Superscript
The Living Thread - Publishing Journey
There are many non-conventional ways in which artists have been discovered. From stories like Toni Braxton, who was overheard singing while pumping gas at a garage, to those like Maynard James Keenan of Tool who was discovered in the midst of a verbal altercation with a neighbour. These stories of mundane car maintenance and residential disputes give the struggling artist hope.
Despite regularly wanting to go and tell my neighbours what I think of them, I am aware that even the most articulate response is less likely to secure me a book deal, than it is to result in a black eye and my car being keyed (my neighbours are hard... and I'm no Maynard James Keenan).
Never the less I hadn't given up hope that my book, if in the right hands, may end up adored by the masses. So, after investing hours of time writing, refining and congratulating myself for completing The Living Thread, I decided to contact known publishers in an attempt to have my book professionally published. I wanted this novel on the shelves of every major book store and library. I could see it in Dymocks, Waterstones, even The Biblioburro (which delivers books via donkey).
Photo via Book Riot
To begin with it was all dreams, and no direction. I had no idea where to start. The only certainty was that, in this instance, the advice my mum was providing (a combination of "Send it to Disney" and "That place that published Harry Potter will want this!") may have been skewed with some family-pride bias. So I did what everyone does when they want to embark upon a new adventure, I used the internet and looked for shortcuts.
Unfortunately I found that the google search, 'Who wants to buy my manuscript?' returned very few valuable results. Just a bunch of self help courses, and film school promotions.
Luckily my brother-in-law, Tom, told me that he knew an editor, and put me in touch with Kat from Element Editing Services. Kat was fantastic in helping me with not only spelling, grammar and syntax but also picked up on a few story opportunities.
As well as editing, Kat was kind enough to hold my hand through the journey of seeking a publisher. An important starting point is to understand publishers are looking for something marketable. Even if you submit the worlds greatest story, most publishers are looking for a brand. An artist who not only brings engaging literature, but also brings with them an army of fans or followers who are keen and willing to pay for the authors services.
Despite having zero publications to my name, no money to purchase the Russian bots used to rig American elections, and very few social media followers (Apparently, not everyone is that into jokes about reality television, strange incidents involving monkeys and rushed lock-down hair cuts), I submitted my manuscript to each of the majors, and a few of the smaller labels. Along the way I learned a few things and wanted share with anyone considering seeking out a publisher.
Firstly, submitting to a publisher is as much about timing your submission, as it is about the quality of the submission itself.
Many publishers only accept submissions during certain months of the year, or submissions for certain genres at certain times. There are also some who specialise in particular genres, and avoid others entirely. It's unlikely that the same publisher looking to place text-books about calculus and geometry in the hands of uni-students will be diversified enough to market graphic novels into the hands of 38 year old Dungeons and Dragons grand masters.
Another challenging, and frankly frustrating element of the submissions process is each publisher requests different things be submitted as part of the submission pack. Some publishers want an entire manuscript, and a synopsis. Others want the first fifty pages, or the first three chapters and an 'About the Author'. One included a questionnaire that asked "Which children books have you read recently?"
This certainly felt like a trap. I'm a 38 year old man with no children of my own, and I'm not in child-care. If I answered with "Spot tells the time" does that suggest that I've been busy researching my book, or that I've been busy "researching my book" in the same way Pete Townsend has been.
I answered all of the questions presented. The books blurb, point of difference, I even listed three writers who influenced my style. But even dropping high-profile names such as Paul Jennings, Matthew Reilley, and Danny Dyer (from the Ask Danny of column in Zoo Magazine) presented no nibbles.
Photo: Ask Danny Column - Zoo Magazine.
Although these differences in submission packs make the process time consuming for the author, there is some genuine value to be attained by going through it. Firstly, the hoops you need to jump through in order to submit a manuscript encourage an author to conduct more research around viable options for your manuscript. Also, having a blurb/ elevator pitch and clarity on your audience will prepare you for your marketing should you choose to self publish.
There are some traps for young players.
Firstly, If you are an unknown entity and you hear back from a publishing company with an overly enthusiastic yes, and an offer to publish your book, check that it is not a 'vanity contract'. As hard as it is to accept that not everyone on the internet has the best intentions, sometimes publishers are looking to exploit you via what is termed 'vanity press'.
For a new author, this is where a publisher will publish your book, but they essentially exploit your desire to be a published author and offer very little return (and generally an excess in cost).
I remember when I first received an email stating "We'd love to publish The Living Thread", I stopped reading and started handing out high-fives to Natalie and... well just Natalie as she's the only person I live with, and the country was in lock-down. But as I continued to read beyond the first sentence it became apparent that this contract was as authentic an achievement, as a Balinese Gucci wallet.
How vanity publishing works is that these contracts present an offer to publish your work, but require an author utilises each of the Publishing Company's services such as their editor, cover designer, and printer (all at inflated prices). On top of these initial outgoings, the publisher will take a percentage of money for each book sold. (Note this percentage is above market rate).
It's not all bad though as this contract means that despite being a financial sink-hole, an author can technically tell as many friends and family as they like that they are a published author. The publisher will also add your book to a publications list and place your work on as close to zero store shelves as possible.
I started thinking about the importance of being published. After sleeping on things for several months, it became apparent to me that it wasn't going to validate the caliber of my work. I had read a lot of bad books that publishing companies had endorsed. Check out Twilight (in what world could a teenager go to a public school slathered in sunscreen, and not even attract a quip... completely unbelievable).
So after my slew of 'No's' and vanity project contract offers I decided to opt for a Self Publishing deal. Before deciding this was the way forward, I had to remember my overarching goal of this project. It was about getting the book in the best position possible, and then in the hands of people who might enjoy it (So, undoubtedly my mum will buy two copies. One for herself, and one to send over to Disney).
If anyone is keen on the process for pulling it all together, here are the steps required to write a book and go down the path of self publishing.
Steps to Self Publish
Write the book
Employ Beta Readers: These are friends, or family who are appropriate audience members to provide feedback, thoughts on story, and any obvious problems
Commence Line Edits: This is where a professional editor reviews your book for grammar, syntax and spelling (I'd recommend Kat from Element).
Cover Art Design: Have someone design the art and layout for your front and back cover.
Front and Back Matter: Complete the areas of the book outside of the story to be included in your publication (Title pages, Table of Contents, About the Author, Dedication, Copywrite Page etc... )
Format the book: Ensure that the book is in the format appropriate for Kindle, Paperback printing, or both. This includes font type, size, page spill overs etc..
Design the Cover: This has to be completed once you have a total page count for your formatted book. This page count includes front matter, back matter and your story. (The width of the spine is dependent on your page count, and the type of paper your books will be printed on.)
Market your book: Find a way to get yourself and your story in front of an audience.
Upload your book to Amazon or your preferred printer/ kindle store.
It's important to recognise that Self Publishing is not just an alternative to an author who has failed to secure a publisher. It is a path that enables an author to retain complete creative control, and a sense of artistic freedom that may not be presented to a new author on their first publication.
Publishing is often based on brand more than quality. Famous people end up with book deals on their first publication. A book deal is attributed to their success in a non-literary that a publishing agency can sell. This doesn't always equate to them having any real literary skill. (Note: this isn't always the case but it's hard to imagine that, after countless concussions, the autobiography of a renown rugby player would be devoid of spelling errors or sudden ramblings about Bovril.)
For me, self publishing actually made more sense. After growing up under the influence of DIY punk bands, extreme genres of metal, and comedians who blazed their own trail, I can't tell you how many albums have been ruined by the input of someone at a major label. So my advice to anyone looking to develop something that is fueled purely by creativity is relinquish the dependency on a publisher to consider your endeavor a success. Instead take the opportunity to wear your leather jacket, slide into your finger-less gloves and strut through the literary circuit with a cigarette hanging out of your mouth like the rock star-author that you are.
I probably can't do because The Living Thread is for young adults and I don't want to set a bad example (leather is so passé).
Image: Comedian; Andrew Dice Clay
In Summary, self-publishing is a great means to kick-start your literary career, avoid vanity projects, and slowly start to build a brand before you take your work to major labels... that is unless you believe your writing is so extraordinary that a written dispute with a neighbour could set your name in lights - Ala Maynard James Keenan of Tool.