Self-Publishing For Life
I Don’t Write To Get Lucky
So, this blog post is going to be a little venty. Not venti like the stupid Starbucks coffee size, venty like I’m going to gripe a little. If you can’t handle that right now (totally understand), feel free to read another time or just scroll to the next heading where I talk about what else I’m doing.
I recently saw a thing from publishing agents in which they disclosed (arguably an arrogant move) that they only read sample pages of the work authors submit with their query letters 5% of the time.
Let me break that down for you. Publishing agents, as in people who have chosen to join an industry to discover new and exciting stories written with an engaging voice and bring recognition to deserving talent, almost never read the work that they ask you to send them. To further break that down, that means they are basing their “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” on your submission based solely on a single paragraph that can be written by anyone.
Now granted, that paragraph probably includes the synopsis of your novel. I could see knowing the market well enough to be able to read the synopsis of a book and know immediately that you won’t get the ROI you need to make a profit on it and passing based on that. But to not even read the work you require people to send you? 90% of all queries I ever sent required sample pages. Either start reading them or stop requiring them. Because here is what a querent, who is likely working very hard to carefully articulate themselves, believes: “If they are asking for sample work, that’s good. Because that means if my query letter doesn’t grip them right away, then at least my work will speak for itself.”
Yes. A query paragraph that carries absolutely 0% of what your writing is like. And because of that fact, you can literally pay anyone to write it for you. I get so upset when I see query letter workshops. Not the kinds that are reasonable like, “make sure it’s free of errors, a good length, has an enthusiastic but not-conceited voice.” I’m talking the ones that tell you what words to use because those specific words are hot-buttons to agents, etcetera.
I’m not here for that. My goal is not to play a game so well that I impress someone enough to get a full manuscript request and MAYBE I’ll get representation. I am not your circus animal to be trained to jump through fiery hoops and maybe I’ll get to sleep in the big barn. I’m here to be judged on my story, its characters, and how it’s told.
“Do you know how many queries we get in a day? Like we would possibly have enough time to read all of them!”
Oh, boo-hoo. Then staff appropriately. And if you can’t do that, then at least stop requiring sample pages in your submission guidelines. Be real. If you don’t have time to read them, then don’t allude to querents that you will. OR, maybe just for a moment, acknowledge the magic of the industry you chose to be a part of. It’s your job to read stories! Maybe try doing that more than 5% of the time.
That said!
All the above pretty much decided for me that I will continue to self-publish all my work. Because I would rather spend time and money doing it myself than to be a part of a system that does not care anymore. I’m also probably in a very small minority of authors who is in a great position to do so. I am a web designer, I am an illustrator, and I have marketing and advertising experience. Let’s go.
So, now I have a revived spirit to finish Book 2 of my Deviants series. It is half finished and will require some heavy editing, but knowing that after I finish editing I don’t have to spend hours of my day playing mind games with agents and getting rejection after rejection, I suddenly feel I have the energy for this endeavor. Because the writing part is fun. And I have missed those characters dearly. And letting people know about those characters is fun, because even though I only get a handful, those interested parties are fans for life. No person who has read Ignite is fine with not reading the sequel. I have PROOF.
Be on the look-out for some excerpts in the near future! Because I’m not going to stop writing just because I’m not making money. I need these characters more than I need the breath in my lungs. And I’ll share them with whoever is willing to stick around.
As for some Abaddon news, I now have a Discord server! For anyone who is interested in chatting with me personally or chatting with other folks who enjoy the same genre, you are welcome to join! There’s even a roleplaying section set up!
Thanks for still being here! See you next time!