MONTROSE -So, you want to be published.
You forged the idea between tosses and turns at night, on notes scribbled onto napkins, in the shower, in the checkout line. Through numerous lost weekends, you transformed scattered thoughts into a masterpiece, ran the query gauntletŠand came away wounded.
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Linda Lane, founder of a one-woman press, delivered that hopeful message to the Western Slope Authors' Guild and guests during a Thursday evening talk at the Montrose Public Library.
"I always envisioned myself as a writer, but it didn't happen before I became a grandmother," Lane, of Grand Junction, said before telling the all-too familiar story of being shut out by traditional publishing houses.
Like many, Lane could not get their attention, but she did learn of successful self-publishers and, at their urging, tried it herself.
"The next thing I know, everyone is coming to me and saying, 'I have a book. Would you publish it?'"
Lane now operates Edit Et Cetera, Ltd. and Stepping Stones Press, Ltd., which in addition to formatting and producing authors' books, also offers editing and a non-exclusive contract. She utilizes Lightning Resources, a digital printing company based in Tennessee to create the end product, and - as distinct from so-called "vanity presses"- has submissions standards.
"This isn't about control," she said. "ŠIt's about giving you what you want in the best way possible."
Publishing companies come in many guises, each with its own advantages and pitfalls.
Traditional publishing - think Random House, for instance - publishes books for the mass market, including the sorts of paperbacks and potboilers the consumer is most likely to find in, well, the checkout line.
The advantages are that traditional publishers have capital backing (though not limitless), the reputation as providing "real" publishing, pay advances and royalties (a percentage of profits) and ideally, takes care of marketing an author's work.
But it's hard to "break into print," as the industry lingo goes and, depending on the contract offered, the publisher may retain all rights to the manuscript once a deal is inked.
Another caveat:
"What I've heard suggests that even the bigger houses don't do a lot of marketing," Lane said. "They might market for John GrishamŠbut writers are finding they have to do their own marketing. That's not any different than what I do."
Nor is there any reason why an author can't be as creative in marketing as he is in writing.
Lane said the current publishing climate demands a proactive approach, for instance, an author who talks to school groups about the writing process, or roves the stacks at a bookstore, meeting and greeting readers, rather than simply having a traditional book signing.
"You do something other than sit behind a desk, holding a pen and waiting for someone to come up and buy one," she said.
She also spoke of vanity presses, those publishing outfits often vilified as taking on any manuscript for a fee, charging the author to produce a certain number of copies and then storage fees for the books that don't sell.
In many cases, the author bears all expenses - and Lane reminded writers it's hard enough to make a profit when the publisher pays most or all costs of publication.
"The problem (with vanity publishing) is that many times, it's not well edited," Lane said. The vanity publisher, having already made its profit from the author, has little incentive to ensure that the book is of sellable quality - or that it sells at all.
Another form, self-publishing, is gaining popularity, because the author retains all rights to his or her work and may receive higher royalties. Some self-publishing companies utilize "print on demand," or POD technology, whereby a book is stored electronically and printed and bound upon order.
Lane, however, has her clients' manuscripts digitally printed at Lightning Resources as part of the process she calls "collaborative publishing."
Unlike some discredited producers of e-books, Edit Et Cetera and Stepping Stones stress the importance of objective editing.
"I don't think there's any book that doesn't need editing," Lane said. "We're too close to our own work. We know our story, but our readers do not."
Practicing what she preaches, she once slashed 20,000 words from her own novel, "Katherine's Song" (2003, Et Cetera).
"I loved some of these scenes, but it didn't move the story forward."
In addition to making these cruel but kind cuts, she said the author has to be savvy - sharks stalk the literary waters.
Some self-publishing companies, for instance, have contracts so restrictive as to be unscrupulous. Lane repeatedly cautioned authors to carefully examine contracts, no matter from whom, and if possible, to seek the advice of a competent literary attorney before signing.
D'Ann Linscott-Durham, president of Western Slope Authors' Guild, shared her own horror story of the company that just wouldn't go away.
A publishing firm expressed interest in her query, but Durham's research about its practices threw up red flags and she did not send her manuscript.
"I got an e-mail a day," she said. "I finally had to block them. Usually, when you're trying to sell manuscripts, they don't call you."
Lane advised prospective authors in doubt to check 'em out, referring attendees to the Web site, "Preditors and Editors" (www.anotherealm.com/prededitors).
There are many things an author can do to increase his or her chances at best-seller stardom - among them, realizing that even for published writers, such is a long shot.
Author's guild member and local radio manager John Craft asked how often the "Cinderella story" of successful self-published books being snagged by the big guns of publishing came true.
Not often - but it does happen, at times without the help of a traditional publisher. Lane told of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association president, whose success speaks volumes - a million sold, to be exact.
"They (publishers) watch that kind of thing," added Carole London of Western Reflections Publishing. "It spells dollars for them."
Writers can also mine their most valuable resource: other writers. The Western Slope Authors Guild formed two years ago to bring writers together for critique and events like the Thursday workshop. The guild held an inaugural writers conference last October, Durham said, and hopes to eventually host one that will connect writers with agents and editors.
She also offered hope to those discouraged by allegedly gloomy publication odds. "Everyone says it's Doomsday, but I think there's always room for a good story."
Contact Katharhynn Heidelberg via e-mail at katharhynnh@montrosepress.com
Kaitlyn Heichel wrote on Nov 3, 2009 2:01 PM:
Sarah Bond wrote on Jul 13, 2009 5:31 PM: