Be Open to Finding the Right Publishing Option For Your Book

Oct 20, 2009 by Julia McCutchen

Why is it important to keep an open mind regarding the right way forwards for you and your book?

To state what is obvious to some but invisible to others, the short answer is that traditional publishing is simply not appropriate, let alone possible, for everyone! It may be the objective that most people have initially. But once an understanding emerges of what is actually required to be successful as a commercially published author, thoughts and feelings can shift dramatically.

The reality is that only a relatively small proportion of aspiring authors achieve significant success in commercial publishing terms. And the truth is that you don’t have to be published by one of the large publishing corporations in order to have validation as a writer!

This is a point which I feel strongly about making and which is echoed by many of my professional colleagues. There is unquantifiable value in the writing process and completing any piece of writing, whatever the length and regardless of whether it is published or not.

In the contemporary climate, new routes to the marketplace are opening up all the time. This means that opportunities to share and communicate your work with a wide international audience – if you want to – are certainly no longer restricted to the traditional publishing route.

So finding the point of balance between being focused on your original intention and being open to discovering solutions along the way that work for you will ultimately lead you to the greatest rewards.

Invitation to Take Action:

Here are three questions to ask yourself right now:

• What is really important to me about writing this book?
• What quality of experience do I want to have?
• What is my vision for the end result?

Write the answers to these questions down and refer back to them at each stage of your Writer’s Journey. They will help you to stay aligned to your true purpose and this will lead you to a greater sense of joy and success in the long term.

An unpredictable business

Publishing, like any creative business, is extremely unpredictable. There are many factors involved in publishing success. Sometimes they work in your favour and sometimes they don’t!

It does happen – probably more than you realise – that publishers spend vast amounts of money on creating and promoting a book which they have high hopes for only to see the sales performance fall far short of their expectations.

On the other hand, happily the reverse can also be true.

A book which hasn’t received any real attention can sometimes suddenly take off in popularity. The scramble is then on to get a reprint through and books into the shops to satisfy the demand.

The same applies to self-published books. It can go either way.

Happily there are an increasing number of examples where the ‘buzz’ around a self-published title (usually via the internet) can lead to sales which far outstrip original expectations.

Understanding this unpredictable aspect of the whole business of publishing is relevant to you as a writer because it will:

• Help you start from a realistic and grounded place when considering the right way forwards for your book.

• Encourage you to be prepared for the ‘unexpected’, and to see opportunities where previously you might have only see setbacks.
• Enable you to begin the process of learning to trust that with the right intention and the right action, you will find the right solution for your book at the right time – whatever that is!

Helen’s story …

When Helen Moore first approached me for individual coaching she initially had it in her mind to approach publishers with her book idea.

During the coaching process, it became clear that Helen’s individual and immensely creative spirit might end up feeling severely restricted by the requirements of the commercial publishing route, and with no guarantee of the end result.

In addition to that, her clear vision for her book was already well advanced and the long time frame involved in the traditional publishing route felt like another negative factor.

Once the process of establishing what she was truly aiming for in order to feel successful as a published author was complete, the decision to publish the book herself emerged.

Helen has been incredibly successful at every level with her book Changing Nature: EcoNotes of a Digital Woman which has a foreword by Jill Attenborough of the Woodland Trust.

The book is beautifully presented in exactly the way she wanted it to be and she has also scored highly in terms of promotion, marketing and sales too.

As an example she was featured on BBC Radio Four’s ‘Woman’s Hour’ and in a double-page spread in the Mail on Sunday‘s colour supplement.

Helen said, ‘It was interesting to observe how one success led to the next … having heard my interview with Felicity Finch, a freelance journalist contacted me within an hour of the broadcast to ask if I might be interested in doing a feature. She was able to sell the idea to the Mail, and within a few days had arranged to travel from London to Bath to interview me. A session with a photographer followed and within a couple of weeks I was delighted to see my book featured in the national press.

The effect on sales of my book was instantaneous… at 9am the very next day the phone was ringing and continued to do so throughout the rest of the day at regular intervals. Being mid November, the feature was perfectly timed for the Christmas market, and enabled me to sell a significant number of books.’

In summary

This story is not intended to dissuade anyone from pursuing the traditional publishing route in favour of self-publishing or other ways to reach your readership.

It is an individual decision and what is right for one person may not be right for another.

The most important point is to understand that there is more than one way forwards.

If you maintain your focus on your primary objective and keep an open mind along the way, you will have every chance to enjoy your Writer’s Journey and arrive at the destination that is right for you – whatever that is.

Enjoy!

Julia McCutchen opens the way for writers to find their true voice, discover themselves in the process, and write consciously, creatively, successfully and with soul. A former managing director and publisher with over 20 years’ publishing experience, Julia’s holistic approach includes coaching, mentoring and masterclasses for aspiring authors. To access free articles, audios and other resources for writers, visithttp://www.JuliaMcCutchen.com

Enjoy that? You can read more from Julia at The Cuckleburr Times here.