Writer's Beware! Don't Shoot Self in Foot
Lately I've been hearing horror stories about writers doing things that in the long run are going to harm their writing career if not kill it all together.
If someone has a problem with his or her publisher the smart thing is to contact the publisher and see if you can't figure out how to fix it. Never, never broadcast it all over the Internet. Why not? Besides the publisher who has your book seeing what you had to say so will other publishers who will remember your name.
Publishers and editors talk to one another--and it is so much easier now with the Internet. Putting yourself on a black list doesn't seem the smartest thing to do.
Don't bug your publisher or editor. I don't think authors realize that the publisher and or editor has far more to do than listen to all your problems. Of course if it's a big one, sure, but if you've pestered the life out of your publisher or editor, the chances of getting a timely response lower quickly.
All authors need to realize that promotion is mostly on their shoulders. Yes, some houses will do some promotion, others do very little. When you're with a small house, it may be the publisher (owner) and perhaps one or two other staff members--or maybe the publisher only. Once the publisher has got the book out there then the author needs to get busy with the promotion. Actually he or she should have been working on the promotion once the contract was signed.
Don't get on Facebook and bad mouth your publisher, your editor, other authors in the publisher's house, or what you think may be a fault of the publisher. It's just like getting on Facebook and badmouthing your boss, your husband, your friends--it is the wrong thing to do and it will backfire.
If you're not happy with your publisher go somewhere else for your next book. Or self-publish, goodness knows, there are plenty of avenues to do that these days. Of course the promotion will be totally on your shoulders then.
As for me, I'm quite happy to allow my two publishers to do the part they are best at: seeing that my book gets edited, formatting it for the paper and e-book editions, doing the promotion that they do, and sending me my royalty checks. I'll do the rest.
To use another cliche--I know which side my bread is buttered on.
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
If someone has a problem with his or her publisher the smart thing is to contact the publisher and see if you can't figure out how to fix it. Never, never broadcast it all over the Internet. Why not? Besides the publisher who has your book seeing what you had to say so will other publishers who will remember your name.
Publishers and editors talk to one another--and it is so much easier now with the Internet. Putting yourself on a black list doesn't seem the smartest thing to do.
Don't bug your publisher or editor. I don't think authors realize that the publisher and or editor has far more to do than listen to all your problems. Of course if it's a big one, sure, but if you've pestered the life out of your publisher or editor, the chances of getting a timely response lower quickly.
All authors need to realize that promotion is mostly on their shoulders. Yes, some houses will do some promotion, others do very little. When you're with a small house, it may be the publisher (owner) and perhaps one or two other staff members--or maybe the publisher only. Once the publisher has got the book out there then the author needs to get busy with the promotion. Actually he or she should have been working on the promotion once the contract was signed.
Don't get on Facebook and bad mouth your publisher, your editor, other authors in the publisher's house, or what you think may be a fault of the publisher. It's just like getting on Facebook and badmouthing your boss, your husband, your friends--it is the wrong thing to do and it will backfire.
If you're not happy with your publisher go somewhere else for your next book. Or self-publish, goodness knows, there are plenty of avenues to do that these days. Of course the promotion will be totally on your shoulders then.
As for me, I'm quite happy to allow my two publishers to do the part they are best at: seeing that my book gets edited, formatting it for the paper and e-book editions, doing the promotion that they do, and sending me my royalty checks. I'll do the rest.
To use another cliche--I know which side my bread is buttered on.
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
Comments
Marilyn
Best,
Jackie King
Marilyn
Pat Browning