Collaboration - The Key to Self Publishing Happiness!

 

When I first made the decision to leap off the cliff and become a writer, I have to confess, I became very possessive and protective of my ideas and work. I was afraid if I shared my ideas or my chapters, someone would steal them and make them their own.

I discovered that this is a common fear with new writers. I was questioned about that a lot at SFWC a couple of weeks ago. So I wanted to address this concern—and encourage you to SHARE your work—because if you are considering self publishing it will be a very important key to your enjoyment of the process and possibly your success.

First, I do have a rule in the first stages of a project. The first rule about the project is: DON'T TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT. This has more to do with my incubation process than about someone stealing my ideas. A piece of writing is like jello. It takes a while for it to set up. And until it can hold itself up on the plate and not slide and run all over the place, I keep it in my own gelatinous head.

I did not talk about Dream Walker until I had solid chapters, and then I only talked about those chapters, not what was still cooking up in my noggin'. If I spent time telling everybody about what I want to write, then I am not writing it. And the writing need some space to grow organically.

So there is a benefit to not talking about what you are working on.

But there comes a point where the work needs some sunlight, the attention, contemplation, and contribution of others.

Your Alpha Readers will be the first rays. You will chose them carefully. They should be understanding and compassionate of this first tender sprout you created. They should be gentle of your devastatingly fragile writer's ego. You want nourishment at first, as well as their kind suggestions. 

Then you have the Beta Readers. You join a Writer's Group. You meet other writer's you respect and you let them dig into your piece a little more. Maybe uproot whole paragraphs and move them to another spot, or, *gasp*, throw it in the recycling bin! The Betas get down and dirty with your work. And you get to grow a thicker skin.

Then you find an editor. Your biggest, most important collaborator. You are going to invest in this person with money. They are the Miracle Grow, so find good shit to fertilize your crop.

So you get this masterpiece put together with the assistance and contribution of others and then you begin to share and sell it. Then the real miracles happen.

Lo and behold, it intrigues people! It moves them! It resonates with them! Maybe not everybody, some will think it is crap and piss on it, but a special few will appear in your life out of NOW/HERE and want to be a part of your work!

Embrace these people! They are a gift!

I have had this happen time and again. People stepping in to offer something to me that helps in the marketing, promotion or vision of Dream Walker.

Now, let's get one thing straight, I am a CONTROL FREAK. Please note the intentional use of all caps.

So when I meet Xavier Huerta at a salsa dancing lesson, and he reads the first 3 chapters of Dream Walker on my website, and he calls me up and says, "I don't know why, but I resonate with this story. I have always wanted to do something creative with video production, can I play with your story and do a trailer for it. I have never done it before," I was like "uh... okay?" I mean... I had never written a book before, so why not allow him to play?

Then I met these crazy ass kids. When I say kids, I mean they are 18 and 19 years old which is kid to my old ass. And when I say crazy, I mean kray kray. I am not sure what I would call their creative genius, but they put sound together, then words, and then the elusive "vibe". They mix it altogether in a delicious alchemy that you put in your ears and get stoned on. Like stoned without the "material" that actually gets you stoned. Straight stoned. 

So this funky trio, Gold Life, adds the PERFECT song to X's visuals. And this book trailer was born.

It was born of pure creative expression, because I allowed my story to be others story. 

My point is: if you are a writer, allow your work a little room to breathe. Let people be involved. Allow others to dabble with you. And see what can come out of it.

Dream Walker may not make me JK, but it opened up my sphere of connection in a way that is more priceless then her zillions of dollars. (alright... I'd take the zillion, too.)

And if you keep your baby all locked up in your head, be advised: "They" will take it anyway. I cannot tell you how many Fringe episodes were in my head before they were on the tele. They steal them straight from your brain!!!!! ;-)

 

Shannan

 

We live in the fiction.