The Tears and Triumphs of a New Author - Chapter 8

The Tears and Triumphs of a New Author

Chapter 8

We were getting really excited as the story of Walt and Maggie filled page after page. With the new title in place, we actually began to consider how we were going to get the book into print.
Being new to the writing business, we knew absolutely nothing about publishing.
So where do you go to get information about something new? The internet, of course!
If you do a Google search on “How to publish a book”, a bazillion pages pop up in front of you.
So I would write as long as I could and study the internet when I couldn’t write anymore. Between sessions of editing, Peg would study as well.
After exhausting research, we concluded there were three ways to get ‘Lady Justice’ into print: to be picked up by a traditional publisher: to be marketed to publishers by an agent or to self-publish.
Up until now, everything had been fun. I loved writing and Peg loved previewing and editing. We laughed and talked and dreamed a lot.
Then, we got our first reality check.
In the real world of writing, the chances of a new, unknown author being accepted and promoted by a large established publisher are slim and none. And unfortunately, it has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the manuscript.
Being an author is like any other practitioner of the arts, whether it’s music, dance or oil painting.
Peg and I love to watch ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ on TV. Each season, tens of thousands audition for the show but only twenty actually make it. Same thing with ‘American Idol’. But at least someone looks at their work.
Likewise, tens of thousands of new novels are written each year and according to statistics on the internet, less than 2% have any chance of success.
Not great odds.
I began collecting names of publishers and looking at their websites. What I found really put a damper on the whole writing business.
A large percentage of the companies had posted messages saying, “We are not currently accepting submissions”. Many others had the message, “No un-agented submissions accepted”.
Those companies accepting submissions typically said, “We respond to queries in 2-3 months, submitted manuscripts in 6-9 months, and, if accepted, publish within 2 years. 5000 annual submissions, 30 titles published”.
Sorry, I’m 66 years old. I’m afraid I can’t wait that long. I may be dead before you read my book!