I’ve been stopped by aspiring writers. I’ve given talks. I developed a seminar. All have asked the same thing: I have an idea for a book, but I don’t know where to start. The answer is simple. The process is not. Start at the beginning.
Quite obvious to most, but so many would-be authors have great ideas stored in their heads. They either haven’t found the time or the motivation to put word to paper. You can’t really blame them. It’s not an easy road. Publishing houses require agents. Agents often require referrals. And if that wasn’t enough, getting published depends on a couple things: having a unique story and good timing.
So many good stories go unread simply because an agent either doesn’t believe he call sell your work, or nobody is looking for the genre, the topic, the age level. Just look at JK Rowling. I love her example—the picture of determination and grit. Rejected dozens and dozens of times, she finally hit the right agent at the right time. He was willing to give her a shot, and well, you know the rest.
So, many of us who can’t find out way there or don’t have the stamina to work through it all, find another way—as indie authors. The writing, editing, illustrating process requires a team too—that is, if the book is to be good, professional, attractive, right. I personally have a pro illustrator, pro editor and pro printer (well, Amazon–who can argue with them?) It’s all in place and still a difficult job. The marketing? Whoa—a full time job.
A new event just showed up on my doorstep, and that is an online book festival. It’s a consortium of writers, most award-winning (of those awards open to indie authors), who have decided to work together to help each other sell books. Ingenious! Authors helping authors. And authors trying to find their way in a world of big business and millions of books.
I invite you to visit the latest, of which I’m a part.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/kidsnovember/r06hne3nem
Check it out for the holidays. Hope to see you there, doing a little shopping for that little person on your Christmas list!