I did it six years ago, with an epublishing company. I wrote and sold a romance. But that doesn’t count. It wasn’t a print book, which is my real goal. I sold about 200 copies, and that was cool. But now I have my rights back. Now I’m revising that manuscript, and I’m shuddering. Those poor readers. I owe them their money back. This book is terrible. What was the editor thinking?
I contacted an editor of a book publishing company. He says to send it. He’ll read it and consider putting it in their romance line. But UGH I have to make a lot of revisions first, because it’s truly awful. I’ve learned a few things from my wonderful critique group. I’ve grown. I know how to pace the story better, create tighter tension, paint the scenes with more succinctness.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll achieve my goal. The business is fickle. I may be writing stuff they no longer care about. I know erotic and paranormal are the hot market items. But I don’t care about people making love with ghosts or vampires. Not to diss anyone who loves them. That’s fine. They’re just not for me. And I don’t really want to read a book that’s all about gratuitous sex. But you can, if you want to. I don’t mind at all.
I have to fix this story, this little romantic suspense that drags often, that veers off the romance with too much 2ndary char interaction. At least when I’m finished, I’ll know I made it better. That’s some comfort, even if I don’t achieve my goal immediately.
It’s nice to state the goal in a public forum. Not that I need motivation. What I need is more talent, and a brain that clicks faster. Maybe I need to visit the wizard. Maybe he’d tell me, “You have a brain, but it’s an abusive one. It’s telling you you’re not good enough, you’re slow. Ignore it and listen to your heart. It’s saying you are good enough. You’ve learned. You’ve grown. You’ve got the courage others don’t. Who are you trying to prove yourself to? Those who matter already like you and think you’re talented.
Yeah, yeah. I can sit around and not write with a happy heart, a happy life. Or I can write and angst about all those other romance authors getting ahead, getting agents and contracts and being feted at the conferences.
Guess which one I choose, and have chosen for over a decade?
2 comments:
Hmm. You better clarify that "that doesn't count." statement so you don't get future irate mail from authors published through electronic means.
I think I know what you mean: To a big portion of the world e-books are not considered 'real' books even though they're issued ISBNs, given cover art, and are bought and sold. Right?
What I meant was, my personal goal is a print book. Many authors are happy to publish in electronic format. I was very happy to get that contract. But my goal has always been, ultimately, to sell a manuscript that would become a print book. I actually signed a print-on-demand contract with Hardshell, but they never took my ebook to print. I think it has to do with self-promoting to get the ebook sales figures up.
Epublishing helped with my self-esteem, and for that I'll always be grateful. I really needed it at the time. It probably kept me writing.
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