So You Wanna Be a Published Author? Here are 5 Key Things You Should Know
Skill Swapping
If you know me you know I love work trade and skill swapping.
That’s why when I saw a post pop up on a Skill Swap group on Facebook from a woman who was looking for someone to audit her website and give helpful feedback from a design perspective - I got excited! In exchange, she would dole advice about becoming a published author because she had gone through the process herself.
I’d been wanting someone I could talk to about the publishing world for some time because the path towards being published can be a daunting one. Because I’m a web designer who audits sites for a living, I reached out. She agreed to a meeting and the next day we scheduled an initial Zoom introduction.
At least that’s what I thought.
What ended up occurring was much more valuable than a meet and greet. During our 20 minutes together, she gave me a LOT of practical advice about not only getting published but also writing in general.
Here Were My Key Takeaways From My Brief Meeting With a Published Author
1/ If you find yourself waffling, or your brain is moving in lots of directions during your writing time, change up the medium.
Instead of click-clacking away at a laptop, pull out your trusty notepad and pen and write by hand instead. Your thoughts and ideas will become more clear when you are forced to slow down.
2/ If you are a nonfiction writer, don’t spend time writing a full manuscript.
Instead, focus on writing a great proposal and then reaching out to potential agents or publishers. Nonfiction agents will likely want to guide you during the writing process. If you submit a full manuscript there’s a good chance they will want to make lots of edits or tell you to rewrite completely. Save yourself the trouble!
3/ Allocate ample time to get samples of your writing published in various journals and media outlets.
Once your work is published on several sites you can submit these links along with your proposal when reaching out to agents. Or, in the case of the published author I spoke with, they might even reach out to you about writing and publishing a book.
4/ Network with the right people.
Getting published is highly dependent upon being in the right place at the right time…and on the connections you have. Increase your luck of being seen by making sure to follow publishers on social media platforms, interact with their content, and share links to your published articles on your platforms.
5/ Don’t expect to get rich.
Even if you do get signed, your publisher might ask for things such as additional pictures that you might have to pay out of pocket to obtain, for example. This can cut into your bottom line.
I have to be honest. Sometimes I wonder if my skin is tough enough to go through this process. I wonder if I have what it takes to stick it out until the end and not take all the rejection personally. And then sometimes the universe throws me a bone and says, keep going you got this. The meeting with a published author was my latest bone and I hope this blog post is YOUR bone.
As you go forth and navigate the publishing world, I recommend connecting with your why as often as possible. Ask yourself: Why do I want these ideas to spread? How do I want people’s lives to change after engaging with this content? Then print your answers on a big sheet of paper and hang it on your wall. That way when you do face rejection, you’ll be able to swiftly get back on that horse and try, try again.
Are you on the path of getting published? What do you find is your biggest challenge?
What Do Those Who Bring Their Creations to Fruition Have in Common? (Hint, One Word)
This past week I had the joy of joining the Rio Nuevo Publishing family. One of my clients read my announcement on Linkedin and sent me a message: Congrats on the new position, they are lucky to have you.
He thought I was being hired, as an employee.
Not this time buddy!
Though he meant well, I can’t help but recognize the irony in that congratulatory message.
For fifteen years I have been helping others promote their businesses, projects, startups, books, and events. And to be perfectly honest, I LOVE what I do. I love helping people recognize their talents and overcome imposter syndrome so that they can share their gifts with the world. I love it so much that I will keep doing that forever and ever, probably.
But now, a new day is dawning.
I am stepping out from behind the curtain and embarking on my own project, a Desert Animal Oracle Deck. I have been signed, as an author, with Rio Nuevo Publishing and I couldn’t be more thrilled. But as I embark on this journey I can’t help but feel like I want to inspire others who share a similar goal.
What separates me from anyone else who has a dream of getting published or bringing a creative project to fruition?
One word came to mind recently. That word is AUDACITY.
For some reason, audacity seems to be implanted in most Cis-white males at birth. The rest of us have to spend the rest of our lives learning it. The good news, however, is that it’s possible. Just look at this “shy”, “introverted”, “behind the scenes” lady who just stepped out from behind the curtain to delight fellow desert enthusiasts.
Here are the steps I took to claim my audacity, and get signed by a publisher:
I worked on my project daily, adding it to my daily to-do tasks just like I’d do with other paid client work.
I delighted in the creation of the project. I didn’t spend time thinking “this is going to make me a lot of money,” “this is going to help a lot of people,” or “this is going to make me insta-famous.” No, I worked on it daily because it made me happy. It piqued my curiosity. I enjoyed the organizational aspects and the insights it brought to my own life. I felt a sense of accomplishment every time I would finish another related task.
I was verrrrrry particular about who I shared the project with, especially in the beginning. Creative projects are fragile. Show them to the wrong person and one misplaced comment could have you drowning in a sea of self-doubt. Best if you keep the project to yourself in the beginning and then only share it with people who truly adore you - once you’ve got a body of work you are proud of, that is.
Create a killer proposal complete with images.
Tailor your pitch letter to the particular publisher. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. In my pitch letter, I said something like “I know I can do this alone, I have over a decade of experience helping authors and small business owners build their audiences, but I want to collaborate with someone.” Be bold! If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will either.
Start at the root.
Though I live in Berlin, guess who was the only publisher who wrote back that they were interested? A local Tucson publisher. Of course, this all depends on your subject matter, but don’t hesitate to hone in on your place of origin when beginning outreach.
And lastly - get ready to face rejection. I must have received dozens of rejections. I responded with grace and gratitude, asking for specific feedback on why it wasn’t a good fit. Most people responded politely and it made me feel good to know that though it wasn’t a perfect fit, the project still had merit.
There you go, now you have what it takes to take the world by storm and bring your creative projects to fruition. Audacity may not be your strong suit but by golly, it is EXACTLY what you need to make all your dreams come true. Just ask the Musks and Bezos of the world.