Hi to all the newbies, Here is a nice discussion for you - all comments welcome
OK so you drop in lucky, get a recommendation, the publisher reads your synopsis and says 'OK that's great we'll have it!' He phones you up and promises you the world!
Surely it cant be THAT easy! First time writer, look out JK Rowling!!
You're left with feelings of "OH MY GOD, I'm going to be famous!! Well something like that. Anyway you cant be "famous" yet because it hasn't happened. It could be another year before the MS is ready and youve only done 50K words so far. 'Do they really want this C**P ? I mean its not that good surely, there are no beautiful descriptions and long words in there to impress the reader. Well if I was to go down that path, I would have given up long ago. So you labour on night after night, forget the housework and the huisband! Edit the words like crazy and make it into a real novel. Ah that's better! Now I see the light! Before you know it you got 100K words and its just beginning to sound like a real story with feeling and capturing the imagination of the reader, but still a lot more to be done yet before P Day!
One question I would put to all new writers is how do you really know that this wonderful publisher is the best for you? I mean you were accepted before you were ready, it all came as a big shock! Well you dont really know, you just have to do your reasearch and keep your wits about you. I would say to anyone who has any doubts (at the risk of not getting published) is dont allow your ego to get the better of you. Search around. With the internet these days who can you trust with your little book on which you have spent hundreds of hours, as a work of art? Its yours and you suddenly dont feel like giving it to just anyone to read. I mean one publisher seems as good as another when you are green to all this. A good book to buy is 'Getting your Book Published for Dummies' It explains the basics and more.
Try and get a copy of the Terms and Conditions of the publisher and that should help you make comparisons. Talk to other writers and ask for their comments and especially on this forum. ITS GOOD TO TALK!! I recently received a couple of super e-mails from Danielle Steel, she was really kind, provided some information and wished me every success, so you can talk to those famous authors out there, they are just like us - they once had a novel in the slush pile and only sheer determination made it happen for them.
Another piece of advice is have a contingency plan in case something doesn't turn out the way you wanted it - there are lots of agents out there who are dying to make money out of you. Buyer beware of those too, better to try and go on recommendation and research. The back up plan should read 'What if I dont think this publisher will market my book the way I expected it to be done and I decide (God forbid!!) that I turn him down?' Well first of all discuss it with him and if you are still not satisfied then use your back up plan and then make another one whilst you are at it! Never give up hope, if its been accepted once it could well draw the attention of someone else. As my old mother used to say when I gave up my boyfriend "There are plenty of other fish in the sea dear'
All things aside, it is very daunting on your first acceptance. You dont know who to trust in the days of the internet etc etc and for this reason I have posted this discussion and I think it just may stir a few comments.
Keep up the good work folks and I look forward to hearing from you all
Regards
Lin
