This is a read and heed post. No matter which way you turn, whoever you enlist for help, publishing a novel is fraught with pitfalls. Should you choose to traverse this path, be aware it will require your investment in the sturdiest, most supportive, and weatherproof hiking boots you can find. I suggest you also look into a compass, an emotional support dog (preferably one trained to assist the blind), a licensed massage therapist and a mentor who actually knows the publishing world, will read your manuscript, provide honest feedback, convey clear, constructive criticism, and (hope beyond hope) care more about facilitating your success than cashing your check. Do your research to build a team of professionals who will work for your success, and understand, that even then, you must be ever vigilant in the oversight of your project.
If you can accomplish all these things but writing no longer brings you joy, consider a career working for passionate authors who suck at marketing. If you are a gifted and prolific writer who struggles against the slings and arrows of marketing, for the love of mercy, hire people who can accomplish the heavy lifting.
If you are both, a marketer and an author worth reading, well, hallelujah! The heavens have aligned. You are a rare bird, indeed.
If you have a story, write it and celebrate the tale. You must love what you do before anyone else will.
I really appreciated your reflections on the challenges of choosing between traditional publishing and self‑publishing. So much of what you wrote resonated with me. I’ve been learning many of these lessons right alongside you, sometimes the hard way.
One thing I ran into recently — and I think it might help others who are just starting out — is that some of the platform rules changed in 2023. I didn’t realize that once my original categories, keywords, and metadata were submitted, I wouldn’t be able to update them later. I only found out after finally reaching someone who could explain what was going on. It was a tough surprise, but it really underscored what you’re saying about how unpredictable and ever‑shifting this landscape can be.
Thank you for opening up this conversation. It helps to know we’re all navigating these twists and turns together.
Liz thanks and my only objection is your advice on querying agents. Or chasing agents in any fashion. There are agents who have entire careers never reading an unsolicited query. There are agents who never heard of any agent anywhere reading an unsolicited query. There are agents who never saw a book published that was the result of an... You get the idea. The agent has to come to you.
This is a read and heed post. No matter which way you turn, whoever you enlist for help, publishing a novel is fraught with pitfalls. Should you choose to traverse this path, be aware it will require your investment in the sturdiest, most supportive, and weatherproof hiking boots you can find. I suggest you also look into a compass, an emotional support dog (preferably one trained to assist the blind), a licensed massage therapist and a mentor who actually knows the publishing world, will read your manuscript, provide honest feedback, convey clear, constructive criticism, and (hope beyond hope) care more about facilitating your success than cashing your check. Do your research to build a team of professionals who will work for your success, and understand, that even then, you must be ever vigilant in the oversight of your project.
If you can accomplish all these things but writing no longer brings you joy, consider a career working for passionate authors who suck at marketing. If you are a gifted and prolific writer who struggles against the slings and arrows of marketing, for the love of mercy, hire people who can accomplish the heavy lifting.
If you are both, a marketer and an author worth reading, well, hallelujah! The heavens have aligned. You are a rare bird, indeed.
If you have a story, write it and celebrate the tale. You must love what you do before anyone else will.
I really appreciated your reflections on the challenges of choosing between traditional publishing and self‑publishing. So much of what you wrote resonated with me. I’ve been learning many of these lessons right alongside you, sometimes the hard way.
One thing I ran into recently — and I think it might help others who are just starting out — is that some of the platform rules changed in 2023. I didn’t realize that once my original categories, keywords, and metadata were submitted, I wouldn’t be able to update them later. I only found out after finally reaching someone who could explain what was going on. It was a tough surprise, but it really underscored what you’re saying about how unpredictable and ever‑shifting this landscape can be.
Thank you for opening up this conversation. It helps to know we’re all navigating these twists and turns together.
Liz thanks and my only objection is your advice on querying agents. Or chasing agents in any fashion. There are agents who have entire careers never reading an unsolicited query. There are agents who never heard of any agent anywhere reading an unsolicited query. There are agents who never saw a book published that was the result of an... You get the idea. The agent has to come to you.
Excellent post. And accurate, I've experienced both tortures and am coming back for more