Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Authors make a lot of assumptions about how a writing career is supposed to unfurl. These assumptions can be deadly to a perfectly good career. Here are a few I’ve observed:
- Assume you don’t have to become a better writer with each manuscript. You don’t build fans or loyal readers by exerting less effort in every manuscript you write. Readers notice if stories start to all sound alike; so do Amazon reviewers and the good folks at your publishing house. One author I talked to said, “I figure it’s the editor’s job to take what I hand in and polish it.” Yes, but this author, I later found out, views “polishing” as “fix this mess.” He would hand in a manuscript that was only vaguely focused, and every idea that might fit under the book’s premise was tossed into the mix. His publisher–and his readers–eventually lost interest.
- Decide you can dash off a proposal with only the barest idea of what you want to write. As we’ve often said in our blog posts, a proposal is your business plan. If you’re not willing to carefully consider how this project fits into the market and into your oeuvre, then why should you expect your agent, your publisher, the marketing staff to do this work for you? They have neither the qualifications nor the time to do what the author can accomplish better than anyone else.
- Trust that you can rely on past performance to launch you into your next contract. In the past, publishers were kind of forgiving if an author’s sales trajectory wasn’t always upward. But in today’s market, if you’re lucky, you have three books to prove you can keep ramping up sales. After that, the publisher moves on to other authors. It’s brutal, but it’s how publishers are staying alive in an increasingly bloody business.
- Rely on the editor to fix a novel’s inconsistencies or a nonfiction book’s quotes and references. Why would an author think anyone would want to do work the author deigns too time-consuming to complete? Editors are under tremendous pressure to move a book onto the next phase of production, and don’t forget all those publishing layoffs that occurred a few years ago. Re-hires aren’t happening. That means editors are working on more projects and have more responsibilities than ever before. If a writer won’t do the nit-picky work, he can’t count on having a growing career.
- Think that a large number of Twitter followers or a significant e-newsletter list will be enough to make your book a success. Magic formulas have never existed in publishing, or every publisher could produce a best-seller whenever they applied that formula. That’s true for author’s efforts as well. It’s easy to think that having a good-sized number of Facebook “likes” will translate into book sales, but that requires someone engaged with you in social media to: 1) pay attention to what you put on social media; 2) like the idea of your latest book; 3) actually take the step to make the purchase. As Shakespeare wrote: “There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip.” While it’s hard to translate social media activity into actual sales, we can be pretty sure that the lack of social media involvement is an even deadlier way for an author to go. But never assume a large audience is out there dying to buy your next book.
The bottomline: Never assume you’re a hot item or that the trajectory of your career can only go up. Not so, grasshopper.
Do you have a propensity to fall into any of these assumptions?
As a reader, what evidence have you seen of authors thinking along these lines?
Great suggestions, thank you.
I am continually humbled, I find it the best place to be.
I am guilty of sending a proposal before it was ready. I realized almost immediately, after digging deeper into blogs such as this one. I am holding it close now, polishing like crazy, and know to not submit until I am 100% sure it is the best I can give.
Lisa, that’s such an important lesson to learn, isn’t it? Every project gets only one opportunity to garner a yes; editors strongly resist looking at a revised version of a project they’ve already received, even if it showed promise. The editor has no shortage of really strong projects to choose from.
Love this list, Janet. I have definitely seen a few authors who have found large success and yet do not seem to improve. Their books DO begin to sound the same after awhile. Perhaps it’s because they are so rushed to produce 3-4 (or more) books a year. It seems like that would be very difficult to do and still produce quality work, but maybe I’m just projecting onto them how difficult it would be for ME.
Some authors are prolific and creative enough to pull off writing 3-4 manuscripts per year. But we mere mortals aren’t as likely to succeed. Authors DO have the power to say, “I can only write one stellar book per year.” That will cause weeping and gnashing of teeth at the publishing house, but eventually the publisher will accept that the pace is set for one per year.
All good points, Janet. Let me underscore your observation, “But never assume a large audience is out there dying to buy your next book.” Not a week goes by without one or two people I don’t know sending me a request to like their Facebook fan page. If I don’t know them, I don’t, but I suspect other sympathetic souls go ahead and do it. For this reason alone, I suspect fan pages get bloated with artificial interest by polite people who won’t plunk down hard dollars to buy their wares.
I agree with you, Rick. It’s the same way with blog followers. You can have hundreds of followers, but not many who actually check out your blog.
Or even if they’re engaged with you on Facebook or make comments on your blog, that doesn’t mean they’ll buy your book. They very well could feel they get your best material, especially if they’re reading your blog, without having to pay for it.
It’s funny, b/c you hear so much about platform-building and how integral it is to getting published. But this weekend I realized I’m getting burnt-out on it and just want to write!
And I would totally beat myself up if my second book didn’t live up to my first. Hoping I don’t ever have that problem!
I really wonder what would happen if someone is trying to build a social media following went dark for awhile. Would anyone notice? Would your numbers drop? It’s a gutsy experiment. Has anyone tried it?
What I’ve noticed is that if one starts to establish a social media presence, and decides to get back into writing wonderful stories instead of tweets, blogs, updates, and stumblin’ around on tumblr, that depending on who your audience is, one can easily reconnect with them; that is an approach that I don’t think gets discussed too often, which is not potentially wasting time building a traditional social media presence, but having one through the aggregate of interaction with the audience through THEIR social media networks.
Indeed, this may indeed solve the problem mentioned, of how ones’ social media followers do not always equal sales; there’s a difference between standing on a soapbox and attracting the curious or random passerby, and engaging in a conversation with ones’ circles of colleagues and acquaintances.
(Maybe a better analogy would be the difference between a person on a soapbox and an invited speaker).
What I have found is when I don’t Tweet for a few days, I do lose some followers, usually people who’ve just started following me. My Klout score goes down–although I’m not convinced Klout is an accurate measure of anything. On the other hand, I continue to get pageviews on my blogs even if I haven’t written for a couple of weeks (my usual is once a week). Of course, the pageviews spike when I promote a new post, but people check the blogs almost daily and look at old posts as well as new ones.
Heather, I feel exactly the same way. Why am I killing myself with this whole platform-building life if it really doesn’t mean that much? I just want to write and improve my writing skills in the process.
Janet, I have gone black a couple of times due to an (unforseen!) 10-day power outage and and a vacation. I did try to check email as I could, but I found my readership was wondering where I was the time I vanished with no warning.
I think CONTENT IS KING. If you’re feeding them tripe, they’re not going to miss you. If they get something from your blog that they can relate to, they’ll come back.
Another thing: RELATIONSHIP IS KING. I feel like I have some serious peeps that follow my blog. I may have 1000 twitter followers, but not all of them will buy my book. I’m pretty sure that MOST of the 30+ followers who loyally check my blog will. As well as lots of FB peeps from my author page. Author pages are a great way to connect with short, personal details, unlike our more structured blogposts.
Just my thoughts on the blackout idea!
I feel this way, too, Heather. I have had some good social media conversations (like the one with you about Sci Fi) but Twitter and Facebook are something I force myself to do. Sometimes it’s fun, but mostly I consider it a part of the job. I am having some fun right now with my fantasy blog, but I haven’t posted on my writing blog for over two weeks. I know I need to, but there are only so many minutes in the day.
Thanks to each of you for your thoughts on going dark. I think Heather is right in that content and relationship are king.
But I’m also beginning to think that going a few days each week without being engaged in social media might not be so bad and would give each of us a much needed break. Keeping track of Klout scores and blog views would be a way to test my theory.
I also like what Larry said about commenting on other people’s blogs, tweets and FB is a way to have a break from creating content but still staying visible.
Great points, Janet. I can see how it could be easy to fall into any one of these ditches. I’m in the early stages of writing, as far as where I am on the journey. I hope that I will never think more highly of myself than I ought to, but rather that I will always seek to present the very best work I can to 1) make it easier on those who have to work with me, and 2) to point others to God.
Jeanne, I think most writers start out thinking as you do. But writing book after book and keeping up with building a platform is just plain hard work. Some flag in their efforts as they grow weary. And some just get tired of applying themselves.
These are good thoughts. Thanks for the added perspective, Janet. 🙂
Thanks for these good thoughts and added perspective. Being on the newbie end, I need these doses of reality. 🙂
Sorry, my first comment didn’t show until the second one did. 😉
Gosh, I hope I never fall into these traps; and if I do, I hope I am able to pull myself out.
I have an author whose books I truly love, but after reading five or six of them, I realize they are beginning to sound the same. Why do I need to keep buying her new books if it’s so similar to something I’ve already read?
Thanks for the tips. I’ll be sure to keep them in mind.
So, Cheryl, what you probably want from that author is a bit of a change-up, right? If that author figured out what makes readers come back for more, and transferred those concepts to the next book but changed everything else, he or she would probably see a major leap forward in book sales. Of course, the tricky part is figuring out what readers love about your current works. Social media could help the author find out those answers, if he or she asked what readers like.
What a great reminder to lay the proper foundation now. I’m slowly building up my social media presence, but am concentrating on writing a great story.
That’s the perfect combo, Carrie. Keep on!
I’m taking the same approach, Carrie! 🙂 We can’t let ourselves get bogged down in social media if our writing is not stellar!
These are great points! I could definitely see how, after writing a number of well-done books, a writer might expect that no matter what the next books reads like, readers would love it. It’s definitely a let-down when the second or third book doesn’t live up to the one before it.
I appreciate the tips, and reminders like these are great for us striving for publication to realize that it’s important to always be learning and growing and creating something we’re proud of.
Cindy, I like the way you summarized what I was trying to say, “it’s important to always be learning and growing and creating something we’re proud of.” Wouldn’t it be great if writers surrounded themselves with honest critiquers?
Hi Janet,
Thanks for the great post. I can see how some writers can fall into one or more of these assumptions, particularly if they’ve seen great success or have had their ego improperly inflated by others. Not that an ego is a bad thing. I think it’s necessary every writer believe in themselves and have faith in their writing. Many writers experience a “desert” season in our writing career when we may turn out to be our only fan. The danger is becoming so comfortable that we believe anything we type or write will become the next blockbuster, or that (as you noted) we can do our bare minimum with an expectation someone else repairs it. After all, as my wife says, “I am all that and a bag of chips.”
As a pre-published writer I’ve been observing how published authors act, respond to criticism and treat others. I’ve learned a lot of good and bad things about writers in this way. A heart of gratefulness and humility (and striving to become better writers) serves us all much better.
Kirk, we all can learn a lot by watching published writers and deliberately choosing to “do this, not that.” I think most writers have delicate egos, but somehow, once the ego gets engaged, it starts acting like it’s on steroids. Scary!
Very true, Janet. When you begin thinking you are “owed” this or “deserve” that, you start down a path you really don’t want to be walking.
Hi Janet,
I’m actually amazed, with so much info out there on writing quality EVERYTHING, from queries to manuscripts, that there are still authors who give themselves license to turn in sub-par material. It’s one thing to double an ‘and’ on page 213, but not formatting properly and not following requested guidelines? I suppose I sound entitled but I’m on the road to publication and I am frustrated that I’m being slowed by the traffic jam of people who aren’t willing to put the same effort in that I do. I believe there’s a place for every writer…but writers must first writer, then write right, THEN put it out there. There is no other way to do it.
Okay. I’ve vented for the day. And now that I’ve made myself look like a high-falutin’ brat, I’m going to go double check my MS before putting it out there. 🙂
Thanks for the post, Janet. Still praying for you, that the Lord would be your comfort.
Blessings,
Becky
See? Shoulda double-checked that comment, too!
On the writing quality OF everything….
Writers must first write (not writer), then write RIGHT. That would be me I’m talking about.
I just put myself in my place. That’s what happens when I vent. I never sound quite as intelligent as I think I do. Hm.
Becky
I totally agree with one of the agents (Rachelle?) who once said that most authors query before they’re ready. Problem w/new authors is that they don’t know they’re not ready. It’s that process of trying, getting knocked down to size, then getting up and revising. And it stinks! But it’s true–those are the queries that are wasting agents’ time!
Becky, you said, “I am frustrated that I’m being slowed by the traffic jam of people who aren’t willing to put the same effort in that I do.” I’ve never heard it put that way but you are so right. I found myself nodding while reading your comment.
And about the typo. . . you know it’s a law that if you write anything about proofreading or taking care in the quality of your work it will have one or more typos in it. I think it’s one of the laws of the universe.
Blush.
Thanks, Wendy. I feel slightly better.
Blessings,
Becky
I completely agree, Becky. By the way, congratulations on winning the Bright Side Blog Bash! 🙂
Christine – THANKS! I’m very excited about that, too. Those girls made my week since I couldn’t be at ACFW!
Oh, I hope I become a better writer with every manuscript. It would be very sad if everything I’m struggling to learn went to waste.
I’m sure my lackluster proposal will hurt me. It’s something I need to spend a great deal of time on. All the recent posts your group has put up have pushed me to go over it again, and cringe at what I wrote before. Applying number one above will definitely help with problem number two!
If we’ve helped one person(you!) to work harder on her proposal, then that’s a good day’s work.
Janet, I agree with everything you said, but one of the things that scares me about starting a writing career is that I always need to be fresh. That’s not so easy.
A year ago I discovered Kristin Hannah. Loved the three books of hers that I read. Then her newest one came out, and I didn’t like it. I’ve spent some time wondering why that was–if it was just the topic or if it was a change from her previous stuff or something else.
I guess there’s a very, very fine line between being fresh and leaving the type of stories that got you your readers to begin with.
Many moons ago I discovered this historical writer who wrote one era so fantastically beautifully. I bought every single book–about a dozen, I think. Then they started writing about a completely different period in history. I bought the first two books, didn’t care for them, and never went back, even though they’ve since returned to that first era in history.
Writers who retain their readers and grow with every book are pretty astounding and, I’m guessing, rare.
Sally, remaining fresh is a tremendous challenge for a writer. Especially is readers want you to keep writing in the same genre or category. I think the key is figuring out what makes your writing work and sticking to that–even if you’re bored with your character or your genre. FIND a way to be inventive!
Yes, I think a writer would have to be inventive if they were getting bored. Or else it would show. 🙁
I have seen authors fall into these traps.
I’ve known writers, many writers, who pound out the last half of a book in a week. Missed deadlines. Slam something out. It can’t be as good as it should be. It just can’t. One author told me once her deadline was the following night at midnight and he had eight chapters to go. I asked if he turned in rough draft and he said, “Oh, yeah,” like he thought it was odd I asked.
Well…is it any wonder his series was canceled half-way through?
I’ve known several authors who work like this.
The other interesting thing is authors believing their five-star reviews but not believing their one-star reviews. This makes them think they’re a hot item. I like Liz Curtis Higgs’ take on this: Neither one is true.
Missed deadlines is worthy of being added to the list of career killers. Thanks for pointing that out, Sally.
I love Liz Curtis Higgs, who has been so successful but never let any of that go to her head.
Hi Janet,
Your number 5 brings up such an important point for me, and a question about which I’ve wondered many times. I’ve been working hard on building a platform before I develop my proposal, as I understand how important that is. But I’ve specifically been working hard at building a platform of people who (I believe) would translate into book purchasers. When I do Facebook advertising for my blog, I target fans of authors who write in the same subject area (Christian parenting). In this way, I am not just building blog fans, but specifically blog fans who buy books in this area. While I would think that’s immensely important (for the exact reasons you noted!), I never see anyone address it. I only see people talking about the general importance of platform and total numbers. Of course you have to have volume first, but I would think volume without quality renders the platform somewhat irrelevant for publishing purposes. So, I was really happy to see your notes on number 5 in particular. 🙂
Along these lines, I’m wondering if it’s appropriate to discuss the quality of your platform in the proposal (as it relates to buyer potential)? In other words, if you put significant thought and strategy into WHO those people are, is it relevant to outline specifically how you have generated your platform?
Natasha, it’s absolutely important in your proposal to talk about how you’ve targeted those most likely to be interested in what you’re writing. I think publishers will eventually realize that quality trumps quantity, but right now, it’s a good idea to educate them via your proposal.
That’s really helpful to know. Thanks so much for your reply!
So much of the writer’s life reminds me of that story about the “Emperor’s New Clothes”…
Oh, yeah, Lilly, lots of folks marching around sans clothing.
If I’m totally honest, I’ll have to confess that sometimes I fantasize about a time when I will have “made” it. Fortunately, the real world keeps reminding me there’s no such thing–not in my work, not in my marriage, not in my faith and certainly not in my writing. God is SUCH a smartie.
Yup, we’re all marathon runners, aren’t we?
I just saw a poster on my friend’s FB page that reads: “There is no elevator to success; you have to take the stairs.” If you’ve taken the stairs–done a great job of writing your first book, sold well and gotten great reviews, it can be tempting to sit down on the landing. I think this is what happens with some authors. They feel they’ve made it and sit down. But continued success means continued climbing. Since I don’t want my name attached anything mediocre, I intend to keep climbing, but I’m wondering two things. Is it possible to take a breather after, say, the third book? Perhaps six months or so away from writing so that the passion can be rekindled (no pun intended). I can understand how an author might get burned out after a while. The other thought I had is about genre. I know that an author (at least one who is published traditionally) needs to build a brand and so writes book after book in the same genre. I wonder if after a while some authors just need to change genres. Perhaps an author only has three good romance novels in her, but she might have a few exciting historical fiction stories inside her too. I understand that, after spending so much time building up a brand and a fan base, that seems impractical, not to mention a traditional publishing no-no, but I just wonder if some authors get burned out writing the same type of story. Having said that, I think that a writer who sends a mess and expects the editor to clean it up or who expects the editor to do all the fact-checking deserves to lose his / her career. I don’t mean to sound heartless, but I have little tolerance for irresponsibility, laziness and feelings of entitlement.
Oops! Didn’t mean to end on a negative note, so Happy Monday! 🙂
Hmmm. Is it like other forms of exercise? Do the stairs get easier to climb as we get in better and better writing shape? I know the second MS was easier to write than the first . . .
I hadn’t thought about it that way, Sarah, but as a yet-to-be-published writer, I take comfort your analogy. You’ve given me hope that it gets easier once I’ve “trained up.” Blessings!
I resonate with that analogy about the elevator vs. the stairs. Sitting on the landing gets pretty tempting after awhile.
To answer the questions you posed: in my opinion, taking a breather can be a very good thing. But I’m thinking six months is too long. If you’re gaining traction in your publishing by increasing sales with each new release, your readers want your next book right after they finish reading your current book. So imagine a six-month delay for your next release. Will your readers still be engaged with you? Hopefully, through social media, you can keep the relationship going, but it’s a huge chance the author is taking.
Regarding switching genres, it’s very tough to do that successfully. Very. Readers WANT you to write in the same genre; it’s where they first met you, and they expect you to enjoy your next book as much as they enjoyed reading your last book. I think an author would need to find a different kind of change-up–a new set of characters; a new setting; a different structure to the story. But changing genres generally undoes all the hard stair-climbing you’ve been engaged in.
Thank you, Janet, for responding to my musings. What you said about not wanting to take too long a break makes sense, that once the momentum is going, a writer needs to keep it going. The genre question was really me just trying to understand why some writers produce books that are stale. Speaking as a reader, my favorite author of all time is James Herriot. I know that every book he wrote gave me what I love about him in the first place. He always delivered and his writing never got stale or formula. And I will admit that if he had started writing murder mysteries, I would have given the first one a try, but if they didn’t have the warmth and humor of his All Creatures Great and Small books, I would not buy a second one. So I understand what you’re saying. I think that your suggestion about staying in the genre but changing characters, setting, some structure would be a good way for a writer to keep his / her writing fresh not only for him or herself but for the readers as well. I have encountered writers who seem to write the same story over and over again. That will lose me as a reader just as quickly as a writer who changes genres or style.
Blessings on your evening!
Great points, Janet. The success of a book is so much more than spreading the word, but also intriguing readers.
Yes, writers need to engage readers; it’s such a key to succeeding.
As a pre-published author I can easily get overwhelmed by the lists of what to do and what not to do. But what it really comes down to is this:
Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Colossians 3:23-25 MSG
Thanks for bringing us around to such an important point, Jenni. The parable of the talents applies to all of us as well.
Janet, how’d you get so smart? Oh … wait. I think I know. HARD WORK. Which is what we writers can bring to the table. Good old fashioned work ethic. Thanks for these reminders.
Stephanie, you’re one of the authors who is a publisher’s dream–hard working, not being haughty about your accomplishments, and always striving to be better at the craft.
Hard work, in my opinion, trumps talent in this business.
There are several well-known non-fiction writers who I’ve given up on. Their first book was superb, their second book was okay, and by the third or fourth I’m wondering why I’m even reading them; they have nothing new and have become boring.
I don’t know if they stopped trying or only had one good idea.
Regardless, I don’t want to become that author.
We don’t know what the circumstances for any of the authors you gave up on, but let’s take your experience as a life lesson: We shouldn’t keep publishing when we’ve fun out of interest in our own topic or run out of anything new to say.
You know what this means? We all need people in our lives who will be honest with us–an agent, critique partners, spouses.
The last thing the world needs is another book with nothing new to offer.
There is a wealth of wisdom in these comments. I’m embarrassed to see my self in some of the more lame thoughts, but I’m proud to see myself in some of the more intelligent ideas. So, yeah, basically I’ve got voices in my head telling me I’m a lame genius.
I work my tail off, drive my crit partners to eat early Halloween candy by the handful and think I’ve got the MS to 99.99% perfection, then I see a period outside a comma in a dialogue scene.
I want to be the writer that sits on the rim of the box and blends market and originality like an exotic bird with huge, multi-coloured wings. I want people to look at my work and wonder how I fold everything together without weighing it all down with repetition or pomposity.
Whether I grow with an author page on FB, grow my Twitter following, or own the M shelf at the bookstore, I know I have one goal. To keep my hand to the plow and go forward.
And a worthy goal it is, Jennifer. Thanks for your input.
Your second point really struck me. I am currently working on a bachelors degree in marketing because it seems important to think about the business side of writing as well as the creative side. It’s encouraging to think that these business courses could help in creating a strong proposal.
Leah, oh, yeah, knowing how to create a business plan and seeing the benefit of it will stand you in good stead–not to mention developing a stronger sense of what it means to market a product.
Very good post! Great advice as well. I don’t ever assume I’m a hot item. I am willing to work hard at writing/marketing/promoting from the very first book to the last, whatever it may be.
What an excellent post to keep writers on their toes! I was once in our local library, and while browsing heard a reader say excitedly to her friend, “Oh look! There’s the new book by (Very Famous Author)!” Her friend replied, “Oh, don’t bother with it. I’ve read it and she’s starting to sound the same now in all her books.” Ouch. I think as writers we have to work hard with every book, and not reply on lingering reader loyalty to carry us forward.