To Be or Not To Be? That is the Question.
When I first started The Prophecy, approximately 8 eons ago, I thought “nothing to it.” I can knock this bad boy out in a few months. It will sell like hotcakes or I’ll fire the worthless agent I’d hired and pick up someone up who wants to be rich and famous like me. Then I will be like all the other great writers, banging a book out a year while I sip Mojito’s in Fiji. In fact, I can write 10 chapters in the course of an afternoon, what’s the big deal?? So now 8 eons later and a gazillion edits, a book has hatched. If I continue at the same rate, I should be finishing the trilogy when I am peaking mid-80′s, early 90's. Not to worry…I am sure I can knock out a scene or two in between naps. But then there’s feedings and therapy and…whoa, not a visual I'm yet prepared to handle.
My point being, I learned that it is a commitment to become a published author and a major commitment to become a successful published author. The operative word – successful. I have learned that in today’s publishing community the success of the book often (90% +) falls on the shoulders of the author. Traditional publishers and agents don’t have the funding nor do they have the interest to sign debut authors and do the advertising and promotion they used to, unless of course you are a star or super star of some known caliber. The debut author is pretty much on their own. So…the first question one should ask before adventuring into authorship is, to be or not to be…an author? If you are committed, then you will dedicate the time to not only write but to also do the marketing. As you develop your craft, as an author, you must also be willing to develop your skills as a salesperson. With the many avenues of social networking available today, it is an easier road to travel than a decade or two ago. But…it still takes commitment. I’ve stepped into the arena, because I have really come to enjoy writing. I still have a day job and maybe one day writing will be my day job. Right now, it’s about telling the story. Where’s my Mojito? I just set it down here a minute ago.
My point being, I learned that it is a commitment to become a published author and a major commitment to become a successful published author. The operative word – successful. I have learned that in today’s publishing community the success of the book often (90% +) falls on the shoulders of the author. Traditional publishers and agents don’t have the funding nor do they have the interest to sign debut authors and do the advertising and promotion they used to, unless of course you are a star or super star of some known caliber. The debut author is pretty much on their own. So…the first question one should ask before adventuring into authorship is, to be or not to be…an author? If you are committed, then you will dedicate the time to not only write but to also do the marketing. As you develop your craft, as an author, you must also be willing to develop your skills as a salesperson. With the many avenues of social networking available today, it is an easier road to travel than a decade or two ago. But…it still takes commitment. I’ve stepped into the arena, because I have really come to enjoy writing. I still have a day job and maybe one day writing will be my day job. Right now, it’s about telling the story. Where’s my Mojito? I just set it down here a minute ago.
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