Thank you for this post. I must say, this really got me thinking and it's very helpful information. I'm a beginner with dreams of becoming a writer and author. I'm very happy and excited about my career goals. However, talk about a reality check! You mean, I actually have to learn my craft if I am to present it to the public? Also, I have to participate in all aspects and not just the writing? I can't just dream about it? I have to work at it? Haha I do look forward to every aspect (some more than others). It's great to have a community like this for support along the way.

Apt analogy! Thank you for your comment, Alexandra. There are lots of hats for a writer to wear. Thankfully, the writing community is so generous. I've learned so much from fellow authors. 

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.  I am still in the writing/planning phases, but I do see how writers have to wear many hats when they finally publish.  I guess it is like birth-- we give birth to our novels/books.  When we give them to the publishers, our job is to help  our work to grow or develop into what it is destined to become.  We have to promote our books like we talk about our children on the playground with other parents.  If we want our works to reach many readers, we can't kill our darlings; we have to help show them off. :)  Great post!

Thanks for your comment, Ann. I'm glad you mentioned a plan. I'd add that it should be scheduled and in writing. I haven't been doing that, and I know that I should. Then I'd be more consistent. Thank you for the reminder. Best of luck with The Recovery Room!

Reese - You are so right.  The writing is the fun part and the promotion is never-ending, time-consuming and expensive!  Now that my book, The Recovery Room, is available on Amazon and in local bookstores, I try to do one marketing thing each day.  Whether it's blogging, setting up a reading, reaching out to friends to write a review or posting on my book's facebook page, that keeps sales trickling in -- and I do mean trickling.  I've decided to give it 2 years and then I'll see where I am.

Part of me would rather just be writing but this is part of it.  My advice is make a plan and stick to it.

Ann

Thanks for your comment, Melissa. It's never too early to begin establishing your author platform and building those relationships. In fact, that's one of the things publishers and agents look at when considering a debut author. 

I'm still in the writing phase but thanks for the forewarning about the aftermath once publication happens. It's a real wake-up call.

Hi Susan! Good luck with your memoir. I love that you prepared to do the work needed to make it the best final product possible. One of the things I found most surprising about my publication journey is that I actually do enjoy working on revisions with my editor. I learn a lot and it feeels good seeing the story and characters being further developed in a way that truly enhances the story.

I am working on my first book, a memoir, and with a shitty first draft I am impressed by how much work it is just to get the thing written in the first place, how many revisions I know I'll need, and then all the work that comes after that. But I still love writing, and will keep at it. I'm fortunate in that I'm not looking to make money doing this; I want to tell my story(ies) in a way that moves others. 

So many great comments! Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences. 

Julie--You have a very strong author platform built out of your generosity of spirit and genuine interest in others. You're my role model when it comes to platform-building. :-)

Sophie--Knowing wouldn't have changed my determination to be a writer. However, as with any endeavor, the more prepared you are for what's ahead, the better equipped you are for the task. Understanding the realities of the business side of writing is empowering to writers. Many authors, especially indie authors, have thrived in this new environment. So the changes aren't necessarily a bad thing. Just one we need to be prepared to master. Love the pearl analogy, by the way.

Ann--I'm so glad this article was helpful to you. I highly recommend you begin building your platform today. What to Do Before Your Book Launch by M.J. Rose and Randy Susan Meyers is a great resource for giving you an idea of what is involved.

Jenny -- Thanks, Jenny. I have a gift for keeping my head in the sand. So I definitely understand. Fortunately, it's never quite as scary as I've made it out to be. ;-)

Carol -- Great points, especially about the saleability of an idea. At one point I thought I'd scream if I read that an agent was looking for "high-concept" one more time. Fortunately, my local RWA sponsored a workshop where author Katharine Ashe gave us some tips that made "high-concept" feel less intimidating. 

Alexia -- Thanks, Alexia! The business side of writing is important and many aspects of it require a very different skill set. One that many writers [raises hand] find challenging. Fortunately, it's also something we can learn or hire someone else to do.

Karoline -- Great advice, Karoline. It is critical to begin building that platform well in advance of launching the first book. I do enjoy connecting with other authors, sharing their book news and celebrating their successes. That is the aspect of social media that I love. The generosity of spirit in the writing community is what makes it so special. 

Juliana -- Great points, Juliana. There are so many books, movies, albums etc. that are truly phenomenal, yet a very limited audience has discovered them. Our motivation for pursuing our art has to be strong enough to weather the highs and the lows or it will be extremely hard to sustain a career as a writer.

As a woman who writes poetry, I have never suffered under the delusion that hoards of people will read what I write.  Some of the best books I have ever read never became best sellers.  In fact, the most illuminating literature rarely becomes best sellers. Karoline is right but all that takes a lot of time and determination.  People write for different reasons.  The reason you write affects how you market.  

My debut novel, THE ART OF BEING REBEKKAH, came out last December. I am lucky that my agent and publicist are all about promotion. I had a Twitter following, professional website, and a FB page all before my book came out. It's all about getting your name out there. Have a platform built before your book comes out; build up interest for it; and interact with other writers.

Amazing post Reese thank you for sharing, it is a valuable truth to know that the business of writing is just as important as the writing itself.

I think one of the most eye opening aspects for me, was that the writing itself plays a secondary role to the 'saleability' of your concept, niche, and catchy irresistible title!  Having something easy for others to pitch/sell and generate interest in, is an essential!  This along with the realization that there are no rules, and the ones in place are changing.  Also be aware that there are a lot of people out there representing themselves as resources and support for authors, when in reality they are just tapping into the large pool of money authors are willing to pay out to get published and hopefully recognized...

My newbie-ness is astounding.  I had no idea about building an author platform.  No website, no Facebook author page, nothing.  I think I assumed a publisher would do it all for you (insert laughter here).  But the good news is that you learn as you go.  I wish I'd started the marketing sooner (my book comes out in July), but now I know.  A balancing act is exactly what it feels like.  And yes, I was complacent.  Not any more.  Thanks for the great piece.

Reese, thanks for sharing your experience. It's daunting to think about. I know we need to start building that platform before the book is written. I hope to be picking your brain someday in anticipation. You've certainly worked hard and done the process well.