Errr…It’s Not Published Yet
Why have I set up my author website before my novel has been published? In fact, I don’t have a publishing contract yet.
It’s very easy to talk about success. That’s what everyone wants to hear: the rags-to-riches story, overnight success, and all that malarkey. But the truth is, life isn’t like that.
Most authors spend years trying to get their break (I hope that’s not going to be me!). They spend hours crafting individual query letters to agents in the hope they’ll make it out of the slush pile and into the hands of someone who will appreciate the hard work they’ve put into their work.
That’s why my site exists. To show you what it’s really like.
It’s a long path
I began researching and querying agents in March. It can be disheartening and frustrating in equal measure. In this case, I have spent years writing my novel, then editing and polishing it until it shines. Finally, I got up the nerve to send my baby out into the wild and wait for someone to love it as much as I do. Sometimes there’s silence. Then come the emails beginning, “Thank you for the opportunity to consider your work, but…” — words every querying author knows rather too well.
Does it knock me down? Absolutely. Will I give up? Not a chance. While I search for the right agent for this book, I’m carrying on with the next one, which I hope to finish by the end of the year. Then I’ll take a deep breath, make another cup of coffee and begin the adventure all over again.
I am also quickly learning which companies to trust. There have been a few that have wanted my book, but for a hefty fee. Yes, the dreaded vanity publishers. Those who take hard-earned cash and deliver very little in return.
Why not self-publish?
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against self-publishing. But I’ve been there, done that (many moons ago under a different name). Getting it published was easy, but getting people to read it - other than friends and family - is tough.
Marketing and promotion are needed in abundance, which are things I don’t have time for when I’m writing. I know that’s counter-intuitive: if I want to sell, I have to make it happen. But as with most authors, once one book is finished, I’m planning, plotting and writing the next.
This time I want to go down the traditional route, even though that means losing some editorial control and income (agent fees, etc.).
This is my journey
Using this as my platform, I want to document the journey of a querying author. I want to show that it’s not an easy thing to attempt. That it’s frustrating, soul-destroying, and not for the faint-hearted. I hope, in time, I’ll have something to celebrate with you.
However, in the meantime, I shall continue slogging away.
