What I’ve Learned From Self-Published Authors

by Lynn Emery

Almost eleven years ago I sold my first novel to a traditional New York publisher. I was so green I hadn’t even thought of self-publishing, barely knew anything about it. I joined the local RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapter and started to learn about the publishing industry. I confess that I didn’t pay much attention to things like marketing, contracts, etc. I was just trying to get out of the “talking about being a writer” stage and across the “I’ve started my book” threshold. So most of my attention was on basic how-to information. I started writing my first book. Looking back I laugh at how blissfully ignorant I was then. I didn’t think about how few African-American fiction novels were in bookstores or that genre novels with black characters were practically non-existent. Nor did I know what Sandra Kitt, Donna Hill and other black romance writers had gone up against trying to get published. Good thing because I might have given up. I wouldn’t have given up writing, just trying to get published.

As it happened  (and of course unknown to me) Kensington had hired Monica Harris and given her the green light to create Arabesque. The stars aligned, Monica came to a small writers conference in Louisiana, we met, I pitched and she bought (that’s my long story made short). Thus began my publishing journey. I immediately plunged into the whirlwind of deadlines, editorial letters, agents, contracts, promotion, etc. I joined other traditionally published authors in commiserating about the trials and tribulations of the business. We complained a lot. Publishers didn’t spend money on promotion. Our royalty checks were reality checks that said, “You need that job you hate. So suck it up and be nice to those people at the office!” Which depressed us more and so we complained louder about our publishers.

Years passed and I began to meet self-published authors. Of course I had learned more about the publishing industry by then. Still I had lots more to learn. Here are the top 5 lessons those talented, hardworking visionary writers taught this traditionally published author:

1. Stop whining and do something about your dreams. Nobody is going to just hand you what you want on a silver platter. When these authors were rejected they decided live their dreams and got to work publishing their own books. Most writers have to hustle. I mean really hustle, traditional or self-published. I learned to stop waiting for someone else to make things happen, but to rely on what I could do. Taking action felt a lot better than bitching all the time.
2. Celebrate what you have. I met self-published authors bubbling with enthusiasm and excitement because they were doing what they loved. So many traditionally published authors I talked to became  jaded, even bitter about not having made the bestseller list, because they still had to work day jobs, etc. I decided to become a “the glass is half-full” woman.
3. Every book sold is a triumph. Okay, so selling one book or even thirty is a drop in the bucket, especially when you read Publishers Weekly and see how many books Nora Roberts has in print (Great Googly-Moogly!). But if you remember your love of writing then even one more person reading your story is a gift.
4. Handle your business, girl. Did I mention how little I knew about the publishing business even a year or so after I sold? Because my publisher bought the ISBN numbers, registered the copyright, etc. I knew nothing about this stuff. In fact, I figured I could put learning about these things on the back burner. After all I had deadlines, bookmarks to get printed, another RWA national conference to attend, blah, blah, blah. Listening to self-published authors made me realize how much I needed to know in order to understand the business from all angles. Self-published authors had to learn the business, while I was too complacent about these important details.
5. Accept reality. Many of my fellow traditionally published authors were chasing after the gold ring- making a major bestseller list, getting a huge advance, getting Oprah’s attention. See #2 about how we turned bitter when it became obvious this is all a pipe dream for 99% of us authors. On the other hand most self-published authors I met just took it one step at a time. They knew that selling books from the trunks of their cars wasn’t going to bring them quick riches. And the sad truth is most traditionally published authors will need to keep the day job, won’t become rich or famous and won’t hit a major bestseller list. Oprah will happily choose someone else’s book not even knowing of your campaign to get on her show. Which brings me back to loving the written word just because and being grateful for the gift of storytelling.

Being published by a major New York publisher doesn’t make me a writer. The words I put on paper do that and I don’t need NY to keep being a writer. If you’re thinking you do then you are in danger of checking into the Heartbreak Hotel. The hard truth is no author is guaranteed another contract. What I’ve learned from self-published authors is that I have alternatives. Not easy alternatives, but they exist. So I’m not stressed about whether or not NY says I’m worthy. They are not in control of my dream of continuing to be a writer. I have the control clutched in my hot little fist and I have no intention of letting go.

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