he is and that’s why he’s never
found an agent). Most companies will always continue to take on
books that have definite commercial and mass appeal (i.e. the
writing might not be great, but it will charm millions of people
nonetheless) so that they can afford to take chances on publishing
beautifully written masterpieces that might only sell a few thousand
copies. The business of publishing is a business, after all. But
remember that an editor’s ultimate goal is to find that gem that is
incredibly well-written, even if it will inevitably be financed by
some bestselling piece of schlock. Of course, there are also some
extremely well-written bestsellers, don’t get me wrong (The
Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Kite Runner, to
name just a few).
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Self-publishing will
make an author a bestseller
The odds of this are very,
very slim. I wrote an entire article on this concept a few months
back and received some irate emails in response (which I welcomed
wholeheartedly, although “You Suck” might’ve been a bit harsh for a
subject line, Marcia), but I stand by this. The chances of
self-publishing and finding anything remotely close to bestseller
status are a million to one shot, no matter who (or what
self-publishing company) throws around names like Mark Twain and
Shelley (let’s stick to the past one hundred years, shall we, when
commercial publishing as we know it actually exists?), Walt Whitman
(poetry is not considered a commercial subject), and L. Frank Baum
(he did indeed self-publish his chicken-farming manuals, but not his
notable Oz series), etc. Self-publishing can be a legitimate route
if you want to see your work in print and can devote your entire
life and money to self-promotion, with the realistic (and
legitimate!) goal of selling a few thousand copies. That’s nothing
to scoff at, but just be realistic with your ambition.
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“I don’t need an
agent.”
Yes, you do. An agent will
protect your interests, use their know-how and connections to find
the right editor and house for your book, get you the best deal, and
do the work for you! Also, if you can’t find an agent to take on
your book, it is a good sign that you need to go back to the drawing
board. There’s no shame in this, just move on to your next project.
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Publishers take care
of all of your marketing and publicity
A publishing house can do
a lot for you, especially if they are devoting a lot of money to
your project, but self-promotion, especially for smaller, debut
authors (i.e. books without a huge budget, at least initially) is
key for finding success. I can’t tell you what a difference author
motivation and self-promotion makes to a book’s ultimate success.
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Talented authors get
huge advances
Assume that you will get a
few thousand dollars and if you’re happily surprised and your book
starts a bidding war, consider that a one in a few thousand
blessing! Remember that advances were originally given to struggling
authors who literally needed money for food while they were
finishing their books. If your book finds success, it will come back
to you in royalties anyway. So count on just enough of an advance to
stock your refrigerator and pay a few bills. Anything more will be
unexpected gravy!
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Illustration by Jennifer Paros - Copyright 2010
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Editors will be able
to devote most of their time to your book
Most editors are juggling
multiple authors and books per season. So although it’s reasonable
to ask for, and get, the best effort for your book, don’t expect an
editor to devote a majority of their time to you, no matter how
important you think you are. Once you’ve reached bestseller status,
then an editor will kiss your butt (and should!).
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An author should
never give up on the submission process, no matter how long it
takes.
Once you’ve gone through a
strong list of agents, and have been at it for over six months, it’s
probably time to revisit your novel (make some changes), query
letter, or set it aside completely and start on a fresh project that
might make more of an impact. It’s not that the agents are simply
not appreciative of great work—perhaps the work isn’t truly great
yet.
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All published authors
should expect to hit a bestseller list or their publishers have
failed
Many, many (did I say
many?) books don’t reach bestseller status, and that’s okay. You can
still make a living without ever making it on the New York Times
list. And you can get fantastic reviews and acclaim without
attaining bestselling status. Often, it takes many years and books
to get these types of sales. On the other hand, some people just get
lucky, for a variety of reasons, and hit the list on their first
try. But this is extremely rare. Be realistic and you’ll sleep
better at night.
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The bigger the agent,
the better
Often, smaller agents can
devote more time to you and your book. Sure, bigger publishing
houses usually give faster first looks and respect to the more
established agencies, but that doesn’t mean they shut out smaller
agents. There are many respected agents who have smaller lists and
makes some historic sales. So don’t rule them out. There’s a lot to
be said for personal attention.
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Once your book is
sold, you can give up your day job
I can’t tell you how many
authors do this. Please, don’t. I’ll say it again. Don’t give up
your day job until your royalties can pay all of your bills and
more. And especially don’t give up your day job to write full
time as an unpublished author unless you have a trust fund, a recent
inheritance, or an extremely supportive spouse who is willing to be
the only breadwinner for years or possibly forever. This is the most
important piece of advice I can give, especially in this economy.
There’s a lot to be said for following your writing dream, and you
should, but don’t be foolish about it.
More
Author Articles...
Erin Brown worked as an editor in New York City for
over eight years. She recently left Manhattan to start her own
freelance editorial business. To learn more about Erin, visit her
website at www.erinedits.com
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