Never Mind Everyone Else, What Are You Doing?

Lacking a guest post, you’re gonna have to put up with me for this Wednesday, and I’m in rant mode. My irritation is not directed at publishers, politicians or TV, but at other writers. Which other writers? Well, quite a lot of ’em, TBH.

I see some complaining that suchabody can barely write his own name, so what’s he doing writing a novel? Or, if whatsherface hadn’t appeared on Strictly Come Celebrity Ice Dancing she wouldn’t have got that book published.

When I was a teenager, I had this crackpot idea that I would become a pop star. Everyone was doing it in the sixties, so why shouldn’t I? The mere fact that I couldn’t sing and couldn’t play a musical instrument was irrelevant. Come hell or high water, I would be a pop sensation.

Leaving aside the idiocy of youth, just suppose I had managed it, where would I be today? A has-been pop idol writing novels, perhaps? And would I be shy about using my former glory to publicise those novels? I would not. I’d insist upon it. Wouldn’t you? Of course you would.

And similarly, if you had a string of hit novels behind you, would you be shy about having your name in larger print than the title of your next book? You would not.

Get used to it. No amount of screaming that some of these people couldn’t write a Christmas card, never mind a book, or that they’re using their name to generate income, will change the situation. If you were in their position, what would you do?

If you’re serious about putting yourself and your work out there, stop whining about celebrities using unfair advantage, or long-standing successes using their leverage. Instead, start thinking about what you can do with your masterpiece.

I work with a small publisher, Crooked Cat Books, who have a number of authors on their books, all of whom approach the marketing of their work in a different way. Some can be found signing copies in local bookshops, others engage with specific book sites like Authorsden, there are others using Facebook and Twitter. Like me they’re concerned with their own works and generally raising the profile of Crooked Cat.

And I’ve never heard one of them complain, “It’s not fair. Stephen King and JK Rowling sell way more books than me. Just because they’re famous.”