Guest Post: What it take to be an Author in Today's Publishing World by Author Anne Montgomery...

Want to be an Author?

You’ve gottahave grit! 

Would F.Scott Fitzgerald be successful in today’s publishing world?

Being an author is atough job. OK, maybe not as daunting as the career track those Deadliest Catch folks are on – admittedly, I found myself reaching forthe Dramamine more than once watching those crabbing boats being tossed liketoys – or Mike Rowe’s gig when he does things like testing shark suits ormucking out sewers on Dirty Jobs.

Still,converting thoughts to printed words in order to tell a coherent story that’sof interest to readers, and then convincing others your efforts are importantand well-written enough to publish and promote, well, there are all kinds ofadversities mixed up in that endeavor.

I’vehad a number of difficult jobs over the years. I used to be a maid, on my handsand knees cleaning other people’s bathrooms. I was a baseball umpire for 25years where I was, without question, the most disliked person on the fieldpretty much every time I stepped on the diamond. As a sportscaster, I was onlive television about 2000 times, where, when you make a mistake, there aremyriad people who delight in pointing out your errors.

Despite mylabors with jobs that didn’t do much toward promoting positiveself-esteem, I was definitely not prepared for the rigors of being an author.I’ve written six books: two rest in a drawer, two are published, one willbe shortly, and one is a work in progress. Since I began writing 25 years ago,I have been rejected by agents, publishers, editors, and reviewers too manytimes to count. I’m pretty sure my no-thanks numbers have edged up over the onethousand mark. In fact, I’ve been snubbed so often that I sometimes find myselfstrangely delighted when I receive a rejection letter that’s, well, kind. A positive comment contained therein might temptme to tears. (I know I’m not the only one.)

Today,aspiring authors face a different reality than those of the past. The advent ofthe personal computer and the Internet have paved the way for a hugerelease of creativity, that, depending on your point of view, is eitherfabulous or horrifying. On the positive end, anyone can write, self-publish,and post their book on Amazon. It’s estimated that somewhere between 600,000and one million books are published in the U.S. alone each year, probably halfof which are self-published. The other side of the equation is that without thegatekeepers – agents, editors, publishers – finding your gem in that themassive pile of prose is problematic: the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Feeling down yet? All Ican say is don’t give into despair. Here’s what I’ve learned from the authorsI’ve become acquainted with, my fellow travelers on this detour-filled journey.We are a tough bunch. I have not yet met an author who’s said, “I quit! I can’ttake it anymore!” Perhaps that’s why I found a bit of unintended humor at theexpense of one of America’s most famous writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Irecently began watching Z: The Beginning of Everything, abiographical Amazon series based on the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, thewriter’s wife and muse. In one of the early scenes, F. Scott opens a letterfrom a publisher. His book is rejected. And F. Scott, who up until that pointwas dashing and strong and optimistic, disintegrates into a despondent pile ofmush and goes completely off the rails, drunk, depressed, needing Zelda to givehim strength. While I know my reaction was not what the show’s writers intended,I couldn’t help it. I felt like laughing. I wanted to yell at F. Scott to pickhimself up. Get over it! Move on! Try again!

And then, I wonderedwhether the famed writer of The Great Gatsby wouldhave survived the complexities of today’s publishing world. And what aboutHemingway? Twain? Faulkner? Steinbeck? How might these giants of the industryhave navigated the choppy waters we face today?

I thinkthey would have struggled, just like we do.

So, my fellow authors,take heart! Be strong. Be proud. The fact that you’ve even finished writing abook puts you in rarified air. You will survive, if you don’t take rejectionpersonally – Yes, I know it’s hard – and if you have a sense of humor.

Allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest women's fiction novel for your reading pleasure.

The past and present collide when a tenacious reporter seeks information on an eleventh century magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.

In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.

Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.

Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.

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Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.

When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.

Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia . Stay connected on Facebook , Linkedin , and Twitter .