I tell all stories inspiring me. I encourage others to do as well. In DEP we had a series on poverty and wrote a book about it. I publish my oen books. I do mot have an agent, just me. I elevate my own voice and the voice of fellow writers.
To thine own self be true. A great reminder! As my son's 2nd grade teacher, who later was my grandson's first grade teacher once said to me, "they march to their own drummers ... Isn't that how it should be?" I thought at the time, this is one of the wisest teachers I know.
I avoided trying to find an agent. I self published my first book and found a publisher (which I paid for) for my second book. It was the right publisher for me. She elevated my voice and offered services around editing, design, some promotion, entering me in indie contests. I was in the top ten in both those contests. Either way, whether you find a publisher willing to pay (in this case you need to already have a large following) or you pay to publish, you are going to need to market and promote. Sadly, these are things I am not good at and do not enjoy. My book never had much of a chance for a large number of sales. Still, I feel like every time someone reads it and it helps them better trust themselves, it is a win. My book has been used for classes and many people I work with have read it and benefitted.
I didn’t lose my voice, and I also didn’t succeed in a traditional manner. I work a job to earn money and that job is meaningful to me, so I am lucky that way at least. Right now I am thinking about writing more about our need for belonging and how that is so toxified in modern society/patriarchy.
One last note. My creativity knows no bounds. However, having a job does impose limits. I am torn between writing and art. Often I find the art making more fulfilling on my limited personal time as I don’t wish to be on a computer after a week of work.
Either way, to sell my art or my writing I must overcome my aversion to marketing/promotion.
Thanks for another great thought provoking article!
I could’ve released the first book way sooner, if I wasn’t in the query trenches for 2 years. If ya hafta do marketing on your own anyway, might as well be Indie. As an Indie you find out what you’re made of and not obsess over what you lack. ☀️
It's a good thing for me I write only for the catharsis of it. Better than therapy, because someone is not being paid to ask me "How does that make you FEEL? But I also am retired and don't want to deal with the extra tax form an income from writing might actually generate.
I will never activate the payment thingie here. My word arrangements are on loan, like the library. I am lazy physically with an overactive brain. But, I'm pleased to support Walter for all the reasons he has. I appreciate his word arrangements.
This also happens for architectural design where clients (who have never built or designed anything) often play the “guess-what-I’m-thinking” game.
These are known as problem clients.
The “i’ll-know-it-when-i-see-it” claim is nonsense, and I let them “know-it-when-they-say-it” they are daft (in a more delicate and less blunt manner, of course).
There are ways to deal with scenarios like this, however, in order for these methods to be effective the client has to have significant skin in the game.
It reads to me, that these gatekeepers have no skin in the game and are just power tripping.
It’s certainly an unfair and unfortunate circumstance to have to deal with. The result though is plain as day: the unnecessary destruction of, instead of mentoring and nurturing, talent.
I tell all stories inspiring me. I encourage others to do as well. In DEP we had a series on poverty and wrote a book about it. I publish my oen books. I do mot have an agent, just me. I elevate my own voice and the voice of fellow writers.
Substack is a great place for that!
Sage advice.
Thank you!
To thine own self be true. A great reminder! As my son's 2nd grade teacher, who later was my grandson's first grade teacher once said to me, "they march to their own drummers ... Isn't that how it should be?" I thought at the time, this is one of the wisest teachers I know.
Yes, allowing people the space to think for themselves is something we all must fight to protect.
I avoided trying to find an agent. I self published my first book and found a publisher (which I paid for) for my second book. It was the right publisher for me. She elevated my voice and offered services around editing, design, some promotion, entering me in indie contests. I was in the top ten in both those contests. Either way, whether you find a publisher willing to pay (in this case you need to already have a large following) or you pay to publish, you are going to need to market and promote. Sadly, these are things I am not good at and do not enjoy. My book never had much of a chance for a large number of sales. Still, I feel like every time someone reads it and it helps them better trust themselves, it is a win. My book has been used for classes and many people I work with have read it and benefitted.
I didn’t lose my voice, and I also didn’t succeed in a traditional manner. I work a job to earn money and that job is meaningful to me, so I am lucky that way at least. Right now I am thinking about writing more about our need for belonging and how that is so toxified in modern society/patriarchy.
One last note. My creativity knows no bounds. However, having a job does impose limits. I am torn between writing and art. Often I find the art making more fulfilling on my limited personal time as I don’t wish to be on a computer after a week of work.
Either way, to sell my art or my writing I must overcome my aversion to marketing/promotion.
Thanks for another great thought provoking article!
Thanks Maura! You did it the right way. Platforms like Substack offer you the opportunity to expand your readership. keep writing!
Thank you Walter!
I find myself in similar circumbstances. Today I make more art, walk in nature and avoid the computer.
I could’ve released the first book way sooner, if I wasn’t in the query trenches for 2 years. If ya hafta do marketing on your own anyway, might as well be Indie. As an Indie you find out what you’re made of and not obsess over what you lack. ☀️
It's a good thing for me I write only for the catharsis of it. Better than therapy, because someone is not being paid to ask me "How does that make you FEEL? But I also am retired and don't want to deal with the extra tax form an income from writing might actually generate.
I will never activate the payment thingie here. My word arrangements are on loan, like the library. I am lazy physically with an overactive brain. But, I'm pleased to support Walter for all the reasons he has. I appreciate his word arrangements.
Thank you!
This also happens for architectural design where clients (who have never built or designed anything) often play the “guess-what-I’m-thinking” game.
These are known as problem clients.
The “i’ll-know-it-when-i-see-it” claim is nonsense, and I let them “know-it-when-they-say-it” they are daft (in a more delicate and less blunt manner, of course).
There are ways to deal with scenarios like this, however, in order for these methods to be effective the client has to have significant skin in the game.
It reads to me, that these gatekeepers have no skin in the game and are just power tripping.
It’s certainly an unfair and unfortunate circumstance to have to deal with. The result though is plain as day: the unnecessary destruction of, instead of mentoring and nurturing, talent.
Precisely said! Thank you, Walter!