I got a phonecall today from one of those self-publishing/vanity press companies today. i don't know why i answered the phone. i knew the number. but i sat in a parking lot for the better part of an hour talking about my book that is complete and the one that is almost finished. the phonecaller showed interest in my work. she asked the right questions to get me excited about getting my books into retailers. she said something like, "it's what makes writers into authors." and then she passed the phonecall to the registration department. (because one must be registered to watch webinars and gain access to communication from their publishing house.) I was asked for my credit card number immediately. i was puzzled. although there was an overview of the services provided by the company, there was no talk of a fee for this registration. marketing packages and print on demand services held a cost, but the 9.99 monthly fee was for what?
So, i explained I was driving and did not have my credit card with me. (i was in shock and thought maybe I would be missing out on an opportunity if I just said, "no thank you." ) i put gas in my car and drove to a coffee shop to work for a few hours, getting through another few chapters of my work.
And now, in this hour, I am questioning my choices. I'm questioning if I have it in me to hunker down and make a go of this new lifestyle. At one point in the phonecall, the salesperson asked, "what are you looking for with your writing in the next year?" I replied, "I would love if someone gave me some money so i could write the next one." And that's what i want. i want the stories i have to get out to support my bills so i can write the next one. not unlike living paycheck to paycheck.... wanting my salary from two weeks to support my bills so that i can continue going to work to get another paycheck. I want to connect with readers. I want to do small signings and hang out in indie shops, getting ten dollars a story from the folks who come out.
There are days that i can see it all happen. there are days when i can't imagine why anyone wants my words. I think today is the first day I really worked at writing and feel inadequate though.
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3 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.@Lillyfield41 -- The answer you should give to calls like that is simply, "No thank you." Immediately after saying that, you hang up. Here's the deal: You need to ask yourself exactly what you are willing to sacrifice for your goal. Write that down on a clean sheet of paper.
Stare at it. Think about it.
Don't stop working on the book. Keep thinking about it for a week or so, but continue writing.
After you've done that, either send inquiries to agents or submit to an actual publisher that still takes unsolicited submissions. There are some. It's more efficient to do both simultaneously.
You're work is most likely not going to be accepted.
While you wait for their 'We'll pass on this' note, keep writing.
Immediately upon receiving your rejection notice, repeat the process. Do this until you have collected between 15 and 20 rejections.
Retrieve the paper upon which you wrote your commitment to the process. Look at it.
Look at it hard.
Ponder it.
Before making a decision, take that paper with you and go to a socially neutral place.
A park or a hiking trail nearby.
Once you are comfortably alone, take out that paper and stare at it.
Take your time.
An hour perhaps.
Now, decide if you still agree with what you wrote. If you do, you have two choices available to you.
1 ) Go through the entire process again.
2 ) Seek professional level psychological help.
evidentialist
Level 8
Feb 13, 2019
1
Thank you for the advice as if I ever get to this point I will do this.
You can self-publish using Amazon & Kindle for free--or almost free. You may want to put out some money for a nice-looking cover. Then, use your website to drive readers to your book(s) on amazon. Even with a traditional publishing house, they expect you to take the lead in selling your book. And it takes about a year before a traditional house will actually get your book out. So start out as an independent self-pubbed author first. Learn the lay of the land, and go from there.
mischl
Level 8
Feb 13, 2019
0
that's encouraging. i have my covers done. like real deal books. 
i am working on a package to introduce myself to the indie bookstores in my area. i use a print on demand service that partners with amazon. i don't have a kindle formatted book yet. i suppose that's something i will have to look into.
thanks so much for your words!
where do i find your work?
TheDoubter
Level 9
Feb 13, 2019
0
www.writinginarowhouse.com is my website. there are two blog pages. one dealing with struggles of writing and one dealing with struggles of mental health. there are some fiction pages including short stories and then also some excerpts of work.
i have applied for inclusion in a book festival this year and am working to get my books into some independent bookstores this year. (i have guidelines for barnes and noble, but i am nowhere ready to get it together for something like that since i am doing things alone.)
@Lillyfield41 i'll look at the rowhouse
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