Author, Books, Let your editor go

Is it okay to fire your publisher?

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anger_pain_terror_scream_58439Is it okay to fire your editor, illustrator or even your publisher? Let me break it down.

When it comes to your editor, absolutely. This one is a no brainer as far as I am concern. Editors are expensive. I have seen authors let this part of their book slide. After all a writing group or beta readers can do the trick, right? We know this is wrong. You can’t get away without an editor to help you get your book in the best shape it can be in. But you can fire your editor if they don’t do your book justice. There are so many editors out there, good quality ones, so don’t feel bad in giving your editor the shaft.

Illustrators fall into the same category for the same reason. There are many illustrators who, like editors, rang in price and also range in talent. If you feel your book cover is not properly representing the words behind it, why stay with this person? Granted, it is tough coming up with a cover that you are happy with but sticking to what they give you shouldn’t be an option.

Lastly, can you and should you fire your publisher? I can’t say yes any more clearly then yes. Writers get so giddy when a publisher wants one of their works. Something I truly get. It is exciting, amazing, wonderful and oh my gosh A PUBLISHER WANTS ONE OF MY WORKS! But it doesn’t mean you have to take their offer or stick with them to the very end. It is not a marriage that can or will live happily ever after. Yes there will be pitfalls, what relationship doesn’t? But also like a marriage when it is not good for you it is not good for you and a parting might be what you need.

Bottom line, this is your book You are the one who wrote it and spend gosh awful amount of time and effort creating it. Doesn’t it deserve the very best you can give it?

Jasper Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure, Sharon C. Williams, Tagline

Your book in ten words

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Elevator pitch, do you have one for your book? Something that states your project to the best of its ability in two sentences or less to the point you can say it in 20 seconds. You know, how long it takes for someone to get to their floor if they use an elevator. This is something we hear all the time how we need to have one. For the chance to toss it out at a conference, to an agent, to a publisher anyone who is in the position to listen and decide if they want to hear more.

Yet I read an article the other day that stated you should explain your  book in ten words. That’s it, no more or less. Hmm, really? I did cheat and went to my book that is online and read what the publisher wrote for first  book, “Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforeset Adventure.”

Jasper learns the importance of family and friendship through a rainforest adventure.

Okay this is 12 words but I still think doable.  Would these words inspire someone to want to learn more?  Maybe. I am fortunate that this book is not a long in depth novel which could make it easier to come up with the wording. Onward to my other books as I try to come up with their tagline, their pitch, the words describing them in a way that will astound you. 🙂

 

Author, Deductions and miles, Writing is a business

Your business:Writing

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Tax time. As authors do you run your writing as a business? Do you deduct things pertinent to it? For example: mileage, fees to conferences, ink cartridges and in some case office space?

2014 was the year I noted down as much as I could. I logged everything that I could think of that pertained to my craft. Can all of it be used, I’m not sure. That is what I need to find out. It could be a bit depressing to see how much one might have kicked out versus how much came in. But it can also get you focus on what you need to do in making your career, if you so chose to do so, a business.

At the moment I am typing up my mileage. This is not a fun task. I did manage to download a travel log from online so this year will be not as bad.

I have set aside a calendar and notebook to make it easier to keep a record of what may come my way. I did the same in 2014 but will try to improve on it this year. This may be tedious in the long run, it may make no difference at all when it comes to filing but I won’t know that until we do file and see if my efforts were for naught.

Sometimes it takes the fun out of writing but if nothing else it gives me an indication on where I stand.

The Musings of A New Englander