Be warned up front that I am a pretty blunt person who tells it like it is! =)
I know many people who think it would be neat to write a book and have it published.
They believe that once you are a published author everything is so glamorous. And of course you are rich!
The reality is that it is a far from glamorous, and you are far from rich-unless you happen to be J.K. Rowling or Mitch Albom.
The truth as I see it is that you really need to love to write just for writings sake.
Love to write regardless of rather or not you succeed or fail and you won’t be disappointed.
Regardless of the publishing route you choose to take, take the time to attend writers conferences and groups to learn your craft.
Network with a lot of writers to find out what works and what doesn’t.
You will make many great connections and good friends.
It is a time consuming hobby, but again; if you love it, it’s all good!
If you choose to go the traditional publishing route, be prepared to query endlessly and be rejected often.
This is just part of the experience and remember, you love to write so this is all okay! Make sure you can summarize your book in 30 words or less because first impressions are important and sometimes in a pitch session that might be all you get! If you are lucky enough to attract the interest of a publisher right away, make sure you have any contract reviewed by an attorney and have anything explained that you don’t understand. By now you should have learned what your rights are and what you might be giving away in a publishing contract. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be so in a hurry to be ‘published’ that you can’t see the forest for the trees or become willing to give away the farm for the privilege.
If you choose to self-publish there is more control, but more expense and much more to do! It can sometimes be a full-time job (with a very low salary!). There are things you might need to outsource so find out what those things are and be prepared to do that. Pay close attention to such things as paper thickness and types of bindings. A good vendor list is important. If you are not sure how well your book will be received, print-on-demand might be a good place for you to start. With more and more books being sold in electronic format, the possibilities are endless!
As a children’s book writer, the process can be even more difficult than books with fewer illustrations.
It is very important to have an online presence through social media, blogs and other websites. Start to cultivate that early if you can. A good buzz in the market has never hurt anyone.
There are many great resources for self-published authors. The great news is that you should be able to write off most expenses-especially when you travel, as long as you do a book-signing.
Regardless of which publishing route you choose to pursue, be prepared to market, market, market! These days even traditionally published authors have to do a great deal of their own marketing to be successful. Marketing is key. If you don’t put yourself out there, no one will know if you are! if you love to write then no experience is wasted. Practice your patience and your yoga breaths when things get frustrating-because they will. It is all about finding joy in your journey as a writer.
Happy tales to you!
A heartwarming tale of LDS Adoption. Follow a child's journey from the Pre-existence to his family's home on Earth. The divine guidance of the Savior, along with the love and prayers of both birth and adoptive parents are gently and lovingly portrayed in this tender story of the ultimate "Happily ever after".
Purchase:
Praise:
"Shari Guess has written a "must read" for every LDS family. She made a relevant issue for our time seem simple, yet to the heart."
~Brenton G. Yorgason, PhD
"I cried grateful tears to finally find a book for our children that explains their unique place within our family in a spiritual way."
~Nancy Reynolds, CA
SHARI GUESS is a proud, first-time children’s book author and lives in rural North Texas where she is “Mom” to her beloved 9-year-old adopted son, Garrett. Happily married to her husband Walter for going on 13 years they share their cabin-in-the-woods with a small herd of Great Danes and farm animals. Shari is currently a part-time real estate agent and property manager and prior to marriage worked for over a decade in the music business, spanning from Los Angeles to Nashville. She wore many hats as a journalist and publicist representing multiple recording artists, magazines and music publishing companies, along with being a part-time performing artist and songwriter. Her hobbies include choral, Americana and rock music, martial arts, photography, travel and anything in the mountains.
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