Thursday, July 17, 2014

REFLECTIONS ON PUBLICATION


My debut novel, THE VAMPIRE’S PASSION, has been out for over three months now, and I’m ready to reflect upon this singular experience. What a journey—most of which was chronicled here in this blog. But it turns out that those early frustrations and concerns were only the beginning of the learning curve. It turns out that publication is a learning experience all of its own.

Things I’ve learned since April 7th:

·      Hitting that SEND button when you send your manuscript and query letter off to a publisher or agent isn’t NEARLY as scary as worrying if anyone will buy your book once it comes out.

·      Worrying if anyone will buy your book isn’t as scary as worrying that they won’t like it.

·      Hiding your true identity behind a pen name so that the parents of the children you have taught over the last bazillion years and having your true identity come out just before publication and knowing that these lovely people WILL be reading your book, might keep an author up at night.

·      Learning the ins and outs of how to promote a book is enough to make your head spin. What is a ‘blog tour’? How do you set up a blog tour? Who are these people who organize blog tours, and what should you reasonably expect to pay them for this service?

·      Learning how Facebook promotions work can lead to overindulging in the red wine. I have book promo sites figured out, but I still have no idea what a Facebook party is, or how it works, or what you do at one. Do you make appetizers and have chilled wine available for your guests? REALLY I want to know! If some kind reader could explain Facebook parties to me I would be ever so grateful.

·      Discovering the kindness of fellow writers has been a lovely surprise. Not that we aren’t a kind group of people! I love my writer friends! But I was moved that friends and strangers approached me with invitations to guest on their blogs. It was great fun, and I am so appreciative of them.

I can’t think of any more present participles with which to begin bulleted paragraphs, so I’ll just close this post by saying that despite the publication learning curve, it has been a wonderful experience. There is nothing in life like fulfilling a dream that you’ve held since you were twelve years old.

Recently, I finished the manuscript for a YA fantasy, and it is now out on submission.  I also just finished a novella, which is a prequel for THE VAMPIRE’S PASSION. Fingers crossed on both.

The journey continues…

18 comments:

  1. The important thing is you've learned and the next book and the next and next will be much easier. At least the techie, promo part-the worry whether anyone will buy it and like it I think is an on-going part of the process.

    Congratulations! No longer are you a fledgling!

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  2. Thank you, Judith! Yes, I'm counting on all that techie stuff being much easier in the future. I know I will continue to work on the craft of writing, and that part I love. And yes, I'm sure the worries over public reaction to our books never really goes away. Just part of this business!! ;-)

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  3. I'm about three months until my debut novel is release and I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm enjoying the ride...kind of. :)

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    1. Hi Sophia. Congratulations! It definitely takes time to figure things out. I know I made some rookie mistakes but hopefully it will be easier next time. Try to enjoy the ride and make sure to celebrate on Release Day. I'll be cheering for you!

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  4. Change the red to white wine and I'm right there with you. I have an idea about the Facebook parties. I plan to have one. An on that appetizer/drink question, they'd be virtual snacks, but yes, you can offer those! I'll share that if you share your book tour info! My email is bethcarter@hughes.net

    Fun post. My debut novel releases in three weeks. I'm very nervous and agree it's scary about people buying your book but even SCARIER wondering if they'll like it.

    Congrats on your other work! I've been too busy editing, creating a new website and marketing to even think about writing. I can't wait to get back to it.

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    1. Congratulations Beth on your upcoming debut release! It seems like our fears are pretty universal. Breathe deeply and enjoy your big day!

      Thank you for visiting and sharing your experiences!

      I'd love to share info with you, I'll get an email to you.

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  5. I can relate to your journey, Monica. My first SMP came out in May 2013, and it's been a roller coaster ride ever since. I'm a former teacher writing under a pen name, too, and that part has been interesting. The biggest lesson I've had to learn is how promoting can take up writing time. You have to learn about balance!

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    1. Yes, Lauren, achieving that balance between promoting and writing has been a challenge. I should have bulleted that one! For the first month after the book was released I did very little writing as most of my time was spent either promoting or learning how to promote.

      Thank you so much for visiting and sharing, Lauren!

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  6. Hi Monica, Excellent post! I agree with Judith...You are no longer a fledgling.

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    1. Hi Joanne! Thank you. Yes, while I have learned a thing or two, I still feel like a fledgling in so many ways. I suppose the learning curve never ends in this craft/business. :-)

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  7. HI Monica,
    It was great to read about your journey so far. I've been published by SMP for one week, and have spent too much of that time worrying about sales. I also haven't written much on book two; I've been trying to learn about social media. Thanks for showing me that I'm not alone.

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  8. Hi Elizabeth,

    I could have written your comment at any time in the past few months! I spent the first month so wrapped up in learning how to promote, and then carrying out those promotions that nothing was written for about six weeks. Of course, I also became a first time grandma during that time, so writing REALLY wasn't happening. Happily, I am now back in the routine, and I feel much more at ease about everything. And Grandma-hood is the greatest!

    Thank you for the visit and comment!!

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  9. I could see myself in almost every sentence you wrote:) There is an endless list of things to worry about, isn't there?

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  10. Yes, Larynn, there is a long list! I'm sitting here laughing that this seems so universal. Thank you for sharing! Everyone is making me feel so much better about my worries. ;-)

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  11. Oh Monica, love this! The thought "be careful what you wish for" is floating around somewhere in the back of my mind :) Is it some form of self-punishment to *hope* for these problems?!

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  12. Ahhh, all writers wish for these forms of self-punishment. Despite the pain these are the things that tell us we are succeeding!

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  13. I loved this article. It rings so true.Getting published is just another part of the journey that we are on.We can get caught up in the promo and forget why we started this in the first place, and that was to write.

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  14. Absolutely, Maggie! We have to carefully separate the ART from the BUSINESS. We write for the love of the art, and that always must remain the main focus.

    Thank you so much for your comments!

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