One of my daydreams was that my novel should be published by a traditional publisher. So once I had finished writing, and rewriting, and edition draft after draft of that novel I began searching for a suitable publisher. I searched and searched and realized that most would not accept unsolicited manuscripts. I did find one who did and who seemed to me quite right for my book. I sent a query with the first few pages of my novel, and…it was rejected (but very kindly so and the answer included interesting feedback). I wondered if I should start looking for an agent. I started looking at self-publication options. And I realized I had to ask myself a few questions. To take an agent or not to take an agent? To self-publish or not to self-publish?
Why did I want to be published by a traditional publisher in the first place? One word: prestige. Not because I want to make a living out of writing, not because I want to sell many books, but because it is more prestigious. Everyone can write a novel. Everyone can self-publish a novel. Not everyone is published by [name a famous publisher of your choice].
Did I really want to be traditionally published? Mmh… Yes and no. Why no? Did I really want an agent or a publisher to tell me I had to cut big chunks out of my “baby,” to tell me the style didn’t work, to take in their hands the future of my book? Not really.
Did I want to self-publish? At first no. It seemed too daunting. Doing it properly would involve costs and money I, a student with no job, don’t have. It involves designing a cover, formatting a book, looking into marketing and distribution and… No, I thought. Better look for an agent.
And then I thought again. Self-publication could become the future of publication. It represents freedom of expression. It is an adventure, frightening maybe, but also exhilarating. And perhaps I want to embark on this adventure and self-publish my novel. I want to design my own cover. I want to have control over what becomes of my book. I want to study the market and think up strategies. I want to be brave and take the future of my novel in my hands.
The moment I started to see self-publication as an adventure, my whole mindset changed. I like to be active. I had enjoyed working on my novel and editing it but once I had finished that and was waiting for an answer from the publisher, I could not only be passive and I felt…empty. Self-publishing is being active. It is taking decisions and trying to make them work. It is on the whole a project I find exciting (at the moment). Maybe it won’t work. Maybe my novel will be a flop. But does it really matter? Will it take away the enjoyment I feel from writing? No. So I might take the plunge.
However, I may yet change my mind and send out queries and synopses and more queries to agents. I’m sure I’ll self-publish a novel at one point but it might not be this particular novel. At the moment, I am waiting for the feedback and advice of several people to whom I have given my manuscript to read. A couple of them have some knowledge of the publishing world and their opinion will help me take a decision. And we’ll see…
Why did I want to be published by a traditional publisher in the first place? One word: prestige. Not because I want to make a living out of writing, not because I want to sell many books, but because it is more prestigious. Everyone can write a novel. Everyone can self-publish a novel. Not everyone is published by [name a famous publisher of your choice].
Did I really want to be traditionally published? Mmh… Yes and no. Why no? Did I really want an agent or a publisher to tell me I had to cut big chunks out of my “baby,” to tell me the style didn’t work, to take in their hands the future of my book? Not really.
Did I want to self-publish? At first no. It seemed too daunting. Doing it properly would involve costs and money I, a student with no job, don’t have. It involves designing a cover, formatting a book, looking into marketing and distribution and… No, I thought. Better look for an agent.
And then I thought again. Self-publication could become the future of publication. It represents freedom of expression. It is an adventure, frightening maybe, but also exhilarating. And perhaps I want to embark on this adventure and self-publish my novel. I want to design my own cover. I want to have control over what becomes of my book. I want to study the market and think up strategies. I want to be brave and take the future of my novel in my hands.
The moment I started to see self-publication as an adventure, my whole mindset changed. I like to be active. I had enjoyed working on my novel and editing it but once I had finished that and was waiting for an answer from the publisher, I could not only be passive and I felt…empty. Self-publishing is being active. It is taking decisions and trying to make them work. It is on the whole a project I find exciting (at the moment). Maybe it won’t work. Maybe my novel will be a flop. But does it really matter? Will it take away the enjoyment I feel from writing? No. So I might take the plunge.
However, I may yet change my mind and send out queries and synopses and more queries to agents. I’m sure I’ll self-publish a novel at one point but it might not be this particular novel. At the moment, I am waiting for the feedback and advice of several people to whom I have given my manuscript to read. A couple of them have some knowledge of the publishing world and their opinion will help me take a decision. And we’ll see…
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