AndrewMackay

I read it and hear it all the time. It’s a version of this: “I just finished my manuscript and now I’m ready to publish. I don’t know anything about publishing. Tips for avoiding scams?”

And I think… How did you get here? And, maybe more importantly, friend, you aren’t where you think you are.

Don’t get me wrong, finishing a manuscript is an incredible thing. Props to you! Most people who aspire to write don’t ever reach that point. You feel like you’ve just summited Everest. And in some ways you have.

You’re at the start line, not the finish line.

But on the path to publication, it’s really important that you grasp that you’re at the starting line, not the finish line. You’re starting a long race that involves a whole lot of research, learning, and work.

You might decide that it isn’t for you. That’s okay. But, if you’re going to pursue publication, whether by a major publisher, by a small press, or as an indie-pubbed author, you’re just starting.

Some tips as you start:

• You’re going to have to learn at least the basic form of the publishing industry. I know, I know, you just want to write. But, if you want your work to reach an audience (notice, I didn’t say “out there,” or even “to be published,”), you’re going to have to get an education in how this whole thing works. There are trusted voices in the industry. Listen to them. Here are a few:
  • Joanna Penn
  • Jane Friedman
  • Carly Watters
  • Read them… listen to their podcasts. gather details. Build an understanding of what the process looks like. There are lots of options. I’ll talk about them in future posts, and try to clarify what I can, but there’s a lot to learn.
• There are lots of scammy things in the publishing world. But, writers are great, so we try to work together. Here are some tools for keeping yourself from falling prey to a scam:
  • Writers Beware – a subsection of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, this will keep you from reaching out to bogus agents, publishers, and contests.
  • Absolute Write Forums – another place to check out scammy folks in publishing.
• “Just put it out there to see what happens” isn’t a strategy worth trying. We know what happens. Nothing happens. No one reads it. I promise you, there are a bunch of good books being published today that will not find an audience. You don’t want to just put it out there to see what happens.
• Don’t get in a hurry. If you’re doing good research, you’re going to be learning about how slow publishing is. And then, you’re going to be clobbered with all these ads about how you can be published in weeks. What’s the deal with that? Don’t submit your details to any of the many vanity presses / publishing services companies / hybrid publishers who are excited to talk to you about your book. It turns out that there’s a huge industry on taking authors money from them in exchange for hope and empty promises. Don’t fall for that. If you find yourself talking to a “representative” within a couple of days of “submitting,” and they want to talk about your investment, it’s not what you think it is. I hesitate to use the word scam. Some of them definitely are. But some are simply offers to provide mediocre publishing services in exchange for fees. Either way, you’re not talking to a publisher.
• Start serving your intended audience early. I think this is the magic, and most writers get confused. It’s easy to think, “Oh, I should write for other writers.” In fact, I guess you could argue that’s what I’m doing here. But I know better than to think that other writers are the audience for my fiction. Try to answer the question, “Who is the ideal reader for my book?” You can probably think of some characteristics, some common traits among that audience. Then, start to serve those people. Not out of a desire to build a platform or sell books (although that’d be a nice side effect)… out of a desire to serve. Because ultimately, good books are acts of service. Good publishing is an act of service, an act of love.

You’re at the start line, and you’ve got a race to run… but that’s not a bad place to be!

I’ve been publishing books in some form or fashion for 20 years. There are parts of that 20 years that I’m not exactly proud of. And there are parts that have contributed some of the biggest blessings in my life.

I have conflicting feelings about the publishing industry, but I don’t doubt the powerful positive effect of reading good books. There’s a lot to unpack there, and I’ll probably try eventually. But, the research shows that reading is good for you. It’s good for you if you’re a child, a student, a grown-up, or even an old man or woman. Worried about your memory? Read. Feeling stressed out? Read. Want to perform better at school? Read. Reading is a good drug, y’all.

Publishing, on the other hand, is tough. I’ve never worked for a big five publisher. I’ve worked in the margins of publishing. In fact, I started out working for what was, essentially, a vanity press, although they would’ve denied the term. I’m guessing, or hoping, that the statute of limitations on all of the “holy cow, i can’t believe…” stories are well in the past. Especially since that company no longer exists. The owners were known to be a little litigious, though, so names and identifying details will be changed to protect… well, me.

But, since then, I’ve worked in page layout and design, in marketing, in editing, in distribution, and in production buying and management. I ran a mid-sized non-profit that was publishing a library of resources for the church for a handful of years. I’ve succeeded with some books. I’ve failed with some books. I’ve helped lots of other people succeed with some books, and I’ve helped lots of other people fail with some books.

Which, I’m confident, would be the same thing I’d say if I worked at HarperCollins or Scholastic or Tor. The details might be a little different here and there, but the truth is, publishing is hard, and it seldom feels like anyone knows exactly why anything works.

We’ve often talked about how to help other small creators to figure out whether there might be a business in publishing their books. I’ve resisted for the last ten years or so, because I feel painfully aware of just how much I don’t know. But as I watch people cast about on the internet for answers, I can’t help but think, “Oh, I do know the answer to that question…”

So, here we are. I want to try to be a resource for you. I have no plans to monetize it… I monetize publishing great kids books that are a gift to children and a huge win for parents, teachers, and other people who love those children. So, pull up a chair. Send me your questions, or don’t. I probably don’t know anything. But what I know, I’ll try to share here. Because publishing is hard. And good books are wonderful.