Wow. “The system is just writers on one side and readers on the other and publishing trying to hit two moving targets at once.” I’ve never heard this idea expressed better, Kate. This is the kind of post that keeps me subscribing and recommending the newsletter to others. Well done.
“The system wasn’t designed” I am going to be thinking about that statement for a while. (That SNL sketch is so so so good. I post it & send it to clients regularly. Venice, the city of wetness! is a line that gets repeated in our house frequently 😂)
I am so in this space tight now. My debut, Hurricane Baby: Stories, came out today. No one's throwing me a party or sending flowers or chocolate today. But I'm throwing a party in my head for myself because I DID IT (with a lot of help and support) and that's all I ever wanted to do . You, me, all of us--we are enough.
Right on the nose, Kate. It's like buying that really expensive sports car and thinking NOW my life will really get going... nope. Your life is still what you make of it -- you just have a smaller bank account and possibly and angry spouse...
Your article reminded me when I worked at Harcourt everybody use to say to me "Now you can publish your book." I didn't realize people thought publishing was like working retail or fast food where you get an employee discount. There's no discount, short cut or special treatment in publishing. Either your book is for them, or it's not. The more ironic part of it is being published isn't on my wish list. Maybe that's why I enjoy being an agent and a developmental editor. Helping people reach their goals of writing a book or being published is more fulfilling to me.
Thank you I LOVE this. I’m a person people think… mostly, if they’ve heard of me which most of them have not… has “arrived” and with reason! I’ve had lots of success! And also I just finished a new novel that may or may not sell bc my last one didn’t do great and I may get to go to a screening for a TV show made out of my most successful book and I’m more than a little worried that if I do no one will talk to me. So yeah, all that’s normal! And more importantly it took an extra 6 months to maybe, maybe finish this book which my agent or a freelance editor may be about to tell me isn’t there yet… again. So YES THANK YOU ALL THIS.
Excellent post and golden advice, Emma! I lucked out early with a contract on my first pitch at 30: HarperCollins, non-fiction hardcover, writer + illustrator, no agent. $10k advance. Two kids under 4. What was I thinking? I think my hourly rate would have been 50 cents. But I loved the entire process. And it helped me break into magazines and a 23-year career… only now am I ready to get back on the horse. Thanks for reminding me to take stock… is this really what I want? It’s a lot of life and memories that may pass me by?
I love the bit about how "that there isn’t a magical publishing door you walk through that means you have *arrived*." I tell myself when I'm having a bad day that there's a fresh start whenever one steps through a door, and maybe the same is true of the good things. We can always be arriving.
So glad to hear that your concussion is doing better!
Thanks, Kate for telling as it is. It's something I particularly needed to hear today, as I sent out query letters, edited, pitched, sent out submissions, and made dinner, went grocery shopping, played with my daughter, the dog, two cats, and live in that space of "negative capability" and uncertainty all humans live in. Be grateful for every moment and who knows what's going to happen. I'm trying hard not to make my entire life about getting an agent and getting "mommy's book" published. Your wise insights really lightened my day! A thousand thanks.
Oh this is so helpful! When you've been querying a while it starts to feel like there must be a secret I don't know that I just need to figure out. But this is a good reminder that is not the case.
Forty years "perfecting" my craft. Published. Published again. You are right. It's been cool, but it didn't change my life all that much. Looking ahead, I have perhaps forty more years (if I'm lucky) of "perfecting" my craft some more. The writing really is the only thing we can control, and I feel happiest when I'm writing. Not marketing. Not promoting myself and my books. Writing.
Wow. “The system is just writers on one side and readers on the other and publishing trying to hit two moving targets at once.” I’ve never heard this idea expressed better, Kate. This is the kind of post that keeps me subscribing and recommending the newsletter to others. Well done.
Facts.
“The system wasn’t designed” I am going to be thinking about that statement for a while. (That SNL sketch is so so so good. I post it & send it to clients regularly. Venice, the city of wetness! is a line that gets repeated in our house frequently 😂)
I am so in this space tight now. My debut, Hurricane Baby: Stories, came out today. No one's throwing me a party or sending flowers or chocolate today. But I'm throwing a party in my head for myself because I DID IT (with a lot of help and support) and that's all I ever wanted to do . You, me, all of us--we are enough.
Right on the nose, Kate. It's like buying that really expensive sports car and thinking NOW my life will really get going... nope. Your life is still what you make of it -- you just have a smaller bank account and possibly and angry spouse...
Your article reminded me when I worked at Harcourt everybody use to say to me "Now you can publish your book." I didn't realize people thought publishing was like working retail or fast food where you get an employee discount. There's no discount, short cut or special treatment in publishing. Either your book is for them, or it's not. The more ironic part of it is being published isn't on my wish list. Maybe that's why I enjoy being an agent and a developmental editor. Helping people reach their goals of writing a book or being published is more fulfilling to me.
Thank you I LOVE this. I’m a person people think… mostly, if they’ve heard of me which most of them have not… has “arrived” and with reason! I’ve had lots of success! And also I just finished a new novel that may or may not sell bc my last one didn’t do great and I may get to go to a screening for a TV show made out of my most successful book and I’m more than a little worried that if I do no one will talk to me. So yeah, all that’s normal! And more importantly it took an extra 6 months to maybe, maybe finish this book which my agent or a freelance editor may be about to tell me isn’t there yet… again. So YES THANK YOU ALL THIS.
Excellent post and golden advice, Emma! I lucked out early with a contract on my first pitch at 30: HarperCollins, non-fiction hardcover, writer + illustrator, no agent. $10k advance. Two kids under 4. What was I thinking? I think my hourly rate would have been 50 cents. But I loved the entire process. And it helped me break into magazines and a 23-year career… only now am I ready to get back on the horse. Thanks for reminding me to take stock… is this really what I want? It’s a lot of life and memories that may pass me by?
I love the bit about how "that there isn’t a magical publishing door you walk through that means you have *arrived*." I tell myself when I'm having a bad day that there's a fresh start whenever one steps through a door, and maybe the same is true of the good things. We can always be arriving.
So glad to hear that your concussion is doing better!
Great post! Very insightful and got to the core of every writer's thoughts and feelings I think
Thanks, Kate for telling as it is. It's something I particularly needed to hear today, as I sent out query letters, edited, pitched, sent out submissions, and made dinner, went grocery shopping, played with my daughter, the dog, two cats, and live in that space of "negative capability" and uncertainty all humans live in. Be grateful for every moment and who knows what's going to happen. I'm trying hard not to make my entire life about getting an agent and getting "mommy's book" published. Your wise insights really lightened my day! A thousand thanks.
One of your best. Both stark in its reality check but, surprisingly, also encouraging.
Oh this is so helpful! When you've been querying a while it starts to feel like there must be a secret I don't know that I just need to figure out. But this is a good reminder that is not the case.
Forty years "perfecting" my craft. Published. Published again. You are right. It's been cool, but it didn't change my life all that much. Looking ahead, I have perhaps forty more years (if I'm lucky) of "perfecting" my craft some more. The writing really is the only thing we can control, and I feel happiest when I'm writing. Not marketing. Not promoting myself and my books. Writing.
I am in this struggle right now. Thank you for this.
Well said! It’s the journey not the destination - unless it’s Adam Sandler in Italy. Thank you!
I raised my hand but you never said I could put it down, so the people in the sandwich shop are looking at me funny.
Great article!
I love this post. You nailed it. Same is true for self publishing.