Have you been published?

[Ann Doupont]

I see that several of you wrote about receiving rejections. If you publish through a print-on-demand (POD) publisher, you won't have rejections. You do, however, have to pay for the publishing. It cost me $1299 plus $87 (for corrections to the galleys) to get it done.

I still have not received back all that I paid out, but I am published.

Ann

 

[The Bad Templar]

I had four poems published in a compilation years ago.

 

[kleptobismol]

i once had my poem published in a real book but um other than that i like to keep my writing to myself

 

[Illuminatus]

I've had some articles published by major technology news sites.

 

[God.is.my.force]

Not yet, but I'm hoping to have my first book outin stores by the end of the summer. Its called the Frayed so y' all look for it in about 7 months.

 

[Arikereba]

I see that several of you wrote about receiving rejections. If you publish through a print-on-demand (POD) publisher, you won't have rejections. You do, however, have to pay for the publishing. It cost me $1299 plus $87 (for corrections to the galleys) to get it done.

I still have not received back all that I paid out, but I am published.

Ann

For me, and for many of us, 'published' means more than a book to hold in our hands. It means that an editor, who's paid to represent the tastes of the book-buying public or the magazine readership, has thought enough of the piece of writing to pay money for it, or tell her bosses to pay money for it. It means that the writing will get out to an audience and be read.

While I really don't mean to deny your perspective, most of the professional writers I 'know' from the internet try to discourage people from self-publishing and vanity publishing of that nature. Writers generally don't get back the money they put into it, and what's more, they don't get back the costs of their emotional investment. They realize that they can't stock their books in stores, that no one wants to read their unedited books... it's heartbreaking.

So I value my rejections. They mean I won't get published till I'm danged good, and until then... it's a learning experience. I can bind a copy for myself if I want to hold one in my hands.

 

[Ann Doupont]

For me, and for many of us, 'published' means more than a book to hold in our hands. It means that an editor, who's paid to represent the tastes of the book-buying public or the magazine readership, has thought enough of the piece of writing to pay money for it, or tell her bosses to pay money for it. It means that the writing will get out to an audience and be read.

While I really don't mean to deny your perspective, most of the professional writers I 'know' from the internet try to discourage people from self-publishing and vanity publishing of that nature. Writers generally don't get back the money they put into it, and what's more, they don't get back the costs of their emotional investment. They realize that they can't stock their books in stores, that no one wants to read their unedited books... it's heartbreaking.

So I value my rejections. They mean I won't get published till I'm danged good, and until then... it's a learning experience. I can bind a copy for myself if I want to hold one in my hands.

Not all POD publishers are considered "vanity publishers." In my understanding, "vanity publishing" is when a person buys a lot of their books to begin with. I didn't do that. I just got my book published, and got 15 books to start with.

For a first-time author to go through a traditional publisher might take a very, very long time. From what I have seen through studying, is that most traditional publishers only publish 1% of their annual publishing for 1st time authors. And, it takes anywhere from 18-24 for them to even look at your manuscript, if then.

I got mine done in about 3 months. I edited it and proofread it myself, many times. Also, had a school teacher friend of mine proof it for me once. It turned out pretty good. So far, I think I've sold about 70 or so copies. And, I have two more book signings scheduled -- one this month, and one next month.

Several stores locally have my books on consignment. I followed the leading of the Lord in doing it this way. It's all His money. People are being blessed by the message in the book. I've already gotten back the "emotional involvement" I put into it, as I did it for the Lord and not for myself.

God bless you and all.

Ann

 

[artybloke]

With regard to print-on-demand, I think it depends on what you're trying to do. For me, as a poet, I don't just want to sell books (though that's good) or have my poems published; I want a reputation as a poet in the poetic community, that is, among my peers.

If what you're doing is writing for, say, a local audience rather than a national one, or if you're just using your writing to promote your "message" and are not seeking some wider artistic acceptance, then POD may be fine.

But if you're looking to get reviewed in the New York Times Book Review, or its equivalent here in England, or if you want to gain wider acceptance for your work, there's no substitute for doing it the hard way.

I just got a rejection this morning: from the Poetry Review here in England. I'm not too disappointed, though, as I got a nice letter back from Robert Potts (one of the editors) saying he enjoyed my poems, but couldn't except them because the last issue that he and his fellow editor was editing was already full. Which is kind of what happens sometimes.

 

[Ann Doupont]

Thanks, Bro. Artybloke, for your words. You're right. It depends on what you're trying to do. What I was trying to do is to please the Lord, who wanted the message He gave me published, and instructed me to do it this way.

Ann

 

[FireKame]

poetry.com ; I remember submitting there like three years ago. Ammusing, it was. I'm submitting something to a school newspaper deal that feature writers in our school, but that's all small stuff. I'd really like to finish a novel and have it published. Finished, keyword there.

In the meantime, I update my site (elsewhere) as soon as a get a chapter done.

 

[Jonteel]

You do your own promotion and all. How does that work? Do you think self publishing would be better?

 

[artybloke]

Thanks, Bro. Artybloke, for your words. You're right. It depends on what you're trying to do. What I was trying to do is to please the Lord, who wanted the message He gave me published, and instructed me to do it this way.

Ann

Then that's fine. I've always had an equally strong conviction that God wanted me to be the best poet I could be, and the best way (or so it seems to me) is to do it how I am doing it.

I did once get offered by a vicar an opportunity to publish a book of my poems. But he wanted to plaster it with Bible verses and use it as an evangelical vehicle. I felt then - and still feel - that would be wrong for me, because even then I had the feeling that God wanted me to be a poet not a preacher. But it might be perfectly fine for someone else.

Anyway, I don't think I was good enough then.

 

[Lycana]

I got mine done in about 3 months. I edited it and proofread it myself, many times. Also, had a school teacher friend of mine proof it for me once. It turned out pretty good. So far, I think I've sold about 70 or so copies. And, I have two more book signings scheduled -- one this month, and one next month.

Several stores locally have my books on consignment. I followed the leading of the Lord in doing it this way. It's all His money. People are being blessed by the message in the book. I've already gotten back the "emotional involvement" I put into it, as I did it for the Lord and not for myself.


Thanks Ann for your inspiring words!

 

[goober3]

I have a whole portfolio of children's books that I am too afraid to send out. I sent one out to one publisher once and instead of a rejection I got a form letter which said send it to these subsidiaries of our company. That was enough to spook me. Still I am thinking about getting serious about it again.

I have had articles published in newsletters, and had three essays published in the school literary journal. Once I wrote a play that was performed at the school I worked at, but it was very small scale.

My dream is to get a book published and not tell my family but give everyone a signed book for Christmas. Then once my mother is revived we would all praise the Lord and go look for it at Barnes and Nobel....

Send them. The fear of sending them in is worse than the rejection letters. Believe me. Once you conquer your fear of being rejected, it doen't matter so much that you are. Then you only have the desire to succeed. I lived your dream. I did not tell anyone until I received my contract in the mail. Medium sized publishing company, only cost the price of a stamp. You would not believe the shock of friends and family.

 

[InspiredHome]

I've heard of someone before who wallpapered their walls with rejection letters.

 

[artybloke]

I've heard of someone before who wallpapered their walls with rejection letters.

One thing that will help reduce rejection letters is to research publishers. Get hold of their catalogues. Read some of their books (anyone who writes who isn't first of all a reader should probably take up another career), and make sure the publisher you send to is likely to publish the kinds of book you write.

Many publishers only publish a few types of books. Some produce how-to books, some produce fiction, some historical etc...

 

[FieryKnight]

Interesting Posts.