What I Wish I'd Known About Traditional Publishing
Written by: Carla Laureano (Featured Contributor)
Like every other young aspiring author, I had dreams of literary stardom. The only depictions of authors in the media were bestsellers - the kind who did press junkets and packed-house book signings and stints on morning television.
The glamorous photos on the back of glossy hardcovers - female authors draped over elegant divans - did nothing to disabuse me of the notion that life in traditional publishing was all champagne and roses.
Of course, as I got older and spent years writing, revising, submitting, and getting rejected, I realised that the truth of the author life was much different. Even after I began attending writer conferences and hobnobbing with established authors, the outlook was very cheery. After all, no one wants to discourage aspiring writers from pursuing their dreams!
Even once I made close friends in the author community who would be honest about the writing life, my experience varied from theirs so much that the traditional publishing process still took me by complete surprise.
Had I known a few more real facts, I think I would have spent less time in those early days worrying and more time planning for the future.
It takes longer to break in than you think
I can't tell you how many emails I get from aspiring authors that say "I finished my first book. Now, how do I get it published?" Realistically, there's an apprenticeship period involved in writing fiction, and no matter how talented, no one gets to skip over it.
I've published fourteen books to date, and there's an appreciable difference in quality and confidence between my first and the last. That's not counting the half-dozen full manuscripts I wrote and revised over the course of fifteen years before I nabbed an agent and a traditional publishing contract - along with a coveted romance writing award for my debut. Had I published before I was ready, I wouldn't have been able to start my career on a high note and gain a reputation for quality work.
Even if you plan to self-publish, submitting to literary agents and publishers, and even contests is still worthwhile to grow your ability as a writer and gauge your book's potential success in the market. Don't be in such a hurry to see your book in print that you miss the opportunity to make yourself into a great - not just good - writer along the way.
You must always submit your best work
Traditional publishing has always been extraordinarily competitive, and that has never been truer than today. Publishers are merging, imprints are being cut, and a sea of independently published books vie for reader attention. In this difficult climate, editors are looking for the next bestseller, passing over excellent manuscripts they would have snapped up only years before.
That means that your first shot in front of an editor or agent could be your only shot. Everyone occasionally submits work before it's ready, but there's no excuse for slipshod, hastily executed, or poorly proofread material. Agents and editors understand that it takes time to develop as a writer, but they don't forgive submissions that make it obvious the author didn't do their homework.
Spend time with market and formatting guides. Read good books on self-editing and apply the principles therein. Review - and review again - the submission guidelines on the agent's website.
What if you're not sure that your work is ready to be submitted?
Join a local critique group or a manuscript swap through one of your national genre associations. If you're pressed on time and you want to make sure you don't miss out on a good opportunity, such as a publisher accepting unagented manuscripts or a line expansion, you may wish to hire a literary consultant, like Marginalia Manuscripts, to conduct a manuscript critique. Just be sure that your literary consultancy is qualified and knowledgeable; if you’re not sure, request a free sample edit or critique of the first few pages of your manuscript to make sure you're a good match. We’re happy to provide this at Marginalia Manuscripts.
Traditional publishing is a game of "hurry up and wait"
Congratulations! You've made it through the gauntlet of submissions and gatekeepers, and a real publisher wants to buy your work! That means that it will be on the shelf in no time. Right?
Sure... if no time means twelve to twenty-four months.
In order to have time to adequately edit, design, and market books - particularly for a debut author - publishers contract books up to two years in advance of their publication date. And that two years will be filled with a lot of "hurry up and wait", quick deadlines and turnarounds, followed by long periods of inactivity. That's okay because you should be busy writing your next book, especially if you were contracted for a multi-book deal. Just expect to get interrupted multiple times for content edits, line edits, copy edits, marketing questionnaires, cover consultation (if you're fortunate), and a host of other small details that will be required to successfully launch your literary baby into the world.
Which brings us to the next reality...
You're no longer just a writer; you're a marketer and a small businessperson
Sadly, social media ended the days of a writer happily typing away on the next novel while their publisher worked hard to make them a media success. Readers want and expect regular contact with authors, which means that a large part of the marketing effort has shifted onto us. On one hand, who is more passionate about your book than you? On the other, at least 60% of your time will now be dedicated to things other than writing.
You'll need an author website, whether you cobble together a simple one yourself with a WordPress theme or hire a professional developer to design one. You'll need to start gathering followers on your preferred social media sites by posting content that will appeal to your book's target audience. You should also begin to compile a mailing list so you have a way to reach interested readers when it's published.
How much money you spend will be determined by the size of your advance (the money paid upfront when your book is contracted). If you got a large advance (mid-five figures) then of course you'll want to put more money into your website and pre-publicity efforts. If you're like most first-time authors who are fortunate to get something in the mid-to-high-four figures, then keep your expenditures modest. Remember, you're still a year or two out from publication and at least another six months after that from seeing your first royalty statement.
Your first book probably won't make you rich
Unless you're one of those rare and fortunate authors whose books tap into something in the zeitgeist and set off a multi-publisher bidding war, your book will probably be contracted for a modest advance and go on to sell a modest number of copies.
Very few authors get rich off their first book (or third, or tenth). It can take five to ten years to generate an audience in commercial fiction through traditional publishing, and while it's possible to make a very respectable living off writing, it's also good to keep your expectations reasonable.
Don't quit your day job when your book is published. Besides the obvious irregular nature of royalty payments, requiring your writing to support you and/or your family is a pressure that neither you nor your career is quite ready to bear. When it's time to go full time, you'll know.
Traditional publishing isn't the only game in town
So, what happens if you dive into the world of traditional publishing and find out it's not for you? Maybe the process is too slow, your first book doesn't sell well, or you had a bad publishing experience. Or, like me, you might have niche ideas that won't sell well to the wider market.
There's always the option of indie publishing.
It requires an entrepreneurial spirit, a willingness to take on even more roles, and a certain amount of confidence (and seed money) to get started. But there are hosts of groups, websites, and organizations devoted to helping indie authors have successful careers.
Still, the traditional publishing vs self-publishing question isn't an all-or-nothing consideration.
As long as your non-compete clause in your traditional publishing contract doesn't prohibit it, there's no reason you can't follow a hybrid publishing model, putting out indie works between your traditionally published books. Many authors successfully leverage the quicker pace of self-publishing and the bigger initial audience of traditional publishing into a very successful - if fast-paced - career.
You're not forever bound by the choices you make now
If you're now completely overwhelmed by the myriad options and considerations, never fear. The decisions that you make now don't bind you to a specific course forever.
While you certainly want to be intentional about your choices - don't start out publishing erotica and expect to transition into children's books under the same name. But keep in mind that it can take a few tries for authors to find out what genre, length, or publishing model feels right for them.
Some of us publish multiple genres in multiple markets and models simultaneously; some of us switch midstream. Just don't let your concerns about making the wrong decision stop you from taking a step forward.
You are now officially more informed than I was when I took my first steps toward traditional publishing. Keep writing, polish your work, and don't be afraid to take chances - if you maintain a positive but realistic attitude and keep moving forward, a great adventure in publishing awaits you.
Hiring Literary Consultants in the UK
Should you be searching for a literary consultant in the UK to provide you with constructive feedback on your manuscripts, take a look at the rest of the Marginalia Manuscripts website. Our literary consultants offer both manuscript assessments and plot assessments, and they can provide you with a professional, in-depth novel critique when you’re finished with your draft.
The cornerstone of our manuscript assessment service is delivering the complete, unvarnished truth, but in such a way that provides inspiration, encouragement and ongoing support throughout your writing journey. Contact us today to receive some professional feedback from one of our literary consultants.