What is one thing you'd like the world to know about publishing?
"That it’s bloody hard work and you shouldn’t think you can take it up just-like-that." - Margo Lanagan, author of The Brides of Rollrock Island.
"Agents and editors are people, like you, with real lives. They go home at the end of the day. Sometimes they don’t work on weekends. Act accordingly, and they’ll like you more." - Dan Krokos, author of False Memory.
"I'd like the world to know about bookstores and how wonderful they are to browse in the real world. If you have a bookstore in your town, visit it … before it disappears!" - Martha Brockenbrough, author of Devine Intervention.
"That it moves far slower than you can imagine. And while readers may think that a certain story is too derivative of another story, generally this is not the case since a book that comes out today was most likely written two or even three years ago." - Joy Preble, author of Anastasia Forever.
"It’s a business and writers do not have as much control over the process as laypeople think." - Greg Leitich Smith, author of Chronal Engine.
"That it's a roller coaster. An extreme one! A record-breaker, for sure. That the publishing process results in emotions you can't even name. Both good and bad. But it's worth it." - Kirsten Hubbard, author of Wanderlove.
"That once you get that first book deal, you haven't "made it". It's not the end of the journey, only the very, very beginning. The industry changes, the shape of books changes. And all authors, whether they have 1 or 100 books under their belt, should constantly be open to learning new things." - Cyn Balog, author of Touched.
"That it is a step in the process, not the end of it. Publishing one book does not make it any easier to write the next, and with publishing comes marketing your work and yourself, which is an entirely different job than writing. So find joy in creating and revising your work, because it is there, and not in publishing, that the pleasure of this process lies. - Dayna Lorentz, author of No Safety in Numbers.
"That it is a step in the process, not the end of it. Publishing one book does not make it any easier to write the next, and with publishing comes marketing your work and yourself, which is an entirely different job than writing. So find joy in creating and revising your work, because it is there, and not in publishing, that the pleasure of this process lies. - Dayna Lorentz, author of No Safety in Numbers.
"You know, I think we know too much about publishing, all those insider details. I think we’d be better off with more wonder and mystery, as if the books came to us beamed whole from outer space. I don’t really care how Maurice Sendak fended off writer’s block or where he found inspiration. I just want to read In the Night Kitchen one more time. I want the book, the book, the book." - James Preller, author of Before You Go.
"Before I sold my first book, anyone who worked in publishing scared the heck out of me. Over the past two years, I have met some of the most amazing and friendly people. Remember: those who work in publishing are people too." - Katie McGarry, author of Pushing the Limits.
"Selling your manuscript to a publishing house is a huge step in the process, but it isn’t the last step. Authors and editors spend serious time on revisions and edits after the manuscript is sold and before the book is published—in my case we made many changes after the ARC is printed." - Sarah Tregay, author of Love and Leftovers.
"Getting a book published, while incredibly rewarding and satisfying can be a grueling, pride swallowing activity. Some days it can feel like a Sisyphean task trying to get published, from writing the book, to satisfying our editor, to getting the book to publication and, ultimately, noticed by an audience. A lot of people still look at YA writing as a kind of hobby, and they don’t quite realize the enormous work that goes into each and every novel. Day in and day out, we deal with rejection, both micro and macro and must persevere, despite the odds and the negative feedback. It takes an enormous amount of persistence to get published. And a whole lot of social networking to get noticed." - Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas, co-authors of From What I Remember. Check back in early October when the next Round of Author Insight kicks off!
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I have to say I like how Cyn put it. The YA industry has changed tremendously over the past few years, and you can tell authors are really trying to keep up with that change.
ReplyDeleteI think I have a "pro" for hard-copy vs. e-books. On Tuesday,(release date) I dived into my signed, doodled copy of @mstiefvater's The Raven Boys (from @FountainBkstore).
ReplyDeleteIt is so good that I've been carrying it around everywhere, hoping for a chance to read just one more page. So many people have admired the stunning cover and remarked about how good the book looks. After hearing me profess my adoration of all things @mstiefvater, these folks have written down her name, and promised to check it out.
This could not have happened if I was reading on a Kindle or Nook. I will stick with hard copies from my favourite independent bookstore.
@jvpoore