Please, Don't Judge...This week was bitter sweet. I know that there is some strong bias out there about non-traditional route to publishing, but in the end, I did what I thought was best for me. I am being vulnerable and putting myself out there in a way that I've never done before. Please bear with me...and be kind. Whichever route you choose, I hope you have a ton of supporters.
This is my story. I hope it is helpful to someone out there. Maybe this will give you the push you need in either direction, to move forward. I hope you will follow me through my process and my thoughts.
After querying, many times, I made the decision to go non-traditional.
Not to insult any readers, but traditional route is query to an agent. Sending
full and partial manuscripts to those who like your work. Then if they have
room on their list for you, you sign with and agent. The agent works for you
with publishers to get your work out into the world. That would have been my
first choice.
Then, you have self-publish. You publish, market, and edit for
yourself. No one will love your work more, you are your own advocate. You get
the word out there and you do the work. For me, with a full time job and
family, this wasn't an option.
So, I pushed forward and queried. I sent in sample of my work. And
queried. And sent in full manuscripts. It was exciting and scary wrapped up
together. I loved the process, but I didn't get chosen to be on anyone's list.
I waited. I researched. I sent out my work.
Then, I get a call. I look them up. I see the good and the bad. In
the end, I had to choose for myself what was best for me.
Last week, I called, texted, and emailed. I thought. I thought
some more.
Friday, I spoke on the phone with Ian. He was pleasant and kind,
but not pushy. He just gave me the information. I know the risks. I know I will
be judged for my route and my work. (Believe me, that isn't easy for me. I am
sort of a people pleaser and putting myself out there is so scary for me. I
internalize each and every negative and barely notice the positive. I’m going
to have to work myself up into a good space…I know how had it’s going to be for
me.) I told him I needed to talk to my husband. My husband is my rock and my
sounding board. We talked. He researched. He read. He looked over the website.
I asked, “What do you think?” He said he agreed with something written on
the website about just letting the work sit on the shelf. His thought was for
me to move forward.
Saturday, we went to visit my son in Houston. Well, Brenham. He
had a birthday, and we went to visit him. We took him to shop for a couple of
things he needed for school. We got separated in the store and I accidentally
texted Ian. With that little accident, I texted a promise to text him more
soon.
Saturday evening, I texted and we planned for a call on Sunday.
Sunday, I called and said I was ready to move forward with the
process. We talked. Sketched out a little plan and the contract for publishing
came in my inbox.
Monday, I spoke with Josh and electronically signed my publishing
agreement. I walked into my boss’s office and smiled. She knew something was up
and asked, “what?” since she is like one of a hand full of people who even know
I write, I told her about my decision. (She had asked me once before why I didn’t
self-publish. I told her I wanted to give this a try. She understood.) She
congratulated me and at that moment it felt real. I am really going to do this
thing. I am working with Calumet Editions and I am excited to see where this
process takes me.
Thank you to all my supporters. I couldn’t do it without you.
