TIMESTAMPS 01:14 Success isn't always about quality 04:39 At the mercy of the market 08:35 Becoming old news in publishing 12:34 Most debuts won't make it 16:51 Awful people succeed often 18:35 Social politics 19:40 Your writing heroes can disappoint you 23:11 Feelings about money 25:18 Being jealous of full time writers
Alexa, I wish you could see all the head nodding and clapping while I watched this video. You told the cold, hard truth that I wish someone told me after my debut year. I have an issue with debut groups for several personal and professional reasons, and I think you nailed it with several of these topics. I would LOVE to see a video on social politics if you have the energy for it. And I do like how you're able to work through these issues in your mind via these videos. It's like talk-therapy for free! LOL :0)
My experience is that it’s NOT about quality. It’s about the size of your social media following. I’ve been taken to board meetings at least three times. The first thing they do is check your blog etc. I suspect that they are judging my popularity not the writing. Totally disillusioned with the traditional publishing industry. And, every great writer of this century has been rejected many tens of times. They have no idea.
As a partially blind writer, I'm doing my writing because it makes me feel that I can finally do something positive with my life. The world is not accessible, the working world is even less accessible, so if I can at least write, I don't care how low the money. I'll just do it.
This is so rough to hear (and way worse to experience) but you really have nailed the industry. Publishing is a long (long, long, long) game. Hang in there, and keep plugging away. Eventually you'll find your audience and they'll keep coming back for more. The rule of thumb is that it takes 5 books to build a following. One of my favorite examples of hanging in there is Charlaine Harris -- she had been toiling away writing these vampire books for years (during a time when many agents/publishers specifically & emphatically stated DO NOT PITCH US VAMPIRE OR WEREWOLF BOOKS) even though she was winning awards, etc -- and then Twilight blew up -- and suddenly everyone was all about the vampires, and here was Charlaine, who was sitting on top of a nice-sized backlist. And while Twilight was the biggest thing in the universe for a while, Charlaine scored True Blood, and about a gazillion fans. Do your thing, keep going. It sucks some days. And then on other days, a reader stops you in a bookstore or at the airport, and tells you that YOU wrote their favorite book in the Universe. And THAT makes it all worth it. Keep your head down, keep writing.
Jk Rowling said that when she was writing Harry Potter she though, “the worst thing that can happen is I’ll get rejected by every publisher in the UK big deal.” Just write because you love it. Stressing while writing doesn’t make your book better. Whatever happens happens. Just write and focus on getting better every time.
@@ayamore Ummm, this is not true. Harry Potter was originally acquired by the then UK publishing house Bloomsbury. She never self published it. Are you perhaps confusing it with the fantasy series Eragon? That author did, indeed, have the same path to traditional publishing you just outlined.
“The outside world judges our actions based almost entirely on results-even though the results aren’t always up to us.” ― Chris Guillebeau, The Happiness of Pursuit
Thank you for the transparency with this video. As someone launching a book myself, I'm facing many fears surrounding these things. I'm coming from an indie perspective, and while it might seem like this wouldn't be encouraging, the truth is that this video helped me sort through anxieties vs. legitimate concern. Thanks again for the video. You always have such wonderful content, and I look forward to it so much!
Great video! Always love hearing your insights. The one about quality does not equal success GETS ME. I feel so sad when I find a book that I think is absolutely brilliant and it just doesn't get the love or recognition it deserves
Great video. I'll be one of those debut novelists later this year. In the meantime, I'm working on book 2 (in the series). I don't have a lit agent but I do have the support of a brilliant publishing company. Fingers crossed book 1 does well enough for them to be interested in taking on book 2.
I love these types of videos. Your pragmatism is kind of what drew me to your channel in the first place but you temper it with such an honest emotional aspect that it doesn't feel like you're talking down to anyone. This is a lot of really great truth and information. It's definitely helping me get my mind right as I keep venturing into this. 👏💚
I love how transparent and honest your videos are. I've experienced some of this as an indie author, especially "quality does not equal success" "authors are not paid fairly" (in 99% of cases we're not even paid minimum wage when you break it down by hour) + diminishing returns and chasing the market. It's definitely a crazy competitive field and a labor of love. Good luck with your second book. :)
2:05 If it's any cold comfort to have a great book thunk puts you in great company; William Golding's Lord of the Flies thunked for years until it was appreciated. Lovecraft's fiction went nowhere in his lifetime.
Appreciation is not always handed when deserved. True about life in almost every aspect I believe. Hope, tapered with being ready for rejection is probably a good thing.
Hi Alexa, I only found your channel last night but I've already watched so many of your videos so far. They've all been really helpful, and I just wanna say thanks for always being so honest and straightforward about so many concepts in writing and the industry 😊
I discovered your vlog recently and I'm really enjoying it. It's so honest and genuinely helpful. But just posting to say I LOVE that colour green on you!
Alexa, thank you for these words. I am not published (yet) but i have been working on a fantasy novel for 8 years now. I am trying to prepare myself for all the disappointments that might happen, but at the same time i know you can never really "prepare" for these things. They will always hit you hard, no matter how much you expect them. All i can do is stay humble and keep writing hard. What happens then is out of my hands.
You and I are making the same boo-boo. A book should take one to two years, usually. (My excuse is that I'm world-building for a whole series. My flimsy excuse.) Godspeed with your own work!
@@lizzychrome7630 it took me 10 months to write the manuscript, but the previous years i spent coming up with the plot. Also, since it's my first book, i wrote one version and it sucked. Then i re-wrote the whole book. And now i'm in the middle of my 5th or 6th round of self editing. Unfortunately, with such big work, these steps are all too necessary. I also took a break from it and wrote another book in the meantime. Shorter and non-fantasy. But now i'm back to the fantasy book. Editing it. It was good to be away from it for a while.
I appreciate your honesty. I'm an unemployed wife and mother so I have a little more time to write, but I plan to get a job because I'm a realist (also I'm not the least domestic in anyway lol). Until I find that job, I will push through my daily writing goals. Thank you for the pep talk at the end.
Love your transparency as always, Alexa. So rare - and valuable - in this industry. I would love to see a video all about the aspects of being published that you've loved -- maybe that's hard to do without sounding braggy? Perhaps the things that have pleasantly surprised you.
I have always heard that it is not what you know! But who you know! And that is true in any business. Writing and publishing is a business like any other business.
This was a great video! I relate so strongly to that achy yearning to be able to write full time and I’m no where near having finished my book let alone getting having an agent or a deal. So I can only imagine how frustrating it must be after all that and juggling work/life and writing!
17:07 "worst human beings are the worst successful" but thats everywhere in life. mostly normal people becoming powerdrunk and then becoming the worst. they should have never been successful until they matured.
@@lizzychrome7630 i agree with that too. its all the same in the end. its like in high school when theres alot of manipulation to get ppl to like certain ppl who might look good on the outside but arent so hot on the inside. some of that changes though, some ppl get better after high school and become less fake. for others, they just trick ppl into buying their products and pump themselves up to think they deserve it. its funny, when you see people who are like that, you think they might just be rotten people who know their vices. sometimes its just that they believe they are gifts to humanity and other ppl are being lazy. when you tell them they are acting up, they label it as hate.
@@assassinsbleedacwalkthroug9947 Yes, many awful people have warped victim complexes. I once read a book that redefined "oppressed Mary Sue," reading like one of Doug Funny's paranoid fantasies, with everyone hating the main character for no explained reason, and her of course being secretly better, more powerful, and more important than all of them. People who've interacted with the author of that book have described her as manipulative and having a warped perception of people and an inflated ego.
Thanks for being so open about the struggles of your journey. We definitely appreciate it. Also I have to say I love your look today. Green is definitely your color.
Great stuff as ever, seriously. The channel's fantastic and all the hints, tips, advice are done in such an approachable way. I'm working on a writing project and your vids have been very helpful, so thank you.
God I know so many good books that haven’t gone anywhere, it’s horrible :( Yeah the market is so vastly different to what Booktube would tell you people want. “No more abusive relationships!” *abusive relationships consistently become Times best sellers* It’s hard to gauge what people actually want to read. I really hate the obsession with debuts. It sucks that so many get tied to their debut when they could improve and make BETTER books. But no, after their debut so many authors get lost. For instance one of my favorite authors, Ellen Hopkins, had a great debut that sold crazy well. Her books after also sold extremely well, but now her books still sell ,but nowhere near the numbers they did originally. It sucks because her books are so good but she’s not a debut anymore so she never gets any coverage. And I mean Alexa, if you're serious about marrying rich... I mean YA has taught us that you just need to be a plain, brunette girl with no real flaws, and every magical creature in a 7 country radius will flock to you. I'm sure one of them HAS to be loaded after living for like thousands of years! Ha!
I've been binging your videos all day today and now there's another video to watch!! I'm starting to write a book and your advice is helping me to do that, so thank you. 😁😁
I thank you 1000 times for making these videos. If one day I do get published, I will always know it was because of these videos that I didn't give up :)
I'm one of those people who can spend my time as I want. It's basically the perk of medical disability--I can be too broken down to get out of bed, but I can write. But also I do have a husband whose income covers everything and then some, and I have a small business as well and can pick and choose clients. And I'm grateful for every moment of it since this isn't something most get to do. The thought of not getting to set everything aside to write when something comes to my head is suffocating. Even if I never publish a book again, I'll still write. Write for the love of writing.
@@consumerwarrior1267 I swear books are part of what kept me alive during the worst of it. My idea of a nightmare was dying before I reached the end of a book. Imagine dying without knowing how it ended! (I wasn't supposed to see 15 years old.) Reading . Writing. Either way, books are an escape, and I'm damned lucky to be able to dedicate so much time to it. My husband could so easily resent me being home, but he's supportive instead. Too bad our daughter isn't such a fan yet.
Luck and timing play a bigger role in life than most people realize. I'm old enough to have seen it, time and again. Whether it's getting the job you want, having the relationship you want and even health issues. Like I always say, life's a crapshoot! Much thanks to you Alexa for another great video!
I really appreciate your honesty and the way you keep it all real. You have a way of telling it how it is well still being extremely encouraging. Keep creating all of this amazing content. Stay creative. Stay mighty!
Alexa, you will definitely publish more than two books. You are never going to stop writing or battling the industry to get that and that's the kind of attitude you need to continue on.
Hi Alexa. I just recently began following you, and I am enjoying what you have to say. I did something stupid a few years ago and signed on with a "vanity press". Is there a way you can do a video of the differences between self publishing and a vanity press? I don't want to see someone go through the same nightmare I had to. Thank you.
These are 100% true. I have experienced all of these . Even with my own work, what's most popular is not what I consider the best. Readers like characters that we don't always like writing or we get tired of. Readers get mad if we want to write something different. Readers' expectations based on genre and our prior work will really hamper us if we allow it. I respect you for putting these out there (I only post anonymously on social media but kudos to you for being so open).
Such a great chat! There were a lot of things I could already relate to even without currently having a published book coming out. Comparison is so so often the thief of joy. I've always thought that understanding that writing a good book doesn't guarantee you success is the hardest pill to swallow in this industry. Dismantling that idea of it being a meritocracy is as necessary as it is crushing because you really need to be able to adjust your expectations going into it.
As someone who got a couple of books traditionally published some years ago, I think "getting published" as such is overrated. Here's what it meant to me: ° A brief thrill of joy when I got the contracts and when I first held the books in my hand. ° Dismay at how lousy the editing on some of them was, and at how many important bits they changed, and how many errors they added that I couldn't undo. ° Grinding my teeth over an ugly and/or inappropriate cover. ° Disappointment at how little the publisher did to market them and particularly at how the books never really got off the ground. ° Horror after the first books in the series when the publisher reorganized their fiction section and let most of its authors (me included) "go." ° Disgust at terrible illustrations for a new book at a new publisher, and at awful rewrites that ruined the story and led to a cancellation of the contract. Sure, getting traditionally published is heaven if you're a bestselling author, otherwise it can be a washout. That being the case, it's been self-publishing for me ever since.
I'm getting stuck on them editing for you. That has not been my experience at all. I am 100% in control of my edits, at all times. If I don't like a copy edit, or a pass pages note, I stet it. My publisher didn't add anything to my book--I retained editorial control? And no one ever rewrote anything, for sure. Where were you published that this happened? My experiences have been overwhelmingly positive, just with their fare share of harsh realities, per the video. I love traditional publishing.
The truth arrow hit my heart and I'm like, ouch! Great and insightful video as usual, Alexa! I was wondering if you can make a video that discusses about contract terms? Both for a literary agent contract and a publishing contract. At least, as far as how much you can share because I don't want your agent or publisher to go crazy because you overshared contract terminologies (although a full disclosure would be nice, if applicable :-) )
The biggest problem I needed to get over in Film was going to networking events alone and talking to people. I still need about 10 minutes after I arrive to relax enough to talk to anyone, but normally I'm getting a during during that time.
Thank you for this, Alexa. I'm working on my first novel and have no idea what's going to happen. Videos like this help me to brace myself. Thank you again.
Hi Alexa! I've been loving your videos and practically binging on them when I can! I am curious tho. Could you maybe do a video of what to do, step by step, after you finish your first draft, even if it's glazing over certain things such as revising? I'm confused what exactly I should do once I finish my first draft to continue working towards publishing because the order is what is mind boggling to me. Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work!!
I have a video where I go through my debut book from 1st draft to publication, which more or less does this. It does spoil my debut, but it's a super in-depth video!
I always wonder how many of these envied "full-time writers" actually get to do it in the way people imagine. I didn't marry rich, but my husband makes enough that I went "full time." As the person who stays home to work, things always fall to me. I often find my whole day filling up with dealing with kids, dogs, grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, miscellaneous errands, etc. I know most people have all these things, and I'm very lucky. But every six months or so, I find myself writing at night to fit it in just like a person who does it in addition to their main job. At that point, we have to have a discussion about redistributing chores. I think that no matter how understanding and supporting a spouse you have, this is just going to happen naturally if you make significantly less. I'm forever grateful for my situation, but people imagine I just get all the time in the world to write, and that's not the case. I imagine it's not the case for almost anyone except bestsellers who make more than their "day job" spouses.
Very intriguing and wonderful to be more aware of this. Looking forward to the social politics video, I think that it'd be very helpful to hear your perspective of how to approach or avoid missteps. As always, thank you very much for your fantastic analysis and insight into the publishing and writing world!
So I write but more as a hobby -- not anticipating being interested in traditional publishing, though you never know, I guess. Still, a lot of your advice still really resonated for my day job. The social politics; the importance of luck and timing; the fact that though hard work plays a role, it won't guarantee success; and the importance of learning how to accept these things and navigate them. Anyway, great video. I'm feeling more motivated already, nerves steeled and all that. RUclips algorithm doing me a solid again!
You are so right about everything! I know many authors who have been published by traditional small publishers, who have not sold one single book in years, which in itself is sad, because the author is still responsible for advertising his or her own books. Small publishers do not have the money or clout to advertise. Big Publishers, however, will jump on the band wagon, once your book takes off. This can, or will further increase your book sales. Finding an agent or traditional publisher is a nightmare anymore, because all they want to do is 'sell" you their services, editing, and so on. Once you pay, however, you are on your own. And of course, your book will go no where. Luckily, with some advertising on Amazon my books have been selling, although getting reviews is still difficult. It takes one hundred readers, to maybe get one review. Writing is a tough business, and not for the faint of heart. TB Riggs.
This was a fascinating video. On your heros letting you down-what is it Neil Gaiman says? Most writers he knows are some mix of timely, talented, or pleasant. As long as you have 2/3, publishing puts up with you lol Ooh and your discussion on social politics was really interesting. I'd love to see an entire video on that if you were up for it! :)
16:20 "Just to stay level, you have to improve by 10% each season". - Mick Malthouse, Aussie Rules football coach, part time archaeologist and the motivator: after losing a grand final he said "you must die a death of a thousand cuts before you unseat the emperor".
I am so relieved that my Writer Hero never disappointed me. Tim Winton was so friendly and encouraging when we met; he really imparted some wisdom and great advice! I'm so sorry your Writing Hero disappointed you :(
“It is a business.” This is probably the harshest of truths for many writers. And the factors that get books published well are so often based on budgets, bean counters, even the particular tastes of an editor. And those markets are so influenced. Books and trends can and do break out, but the “business” would rather feel in control of those things. Not everyone is treated equally, and good writing often has little to do with that. This can also change from company to company. You can be doing well and have friends in one place, get a better deal when your contract is up and be treated entirely different elsewhere. I feel it’s best for writers to keep in mind exactly where they’re going, understand why they got into writing in the first place. The business humbles everyone. It’s always great at first. And you tell yourself all those horror stories you heard from others happened to them because there were extenuating circumstances. Then the other shoe drops and you realize there’s all of these other factors-all of which breaks down to money, did you make enough for your publisher to maintain their interest? And yeah, some can get away with murder and still get a smile and check no matter how crappy they are, miss their deadlines...no it is not fair. But we can’t lose ourselves and allow those tides to wash us away.
"having a next book, not a sequel. The publishers are after the next shiny object". Okay, that's different from the comic book industry. If you do well and the audience wants a sequel of your comic, a comic book publisher will be more than happy with this. To them, it means a long life time strong brand.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this video, the timing was perfect. Just yesterday I went to a writing panel and discovered a new author. I'm an introvert with a capital 'I', so when I used the opportunity to grab her postcard and say a few words I just blurted out meaningless, stringed together sentences that had muddled in my mind. I saw her eyes kind of gloss over, as is normal when approached by someone socially awkward, LOL, but I've been playing it over and over again in my head. Thank you for helping me move past it a bit. ^.^
Video by video, Alexa, you are convincing me to quit writing. :) P.S. I'm serious and I"m serious grateful for your videos. I don't want to spend my life tossing my few pennies in the air and hoping that somehow they will come down as gold coins. No, that doesn't convey what I am trying to say -- but I'm not sure at the moment how to say it.
She did it off the back of fandom - and there was a lot of controversy regarding her and plagiarism which ironically may have made her even more well known. (I only heard of her because of the plagarism stuff.) fanlore.org/wiki/Cassandra_Claire
I was wondering are there some things that you can do during your “year of debut” that would create excitement for future content? For example selling your next book to your readers or at least the idea of it to your audience while selling them the first book. Or is that a bad idea?
Honestly? The #1 best thing I did was start this channel. Vlogging my writing and editing experience for book 2 has generated a moderate amount of excitement. I also started pitching book 2 when I was on panels promoting book one, to stick the "earworm" with people so hopefully they'd remember/be excited.
I love watching your videos. I started writing back in 2015, and honestly, I've been terrified to publish. I think ready to, but it's the voice of doubt kicking my backside. 😔 My pen name is Dembie Rose, and I've written over 30+ books. My friends and readers say go for it, but how do I know when they're truly ready? I had recently sent my first creation to a publisher, but it got rejected. He said it's ”too English,” and it's entertaining and I definitely have something. But it wasn't for him. Needless to say, it's knocked me a little. 🙈 but still, I've not given up. ❤️
Honestly, as someone out of school and trying to decide between pursuing writing or science/medicine, I don't know if I could actually handle this.... At least not yet
I'm rather new to your videos. Thank you for your support! I have a two part question for you about Facebook. Do you feel it is a good platform for authors and could you please share the reasons for your answer? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I've been dealing with some of these as I've been querying (two separate novels) for the past 1.5 years with no success and feeling like a failure because nobody wants my books. May I ask how many agents you queried before getting your first request for a partial/full?
I had a very good request rate. I got requests from my test queries (which is how I knew my query was working). I recommend checking out my videos on queries, and also recommend checking out reddit.com/r/pubtips--they do query critiques. It's not unusual to wallow in the query trenches in terms of waiting to hear from people, rejections, etc. but if you're not getting any requests from your query, you need to workshop it.
Alexa? I have one curiosity. I have this one book that I purchased back around the late 1990s or early 2000s about getting published, and one of the things that it stressed was that publishing houses frowned on simultaneous submissions. Does that still hold true now in 2019?
One of the best quotes out there is "publishing is a marathon, not a sprint". Sure, some people make it big right out of the gate, but those are huge outliers. I don't know the statistics but I'd be willing to bet the vast majority of authors don't make enough to make a living solely out of their writing.
This was incredibly fascinating Alexa! So I do have a question... are there publishing houses that specialize in publishing massive output authors? I see some produce what seems like a book every five weeks and I just can't wrap my head around how an author could get a publishing house to publish that quickly...
Okay. Brutal, but clearly accurate. I'm on the indie side, since I'm terrified of dealing with an agent or trying to get an agent or maybe just the word "agent". I do appreciate your courage and that wee bit of pain that definitely shows through there. But yeah. We can't give up or the bastards win. So there it is.
I really appreciated this take on things. So many think if you work hard enough, believe enough and do what you need to, it will all be success. But sometimes the successful got lucky. There are a lot of not great books that got hyper famous, movie deals, and the author still gets fans to read when they write really crappy sequels. Sometimes, you work hard and the stars align. If life taught me anything so far, I need to lower my expectations, always, lol 😂. Thanks for the insight and grounded view.
Loved this video and would love to see a list of books you think deserve more love, if you could make one. I do wonder if it's not that only the worst people succeed but that only successful terrible people keep getting opportunities (otherwise no way anyone would work with you). If course that doesn't make it sting any less
so this kind of helped me on picking out what story to debut with. I have a series and a stand-alone. I was going to go with my stand-a-lone contemporary novel as my debut, but after hearing the debut cycle. The Fantasy Quartet sounds better for me to debut with even though it's harder to sell a series. I am hoping that it's unique enough to actually get through the door.
You may not realize it, but this episode could be used as an argument for self-publishing. While I am technically a hybrid, my trade publishing involves eBooks-and those don’t have the same issues you discussed with trade. I’m glad I don’t have to spend any of my time pitching to or kissing up to anyone in the publishing industry. I just have to please my readers. That time spent pitching my next book can go toward writing and marketing. You mentioned indies need to be machines, but that is not necessarily so. I publish four books a year, and that is a very comfortable schedule for me. Please don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I am not dishing trade publishing. I believe every author needs to decide which is best for him or her. I know you say you prefer trade publishing, yet by this episode, I have to wonder if that is really the case. Best of luck for the New Year. Write on!
Because of your channel I bought and read your book. Brightly Burning, while it didn't hit me in the gut like the book that is based on, I enjoyed the story and it is one of the funnest times I've had reading a book in recent years. I had a fun time trying to guess which ways you would twist the source material and how things would turn out. Don't you have a second book? If so I can't remember the name.
Thank you! That's great to hear. I definitely set out to write something fun :) My second book comes out in February 2020--The Stars We Steal, which is set in the same universe but earlier. It's Persuasion meets The Bachelor :)
Haha. I like making them! Helps me process my feelings :) And honestly: the more prepared you are, the better! If you go into publishing with more or less realistic expectations, you enjoy all the highs so much more, and the lows don't knock you as flat.
I wonder how much we can truly control our big dreams and what we hope for in publishing. We learn how to turn on the creativity when writing. We push ourselves. I wonder if dreaming big is part of the process. We just have to learn not to get lost in it.🧐
Also, as someone who's written both fulltime and part-time at different points in my life: fulltime authors don't necessarily produce more quality work. I know, that's a controversial statement. But for MANY people, it's true. Plus, writing fulltime is hard physically and I had to vary my input by using dictation now for dialogue. If you're looking for the most profitable genre (in my experience), it's romance. Many of us can write & sell multiple romances while working on harder novels. Even Hilary Mantel did that. I write adult historical/ military fiction and fantasy, and for every 250k words a reader sees, there may be 300k of research, worldbuilding, and cut scenes. Publishers understand so rates reflect that, for the most part, but profit margins are higher for author, publisher, etc in genre fiction like romance. It has a straightforward formula that pleases audiences who just want relaxation/ escape.
In case you didn't know, green is absolutely your colour! Also, thanks for all the videos. They're sincerely so, so helpful. For people like me, people like YOU are gold.
![How Much Did My Book Change? 1st draft to Final [Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-yyMM_AjDr0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Chino Pacas - Modo Capone (with Drake & Fuerza Regida) [Video Oficial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zjv8TQ0gBkg/mqdefault.jpg)
TIMESTAMPS
01:14 Success isn't always about quality
04:39 At the mercy of the market
08:35 Becoming old news in publishing
12:34 Most debuts won't make it
16:51 Awful people succeed often
18:35 Social politics
19:40 Your writing heroes can disappoint you
23:11 Feelings about money
25:18 Being jealous of full time writers
Alexa, I wish you could see all the head nodding and clapping while I watched this video. You told the cold, hard truth that I wish someone told me after my debut year. I have an issue with debut groups for several personal and professional reasons, and I think you nailed it with several of these topics. I would LOVE to see a video on social politics if you have the energy for it. And I do like how you're able to work through these issues in your mind via these videos. It's like talk-therapy for free! LOL :0)
My experience is that it’s NOT about quality. It’s about the size of your social media following. I’ve been taken to board meetings at least three times. The first thing they do is check your blog etc. I suspect that they are judging my popularity not the writing. Totally disillusioned with the traditional publishing industry. And, every great writer of this century has been rejected many tens of times. They have no idea.
"Your writing heroes will disappoint you"
This aged remarkably well.
I love hearing the tea about what happens behind the curtain in the industry
As a partially blind writer, I'm doing my writing because it makes me feel that I can finally do something positive with my life. The world is not accessible, the working world is even less accessible, so if I can at least write, I don't care how low the money. I'll just do it.
That's true dedication 💪
@@NShiro-tp1fe thank you :)
Your perspective is very important! I hope you're still writing.
I feel the same way as someone with cerebral palsy.
I think your voice is very important and one that people need to hear. I can’t wait to read your books, short stories, etc.
Watched this years ago and so glad I rewatched it today. Needed this advice again :)
This is so rough to hear (and way worse to experience) but you really have nailed the industry. Publishing is a long (long, long, long) game. Hang in there, and keep plugging away. Eventually you'll find your audience and they'll keep coming back for more. The rule of thumb is that it takes 5 books to build a following. One of my favorite examples of hanging in there is Charlaine Harris -- she had been toiling away writing these vampire books for years (during a time when many agents/publishers specifically & emphatically stated DO NOT PITCH US VAMPIRE OR WEREWOLF BOOKS) even though she was winning awards, etc -- and then Twilight blew up -- and suddenly everyone was all about the vampires, and here was Charlaine, who was sitting on top of a nice-sized backlist. And while Twilight was the biggest thing in the universe for a while, Charlaine scored True Blood, and about a gazillion fans. Do your thing, keep going. It sucks some days. And then on other days, a reader stops you in a bookstore or at the airport, and tells you that YOU wrote their favorite book in the Universe. And THAT makes it all worth it. Keep your head down, keep writing.
And Twilight is an example of how it is usually luck and timing than talent in writing.
Jk Rowling said that when she was writing Harry Potter she though, “the worst thing that can happen is I’ll get rejected by every publisher in the UK big deal.”
Just write because you love it. Stressing while writing doesn’t make your book better. Whatever happens happens. Just write and focus on getting better every time.
@@ayamore Ummm, this is not true. Harry Potter was originally acquired by the then UK publishing house Bloomsbury. She never self published it. Are you perhaps confusing it with the fantasy series Eragon? That author did, indeed, have the same path to traditional publishing you just outlined.
"I'm convinced none of us are fully satisfied in publishing..." Truer words have never been spoken, sister lol.
To quote ST: TNG, Picard, "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life."
“The outside world judges our actions based almost entirely on results-even though the results aren’t always up to us.”
― Chris Guillebeau, The Happiness of Pursuit
Thank you for the transparency with this video. As someone launching a book myself, I'm facing many fears surrounding these things. I'm coming from an indie perspective, and while it might seem like this wouldn't be encouraging, the truth is that this video helped me sort through anxieties vs. legitimate concern. Thanks again for the video. You always have such wonderful content, and I look forward to it so much!
Great video! Always love hearing your insights. The one about quality does not equal success GETS ME. I feel so sad when I find a book that I think is absolutely brilliant and it just doesn't get the love or recognition it deserves
Great video. I'll be one of those debut novelists later this year. In the meantime, I'm working on book 2 (in the series). I don't have a lit agent but I do have the support of a brilliant publishing company. Fingers crossed book 1 does well enough for them to be interested in taking on book 2.
Fi Phillips congrats!! Please share us the updates when it’s published! 📖 🏆
I love these types of videos. Your pragmatism is kind of what drew me to your channel in the first place but you temper it with such an honest emotional aspect that it doesn't feel like you're talking down to anyone. This is a lot of really great truth and information. It's definitely helping me get my mind right as I keep venturing into this. 👏💚
I love how transparent and honest your videos are. I've experienced some of this as an indie author, especially "quality does not equal success" "authors are not paid fairly" (in 99% of cases we're not even paid minimum wage when you break it down by hour) + diminishing returns and chasing the market. It's definitely a crazy competitive field and a labor of love. Good luck with your second book. :)
I always respect harsh reality way more than blissful ignorance. Good video.
2:05
If it's any cold comfort to have a great book thunk puts you in great company; William Golding's Lord of the Flies thunked for years until it was appreciated. Lovecraft's fiction went nowhere in his lifetime.
I Love Lovecraft. That's redundant by the way.
Lovecraft barely attempted to have any of it published due to his crippling mental illness.
Appreciation is not always handed when deserved.
True about life in almost every aspect I believe.
Hope, tapered with being ready for rejection is probably a good thing.
Your honesty is always beyond refreshing. Thank you so much for doing what you do!!
I appreciate the vulnerability. Thank you for sharing the harsh truths about publishing!
Please do make a video about social politics in publishing! I think it would make a very interesting video! 💕
Hi Alexa, I only found your channel last night but I've already watched so many of your videos so far. They've all been really helpful, and I just wanna say thanks for always being so honest and straightforward about so many concepts in writing and the industry 😊
I discovered your vlog recently and I'm really enjoying it. It's so honest and genuinely helpful. But just posting to say I LOVE that colour green on you!
Alexa, thank you for these words.
I am not published (yet) but i have been working on a fantasy novel for 8 years now.
I am trying to prepare myself for all the disappointments that might happen, but at the same time i know you can never really "prepare" for these things. They will always hit you hard, no matter how much you expect them.
All i can do is stay humble and keep writing hard. What happens then is out of my hands.
You and I are making the same boo-boo. A book should take one to two years, usually. (My excuse is that I'm world-building for a whole series. My flimsy excuse.) Godspeed with your own work!
@@lizzychrome7630 it took me 10 months to write the manuscript, but the previous years i spent coming up with the plot. Also, since it's my first book, i wrote one version and it sucked. Then i re-wrote the whole book. And now i'm in the middle of my 5th or 6th round of self editing.
Unfortunately, with such big work, these steps are all too necessary.
I also took a break from it and wrote another book in the meantime. Shorter and non-fantasy.
But now i'm back to the fantasy book. Editing it. It was good to be away from it for a while.
Thank you for sharing! I appreciate the insight you provide in your videos :)
I appreciate your honesty. I'm an unemployed wife and mother so I have a little more time to write, but I plan to get a job because I'm a realist (also I'm not the least domestic in anyway lol). Until I find that job, I will push through my daily writing goals. Thank you for the pep talk at the end.
Love your transparency as always, Alexa. So rare - and valuable - in this industry. I would love to see a video all about the aspects of being published that you've loved -- maybe that's hard to do without sounding braggy? Perhaps the things that have pleasantly surprised you.
I have always heard that it is not what you know! But who you know! And that is true in any business. Writing and publishing is a business like any other business.
This was a great video! I relate so strongly to that achy yearning to be able to write full time and I’m no where near having finished my book let alone getting having an agent or a deal. So I can only imagine how frustrating it must be after all that and juggling work/life and writing!
17:07
"worst human beings are the worst successful"
but thats everywhere in life. mostly normal people becoming powerdrunk and then becoming the worst.
they should have never been successful until they matured.
That's part of it, but people who are just manipulative by nature will obviously also be very good at selling themselves.
@@lizzychrome7630 i agree with that too. its all the same in the end. its like in high school when theres alot of manipulation to get ppl to like certain ppl who might look good on the outside but arent so hot on the inside. some of that changes though, some ppl get better after high school and become less fake.
for others, they just trick ppl into buying their products and pump themselves up to think they deserve it.
its funny, when you see people who are like that, you think they might just be rotten people who know their vices. sometimes its just that they believe they are gifts to humanity and other ppl are being lazy. when you tell them they are acting up, they label it as hate.
@@assassinsbleedacwalkthroug9947 Yes, many awful people have warped victim complexes.
I once read a book that redefined "oppressed Mary Sue," reading like one of Doug Funny's paranoid fantasies, with everyone hating the main character for no explained reason, and her of course being secretly better, more powerful, and more important than all of them.
People who've interacted with the author of that book have described her as manipulative and having a warped perception of people and an inflated ego.
Thanks for being so open about the struggles of your journey. We definitely appreciate it. Also I have to say I love your look today. Green is definitely your color.
By far one of my favorite videos you have done. So optimistic but real ❤❤
Thank you for the transparency, Alexa - I'm sending you a hug across internet-land
So glad you point out the role of luck. This is the case in so many industries and professions. And most (all?) people don't understand this.
Great stuff as ever, seriously. The channel's fantastic and all the hints, tips, advice are done in such an approachable way. I'm working on a writing project and your vids have been very helpful, so thank you.
God I know so many good books that haven’t gone anywhere, it’s horrible :(
Yeah the market is so vastly different to what Booktube would tell you people want. “No more abusive relationships!” *abusive relationships consistently become Times best sellers* It’s hard to gauge what people actually want to read.
I really hate the obsession with debuts. It sucks that so many get tied to their debut when they could improve and make BETTER books. But no, after their debut so many authors get lost. For instance one of my favorite authors, Ellen Hopkins, had a great debut that sold crazy well. Her books after also sold extremely well, but now her books still sell ,but nowhere near the numbers they did originally. It sucks because her books are so good but she’s not a debut anymore so she never gets any coverage.
And I mean Alexa, if you're serious about marrying rich... I mean YA has taught us that you just need to be a plain, brunette girl with no real flaws, and every magical creature in a 7 country radius will flock to you. I'm sure one of them HAS to be loaded after living for like thousands of years! Ha!
I saw your book in the store and I freaked out! It was so cool, I just had no money to buy it. Next time I see it I’m definitely getting it
I've been binging your videos all day today and now there's another video to watch!! I'm starting to write a book and your advice is helping me to do that, so thank you. 😁😁
I thank you 1000 times for making these videos. If one day I do get published, I will always know it was because of these videos that I didn't give up :)
I'm one of those people who can spend my time as I want. It's basically the perk of medical disability--I can be too broken down to get out of bed, but I can write. But also I do have a husband whose income covers everything and then some, and I have a small business as well and can pick and choose clients. And I'm grateful for every moment of it since this isn't something most get to do. The thought of not getting to set everything aside to write when something comes to my head is suffocating. Even if I never publish a book again, I'll still write. Write for the love of writing.
It's good that you're making the best of your situation.
@@consumerwarrior1267 I swear books are part of what kept me alive during the worst of it. My idea of a nightmare was dying before I reached the end of a book. Imagine dying without knowing how it ended! (I wasn't supposed to see 15 years old.) Reading . Writing. Either way, books are an escape, and I'm damned lucky to be able to dedicate so much time to it. My husband could so easily resent me being home, but he's supportive instead. Too bad our daughter isn't such a fan yet.
Just want to say thank you for doing this. It's helpful and inspiring.
Luck and timing play a bigger role in life than most people realize. I'm old enough to have seen it, time and again. Whether it's getting the job you want, having the relationship you want and even health issues. Like I always say, life's a crapshoot! Much thanks to you Alexa for another great video!
I’m binge watching your videos… thank you for being so open and sharing your experiences.
Love your videos. There’s a raw honesty here that makes you feel real and down to earth - thank you for all the hard work you put into this!
I really appreciate your honesty and the way you keep it all real. You have a way of telling it how it is well still being extremely encouraging. Keep creating all of this amazing content. Stay creative. Stay mighty!
Alexa, you will definitely publish more than two books. You are never going to stop writing or battling the industry to get that and that's the kind of attitude you need to continue on.
Thank you so much for keeping it super real! I feel extreme support when I watch your vids!
I can see the ARC of your new book on your bookshelf and I don't know why that makes me so happy and why I feel the need to share that.
30 minutes of content yes please thank you I feel blessed. I hope you are doing well Alexa!
Hi Alexa. I just recently began following you, and I am enjoying what you have to say. I did something stupid a few years ago and signed on with a "vanity press". Is there a way you can do a video of the differences between self publishing and a vanity press? I don't want to see someone go through the same nightmare I had to. Thank you.
These are 100% true. I have experienced all of these . Even with my own work, what's most popular is not what I consider the best. Readers like characters that we don't always like writing or we get tired of. Readers get mad if we want to write something different. Readers' expectations based on genre and our prior work will really hamper us if we allow it. I respect you for putting these out there (I only post anonymously on social media but kudos to you for being so open).
Such a great chat! There were a lot of things I could already relate to even without currently having a published book coming out. Comparison is so so often the thief of joy. I've always thought that understanding that writing a good book doesn't guarantee you success is the hardest pill to swallow in this industry. Dismantling that idea of it being a meritocracy is as necessary as it is crushing because you really need to be able to adjust your expectations going into it.
As someone who got a couple of books traditionally published some years ago, I think "getting published" as such is overrated. Here's what it meant to me:
° A brief thrill of joy when I got the contracts and when I first held the books in my hand.
° Dismay at how lousy the editing on some of them was, and at how many important bits they changed, and how many errors they added that I couldn't undo.
° Grinding my teeth over an ugly and/or inappropriate cover.
° Disappointment at how little the publisher did to market them and particularly at how the books never really got off the ground.
° Horror after the first books in the series when the publisher reorganized their fiction section and let most of its authors (me included) "go."
° Disgust at terrible illustrations for a new book at a new publisher, and at awful rewrites that ruined the story and led to a cancellation of the contract.
Sure, getting traditionally published is heaven if you're a bestselling author, otherwise it can be a washout. That being the case, it's been self-publishing for me ever since.
I'm getting stuck on them editing for you. That has not been my experience at all. I am 100% in control of my edits, at all times. If I don't like a copy edit, or a pass pages note, I stet it. My publisher didn't add anything to my book--I retained editorial control? And no one ever rewrote anything, for sure. Where were you published that this happened?
My experiences have been overwhelmingly positive, just with their fare share of harsh realities, per the video. I love traditional publishing.
Binge-listening to all your videos. Thanks for all the content you put out. Great work :)
The truth arrow hit my heart and I'm like, ouch! Great and insightful video as usual, Alexa! I was wondering if you can make a video that discusses about contract terms? Both for a literary agent contract and a publishing contract. At least, as far as how much you can share because I don't want your agent or publisher to go crazy because you overshared contract terminologies (although a full disclosure would be nice, if applicable :-) )
Awesome channel. Really digging everything about your vids. Thanks for the service to all of us out here. Cheers!
I'm not published yet but I love these kinds of videos.
The biggest problem I needed to get over in Film was going to networking events alone and talking to people. I still need about 10 minutes after I arrive to relax enough to talk to anyone, but normally I'm getting a during during that time.
I love knowing the truth about both sides, even though I'm going with Self Publishing for my first book. Thank you for videos like this!
Your videos are just the best. I feel like I'll be so much more prepared for the industry (if I ever get there lol). Thank you!
Thank you for this, Alexa. I'm working on my first novel and have no idea what's going to happen. Videos like this help me to brace myself. Thank you again.
Hi Alexa! I've been loving your videos and practically binging on them when I can! I am curious tho. Could you maybe do a video of what to do, step by step, after you finish your first draft, even if it's glazing over certain things such as revising? I'm confused what exactly I should do once I finish my first draft to continue working towards publishing because the order is what is mind boggling to me. Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work!!
I have a video where I go through my debut book from 1st draft to publication, which more or less does this. It does spoil my debut, but it's a super in-depth video!
I always wonder how many of these envied "full-time writers" actually get to do it in the way people imagine. I didn't marry rich, but my husband makes enough that I went "full time." As the person who stays home to work, things always fall to me. I often find my whole day filling up with dealing with kids, dogs, grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, miscellaneous errands, etc. I know most people have all these things, and I'm very lucky.
But every six months or so, I find myself writing at night to fit it in just like a person who does it in addition to their main job. At that point, we have to have a discussion about redistributing chores. I think that no matter how understanding and supporting a spouse you have, this is just going to happen naturally if you make significantly less. I'm forever grateful for my situation, but people imagine I just get all the time in the world to write, and that's not the case. I imagine it's not the case for almost anyone except bestsellers who make more than their "day job" spouses.
Very intriguing and wonderful to be more aware of this. Looking forward to the social politics video, I think that it'd be very helpful to hear your perspective of how to approach or avoid missteps. As always, thank you very much for your fantastic analysis and insight into the publishing and writing world!
So I write but more as a hobby -- not anticipating being interested in traditional publishing, though you never know, I guess. Still, a lot of your advice still really resonated for my day job. The social politics; the importance of luck and timing; the fact that though hard work plays a role, it won't guarantee success; and the importance of learning how to accept these things and navigate them. Anyway, great video. I'm feeling more motivated already, nerves steeled and all that. RUclips algorithm doing me a solid again!
Thi helped me immensely Alexa! I would love so much to be your friend! I love how you structure your thoughts with so much reason!
Thank you for this insight. So valuable!
You are so right about everything! I know many authors who have been published by traditional small publishers, who have not sold one single book in years, which in itself is sad, because the author is still responsible for advertising his or her own books. Small publishers do not have the money or clout to advertise. Big Publishers, however, will jump on the band wagon, once your book takes off. This can, or will further increase your book sales. Finding an agent or traditional publisher is a nightmare anymore, because all they want to do is 'sell" you their services, editing, and so on. Once you pay, however, you are on your own. And of course, your book will go no where. Luckily, with some advertising on Amazon my books have been selling, although getting reviews is still difficult. It takes one hundred readers, to maybe get one review. Writing is a tough business, and not for the faint of heart. TB Riggs.
This was a fascinating video. On your heros letting you down-what is it Neil Gaiman says? Most writers he knows are some mix of timely, talented, or pleasant. As long as you have 2/3, publishing puts up with you lol Ooh and your discussion on social politics was really interesting. I'd love to see an entire video on that if you were up for it! :)
As always, I appreciate your candor about everything! Love your vids ❤️
You are so wonderfully articulate; I love watching your videos. I would love to see a video where you name some of your favorite fiction writers.
Oof it's good to hear this, tho it hurts, scary to think that maybe you can get one book out and then after that it's gonna be more difficult
16:20
"Just to stay level, you have to improve by 10% each season".
- Mick Malthouse, Aussie Rules football coach, part time archaeologist and the motivator: after losing a grand final he said "you must die a death of a thousand cuts before you unseat the emperor".
I am so relieved that my Writer Hero never disappointed me. Tim Winton was so friendly and encouraging when we met; he really imparted some wisdom and great advice! I'm so sorry your Writing Hero disappointed you :(
“It is a business.” This is probably the harshest of truths for many writers. And the factors that get books published well are so often based on budgets, bean counters, even the particular tastes of an editor. And those markets are so influenced. Books and trends can and do break out, but the “business” would rather feel in control of those things. Not everyone is treated equally, and good writing often has little to do with that. This can also change from company to company. You can be doing well and have friends in one place, get a better deal when your contract is up and be treated entirely different elsewhere.
I feel it’s best for writers to keep in mind exactly where they’re going, understand why they got into writing in the first place. The business humbles everyone. It’s always great at first. And you tell yourself all those horror stories you heard from others happened to them because there were extenuating circumstances. Then the other shoe drops and you realize there’s all of these other factors-all of which breaks down to money, did you make enough for your publisher to maintain their interest? And yeah, some can get away with murder and still get a smile and check no matter how crappy they are, miss their deadlines...no it is not fair. But we can’t lose ourselves and allow those tides to wash us away.
"having a next book, not a sequel. The publishers are after the next shiny object". Okay, that's different from the comic book industry. If you do well and the audience wants a sequel of your comic, a comic book publisher will be more than happy with this. To them, it means a long life time strong brand.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this video, the timing was perfect. Just yesterday I went to a writing panel and discovered a new author. I'm an introvert with a capital 'I', so when I used the opportunity to grab her postcard and say a few words I just blurted out meaningless, stringed together sentences that had muddled in my mind. I saw her eyes kind of gloss over, as is normal when approached by someone socially awkward, LOL, but I've been playing it over and over again in my head. Thank you for helping me move past it a bit. ^.^
Video by video, Alexa, you are convincing me to quit writing. :) P.S. I'm serious and I"m serious grateful for your videos. I don't want to spend my life tossing my few pennies in the air and hoping that somehow they will come down as gold coins. No, that doesn't convey what I am trying to say -- but I'm not sure at the moment how to say it.
Hi Alexa! Am really enjoying all your vlogs.
Does an author have to do their own marketing of their book?
Is this just in La or New York? Like getting invited/or not getting invited to different local parties/dinners?
I'm currently reading mortal instruments (yeah, I know I'm late) and its it's soooooo bad I don't even know how Clare got so far.
She did it off the back of fandom - and there was a lot of controversy regarding her and plagiarism which ironically may have made her even more well known. (I only heard of her because of the plagarism stuff.) fanlore.org/wiki/Cassandra_Claire
I hate the books as well :D I don't get why the series is so hyped
Always good to stay prepared and keep writing!
I was wondering are there some things that you can do during your “year of debut” that would create excitement for future content? For example selling your next book to your readers or at least the idea of it to your audience while selling them the first book. Or is that a bad idea?
Honestly? The #1 best thing I did was start this channel. Vlogging my writing and editing experience for book 2 has generated a moderate amount of excitement. I also started pitching book 2 when I was on panels promoting book one, to stick the "earworm" with people so hopefully they'd remember/be excited.
Alexa Donne Thank you for replying , this is great advice. I plan to do more marketing like vlogs and Instagram latter this year.
I love watching your videos. I started writing back in 2015, and honestly, I've been terrified to publish. I think ready to, but it's the voice of doubt kicking my backside. 😔
My pen name is Dembie Rose, and I've written over 30+ books. My friends and readers say go for it, but how do I know when they're truly ready? I had recently sent my first creation to a publisher, but it got rejected. He said it's ”too English,” and it's entertaining and I definitely have something. But it wasn't for him. Needless to say, it's knocked me a little. 🙈 but still, I've not given up. ❤️
Honestly, as someone out of school and trying to decide between pursuing writing or science/medicine, I don't know if I could actually handle this.... At least not yet
I'm rather new to your videos. Thank you for your support! I have a two part question for you about Facebook. Do you feel it is a good platform for authors and could you please share the reasons for your answer? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I've been dealing with some of these as I've been querying (two separate novels) for the past 1.5 years with no success and feeling like a failure because nobody wants my books. May I ask how many agents you queried before getting your first request for a partial/full?
I had a very good request rate. I got requests from my test queries (which is how I knew my query was working). I recommend checking out my videos on queries, and also recommend checking out reddit.com/r/pubtips--they do query critiques. It's not unusual to wallow in the query trenches in terms of waiting to hear from people, rejections, etc. but if you're not getting any requests from your query, you need to workshop it.
Alexa? I have one curiosity. I have this one book that I purchased back around the late 1990s or early 2000s about getting published, and one of the things that it stressed was that publishing houses frowned on simultaneous submissions. Does that still hold true now in 2019?
One of the best quotes out there is "publishing is a marathon, not a sprint". Sure, some people make it big right out of the gate, but those are huge outliers. I don't know the statistics but I'd be willing to bet the vast majority of authors don't make enough to make a living solely out of their writing.
This was incredibly fascinating Alexa! So I do have a question... are there publishing houses that specialize in publishing massive output authors? I see some produce what seems like a book every five weeks and I just can't wrap my head around how an author could get a publishing house to publish that quickly...
You're videos are awesome and helpful!
Okay. Brutal, but clearly accurate. I'm on the indie side, since I'm terrified of dealing with an agent or trying to get an agent or maybe just the word "agent". I do appreciate your courage and that wee bit of pain that definitely shows through there. But yeah. We can't give up or the bastards win. So there it is.
I really appreciated this take on things. So many think if you work hard enough, believe enough and do what you need to, it will all be success. But sometimes the successful got lucky. There are a lot of not great books that got hyper famous, movie deals, and the author still gets fans to read when they write really crappy sequels. Sometimes, you work hard and the stars align. If life taught me anything so far, I need to lower my expectations, always, lol 😂. Thanks for the insight and grounded view.
Loved this video and would love to see a list of books you think deserve more love, if you could make one.
I do wonder if it's not that only the worst people succeed but that only successful terrible people keep getting opportunities (otherwise no way anyone would work with you). If course that doesn't make it sting any less
so this kind of helped me on picking out what story to debut with. I have a series and a stand-alone. I was going to go with my stand-a-lone contemporary novel as my debut, but after hearing the debut cycle. The Fantasy Quartet sounds better for me to debut with even though it's harder to sell a series. I am hoping that it's unique enough to actually get through the door.
You may not realize it, but this episode could be used as an argument for self-publishing. While I am technically a hybrid, my trade publishing involves eBooks-and those don’t have the same issues you discussed with trade. I’m glad I don’t have to spend any of my time pitching to or kissing up to anyone in the publishing industry. I just have to please my readers. That time spent pitching my next book can go toward writing and marketing. You mentioned indies need to be machines, but that is not necessarily so. I publish four books a year, and that is a very comfortable schedule for me.
Please don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I am not dishing trade publishing. I believe every author needs to decide which is best for him or her. I know you say you prefer trade publishing, yet by this episode, I have to wonder if that is really the case.
Best of luck for the New Year. Write on!
The first one I loved it.
And again, please answer your comments once and while! It would be great to read you on the comment section!
thank you.
I answer comments all the time. I've answered many on this video. I don't know what you are on about.
Thank you for sharing everything your such an inspiration I'm currently writing my first book and loving it
The humor of you, Alexa, wanting to marry rich. 😂 Thanks for the realism. I don't want to get depressed, but I do feel forewarned is forearmed.
Because of your channel I bought and read your book. Brightly Burning, while it didn't hit me in the gut like the book that is based on, I enjoyed the story and it is one of the funnest times I've had reading a book in recent years. I had a fun time trying to guess which ways you would twist the source material and how things would turn out. Don't you have a second book? If so I can't remember the name.
Thank you! That's great to hear. I definitely set out to write something fun :) My second book comes out in February 2020--The Stars We Steal, which is set in the same universe but earlier. It's Persuasion meets The Bachelor :)
I love these kinda videos. Super depressing but I love them!
Haha. I like making them! Helps me process my feelings :) And honestly: the more prepared you are, the better! If you go into publishing with more or less realistic expectations, you enjoy all the highs so much more, and the lows don't knock you as flat.
I wonder how much we can truly control our big dreams and what we hope for in publishing. We learn how to turn on the creativity when writing. We push ourselves. I wonder if dreaming big is part of the process. We just have to learn not to get lost in it.🧐
Also, as someone who's written both fulltime and part-time at different points in my life: fulltime authors don't necessarily produce more quality work. I know, that's a controversial statement. But for MANY people, it's true. Plus, writing fulltime is hard physically and I had to vary my input by using dictation now for dialogue. If you're looking for the most profitable genre (in my experience), it's romance. Many of us can write & sell multiple romances while working on harder novels. Even Hilary Mantel did that. I write adult historical/ military fiction and fantasy, and for every 250k words a reader sees, there may be 300k of research, worldbuilding, and cut scenes. Publishers understand so rates reflect that, for the most part, but profit margins are higher for author, publisher, etc in genre fiction like romance. It has a straightforward formula that pleases audiences who just want relaxation/ escape.
In case you didn't know, green is absolutely your colour!
Also, thanks for all the videos. They're sincerely so, so helpful. For people like me, people like YOU are gold.
19:55 heroes disappointing you: For the record, we can all sleep tonight because Judy Blume is a lovely human being in real life.