Bob Dylan’s song, “These Times, They Are a-Changin’,” comes to mind as I prepare to have my first book published. It was my childhood dream to become a writer, but not just a writer – an author. I knew I was meant to write books. The direction of my life never afforded opportunities for book writing until I arrived at this season in my life.
Writing the book was easy. The words were like liquid flowing from my keyboard. The next step, editing, and re-writing was a bit of a challenge. I realized book writing was a different ballgame than journalism. Especially when I learned to follow a format different than I was used to. A format required by publishers. It was very helpful following Jerry Jenkins on Facebook and reading every article he offered on the matter.
I also began searching for writer workshops, because I will need to meet other writers, agents, and publishers, as well as hone new skills. Not only is my voice changing (see the previous article) but I found the times have changed drastically in publishing. Had I been ready twenty years ago, I would have entered into the world of authorship when publishing companies paid well, and they did the leg work, while the writer concentrated on writing.
When the World Wide Web exploded with abundant opportunities, many doors opened, however, change was inevitable. How we read the news, how we shop, how we store medical records. It was exciting, but also scary. I’ve been taught to not be scared of trying new things. My dad would suggest I try other things on the menu, other than burgers and pizza. I owe my expanded palate to him. There isn’t much I won’t try.
Working the first half of my adult life in medical, I was privileged to work with a physician who was one of the first to go “paperless.” I learned how to put a patient’s chart in a portal for easy access to the physician, nurse, and other medical professionals. At the time this was a new concept and changes like this were happening all over.
While www brought new possibilities, we faced the pros and cons of changing the way we do things. Publishing was one of the many struggling businesses forced to find new ways to stay relevant. Where independent publishers were once referred to as vanity press, it has pushed traditional publishers to change their requirements, their compensation, and advancement policies and independent publishing is gaining new respect.
I didn’t want to be an author who cut corners or paid to have her book published just to be published. But as I talk with other authors, and my friend Paul Shepherd, who was an active literary agent for best-selling authors, I realize that independent publishing isn’t a negative thing anymore. In fact, I have several friends who are writing books left and right because they are doing what works best for them.
Today, many publishers require that an author have an outstanding media presence. In order to survive, businesses today need to have a website and possibly a Facebook page (and if they can keep up, they will have Twitter, Instagram, and a TikTok account), but to gain the social media rating desired by traditional publishers, an author can no longer just concentrate on writing, research, book signings, or workshops. They now are required to market their own books yet, give publishers the rights to their books and only gain a percentage of the royalties and they may or may not offer much if any advancement.
This makes independent publishing very attractive to writers. I no longer think of independent publishing as a negative thing, but instead – a smart thing. I am a born promoter anyway – if I believe in something I love to tell others. Had I thrown my hat in the ring twenty years ago, I would have most likely marketed myself anyway – just for an extra oomph in getting the word out. But today, half of the selling is up to authors, so if they are doing most of the legwork, why would they not want 100 percent of the royalties?
Don’t get me wrong, I still respect traditional publishing, and if the Lord opens doors in that direction, I would love to get on with a publishing company, but right now as a first-time author (who traditional publishers won’t even accept without an agent if at all) then I have to spread all my options on the table and see what fits my current goals as well as my future goals.
I have a book God placed on my heart to write and I wrote it. Not to be the next JK Rowling, and not to bring lofty fortune, but to reach people. Isn’t that why we write in the first place? Writing is a platform the Lord set before me to share His love, truth, and wisdom, and to encourage others. If I only break even with what it cost and what I sell, then I will have accomplished what I set out to do – sharing with others what God wants me to share. If the Lord blesses me beyond breaking even, I won’t argue, but that is not my goal.
To quote Ernest Hemingway, “A writer must write what he has to say, not speak it.” My passion is writing, my voice is writing – I must write. I honestly don’t know if God will open doors with a traditional publishing company or if I will publish independently just to get my first few books out there (or decide that is a better option for me altogether). I watched an interview with Julie Gwinn, VP, and agent at the Seymour Agency, and she told that if an author has a book that has been independently published, traditional publishers won’t publish that book again because the first sales have already been made, and that makes sense to me.
My book “Breadcrumbs” is one I want to get in the hands of many people who need to read it. There is a strong message that so many people need to hear. A message of courage, hope, and encouragement. If I publish thirty books, this is the book that matters most. It would be the one I would want in the hands of a traditional publishing company.
I sent a query to a publishing company two months ago, and have not heard back, and that has me considering independent publishing, but God will let me know in time, where to go from here. Yesterday, disillusionment set in as I realized how much times have changed the industry, but I do not feel defeated. God made me a writer. He will bring the person in my life who will be part of this journey.
Learning as I go, this is simply where I am right now. Are you a writer? Are you in the industry? Are you old school like me, and having to learn new things, or are you excited about the inevitable changes brought to the writing industry? I’d love to hear your thoughts.