I don't know.
So I'm working on this book, right, and I have no idea what to do with it.
Here's the back story:
I wrote a book years ago. I thought it was a great story. Sent out queries. A few came back with requests, I sent out chapters, got rejected. The rest of the SASEs that came back from the queries were rejections. Project went nowhere.
I wrote 75% of a second book, also years ago but not as far back on the timeline. I knew it was a great story. Sent out queries before the book was done. Almost all came back with requests. Characters were painted into a corner, leaving me with nothing to send out. Project went nowhere.
Last Christmas I imagined the characters from the second book living out their adventure in the setting and context of the first book. Everything came together and I'm two weeks away from typing The End. Project is destined to go somewhere...but where?
Here's the dilemma:
I have been following the development of self-publishing for a long time. There are so many ways to publish, distribute, and market my own book now, why even bother with an agent or a publisher?
I realize, though, that I know little to nothing about the way things work in the actual publishing world. I have only the Internet to guide me, an Internet known more for contradiction than for dependability.
When I used to sell technology education to people, one of the objections I would hear frequently was, "I already know everything in your program and I used it to set up a network in my house." To this I would say, "I have no doubt that you know your stuff. But without the certifications on your resume to prove it, what is going to be the thing makes a hiring manager call you in for an interview?"
Without a presence in Barnes and Noble, what is going to be the thing that makes a reader pick up my book?
Without a well-known publisher, what is going to be the thing that makes a reviewer spend her time critiquing my work?
Without a qualified agent, who is going to be the one to champion my writing?
I started developing a self-publishing marketing plan several weeks ago, and to my eyes it looks great. But in reality...I just don't know.
Why doesn't wisdom equate to courage?
Here's the back story:
I wrote a book years ago. I thought it was a great story. Sent out queries. A few came back with requests, I sent out chapters, got rejected. The rest of the SASEs that came back from the queries were rejections. Project went nowhere.
I wrote 75% of a second book, also years ago but not as far back on the timeline. I knew it was a great story. Sent out queries before the book was done. Almost all came back with requests. Characters were painted into a corner, leaving me with nothing to send out. Project went nowhere.
Last Christmas I imagined the characters from the second book living out their adventure in the setting and context of the first book. Everything came together and I'm two weeks away from typing The End. Project is destined to go somewhere...but where?
Here's the dilemma:
I have been following the development of self-publishing for a long time. There are so many ways to publish, distribute, and market my own book now, why even bother with an agent or a publisher?
I realize, though, that I know little to nothing about the way things work in the actual publishing world. I have only the Internet to guide me, an Internet known more for contradiction than for dependability.
When I used to sell technology education to people, one of the objections I would hear frequently was, "I already know everything in your program and I used it to set up a network in my house." To this I would say, "I have no doubt that you know your stuff. But without the certifications on your resume to prove it, what is going to be the thing makes a hiring manager call you in for an interview?"
Without a presence in Barnes and Noble, what is going to be the thing that makes a reader pick up my book?
Without a well-known publisher, what is going to be the thing that makes a reviewer spend her time critiquing my work?
Without a qualified agent, who is going to be the one to champion my writing?
I started developing a self-publishing marketing plan several weeks ago, and to my eyes it looks great. But in reality...I just don't know.
Why doesn't wisdom equate to courage?
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