Three steps to being a published author
Introducing a three-part series of info-rich posts from an expert
What you’ll get from me
I have written hundreds of thousands of words on this subject, mostly in a blog over several years. You do not want all those words and that is not what you’ll get. You want the advice in a nutshell. That’s what you’ll get: the most important, most relevant and most clearly explained nuggets in a nutshell, albeit a large and weighty nutshell.
That will be the last mixed metaphor you’ll get in the series, as mixed metaphors are not good style unless used for particular deliberate effect. Which that was.
I’ve broken the information into three. What you’re reading now is not one of the three but just an introduction. The intro and Part One will be free and Parts Two and Three will only be available for paid subscribers.
The reason those two parts are behind a paywall is important: I am a professional writer. That means that although I do this because I love it, I also do it to earn a living. And I’m good at it. For some evidence as to why I might be worth paying for, see Who Am I? below.
So, if I’m going to write some excellent advice about how to become an author earning money from your own writing, it makes sense that I should charge for it. What doesn’t make sense is how very little I’m charging, but hey, I’m good to you if not to myself.
What kind of nuts to expect in the three shells
Part One: Know Yourself
What sort of writer are you? This is not just about what sort of writing you do but what it means to you, how it makes you feel, how easy or difficult you find it. That’s going to predict what steps you should and can take.
What do you need or want from publication? Validation? Money? Pleasure? A career? Something else?
Are you planning and hoping for what is often called “traditional” publication (where a publisher takes all the risk and you receive a small royalty) or are you going for self-publishing or something hybrid? Do you fully understand the differences? And the consequences of your choice?
Do you expect or hope to write one book or more? Why does that matter?
How much do you already know about the process of writing for publication?
Have you been tested by rejection already? Are you ready for more?
How much energy and time do you have?
What are your challenges?
In Part One I will get you to ask yourself these questions and explain what your answers mean. We’ll look at whether you have your head screwed on properly and whether you might (or not) be cut out for this exciting but also often extremely difficult journey. Difficult journeys have the best view at the end, of course.
Part Two: Know Your Book
By that I mean the book you are writing or planning to write.
Is it the “right book”? I will explain in detail what I mean by that.
Does it fit your answers from Part One?
Does it fit the proposed publishing route - is there genuinely a market of the size you need? Obviously, I can’t tell you if there is a market but I can show you how to find out.
Is it an appropriate length?
Where would it sit in a bookshelf?
Is it good enough? What do I mean by that? (It might not be what you think.)
Crucially, have you nailed the VOICE? If not, you face problems.
Part Three: What to do with your book
The details of how you go about approaching publishers or agents (and how to decide which of those you a) might need and b) can have.
How to build your submission for a novel (or children’s picture book) or your proposal for a non-fiction book. The does and don’ts - especially the don’ts!
Finally: if enough people are interested, a bonus…
If I have a decent handful of paid subscribers interested in such a thing, I’ll do a chat one evening in January or February and you can Ask Me Anything.
But first:
What do I know?
You should never take advice from someone if you don’t know where that advice is from.
My publication history
I have written and had published over 100 books. Some are award-winning full-length novels for young adults; these tend towards deep, dangerous and thoughtful. Of those some are historical, others thrillers, and others alternative or magical realism. Other books - again including award-winners - are full-length non-fiction on subjects relating to the teenage brain and mental health. (According to Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, I have “that rare gift of being able to communicate science and make it fun”.) I pride myself on clarity, so that the words flow into the reader’s mind without creating mental stumbles. For me, managing voice is essential. I’ve also written younger fiction and educational books (books for schools and home learning.)
And, of course, I’ve written Thomas the Tank Engine books...
I’ve self-published two types of book:
I’ve republished (as ebooks) three teenage novels that had gone out of print (as most books do). You can buy those here - Mondays are Red and two novels in one package, Sleepwalking and The Passionflower Massacre.
I’ve published from scratch three ebooks for adults: an early book on how to use Twitter (which I’ve removed from the market because it’s outdated now) and two popular books for aspiring authors: Write a Great Synopsis and Dear Agent.
I’m closely connected to many other authors of all sorts:
I’ve been a member of The Society of Authors for over 20 years and have had two spells serving on committees. I was chair of the Society in Scotland and of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group. That has given me huge and wide insight into how life is for a wide range of writers. I am now a Fellow of the Society.
I’ve performed at many festivals, including The Edinburgh Book Festival countless times.
I am known as the Crabbit Old Bat
(Google it…) This a self-appointed title, I admit, and reflects that when I give advice it’s not wishy washy of soft-soaping. I tell it how it is. I’m not going to say you’ll get published if you put your heart into it and I’m not going to pretend anything is easy. I will be knowledgeable and realistic, honest and encouraging, but it will sometimes feel more like a kick up the backside than a gentle arm round your shoulders.
For a sense of the crabbit style, you might want to check out my old/obsolete Help! I Need a Publisher! blog, where I used to dish out my grumpy advice for nothing. Obviously you can read that if you want to instead of subscribing to this but I wouldn’t recommend it: it’s old, clunky, needs decorating and the content is sometimes out of date.
I recommend you stay with me here and get all the sparkly, polished, fresh and up-to-date stuff. If you genuinely have a story in you and if you are determined to write it in the best and most publishable way possible, I’m here to help.
Who’s with me? Tell your writer friends, get your keyboards and caffeine ready and let’s do this!