Ellie Lieberman's Blog: Dusty Shelves - Posts Tagged "publishing"
Being Brave
When I’m not writing or working on my business, I wear a neon orange vest and am the official shoe tie-er, whistle-blower, referee, nurse-referal writer, and hand raised- answerer of an elementary school playground and lunchroom. For three hours I stand in the blazing sun and try not to think about the questionable substance I just stepped in on the cafeteria’s floor. In the midst of the laughter, shouting, whistles, and bells was a little girl in tears.
Something was going on at home, she missed her mom, she was lonely, and the only thing that helped was holding my hand as she walked with me around the playground and she sat with me at lunch. By the second day, first recess went a lot better. She didn’t have to hold my hand as much, she was jumping up and down, and was talkative with no tears. Come lunch, it was right back to square one. When I asked what happened, she answered with a sniffle, a shrug, and told me, “I’m trying to be brave, but it’s hard.”
And who hasn’t been there? Whether it is something inside you, a relationship with someone, or trying to publish that new book. We need someone’s hand to hold, someone to sit with us, because it is hard. It’s hard to be brave enough to face the challenges, let alone attempt to conquer them.
But, a wise person once said, “Being brave is not the absence of fear, but being afraid and doing it anyway.” What is braver than that little first grader still sitting there at that table with me? Still coming to school the next day? Still trying? What is braver than the person with anxiety making a new stride in their development to overcome? What is braver than the person who has had their heart broken before, but dares to try to love and trust again? What is braver than the writer who wrote that book, and then shares it with the world?
To bare your heart and soul, to walk naked in front of the crowd, to put pen to paper, makes you no less brave. To feel uncertain and nervous and somewhere between the excited butterflies and raccoon claws in your stomach, but still pushing forward, still hitting publish or submit is the definition of brave! It is hard and it will hurt. It’s a part of growing. And, as Amy Bishop says in Society's Foundlings, “It’s not supposed to be easy. Anything that’s anything is always hard.”
Something was going on at home, she missed her mom, she was lonely, and the only thing that helped was holding my hand as she walked with me around the playground and she sat with me at lunch. By the second day, first recess went a lot better. She didn’t have to hold my hand as much, she was jumping up and down, and was talkative with no tears. Come lunch, it was right back to square one. When I asked what happened, she answered with a sniffle, a shrug, and told me, “I’m trying to be brave, but it’s hard.”
And who hasn’t been there? Whether it is something inside you, a relationship with someone, or trying to publish that new book. We need someone’s hand to hold, someone to sit with us, because it is hard. It’s hard to be brave enough to face the challenges, let alone attempt to conquer them.
But, a wise person once said, “Being brave is not the absence of fear, but being afraid and doing it anyway.” What is braver than that little first grader still sitting there at that table with me? Still coming to school the next day? Still trying? What is braver than the person with anxiety making a new stride in their development to overcome? What is braver than the person who has had their heart broken before, but dares to try to love and trust again? What is braver than the writer who wrote that book, and then shares it with the world?
To bare your heart and soul, to walk naked in front of the crowd, to put pen to paper, makes you no less brave. To feel uncertain and nervous and somewhere between the excited butterflies and raccoon claws in your stomach, but still pushing forward, still hitting publish or submit is the definition of brave! It is hard and it will hurt. It’s a part of growing. And, as Amy Bishop says in Society's Foundlings, “It’s not supposed to be easy. Anything that’s anything is always hard.”
Unknown Names
Most people who know me know I'm part of an indie-only bookstote in LA called Pipe & Thimble Bookstore (www.pipeandthimble.com). As the co-propriator, the PA, and the salesperson who sits behind the counter, I know one of the biggest struggles, especially in getting out there and drawing in the community, is that most, if not all,the names are unknown. While it is a selling point for most (No one else will bring that book as a gift to the babyshower), others don't always grasp how special and essential these relatively unknown voices can be. As an indie author myself, I've also experienced this in regards to my own books at events or trying to promote books online.
Here's the thing. If you were to walk into some big name retailer, like say Barnes & Nobles, and you were to browse their shelves, how many names would you recognize? Sure, you might know some of the classics. Bronte, Austin, Dickens, Twain... You might recognize most recent big names. Green, Roberts, Sparks, King... But how many times do you glance at a Best Seller List and know every single author on there? One of the biggest challenges of this industry for many is how inundated it is, how many books are out there, and not only through self publishing and the rise of the small presses, but traditionally published books, too.
Marketing wise, it can feel like you're shouting into the void. Indies don't have the corner stone on being unknown. The difference is, we have to work a bit harder to be seen. Reader wise, though, what's the difference?
Okay, yes, theoretically the endorsement of a big press or a well known name gives the reader certain assurances. Indies are on their own for things like formatting, cover design, editing, and content. However, recent years have proven the stigma and stereotype in regards to quality or lack thereof false. There's a reason Pipe & Thimble Bookstore not only sees repeat customers, but customers coming back for more copies of the same book to give out to friends or even more titles by the same author. And, while there can be drawback from someone who does not rely on big name companies, there's also many, many benefits. The only censorship for an indie is self-censorship. They can cover topics and issues that seek to make a difference in readers lives, regardless of if it's "in" or "sellable." The passion and quality can remain the same through out a series without the restrictions of pre-set deadlines. The list can go on.
There's another part of this as well. I've been to a Barnes & Noble where the salesperson didn't know Jane Austen wrote Pride & Prejudice, didn't realize she has been dead for a while, or that the book is not part of a series. People know Ray Bradbury wrote Farenheit 451 or that Kurt Vonnegut wrote Slaughterhouse-Five, but can they name other titles they wrote? Can they list off all their titles? Did you know George Orwell didn't just write 1984 or Animal Farm, but also wrote Keep the Apridistra Flying? Or that the author who wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the same author who wrote Treasure Island and he wrote another book called Kidnapped. If an author themselves is not unknown, chances are there's a book of theirs that is, if not to you, than to someone.
And, let's be honest, no author was a success overnight. No author started off with even 10 reviews. At some point, they all were just some unknown name writing some unknown book and shouting into the void of an inundated industry. J.K. Rowling got where she was because someone took a chance on her. Any of the greats, any of the well-known who have been adopted as a pop-culture reference got somewhere because someone happened to hear them out.
It's no different walking into Pipe & Thimble Bookstore or when you walk by an author's signing table. You could be that first spark to ignite recognition, or at least for that author to know someone took the time to hear them, that they aren't shouting into the void. With you, they can be more than just an unknown, they can someone to somebody. Chances are something they say will resonate. Take a chance on them, and take a chance on me.
And, authors, yes it feels like shouting into the void. Yes, we are inundated with books. But, don't stop. There's an endless amount of stories to be told and there's an endless amount of people to tell them, including you. And, just as endless as those stories may be and despite whatever the media is feeding you, there are endless readers to enjoy those stories. You will hear people say reading is a dying art. The truth is, it never went away. We will not, and will never, run out of readers. And, books, much like basset hounds, chocolate, fried rice, and potato chips, are an addiction. Readers don't just have one book. So, never stop shouting into the void. You never know who might hear.
Here's the thing. If you were to walk into some big name retailer, like say Barnes & Nobles, and you were to browse their shelves, how many names would you recognize? Sure, you might know some of the classics. Bronte, Austin, Dickens, Twain... You might recognize most recent big names. Green, Roberts, Sparks, King... But how many times do you glance at a Best Seller List and know every single author on there? One of the biggest challenges of this industry for many is how inundated it is, how many books are out there, and not only through self publishing and the rise of the small presses, but traditionally published books, too.
Marketing wise, it can feel like you're shouting into the void. Indies don't have the corner stone on being unknown. The difference is, we have to work a bit harder to be seen. Reader wise, though, what's the difference?
Okay, yes, theoretically the endorsement of a big press or a well known name gives the reader certain assurances. Indies are on their own for things like formatting, cover design, editing, and content. However, recent years have proven the stigma and stereotype in regards to quality or lack thereof false. There's a reason Pipe & Thimble Bookstore not only sees repeat customers, but customers coming back for more copies of the same book to give out to friends or even more titles by the same author. And, while there can be drawback from someone who does not rely on big name companies, there's also many, many benefits. The only censorship for an indie is self-censorship. They can cover topics and issues that seek to make a difference in readers lives, regardless of if it's "in" or "sellable." The passion and quality can remain the same through out a series without the restrictions of pre-set deadlines. The list can go on.
There's another part of this as well. I've been to a Barnes & Noble where the salesperson didn't know Jane Austen wrote Pride & Prejudice, didn't realize she has been dead for a while, or that the book is not part of a series. People know Ray Bradbury wrote Farenheit 451 or that Kurt Vonnegut wrote Slaughterhouse-Five, but can they name other titles they wrote? Can they list off all their titles? Did you know George Orwell didn't just write 1984 or Animal Farm, but also wrote Keep the Apridistra Flying? Or that the author who wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the same author who wrote Treasure Island and he wrote another book called Kidnapped. If an author themselves is not unknown, chances are there's a book of theirs that is, if not to you, than to someone.
And, let's be honest, no author was a success overnight. No author started off with even 10 reviews. At some point, they all were just some unknown name writing some unknown book and shouting into the void of an inundated industry. J.K. Rowling got where she was because someone took a chance on her. Any of the greats, any of the well-known who have been adopted as a pop-culture reference got somewhere because someone happened to hear them out.
It's no different walking into Pipe & Thimble Bookstore or when you walk by an author's signing table. You could be that first spark to ignite recognition, or at least for that author to know someone took the time to hear them, that they aren't shouting into the void. With you, they can be more than just an unknown, they can someone to somebody. Chances are something they say will resonate. Take a chance on them, and take a chance on me.
And, authors, yes it feels like shouting into the void. Yes, we are inundated with books. But, don't stop. There's an endless amount of stories to be told and there's an endless amount of people to tell them, including you. And, just as endless as those stories may be and despite whatever the media is feeding you, there are endless readers to enjoy those stories. You will hear people say reading is a dying art. The truth is, it never went away. We will not, and will never, run out of readers. And, books, much like basset hounds, chocolate, fried rice, and potato chips, are an addiction. Readers don't just have one book. So, never stop shouting into the void. You never know who might hear.
