Writers go through similar stages before they finally see their manuscripts between covers, but from what I’ve learned, they usually go through them in exactly the opposite way that they should.
Here’s what I think is typical based on my conversations with other writers and my own beginning as one.
WRITE A STORY
SUBMIT THE MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION OR SELF-PUBLISH
SET UP BLOG TOURS/BOOK SIGNINGS
BUILD A NETWORK OF FOLLOWERS.
If I had it to do again, I’d reverse those steps; at least I’d put “Build a Network” right up there with “Write the Story.” Why? Because once you do publish a book, you’re going to need a lot of people in your corner to help spread the word and bring you chocolates to keep you going. This upside-down plan is important regardless of whether you’re self-published, working with a small press, or working with a large one. The competition in today’s writing/publishing industry is fierce. In 2017 1,000,000 print and eBooks were published in the U.S. alone. How are you going to make any waves in a sea as big as this if you’re all alone?
Besides with a network, you’re not always having to be the one to say, “Look at my book.” The Me. Me. Me. gets pretty old across your social media very quickly.
As a writer of Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction, I’ve found two groups that have helped through a lot of learning curves and into publication. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators showed me the ropes early on. I attended their regional conferences, started meeting other new writers, and connecting with established and savvy ones. When I sold my first novel, I attended the New York Winter Conference and was so motivated to keep writing that I started my second novel in my hotel room during the days I was there. They’ve provided a wealth of knowledge and support that helped me build my network and complete eleven books (eight published so far).
When I first heard about The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, I wondered what benefit I’d get from becoming a member. The key word was SUPPORT. While they offered a lot of great information from writing professionals, they also were there when I considered giving up or didn’t have a fresh idea, and they quadrupled my online social media network. Remember, I’d done it all backwards: published, and then started connecting with writers and readers.
These are my thoughts on “If I Had It To Do Again.” What are yours? Do you agree or do you have other ideas about this writing/publishing business?
And now what you’ve been hoping I get to…all the news from #IWSG
Join Us Today
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
August 7 question – Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you’d forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?
The awesome co-hosts for the August 7 posting of the IWSG are
Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner!
The short answer to this question is my writing always takes me by surprise. Here’s a list of some of those surprises:
- A publisher actually paid me for my first book, and then asked for a second.
- I wrote more than the one book I intended.
- New ideas keep appearing. I never knew I’d be interested in so many topics–most of which I know little to nothing about until I start a book.
- My current WIP has taken on a life of its own, and I’m writing a totally different book than I set out to write.
I can only imagine what’s going to happen if I keep doing this. Great question, BTW!
We have a new ADMIN at IWSG. Thanks for stepping up and helping us out Juneta Key.
Love having you here. If you haven’t seen her blog, The Writer’s Gambit, go take a look. It’s amazing
The next WEP is here. You can read about how to sign up HERE.
This looks like quite an interesting theme. Love the contents of the red wheelbarrow!
The entries for the next IWSG anthology are coming in folks. Do you have yours ready? Better get cracking. Time’s a wastin’. HERE’s all the information about what to submit and how to submit it.
In my Email Connect today I’m offering an Instant Book to subscribers. I think it’s a nice promotional tool for authors when they’re at book events. Inexpensive and fun. Here’s a YOU TUBE video if you’d like to see how they’re made.
Quote of the Month: “I never want to do the same things twice. I like surprises.” Anonymous
I’m a little behind in commenting here. I’m getting my post ready for the September IWSG. I completed and submitted a short story for the next anthology. Congrats to you on all your surprises, creations, and networking. You do a fantastic job, a role model for me!
Cheers!
Mary at Play off the Page
I’m behind, too. In fact, thanks for reminding me have to post tomorrow! Yikes.
Yes, building a network and meeting your writing tribe is so important.
It seems many of us agree on this. Must be due to experiences we’ve had along the way.
Having support is so important. I feel lucky for all the blogging, writing, and reading buddies I have met!
Thanks for sharing the video. I will have to check it out. 🙂
My network is one of the biggest reasons I keep doing this. They are great people.
We don’t realize how important a support group is when we start out in this biz. My 1st was Romance Writers of America and, more importantly, its local chapter. I learned a lot from them, but it’s the support from the members I value the most. Since then, esp. now in this digital age, I’ve discovered a larger support system. IWSG is high on my list of supporters. It’s so amazing how our members support each other, bolstering us up, commiserating through rough times, and teaching up by example how to be a good supporter. Hurray for IWSG!
You’re a wonderful IWSG member, Diane. I’m glad you feel your membership is valuable.
I think the traditional path is okay for most writers because it is unlikely that their first book gets published. Many authors have a limited amount of time to write and I’m more creative when I’m not focussed on the publishing side of things. (But I will admit, splitting the chores is not time efficient.) New writers can increase their web presence as they work on their second project(and third, and …) It would be good to have exposure to the wealth of information about querying online before you begin so you don’t make too many rookie mistakes.
Unfortunately, my first book did get published, so I was scrambling like mad to find out how to tell the public what had happened. It was not a good experience, but I learned and I learned fast.
I’m going through that publish/launch thing at the moment and one thing I’d certainly do, if I ever did it again, would be to suspend normal life until you’re finished. Of course, that’s not possible. But you need to concentrate on delivering your baby and it’s quite hard to do that when you have to stop for meals, mow the lawn, deal with completely unrelated issues and be nice to the people you love. In fact, it might be easier to have a baby – and in my case that would probably make more money than the book 🙂
Very funny, Mike! I’d love to hear how having a baby nets a profit. Mine always cost a fortune. As to being nice to those you love…yes. We must do that.
Totally did it the same way as you did. I barely knew blogs existed when I published, and just kind of did it because a friend told me about how easy self-publishing had gotten, and I just wanted to make it a real book. NOW I know what I didn’t then, but still struggle to build a “platform.” SO glad for the IWSG and all the support I get, from kind words to people willing to share my new released.
I hear exactly what you’re saying. Until all of this, I thought a platform was something you waited on for a train. Live and learn.
That mini book is a great idea! I agree that networking in the beginning is vital. It helps with marketing, but also with getting connected with others who can involve you with conferences and book signings.
I thought I had a fan base that would expand exponentially. That naive idea was based on the premise that one friend would tell two friends, and those two friends would tell four, and so on. After my first novel was published and all my friends and some family members purchased it, I sat back thinking the wave of fans would grow from those contacts. It never happened. Since then I’ve worked on blogging and posting in facebook weekly hoping to raise more followers. It’s not working. I can’t find my novels’ target group and they can’t find me. I’m beginning to accept that I don’t have that ‘look at me’ personality on line.
You’re competing with a very large pool of writers–from those published by a big firm, a small one, and themselves. The floodgates are open and swimming well isn’t enough anymore. Now you have to STAND OUT. There are all kinds of suggestions in how to do that, but frankly getting people to look at you also takes a combination of factors–and this is my opinion–a niche that is popular (romance and thriller come to mind), a brilliant presence (I’m still in favor of blogs over everything else–old-fashioned in such a short time), money and a dose of luck. Of course, if your end product isn’t up to par, none of this is going to do much for sales over time.
I wish you the best. Don’t give up or you’ll never find out what you could do in this business.
Great comment. I so appreciate it.
I absolutely agree. My husband used to ask me why I spend so much time on social media, but building a network is really important and valuable when starting out. I’ve found the writing community to be very friendly, helpful and supportive. 🙂
They truly are supportive and essential. Thanks for the visit, Debbie. I appreciate your comment.
Hi Lee,
I agree … the question is a fascinating one… I also agree with building a network. This community is amazing and very supportive. I’ve been blogging for ten years now, and I am thrilled I’ve been apart of it. When it’s my time for publication, I’ll be ready and excited knowing all of you are out there to back me up as I have done for others over the years.
Hi Michael,
We’re ready and willing whenever you give us a call! You’ve been a long-time cheerleader for many of us and that has helped so much.
Love it. I said writing is always surprising me, too, only your reasons were far better! 🙂
I liked this question because the answers from authors were varied and interesting.
I agree with you there.
Great post. I too would have done things differently, if only I had known.
I too find that connection with other writers and support groups to be critical. I’m so happy to have discovered IWSG and WEP.
Great to have you here, Toi.
Conferences are always so motivating to me. And getting contracts for books lifts me up and inspires me to keep writing.
Both of those are super motivators!
I think everyone does it backward to start unless they’re lucky enough to get the right information from the beginning. I’d have certainly focused on building my network first. But better late than never, right?
I always work on that principle. Well, I have to because it seems I start projects and then find out I’m doing it wrong. There’s a famous quote about that and it helps. ” If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.” Or something like that. In any case, that’s my mantra. 🙂
I agree with you about networking. Your author’s network needs to be in place before you hit “Publish”.
Hi Olga. Glad we’re on the same page.
How cool that you started writing a novel at a conference, C. Lee!
I agree that it’s important to have a network in place before publishing. I wish I’d done that, too.
Looking back it has been one interesting part of my life, this writing.
I have heard about building a network first. I still don’t know how to do that.
I think I’ll do a post about it. Thanks for leaving this comment, Liz.
Hi Lee. Couldn’t agree more. My go to is the 20booksto50k FB group which is all about preparing for that launch by collecting supporters by way of an email ‘scooper’ and various other ways then mastering Amazon ads. Quite rightly you ask how can you be seen amongst 1,000,000+ new books every year. Advertising, as ugly and expensive and time consuming as it is, is the only way I see to sell more than a handful of books. Not that I’m an expert, but I’m studying to become one, LOL. And of course I belong to less radical groups like Womens Fiction Writers etc, but that’s for more traditional publishing.
You are a dynamo, Denise. I know you’re doing all of this right.
I’d have to agree. It’s so important to build that network of supporters. It helps more, though, if you focus on like-minded people. Readers who love your genre, writers who write in the same genres or to the same market.
My problem has always been that I love to read almost everything. I draw the line at erotica, outside of Anaïs Nin, whose prose is exquisite. So I like to connect with authors of all kinds of different genres. Not the best strategy, but that’s how I roll.
Yeah, I say go backwards too. Having some sort of network is the way to be. Although with so many networks and millions on them, it can be rough. Plus, it isn’t what it used to be. Blogging wise anyway.
So many have cut back–that would include me. I grew weary of writing/reading the same things on blogs all the time. Perhaps other feel as I do and that might be why blogging has declined among writers. I’m just guessing. Not an authority by any means.
You have it right, Lee. I did everything wrong in the beginning. Still do sometimes, but I’m learning and some day, I may learn the rules. Thanks for a great post.
All wonderful surprises:) I think you are right about most of us starting backwards:)
I love your instant book, it’s such a great idea! And kids will really love it too.
I didn’t join the IWSG right away. Why it took me so long, I still have no idea! Duh! And I’ve heard lots of good things about the SCBWI.
I didn’t join right away either. In fact, I’m now trying to remember when I did join and how I connected with the group. Glad you’re on board, Madeline,
All my writing groups are online. Yours sound awesome. I started with a website then networking some and email while writing, and it has taken me this long to action take action to do something other than writing and talk about it. So I can’t speak to the order of doing. Thank you for the shout out.
It’s all about that “tyrant time.” Thanks Mr. Shakespeare.
Thanks for sharing! Networking is one of the hardest parts.
It is indeed.
I’m a member of SCBWI too and find that group very helpful. Though I haven’t gone to a conference in a long time. And I love the support of the IWSG. I agree with you that networking early is important.
You’ve done such a great job with networking on your blog. I’m in awe whenever I visit and find the great interviews that you do.
I wish I were good at networking! It feels like a lot of the people from the writing blogosphere I was friends and acquaintances with 5-10 years ago are no longer actively blogging, and it’s harder to connect with the people who arose in their place. Building a strong, successful network is a very difficult task, particularly when you have to largely do it all over again with new people.
You’ve really hit on a major issue, Carrie-Anne. I’ve found the same. Just when I’ve built up my following, the people pull back in their promotional efforts. I know I’m one who has. I started blogging daily!!!! Then I went to weekly!! Now I blog once a month, but I do send out an email also, so that’s something. I guess this networking is sisyphean in character.
Woot for getting paid for your writing and then getting asked to write some more!
I think I enjoy networking with people more than I like releasing a book. 🙂
Oh absolutely! It’s meeting the people that is exciting. Those book launches are the worst. 🙂 Yet, we do it, don’t we? Is author a synonym for masochist?
In my (very limited) writing experience, the pieces where the characters take control are often the best. Looking forward to reading your WIP.
Another thing which my grumpy reading self thinks is neglected in the path to publication is editing. A too often sadly neglected/skipped over essential.
I spent a couple of years writing some books and then spent the next ten years learning how to write. How backwards is that! 😀 But it did lead me to join a novel workshop where I met the most wonderful people I’ve ever met. I couldn’t have done it without their overwhelming support. It was literally a life-changing experience.
That’s a great story, Kurt. I’m so glad you’re enjoying this writing/publishing business. I know it’s the people that keep me going.
I agree. Writing groups are awesome. I would have given up by now, with them. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Yep!
I did it the same as you. I wrote the book, signed a contract with a small pub, and then started trying to learn about that whole online writer thing. I stumbled on the IWSG and it was my life saver.
I think I just didn’t believe anyone would publish a book I wrote. In fact, when I wrote the first story, I didn’t write it for publication. I’m now scratching my head about why I even submitted it? Oh, well, if this had been easy, I would have moved on to something else by now.
Hi Lee – I agree with the others … they always said build your email list/network – that’s why I’m so pleased to be a part of this supportive group of bloggers … amazing people here. Love the idea of the Instant Books – clever … especially as a start out product … cheers Hilary
We do have some very special people here, and we seem to be in for the long haul. Glad you liked the idea of the Instant Book.
I didn’t know Juneta was a new admin. Congrats! I have a feeling she will do great!
We really appreciate her.
Def build a network of friends first! I learned this the hard way. Now that I’m writing more books, I’ve worked hard to build a following of both students and parents.
Great networks to develop!
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
It’s great to see you this month, dear friend! I thoroughly enjoyed your video in which you played Show and Tell with your Instant Book. I agree it is a great promotional tool for authors to hand out at events. Like you I have found that my written works often change direction and wind up quite different than intended, but usually better as a result. The worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is to believe that you don’t have anything more to learn about a particular discipline. Support groups, conferences, seminars and workshops always provide a wealth of new information and enable you to improve. I agree that having a network in place in advance expands your reach dramatically, making it easier to get your work noticed and purchased.
Have a wonderful month, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Your comments are always the best, Shady! My Show and Tell makes me laugh when I see it. Is that really how I sound? Can’t be!
I’ll be around to see what you’re up to soon.
The networking part is so important. I’d place it on par with the writing. Establish early.
That seems to be the consensus.
Your right! Since I haven’t published yet, I sorta doing it that way. And the network has help me keep going when things are rocky.
I love the instant book! I can see that as being a great giveaway a many events!
It can be a long way from writing to publishing, so support along the way is invaluable. Re that Instant Book: I’m a lousy origami folder, so I need lots of practice to get those right.
That’s why I’m glad to have found this great network of blogger buddies before I’ve even finished my book. Hopefully I’m doing at least one thing right!
You sound like me with the “doing one things right” comment. It’s a huge forest and finding a path through it isn’t easy!
Maybe I’m doing something right – my online writing buddies are the best!
Now, just to get the books out there! Soon!
You’re the smart one, Jemi!
Well, I haven’t got a book, but do have a few people who follow me on Facebook, Linkedin and my blog… That aside, my first surprise was writing a historical piece and having it published (it was my first attempt at publishing) with just a little editing required. While it was not paid, it was a juror-ed journal which carries more academic weight.
That sounds like a great surprise and a great success.
I wrote more than the one book I intended!
So glad you have gotten so much from the IWSG. The support pays off big time.
Those second, third etc. books are really big surprises.
Completely agree with you on building a network. There’s no way I would have ever managed to write and publish my first book without the support and encouragement of members of the IWSG. Folks offered to beta read, reviewed ARC copies, and helped out with blog tours. I’m beyond grateful 🙂
We are very lucky to have such a great supportive group!