Here are some things you should consider before you choose and why.
I have a lot of experience in this area. I’m the Editor-in-Chief of Backlash Press, an independent publishing house, that has, over the years, published the work of many in every conceivable format: traditional, self-publication, journal, arthouse, limited edition, audio, etc., and this is what I’ve gained from my practice. The number one thing that every writer wants is a level of recognition for themselves and their story, but how this desire manifests varies enormously.
Firstly, it’s important to consider who or what we are trying to authorise with our writing before we decide how to present our work to the world. We write to understand and bring to the forefront our ideas, our voice, our characters, and ourselves. The written word is our oldest form of validation. It’s ingrained as a way to substantiate, but what? Below are the most frequent motivations of writing recognition that I’ve come across.
1. Fame and money. Before you (or I) groan, be honest, there’s a little part of everyone that wants fame and money and, hey, that’s okay. Provided you understand that it’s probably not sustainable and highly unlikely, alas. You can, however, have a brief, local type of fame and a modest, hard won side swindle through self-publishing. If your book is made for the halls of infamy, trust me, it will be found, but in the meantime, authorpreneurship offers a large community of like minded, supportive people, which gives true, long lasting value. I find that when people create for fame and money it usually means they long for love and respect. Because, sadly, we live in a world that likes to pontificate its love for living beings, though mostly shows evidence of valuing fame and money above all else, so you can see how easy it is to become confused. My advice? Go where the real love is, and the fame and money, should they ever have been yours, will follow, and if they don’t, it won’t matter because you’ll have found your true worth.
2. A cause. I must admit that I’m partial to a great cause. You are writing to bring awareness to an underrepresented, human or otherwise, voice. Bravo! First, try to find an agent. Work that advocates the disenfranchised deserves the wide audience that a mammoth publishing house is equipped to offer. But, seriously, don’t spend years on this, you’ll run your boat to mud. Agents are very specific about what they want, they study the market, and can’t afford to be incredibly niche. Choose carefully and don’t take agent rejection personally. They have a hard job. This book might not warrant agent representation but your next one could. A single agent doesn’t necessarily have to represent all of your work, you do, and it’s important to just keep writing. Try submitting to an independent press if your book isn’t picked up by an agent straight away. As an independent publisher, I feel a moral obligation to bring into existence work that narrates social change. That’s the reason why I do what I do. And if you have a cause, it means you have a market, which makes it easier for me to get your book read and collaborate with others who feel the same way. A win win.
3. Fun and interest. Hopefully, this filters into each motivation. So, you like writing about zombies. Or you’ve always wanted to research the history of windsurfing. Or you’re at the beginning stages of motivational speaking. Great! I’d say, unless your plot and literary prowess have real reading group series potential, definitely self-publish, because it’s quick, relatively painless, and you have a direct market at your fingertips.
4. For archival purposes. You want to tell the story of your great grandmother. You wrote a beautiful book of poetry about the human condition. You want to combine your own text and image, or you want to collaborate with another artist. You wrote a book of poetic literary fiction and don’t want to compromise. In short, what you’ve created has exclusively to do with the heart and this book is a continuation of your innermost being. I’d begin by researching independent presses that specialise in producing gorgeous, bespoke works of art. This is a piece of your history, an heirloom to pass down and treasure. But remember, indie presses usually only publish a few books a year, maybe yours is just too bespoke or not the perfect fit for their catalogue. Whatever the case, if you can’t find a press, find a graphic designer whose work you love and look at their credentials. Many will have experience in book layout and cover design. Equally, if you see a cover you like, contact the publisher and ask for the name of the designer. Most designers are freelance and would love a meaningful project to sink into. Who can print it? Almost all indie printers and bookbinders do limited edition short runs. Find a book that you love to hold, open it to the colophone, and contact the printer. Honestly, the people in this industry are here because they are passionate and would love to hear from you.
Many of these motivations will fold into one another, or ebb and wane between different projects, and there’s no right or wrong answer. If you want a lifelong career as a writer, what’s important is that you continue to grow and don’t fixate on one motivation or pathway. It’s also important that you really home in on what success looks like for you, dig to the crux of it. For me, it looked like a creative community and a small loyal readership. When I realised this, I changed tactics, and now live my idea of success, which, I have to say, is incredibly validating. There is a whirlwind of choice out there for budding authors, just remember, hand on my heart, the ability to share your creation and engage an audience, however small or large, is the greatest success of all.
Thanks for reading. I know your time is precious and I hope you found this helpful. You can contact us directly on Insta or Facebook or Twitter if there is anything you’d like me to cover in this blog or have any relevant questions. Subscribe and we will send you top writing tips from a writer and publisher, competition updates, and the occasional gift x
Wishing you luck and love,
Gret Heffernan
Gret Heffernan is the Editor-in-Chief of www.backlashpress and author of The Sculptor and Dark Ansley, Book One and Book Two
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