The Top 4 Tips to Take Publishing by Storm

You wrote a novel! Now what? NaNoWriMo’s “Now What?” Months are here—this January and February, we’ll be helping you guide your novel through the revision and publishing process. Today, H. M. Ward, bestselling author of books including the Ferro Family series , shares why she chose independent publishing and found success:

The single most daunting aspect of publishing comes after you’ve completed your manuscript. There are two very different paths you can take, ultimately dictating how your publishing career will progress: find a traditional publisher, or go indie? When I started back in 2010, the very first thing I did, even before I finished my book, was research the market.

What’s selling right now?
Is my book marketable?
What does that mean?

At the end of the day, whether you choose traditional or indie, the person responsible for selling your book is you. That can sound incredibly intimidating, so think of it this way: Whether you’re pitching to New York publishers or directly to the reader, it needs to be clear why they should buy your book. If you can’t answer that question, you’ll have problems no matter which path you take.

After months of researching, I signed with an esteemed NY agent and sent my debut novel out on submission. In the middle of the process, I realized traditional publishing wasn’t for me. I pulled my manuscript and self-published. Why? Because I had a much better understanding of the market, sales, and reader trends than the people I was speaking with in New York.

Tip #1: Be Confident

You need to have confidence in this business. For me, being confident means knowing what’s going on. It became crystal clear that I knew more about sales and selling intangible goods (ebooks) than NY publishers did. 

But I keep checking back, knowing they’ll catch up at some point. I ended up in bed with Amazon Crossing because, duh-aam, they caught up! Others will, too. It’s a matter of becoming pertinent in today’s world or getting tossed aside as irrelevant.

Tip #2: Go Whole Hog

I spent six months tracking down every aspect of the publishing market, spending ten hours a day reading and researching. I did that because I was going into this whole hog. There was no putting my toe in the water. It was sink or swim. 

There is no room for half-hearted commitment here. That’s the kiss of death. If you pull your punches and do things half-baked, people (readers, agents, publishers) will think you are subpar and that expectation carries over to your work.

In the traditional publishing path, most authors never make it past the query letter stage. If you can’t explain why an agent should want your book, odds are the agents won’t request a manuscript. Even if you then choose to publish independently, if an agent won’t pick up your book, it’s likely your readers won’t pick up your book either. I addressed this recently in a YouTube video series I’m doing for new writers trying to get their first book to market. This job isn’t easy. The publishing industry is an enormous, fluid puzzle. Pieces morph week to week, and it’s up to you to figure it out.

Tip #3: Embrace Change

Publishing breathes change day and night. One morning you might wake up to the news that the biggest bookstore in the US fell. If you think things like that don’t happen, guess again. 

Companies change terms, new programs appear, royalty rates shift, and reader habits bend. It’s like flying by the seat of your pants 24/7. Some people find that exhilarating. Other people puke. Know which kind of person you are before you begin.

Tip #4: Failure Is Your Friend

You need to be willing to accept failure as a teacher. Failing to do something doesn’t mean it can’t be done—it simply means you haven’t figured out the puzzle yet. Jump in head first, learn from your mistakes, and keep going! Don’t look back. 

Those who dare to defy expectation are the ones who enjoy continued success. They embrace failure, laugh in the face of change, and, when faced with a new challenge, they yell, “Bring it on!”

H.M. Ward continues to reign as a New York Times bestselling author who is swiftly approaching 10 million copies sold since 2011, placing her among the literary titans. Ward has been featured in articles in the New York Times, Forbes, and USA Today to name a few. You can interact with this bestselling author on Facebook.

Top photo by Flickr user gingerbeardman.