On 10.05.11, In Think the fiction publishing industry is unfair? Then do something about it.
I hear them all the time.
“It’s so hard to make it into a magazine.”
“None of the publishers will look at my book.”
“Agents take way too long to reply to submissions.”
And a thousand other whiny complaints.
It’s almost sickening.
Yes, it is tough breaking into the fiction writing market. Not everyone can get a book deal. Not everyone can land a story in their favorite magazine.
That’s just too bad. Write better. Write more. Write. Write. Write.
Grousing about how tough it the fiction markets can be will not get your story published. It will not get your name on the front of a publication. It most definitely will not make you any money as a writer.
And it’s also bad form. Editors, publishers, literary agents and other writers are out there on the Internet, too, and when they witness someone going on and on about how much the publishing industry sucks, they might just remember that person’s name. Which is not a good thing, remembering that name in a negative light. If your manuscript lands on some editor’s desk, an editor who saw you tearing into his magazine because they never published one of your stories, that editor isn’t very likely to even read your story, let alone consider it for publication. “Not fair!” you might shout. “Tough luck,” I say. Grow up and join the real world. If you go around offending others in the publishing business, the very business you’re trying to break into, you’re not going to get very far.
See, it’s human nature to not want to do something for someone who has insulted you. It’s also perfectly legal, some might even argue ethical. Whatever, it’s reality.
Of course there are other options for writers nowadays. You could go the self-publishing route. For instance, you can publish your ebooks for the Kindle through the Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. You could also publish your books through sites such as Lulu. You can even publish short stories through online publishing sites like Triond.
But what you won’t get is readers, let alone any chances at making money. Don’t believe me? Okay, go ahead and publish that story on Triond, or better yet, that novel on the Kindle. Now, once you’ve made a hundred bucks, come back here and post about it.
I’ll see you in ten years.
Of course, there are success stories out there of authors who have self-published and who are doing quite well. But what those authors did was put in a lot of work, a lot of time and effort doing self promotions after they do all that work writing and editing their own material. So, it can be done. But one thing those writers didn’t do was sit around and gripe about how unfair the writing industry is.
They did something about it. They wrote. They published. They cashed the checks. And they enjoyed interacting with their readers.
Which is something you’ll never do if you spend more time complaining than writing and submitting or publishing.
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26 Responses
great write as usual! keep it up
Great points, but there are many publishers outside the arena of online publishing that will make ones effort successful. It has to be good.
Great advice article. Hard work and determination will take you a long way, and talent will get you there a little faster. The combination of the three will bring you success. Well done.
Nice share..
Great piece and some very good points made as well.
Nice share. Excellent points to ponder.
great article, very true.
excellent write as usual, well done, hard work & persistence is the key cheers Pete
In theory I agree 100% with the article. Whining will not get the book/article published. Especially if you’re whining BEFORE submitting. Maybe you stumbled on a potential publishing company to send your book to, but then you read the writing guidelines and are turned off because you don’t fit in any of that. It’s happened to me before. Whining about “that horrible publishing company!” is fine to blow off steam, but it’s not the most productive thing you could be doing.
That’s just it, though. Whining won’t get you published, but maybe it’s what you need to do for a little bit to finally say “I whined, now what? Oh yes, finding a publishing company.” If you haven’t whined all over the internet, especially on websites like Facebook or Twitter where there’s a pretty good chance editors and such will see it, it’s out of your system and you can continue your search.
Another quick thought. The comment about “See you in ten years” in reference to self publishing was a bit harsh. Granted, it takes longer to be noticed when self publishing, so there’s a point to consider with that. However, if we are talking about the writer who wants instant publication and has found a self-publishing site they are comfortable with and finally promotes, promotes,promotes with very little traditional publishing company whining, then I would think they’ve done everything right for their chosen path.
Otherwise, I thought there was some good ideas going. Also, I like the length of this article; blunt, to the point, but detailed enough to say “Hmmmmm, stuff to consider.”
Jessinnia, yeah, blowing off steam can be important and sometimes even emotionally necessary. But it seems more and more people are blowing off steam all the time over every little thing that comes along that doesn’t suit them just perfectly. Professional publishing is a business, and the folks in that industry generally aren’t going to tolerate a beginning writer blowing off steam, at least if it becomes a habit. Not trying to be snarky, just how I see it. You bring up a good point about not whining all over the place on the Internet.
As for being a bit harsh on self publishing, I meant to be. I’ve been published the old-fashioned way and I’ve self published. Promotions is really the key whichever way you go. Unfortunately, I see far too many folks who write a novel, slap it up on Smashwords and think their work is done. Then they wonder why they’re not rolling in Rowlingesque money within a week.
Writing professionally is hard work, and I see far too many who don’t realize that, aren’t willing to put the work in, then grouse about it.
Not that I’m accusing anyone in particular, and my subject matter is not aimed at you, Jessinnia.
A article that comes to the point and didn’t sugar coat it.No one ever said it was easy getting anything published by any means,it takes alot of work/dedication..And the ability to accept rejection as well as acceptance in the writing field.I guess I have never felt the publishing bug to date though I am very serious in being the best writer I can be.
Great Post Nice work
Great advice. Something that every ambitious writer needs to keep in mind.
I agree, keep writing.
Good points to ponder
It is tough but addictive.
I have would have to say that I got the point of your article more along the area of the second paragraph. I agree that complaining is never the answer to anything. I also think this article was good, but had a somewhat negative tone behind it. Perhaps discuss. Which ever it may be I think the tone was a little much. I am remember of a lesson in Algebra about negative and positive numbers, A positive number added to a positive number will always be positive, but a negative number added to a positive number will always be negative and a negative added to a negative will always be negative. Well my point with this is if a writer attacks the industry with a negative remark or complaint then your only solution or what you end up with as the writer is a negative outcome henceforth no money, no contract, no work. We as writers should always keep a positive outlook on everything that we do and what we write.
Great article keep up the good work!
Yep. We all occasionally complain but hey, nothing is ever gonna happen if we sit on our butts. I use blogging for publishing my non-fiction stuff and I combine my Triond (and other online publishing sites) for exhanging traffic. I write, plan, promote. Well, I work my ass off. And it is working. Sure, I haven’t become a bestselling auhtor yet. But I am on my way.
Excellent points. A little bit of commiserating with fellow writers is one thing, but those who spend more time whining than writing are not likely going to see their name on a bestseller’s list anytime soon.
I have a friend who is finally getting success who was papering her office walls with rejection letters. She got a bit miffed when publishers started sending rejection emails instead. I told her she could just print them out. Once when I asked how she was doing, she said she had about 50 things out there awaiting rejection. I am getting the idea that making it as a writer involves a bit of rejection.
Your points about whining could be applied to life in general. I had students who would whine about every assignment, do as little work as possible, and their only contribution to class discussions was whining. Then when reports came out, they would tell their parents that the teachers just didn’t like them.
great article, hit home. Want to check out my stories, would your insight or critique if yu like. But beware, the same standards will be used on you! Are you game?
Great article indeed. Now whining and sitting on your ass will not help you. Also: the publishing industry is no charity and if you give the impression you do not belief in yourself, you may also give the impression your work might also not be worth investing in as well.
And you are right on fiction writing on Triond. It might give you some views, some readers and some fans, but no money.
Well said. In any job, you get back what you put into it.
Good common sense advice. Whining is better if it’s a part of the story you’re writing.
Exactly! Great point! If something frustrates you, fictionalize it and make it into a story. Got a boss that’s giving you a hard time? Turn him into a monster in a fantasy story and have your sword-slinging protagonist deal with it.
I am interested especially in History of the world and great personalities. How Triond would help me to write articles on these subjects?. Please explain
Soumyan, Triond won’t help you to write any articles. What it does is allow you to publish them.