We’re guessing that, through the course of your publishing career, you’ve made a mistake or two. Or, if you’re new to publishing and have a book on the verge of hitting helves, then you’re probably about to make several (enjoy!). To that end, the Murderers’ Row at the Thrill Begins decided to open up and each write about three things we wished we known before publishing a book.
(Obviously we’re flawless writers and have never done anything wrong, so we’re making all this up. Good thing we write fiction.)
(And we hope this helps.)
By Wendy Tyson
About a year ago, we moved into a new house—our third home in two years, marking what we hope is the final move in our relocation from Pennsylvania to Vermont. Just recently I finally got around to unpacking boxes that had been hurriedly assembled in Pennsylvania in 2017, boxes containing documents going back decades. Hidden amongst the old tax returns, paid bills, and report cards, was a folder labeled “Writing.” Inside that folder was one big dose of reality. Rejection letters (so many rejection letters). Half-finished manuscripts. And a spreadsheet from 2013, the year my first book came out, detailing the number of books I’d need to sell in order to quit my day job.
Did I mention I still work at that same day job?
Looking back, I had no real understanding of the unpredictability of the publishing industry or what it takes to sell books in today’s market. I love writing, and wouldn’t trade this journey for anything, but I’ve learned a lot in the last six-plus years. For one thing, writing is full of contradictions. It’s not a field for the faint-hearted. Gratitude is as important as perseverance, and understanding oneself can be as critical as learning craft.
So what would Today Me tell 2013 Me? Three primary things:
Writing is hard—and so is the business of writing.
Unlike my law job, my writing career didn’t take a linear path. I learned early that there is not always a direct correlation between hard work and publication, or even talent and financial success. It’s a matter of showing up every day and performing with no guarantee of reaching goals.
Back in 2013, my goal was to be a full-time author—or so I thought. I was convinced that if I said yes to everything, if I spent as much time and money as I could promoting my books, I’d be rewarded with sales. And so I signed up for blog tours and signings, held elaborate launch parties, paid for public relations and advertising.
Then I got my numbers. The first year post-publication was a rude awakening.
Discouraged when my long hours and dedicated efforts didn’t translate into the income I’d hoped for, I flirted with the idea of quitting. I even tried it for a spell. I quickly realized that my goal of financial success was perhaps naïve, and that I was writing for deeper reasons. I needed to write and, as trite as it may sound, the process of putting together words and sentences, the effort that went into learning and improving craft, was what I really loved about writing. Money might come and might not. I needed to remember why I wrote.
I wish now that I’d had a better sense of my own expectations. I also wish I’d had a better sense of what the market expected. Marketing matters a great deal in today’s publishing world, but that doesn’t mean giving in to every opportunity or distraction that comes along. Had I better understood my own motivations and the norms of the business, I might not have wasted so much time on things that didn’t much matter in the long run.
Find your tribe.
Before publication, writing was a solitary activity. As a mother and full-time attorney, I stole early mornings to write and evenings to edit. There was no time for networking and industry groups. I had no website, no real social media presence, and I certainly wasn’t holding myself out as an author. That will come later, I thought at the time, after I sell a book. Right now, I just need to focus on writing.
I was wrong.
I realize now that those authors who have the most exposure (and often success) have formed a community before getting that publishing contract. They join industry groups, volunteer at writers conferences, have a social media presence, and follow writers they admire.
I once met a woman at a writer conference who had written a book about children and art. Before it was picked up by a publisher, she and her husband spent months promoting other authors, posting informative articles about kids and art, and even attending conferences to give out coloring books and network. Once their book signed, they had tens of thousands of followers—and a solid network of authors willing to help them launch their own book.
Bottom line: it’s never too early to start getting involved.
Maintain perspective—but celebrate the successes.
So many writers are perfectionists—including me. If someone tells me they loved my book but then points out one thing that bothered them, I will obsess about the one piece of critical feedback and ignore all of the good. Sound familiar?
If you’ve been in this business a while, you know that writing takes a thick hide. There are the rejections. The unanswered emails and calls from agents and publishers. The negative reviews. Guess what? Not everyone you meet will be nice. Not every reader will like your work. You will be called upon to be your own biggest cheerleader and your own worst critic.
What I wish I’d known in 2013 was the importance of balance. Don’t get too upset about the rejections and negative reviews. Don’t get overly excited about the acceptances and positive reviews. Maintain perspective—it’s a good way to stay focused.
That said, I also wish I’d known how important it is to celebrate the successes, including the seemingly small ones. Savor the moment you type “THE END.” Have a glass of champagne to toast a new contract. Post that fantastic Publishers Weekly review online. And do it not only for yourself but for the people in your tribe. If it’s important to celebrate your own milestones, it’s just as important to celebrate your friends’ successes.
And then get back to work.
Wendy Tyson is a writer, lawyer, and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers. Wendy writes two mystery series, the Greenhouse Mystery Series and the Allison Campbell Mystery Series. Wendy is a member of Sisters in Crime, Penn Writers, and International Thriller Writers, and she’s a contributing editor and columnist for International Thriller Writers’ online magazines, The Big Thrill and The Thrill Begins. Wendy and her family live in Vermont. Find Wendy on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/WendyTysonAuthor), Twitter (@WendyTyson) and at www.WATyson.com.
To learn more about Tyson’s most recent novel, click on the cover below:
Previously in Three Things:
Comments
Great post, Wendy! YES to all of these.