Well, happy summer and happy Friday to you all! Today I’m over on Chad Allen’s blog, where he graciously hosted me for a guest post about the fears I most often have to talk my authors through. If you missed Chad’s wonderful guest post about how editors review and acquire proposals, then hop back there for some great insight.
And if you want to start this gorgeous weekend off feeling a little more ready to conquer the obstacles that lie ahead, here’s a great start:
4 Emotional Obstacles That Trip Writers Up, Plus How to Work Through Them
I often laughingly say that the job of a literary agent is to be a therapist and coach as much as a negotiator and advocate. It’s funny, but it’s true. On an average day we’re just as likely to be talking an author off the ledge as negotiating a contract.
Through this I’ve found one thing to be unfailingly true: the creative process can drive you batty.
I see how authors pour their entire hearts and souls into their books, sometimes sharing the deepest parts of themselves with the world. And I’ve seen how this often leaves them vulnerable to all kinds of fear and doubt. But I’m a firm believer that 80 percent of the creative battle is won in the mind. That’s why authors often need the perspective and encouragement of a friend and agent to talk them through the particularly tough parts.
After walking dozens of authors through the publishing process, I’ve come across many of the same emotional sand traps, just waiting to swallow up an unsuspecting writer. So today let’s pretend we’re sitting across from each other, sipping lattes and catching up, and let’s talk through some of the emotional obstacles that may come up on your path as a writer…
Click here to keep reading this post on Chad’s blog!
Writing groups can act as a good motivational platform. My experience from writing novels is that you never stop learning and the same goes for the self-publishing process. Unless you are picked up by a main stream publisher you are unlikely to produce, with self-publishing, a perfect publication. The point is that in the act of writing you are aiming to improve both style, presentation and content. Ideally an author needs a good publisher, and a literary agent it can be said. There are organizations and sites which are genre specific and with self publishing you initially are not necessarily aware of your readership market. Book promotions and publishers fairs can direct you toward understanding specific potential readership. Publishing requires the author to develop additional skills to that of authorship. With self-publishing you are always aware that there are new skills to learn, but the process can be rewarding not just financially, but also one of self development.