Why Write?
Why Write?
Because it's not wrong!
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I keep
getting asked questions about writing in general and my writing in particular.
In the next few posts, I’m going to try answering those questions.
While I’m
on the subject, don’t forget to check out GRIT, the arts magazine of Arts North
East ( https://artsnortheast.org/) and
if you have a short story or info about your other artistic endeavors, contact
the Executive Director at ed@artsnortheast.org
The first question is:
. Looking back over your 30+ years as a novelist, what is
the biggest lesson you wish you'd learned much earlier?
To answer
that question fully I think I should set up some back-ground.
Having been
involved in sales a little, I know that I’m not good at it or at advertising
and marketing. But I did know in the beginning that those aspects constitute a
large part of the so called “Successful Author”. So, I spent many years
attempting to find a traditional publisher, aware that they have experts in
those areas along with established distribution networks.
With the
direct approach taught in many writing tutorials I found that less than 10% of
queries are ever read by anyone and perhaps 1% of those opened receive a
response. Sometime around the third year I learned that any traditional
publisher who is diligent is also busy and responds to nothing that isn’t first
presented by an agent. I then discovered that any agent that is any good is too
busy to accept new clients.
After a
decade of this I must admit I was becoming angry. Publishers and agents have
lots of time to go to colleges, universities, Literary and Writer’s groups and
talk about the marvelous traditional publishing industry, but they don’t have
time to look at anyone’s manuscripts, including the attendees at the function.
Yes, I’d
still like to have a traditional publisher with the marketing and distribution
but I’m sorry I wasted over a decade and a half playing their silly game.
By going
the independent route, I discovered that there ARE readers out there hungry for
what I do. Which leads me to the second lesson.
In the
novels or “story” world you will want to upgrade stories as you make changes.
This may be because you’ve added a print to what was originally digital. It may
be because you want to link some character or an actual historical event to
another new story. There could be many reasons, but ALWAYS MAKE COPIES OF YOUR
REVIEWS! When you re-publish an existing
story in a new format, with a clarification, a new edit or for any other reason
those reviews will disappear and you’ll be starting all over from zero.
One good
review, including those with constructive criticism, is worth as much as
roughly four sales, not only in regards to fans and future sales but also in
your development as a writer, your ability to satisfy fans, and the growth of
what you saw as your original goal.
So, what is
the first lesson and the solution? If you can develop a relationship with a
traditional publisher or a literary agent DO So. But don’t stop your
development as a writer if you don’t have one. Write what you want, develop it
and move on to the next project. Go back and review those earlier works and
make sure they present what you want. Keep writing. Keep looking for a
publisher. Check out hose publishing opportunities that are cost free or very
nearly so. The two that I use, Amazon and Draft2Digital are virtually cost free
up front but then you pay for print copies. My son uses Lulu for print.
As for promotion of yourself and your writing, don’t forget a website
(https://theyounginevitables.com/ )
YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/@davemcgowan6231 )
All the social media sites you can put up with
( https://www.instagram.com/dmcg.owan99/
…. https://www.facebook.com/david.mcgowan.56
)
If you can
afford it, go to conventions and talk to authors. DO NOT listen only to some e
rebel outlaw in the BC Peace Country.
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