Many, many people write for personal reasons without ever intending to see their thoughts or stories published. Whether it be a daily journal, a notebook full of random thoughts, letters to loved ones, or even a public blog, these are the people who write mainly for enjoyment, to find clarity, or perhaps to leave a legacy for their future grandchildren.
Some of these writers inevitably come to a time when they think, “Ya know, my stories are interesting and entertaining and insightful, and I think other people would want to read them. My writing might just be good enough to get published.” They begin to dream about seeing their name on book covers, writing a bestseller, and quitting their day job.
So for those of you who are, or might be someday be, in this place, what’s your next step? Do you self-publish? Hire a freelancer book publisher? Invest the time trying to get an agent?
Getting your writing published is an ambitious, albeit worthy, goal. The problem is, writers who want to transform their personal journal entries or essays into a published collection often don’t have the foundation necessary to achieve their goals. I’m not talking about the writing skills, necessarily (though that’s a crucial factor). If you are passionate about writing, have a story to tell, and have a unique way to tell it, you may indeed have what it takes to publish a book.
But you can’t get there, at least not to any significant level, without building your credibility and being a good student of the book publishing industry. A collection of journal entries hastily thrown together in an ebook will rarely get the attention or respect authors yearn for, which can be discouraging. If you’re willing to invest the time and money to publish your very best work in the best way possible, you’ll boost your chance of success and might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
In this short series, we’ll explore some things you must consider if you want to take your personal writing to the next level and pursue book publication, whether with an agent/publisher or through the independent route.
Next time: Part 1: What the Heck is a Platform and How Do I Build One?
Part 2: Did I Mention I’m On A Budget?
Part 3: How Do I Know My Writing’s Good Enough?
Image credit: millermountainman / 123RF Stock Photo
Founder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.
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