A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: One Sad Story
It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.
This week, the topic is one not commonly discussed in public. These are the things that happen behind the scenes. Not knowing about such things can impede positive potential author-publisher relationships. Among these "things" is when an author engages the wrong kind of attorney, typically a well-meaning dealing with general law and not an intellectual property rights lawyer, who would be well meaning and astute.
As publishers, there is nothing more fulfilling than discovering a manuscript brimming with potential—a story that moves us and deserves to find its place in the world. We cherish working with authors, especially those who may be embarking on their first publishing journey. Together, we turn raw ideas into polished works ready to meet their readers. But, as we all know, the journey from manuscript to publication is seldom without its challenges.
Last week, we shared a real-life story, an example of hubris getting in the way of an author achieving his or her dream. This week we share the sad story of a seemingly gentle soul who listened but was unable to hear.
This lady had self-published a book of happy, inspirational thoughts. Short bullet points, actually. Her friend is one of our authors, an experienced one and an excellent writer. This lady with the happy book got my phone number from her friend and called me -- three times while I was in the ER (my phone was off). Then, she texted. I replied that I was in the ER and please contact me by email, but she continued to send text after text. She would like to hire my staff to do the marketing for her book. Huh? She had published the book through Amazon, but she had not understand that Amazon is not a distributor and does not do marketing for authors. In between doctor conversations, I let her know that her book was already published, and therefore she did not need a publisher, she needed a publicist. Her texts became harassing, and I blocked her, but not before telling her that I could not help her. She needed to learn the ins and outs of the book industry; they are not hard to learn. Just ask AI for a step-by-step.
Three days later, I find a copy of her book in my mailbox, expecting me to "publish" it for her. (It was not in a line we published, and it was not even a good book.)
Wow! That sounds like hubris, but it was not. It was more desperation, the desperation of someone who had made the mistake of self-publishing without understanding how publishing works, without establishing a mechanism for marketing and book distribution, without connecting with a wholesaler/distributor (Amazon is neither -- and Amazon is restrictive in that authors who publish through Amazon will not be able to get their books into other book stores since Amazon is their printer as well).
It was a sad story, made sadder by her ray of hope that since she got hold of my phone number, she was going to sail into publishing glory. She is not the only one. Nearly every week, someone calls me (my number is not a secret), thinking a cold call is the best way to make a book proposal. It is not. Every publisher has a process. It is given on their website. The best way to make a book proposal is to follow the publisher's submission process.
Bottom line: Writing a book is only the first step in becoming an author. Learn how the book industry works. It is not a secret, and Writer's Digest, Writer's Market, AI, Google, and many other resources are out there that can guide authors properly. Publisher expect authors to behave in ways appropriate for the industry.
The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 22 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.
See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.
Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.
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Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.
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