Publishing Your Manuscript
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 29th, 2009 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Every time I speak to a group of writers I like to say: it’s very easy to get a manuscript published, but extremely difficult to sell books. There are at least a dozen variations of “publishing” and an even wider array of products and services that promise success. Publishing today offers an abundance of choices but should always be grounded in the author’s motivation for writing.
Each writer that questions me about the best method for publishing their writing gets this response: follow your own personal goals for writing. If you are intent on becoming wealthy or a celebrity and that is your primary reason for writing and publishing then step back and examine the odds of winning a lottery. They are better than becoming a bestselling author.
The business of book publishing is a long and arduous one; there are no secrets or shortcuts to success. However, you can improve your odds of becoming successful—loosely defined as the ability to earn back your investment in both time and money with an opportunity to write again and sell more books—by following a few simple steps: follow your heart, write obsessively, believe in your writing and never get discouraged or give up.
Anything is possible in publishing and that statement is proven every year by the success of an unknown writer who manages to tap into an audience and word of mouth results in thousands of copies being sold. The business is rapidly changing and success is being defined in a number of ways but what is most important is whether or not as a writer you are doing what you want and people enjoy what you have to tell them.
As we often joked in New York, we’re not launching rockets, it’s just books. Write with passion and set realistic goals. You can become a successful author.
Tags: Book Publishing, Hybrid Publishing Model, Self-Publishing, writing
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Hmm… I read blogs on a similar topic, but i never visited your blog. I added it to favorites and i’ll be your constant reader.