Glad you’re back. If you read last weeks blog, My First Online Submission, you know that I submitted three of my poems to The American Journal of Poetry for inclusion in their bi-annual online poetry journal. Shortly after that submission, I submitted two of the poems to Writers Digest’s 90th Annual Writers Competition.
Yes! I have finally reached the point on my journey were its time to start submitting my work to publishers and editors. Not that I’ve learned everything I need to know mind you. There comes a time when I should embrace the next level of learning. That is, learning by experience and implementing what I have been taught.
So what have I been taught about selecting publishers, and submitting work for publication you ask? Excellent question! First, experience and followers are important to publishers, especially large publishers. Experience is an important issue to address in my query, and cover letters. Put in words that were spoken to me, I have to address the question, why should I be the one to have my name on this work? Outside of the obvious copy right ownership, what the publisher is really looking for is whether or not I’m going to be able to sell myself and this book. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs it’s the authors responsibility to sell the book, not the publisher. Since I’ve not published before I mention in the cover letter that I have a degree and that it’s business related. I mention my previous studies in early childhood education, theatre and film acting. My previous experience in radio commercial voice over work and how it could aid in the production of author narrated audio books. Then I mention my other writing projects and completed poetry, even though they are not published. There are times the publisher wants to know if you have other projects they can consider. The fact that I’ve written before, and I am writing now, shows an ongoing commitment to writing. Of course no cover letter is complete without letting the reader know that they can check out my weekly follow the journey blog at rvicway.com.
What about the followers you ask? Another excellent question? Well, if I can show enough followers, 100,000 + on Twitter for a large publisher, previous writing experience is suddenly not so important as long as the publisher likes my manuscript. Just in case you’re wondering I do not currently have that kind of following. So if you are reading this blog and like my journey, go to Facebook and Twitter and follow my R. Vic Way page.
All this is important because big publishers have big budgets for marketing and advertising to create a bestselling book. A bestselling book is a book that sales between 5,000 and 10,000 copies per week.
Next is the midsize publisher. Midsize publishers produce between 20 and 30 books per year. They offer first time authors, like myself, a path towards publication. This avenue can be effective for me to attract a larger audience. If my book sales enough copies it can attract the attention of large publishers. The publisher does not charge for producing the book.
Small publishers produce between zero and twenty books per year with some publishers producing as few as 3-5 per year. There is still no charge for submitting my work since they are submitted electronically. The publisher doesn’t charge for producing the book here either. I will spend between 0 and 3,000 dollars to market the book. The more money I spend marketing the larger the book sales. While smaller publishers do not offer a book advance, I should receive more of a percentage of book sales typically 40% .
Should I choose to self publish, I will bear the complete cost of publishing the book and reap all the proceeds of the book sales. To self-publish a quality book in 2021 I can expect to pay 6,000. Once again the less money I spend the fewer books I can expect to sell.
Hybrid publishing is the model I am most likely to use. Hybrid publishers assist the author in self publishing by providing services including editing, book design, marketing, illustration, and cover design for a fee. Since I am inexperienced at publishing, hybrid publishing with a company that allows my involvement in the book development process will help me gain valuable knowledge for self publishing should I choose that route in the future.
No matter which option I choose there are upsides and downsides. With traditional publishing there is the necessity of submitting queries, cover letters, and manuscripts to multiple publishers in an attempt to have them accept your work for publication. Most authors receive several rejection letters before, if ever, finding a publisher to accept their work. Since each publisher has different requirements, this can be quite time consuming for the author. Developing a following publishers would want the author to have in order to leverage immediate sales can be costly on its own. In self publishing and hybrid publishing, the authors cost are mostly born up front, except for sales efforts after the book is published. The author, however retains full rights to their work and keeps all the proceeds from the book sales.
So which option did I choose for my first children’s picture book submission? Hybrid Publishing. As part of my Las Vegas Conference learning experience I was informed of the Independent Book Publishers Association. The IBPA is a group of publishers and authors who support independent publishing. After joining the IPBA I began to look through and make connections with proud IBPA members. The IBPA offers a variety of benefits including discounts from members who provide publishing services, conferences, workshops, forums, and the ability to connect and interact with industry professionals.
Don’t get me wrong. I would love to have a large publishing company believe in my work enough to fork out the initial investment of publishing, and utilize their large marketing presence. If the right opportunity presents itself I will seriously consider the offer.
For now, as I continue to seek and submit my work to publishers. Time to dig my heels in, put on my big boy pants and await the multitude of rejection letters I’ve heard most first time authors receive prior to landing the right publisher. As always, I will be sure to keep you informed of those failures, lessons learned, as well as the successes that come my way.
Now it’s time to write.