Something a little sad… and sadly ugly is emerging in the world of Internet/ publishing/ new writers.
Many people are getting caught up in the wild enthusiasm of being offered a contract by a small Indie publisher.
Before we start shouting “Off with her head!” I will state for the record that there are some superb Indie Publishers out there. I hope like hell the one you have just signed to is one of them.
Okay…I will continue and hopefully dodge any missiles aimed at my head by people who are NOT reading what I am writing in context.
Who can blame the writers enthusiasm and delight at having been signed … not I.
The problem is that enthusiasm is not enough to ensure that your work is going to be presented in such a way as to best display it.
So many wonderful, new and mega-talented writers are being offered the opportunity of saying "Hey, I'm a published writer!"
"Self published eh?" say the ever cynical masses.
"Well no, actually. I've been signed by a Publisher."
"Ahhhh...a Publisher. Marvelous!" Ego rant/rave then follows...
Understandably.
What happens next can be either a marriage made in heaven. Or a nightmare on your own street.
Enthusiasm, no matter how well intentioned, does NOT a publisher make.
YOU...have written a book. Perhaps you have never attempted this before.
OR
Perhaps you have struggled for years to have this work, your manuscript, your creation...published, read, and hopefully well received.
Then one miraculous day, you receive an {Email} {Message} {Carrier Pigeon}--indulge me.
Someone out there in the wild world loves your book. LOVES it enough to want to publish it.
The normal response is OMG followed by copious amounts of contacting friends and even 'Aunt Ethel' to squeee... with excitement, accept the kudos, and commence the ego feeding.
In your delight, your over the moon with excitement thrill, you sign. Why Not…? After all someone finally recognized how wonderful your book is.
Then, of course, you begin the seriously difficult task of editing. Well? Don't you?
Ahhh... what bliss! ... The seriously enthusiastic Indie Publisher assures you that it's a painless process...and one they are happy to undertake on your behalf.
You can hear, 'Oprah' in the background, can't you?..."Interview--moi? Delighted you say."
SLOW it DOWN. Please. New kid on the block, or seasoned traveller with a suitcase full of rejection slips...matters not.
Do your homework.
Ask to see a catalogue of recently published books by the same publisher.
Look at these, where are they on sale? Have they been moderately succesful? Can you physically walk in to a book shop and hold a copy in your hand?
No one suggests for a single moment that every book ever published is going to sell. Not even 'Aunt Ethel' can buy THAT many copies.
BUT....at the very least, you should be able to read a copy of work they have previously and hopefully recently published.
If you have been content to sign a contract for sale of your creation in E book only, again that's fine and a choice many many people are happily making, not a problem.
So, great! Where can you get a copy? Is it available on Kindle? Can you purchase it on "Smashwords?" "Amazon ?"
Insert all the usual, established names. If you don't know them...you SHOULD.
Take a long hard detailed look at the marketing process...Is the book being reviewed? Yes! Wonderful...where?
Are the publishers who so enthusiasticly signed these other Creations doing much to promote them?
Wonderful…they are. Where?
Take a good long look...is it the Publisher doing the promoting? Or the AUTHOR?
A fifty-fifty split was agreed to...great your choice, as long as the Publisher is upholding at the very least that percentage. Wonderful.
HOMEWORK...who are your enthusiastic Publishers. Are they an established and recognizable name, having earned respect in the marketplace?
Well, no,I hear you say. They are new. Fair enough and new is necessary and welcome.
NEW is great...terrific...they will be all fired up and ready to Rock 'n' Roll. Not a problem? Is IT?
Shouldn't be. New publishers are hungry to gain the respect of the market and their stable of Authors.
They will have approached the publishing responsibility with clear thought, a strategy in place...and a code of ethical business practices.
They will of course have a Trust Account established and will have notified you the Author of how the distribution of sales profits will be distributed.
They will have presented you with a clear, concise marketing plan that you have agreed to.
Do YOUR homework.
Else you may wake up to find that your publisher is Aunt Ethel working away happily and of course ENTHUSIASTICLY...on the internet, in between watching REALITY BITES TV.
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