I’ve got a few books in print. Seeing them there is wonderful; getting them there was hell. That’s the “Writer’s Hell” I’m talking about.
The publishing business is horrendous: agents, publishers, editors–they don’t want you. Book store owners, distributors, reviewers–they don’t care.
Nor should they. According to Publisher’s Weekly, there will be over 700,000 books released this year alone, joining 2.5 MILLION titles on the market.
They have so many options, so much flooding their inboxes that they don’t care–which will be their downfall. But that doesn’t help us right now, writers with a book seeking print, does it? Well, are you a writer, one who has to write, or just a poser, one who has to say they’re writing, but who will punt to these horrible odds? Gut check, writerly friends: decide.
Here’s just one horror story: I had my first novel sold to a small, high-quality Indie publishers three years ago. I queried a dozen agents, large agencies and small, “my novel is sold–would you please represent me in the contract?”
Not one responded. Not. One.
To me, that’s like calling a real estate agent and saying, “I have a buyer, will you PLEASE take a commission?” Nope. Too busy.
So, I had an attorney look over the contract. He charged me $1,200 to do so, and almost immediately afterward the publisher ceased operations. Back to square one.
There’s a happy ending to this story (see above), but it was still a living hell. Yes, I found another publisher, the novel is in print and has won awards. I’ve gone on to publish another novel plus a short fiction collection with the same publisher.
But it’s still hell: contract demands, ever-tightening, duration (bad deal for authors) ever-lengthening; marketing meager (it’s on YOU, writer friend, to sell your awesome story), and a marketplace that is nearly impenetrable or if you manage to gain a following, it’s up to you to keep the fire burning.
I do–barely. I will–infallibly. It’s a struggle. It’s hell.
Are you a writer? Join me, won’t you? We ain’t here to “look pretty,” we’re here to write. Subscribe now, let’s work through this together. Let me hear from you.
And here at A Writer’s Hell, you’ll hear from me. C’mon back.
A Writer's Hell 