Blogging is what I am most used to. You write a post, press a button, and you’re done. It is instant gratification – a big thing to my generation!
Traditional book publishing – or dead tree publishing – is anything but instantaneous. You write a query. Send it off. Get a little feed back. Revise, add detail, add facts to back you up (in non-fic). Write a sample chapter. Send it off. Wait. Follow up. Wait… It’s a completely different world. Do I carry on researching while I wait for a decision? Do I keep writing the story even without confirmation of a contract? What if I get a no? Thoughts like these do not apply to blogging, which is probably why I’ve been doing it for five years now.
This is the first time, ever, that I’ve been in talks with a dead tree publisher, and it’s weird. What are normal time frames? How long does the process take? Is it different for every publisher/genre/market/book/astrological sign??
I have one writer friend that is still revising a book she sold almost three years ago – in fact, her next book will be on the market before her first one. Is this what I’m getting myself into? Oh dear.
So what, if any, are the benefits to dead tree publishing? Well, there’s recognition. Validation. Exposure in a different market (not everyone reads blogs, which is sacrilege as far as I’m concerned!). A certain credibility not given to online work. And there’s the feeling of holding your tangible product in your hands.
So I persevere in conquering this new old world of books. And I shall drag you all kicking and screaming along for the journey.
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OMG I love the new look, especially that girl! Who did your site?
OH I see now.
Interesting. Wendy, I’ve been ‘in the process’ of writing a book for about three or four years now. It’s about three quarters done. The trouble is, it’s BEEN three quarters done for about that same amount of time.
What I’ve written I’m proud of, and those few people that have read parts of it think its very good. The trouble is, really, I’m scared of the ending. That the ‘end’ won’t justify the story. It’s almost like writers block, except I know ‘how’ it ends…, but putting that ending down on paper just doesn’t end up being what I want it to be.
And maybe a part of that ‘block’ is in what comes next. I haven’t a clue about publishing, so I’m scared of the process and all that entails.
You’ve already been a bigger inspiration to me than you know, so any insight I get by being on this journey with you will be very much appreciated. And you know I wish you much success.
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