What It Takes To Be an Author Once You Are an Author

Sorry. There isn't enough time in a day to tell you that. But what I find as I speak to wanna-be writers is a total misunderstanding of the "life" of an author. People can accept that they have to work hard initially to create that wonderful, sellable piece of writing. Some can even accept that it won't be perfect the first time they come to "The End", and they'll have to do some editing. But the Jessica Fletcher mystique lives on, the idea that once a book is accepted, the work is done and the author's only job is to attend parties and sip champagne.



Recently a listener stopped me mid-sentence to ask, "But aren't there people who put your books in stores for you?" The question revealed her belief that once a book "makes it", i.e. gets published, the author's work is done. The grinds at the publisher will make the calls, set up signings, track figures, and schlepp books. Reality dictates that the author will do a large share of that, at least if she wants to publish more books.



Another question I got that same night was when I mentioned the time I spend formatting a MS for the distinct and diverse demands of different publishers. Again the question: "Don't they have people who fix all that?" Answer: Yeah, they do. Me. Publishers can't afford to pay editors to "fix" things for an author that she can fix herself. They give you guidelines; you format.



What it boils down to is a misunderstanding of the (admittedly lower level) author's duties. I am the one who cares if my books succeed. I am the one my publishers expect to see that it does. Yes, they'll do what they can to help, but I am not their job. It really is up to me to "be" the author now that I are one.