Red Room Where the Writers Are

Spin the wheel and point a finger. A new model of publishing is being forged and no one is quite sure where the industry will land. The days of stodgy publishing houses (editors with ascots, cigars and snobbish accents) who follow tediously slow time lines are disappearing as rapidly as the DVD movie rental. Heck, anyone remember Beta?

When you hold your finished book in your hands like a mother holds her newborn baby (as my friend once told me), gaze at it, caress the glossy cover, hold it to your cheek, and know this one thing; you are only half way there.

Marketing your book is the other fifty percent. It's just as much work, perhaps more, than writing the manuscript.

When I set out to invest in my manuscript, I looked at a few important factors. I thought of my book as a business, such as a franchise. Cash/sweat outgoing = potential loss vs potential gain x's emotional reward/drain= is it worth it?

Once I parted ways with my publisher, I asked myself, "As a business, am I a good investment? What facts do I have that make me a good risk? Can I afford to take a risk?"

l knew 85% of authors sell less than 500 books. In the end, based on my previous accomplishments, I decided the risk was worth it. After all, I'd never be satisfied unless I tried. Win, lose or draw, I'm prepared for any outcome. Really, I mean it.

I've offered before this advice for any person with a story to tell; Write it, write it, write it, as long as words keep falling from your pen like ripe bananas from trees. When it is complete, hire a good editor. If it sucks, get a better editor. What I mean by the “sucks” part is, sometimes and editor can rape the originality out of a book, slanting it to their preferences. You want an editor who can compliment your style while polishing the manuscript to acceptable industry standards. I's dotted, t's crossed, flow, story, characters developed properly.

Plan on investing yourself fully into the marketing. If you know nothing about the subject either hire a publicist and marketing firm or become an expert. Google, Google, Google. Can you imagine trying to learn about the subject of marketing books 20 years ago? Geez, no wonder publishers cornered the market on authors back then. One would have to get a Masters in marketing to understand what you can now learn in a couple of weeks on the www.

Build a good website and make a book trailer. The media company that built mine is www.itmstudios.com

You can see my website and trailer at www.thegardenthatgrewher.com

Now the big question. What if your book stinks? Or what if it's great, but just doesn't sell?

The remaining money in your bank account will get a little lonely, you'll feel a bit depressed, but you will never have that low level smoldering running through your veins like a molten river wondering, “What if?' And hey, you just may have refined your writing and marketing skills to Masters or PhD level.

Or, what if it's a success? Call me, I need to borrow some money.

One thing is for sure, you'll pass the rocking chair test. Yes, there will still be the Tom Snobbery's of the literary scene. I don't like cigars, ascots or brandy, so who cares?