In the comments field of my article, In Defense of George R. R. Martin, I received a question from a Suvudu member named Mega Man:
“Even if I do get published, which is highly unlikely, you won’t have to ever wait. I write self-contained books.” — Shawn
Why the sudden lack of confidence over getting The Dark Thorn actually published, Shawn?
I thought you had the first book (almost) complete. Any reason why you think it’s going to be unpublished?I was looking forward to seeing the rest of it, having read the prologue.
When Random House hired me almost two years ago, my boss really wanted me to not only talk about what was going on in the science fiction realm, but to also write about what it takes to create a book and take it through the various steps of trying to get it published. I thought that would be fun. Since then I’ve been quite candid about my accomplishments and failures. I have nothing to hide. I find all of this fascinating, and hearing from other writers trying to break in helps drive me on—as I hope my own efforts do for them.
I think Mega Man asked a good question. It deserves a good answer.
Not wanting to derail that GRRM discussion, I decided to post my answer here:
I am a realistic dreamer, Mega. I know the odds are stacked against me. So many people are assuming that since I work for Random House and have access to all of these wonderful agents and editors that it should be a breeze for me to get through the door and have The Dark Thorn published.
I learned very quickly with my first book that just because a door is opened doesn’t mean you are invited in. I still have to write a quality book, a book that really grabs someone who is willing to champion it. That’s not easy. It’s no more automatic for me getting a book published than anyone else.
The only thing that’s easier for me is getting my book to editors and agents. That speeds up the process a little bit, by months only. But the actual giving of a contract is just as hard.
I’ve already had people say to me, “The only reason you will be published is because of who you know.” Sadly, that just isn’t the case. Otherwise my first book would have been published. Agents and editors are still looking for that great book — especially in this economy — and if I haven’t written it I will be turned away, no matter what marketing platform I already bring to the table or friendships I’ve made over the last thirteen years.
The Dark Thorn is a vastly superior book to Song of the Fell Hammer, my first effort. The new novel is completed, its revision finished. Two weeks ago today I queried one of the best agents in the business. The turn around time to hear back from her is within a month. Like everyone else, I’m having to wait. That’s how all of this works. The odds are still quite small though that 1) I’ve written a great book, no matter what I think personally, and 2) Even if I have, that The Dark Thorn will find its champion.
A writer must dare to dream to write the book and put it out there, but a writer must also be prepared for the harsh reality that is the publishing industry.
I think The Dark Thorn has a good shot. I am also ready for the reality of reality, as they say. If the agent asks for more pages, I’ll be sure to share that here. If she rejects the query, five pages, and synopsis I sent her, I’ll share that too and move on to the next agent.
Time will tell. All I can do is put myself out there.
And wait like everyone else.
Once again Shawn I have to disagree with you.
Really, I’m not a disagreeable person, it just only seems to be disagreement which inspires me to write.
I think that to make it as a writer you need to be completely and utterly delusional. I think people who are soundly grounded in reality (something I often blame, as well as the damn gnomes, for my own lack of success) do the smart thing and become accountants. Sane people just cannot bring themselves to stick with writing long enough to develop the skills needed to actually succeed against the amazing odds. Case in point – Harlan Ellison – need I say more?
So far as “who you know” and it’s link to getting published. It helps. It definitely helps, but if you know somebody in publishing then you know that they only get to remain in publishing if they continue to find the books that sell and sell well.
Instead I think publishing is all about “who knows you,” specifically outside the publisher’s office building. You Shawn Speakman, if you could pull a Freaky Friday and switch bodies with Lindsay Lohan (or Jodie Foster) then your books would sell like thin mints.
Now if you’ll excuse me, to better my writing career I must go climb inside a padded cell and work at convincing myself that I am Napoleon Bonaparte.
JD: I did not explain myself well:
If a person isn’t a realist at that moment, they get unbelievably angry at rejection, to the point they might even quit writing. I’ve seen it happen.
“A writer must dare to dream to write the book and put it out there, but a writer must also be prepared for the harsh reality that is the publishing industry.”
I’m saying you have to be delusional to write the book and give it away to an agent or editor or publisher or whatever.
The realist part must come after that juncture.
Being grounded in reality helps one overcome that and continue on with the delusion.
I wasn’t clear. My apologies.
Oh yeah, forgot one thing. The “who knows you.” Lohan might be an extreme element but I understand what you are meaning.
I do have thousands and thousands of Terry Brooks fans who know my name, who would buy my book. That is part of my extensive marketing platform, one that most writers don’t bring to the table when they are trying to break in.
I’m not sure that matters though. I’m sure it will intrigue an agent or editor to read The Dark Thorn, but it won’t get me a contract. A solid book will do that.
The question is: Do I have that?
We’ll see.
Shawn, I meant to comment on this when you first published it, but I got caught up in heavy revisions on my book.
You’re absolutely right. It’s all about the book, and the only thing “knowing” someone will get you is an expedited answer, and possibly a notes. If you are friends with an agent or editor, they may be willing to explain why they’re passing, but they’ll pass nonetheless. There are too many other people in the process that have to be convinced when you make the sale.
And isn’t that how it should be? Would you or I or any writer want our work to go out into the world because a good buddy is doing us a solid? Hell no. I wanted my book to go out because complete strangers loved it and thought it would sell like burgers at a BBQ.
As it turns out, that’s not so hard to do, once you have the right book. It’s just like you say above: Writing the book is the difficult and important part.
As for the “The only reason you will be published is because of who you know.”-people, fuck ‘em. People like that violate “rule” four (http://www.harryjconnolly.com/blog/?p=2169) and piss away their own power.
As for what JD says, sure. It helps to be well-known (I wish *I* had thousands of Terry Brooks fans ready to give my novel a read). But you know what? A good book will do that for you, too. Betsy passed my manuscript to Jim Butcher for a blurb, and he liked it enough to tell his fans. That was worth quite a few sales. John Rogers, the writer/producer of LEVERAGE, praised my book in a tweet, and sales jumped (at least, judging by what I could see they did). He also gave me his email address and I hope he’ll be willing to announce book two on the blog.
Jeez, this is a long post that pretty much says nothing other than: “You’re right.” But you are. Keep your chin down and keep swinging. If you keep improving with each book, you’ll get yourself published.
Good luck.
I wouldn’t stand on it as a major selling point. But when it comes to getting the book deal, I would bring everything to the table, including your work with Terry Brooks and now Suvudu (excepting of course, my dice and miniatures collection, maybe….)
I’ve always sensed that there is a general disconnect between the way we would like the publishing world to work and the way it actually does work, and that people are constantly embroiled in a tug-o-war to pull it in either direction – one that will probably never end. So, like everyone else, I’m just going to keep trying to write the best book possible and hope for the best. To me that’s realism