Surprises in my first year as a published novelist
Launch Day: 1st June 2022
A year ago my first novel launched into the world. Well, into Australia, at least. It was a bloody freezing night in Melbourne and yet all these fabulous people made the trek to cheer me on. It was wonderful and overwhelming.
That wonder and overwhelm has continued and I think it’s fair to say this past year has been quite the rollercoaster. Thrills and spills all over the place. There’s absolutely no doubt that seeing something you worked on for so many years finally materialise in a physical form, that sits on shelves in real-life bookshops (and in airports!), is a buzz that will never get old. Navigating my way through the publishing industry has had some challenges, so here are some of the surprising truths I’ve learned over the past year.
1. Publishing is a Collaboration
Images of crusty writers bent over their keyboards in little writing caves never seeing daylight or sighting another human are not too far from the truth when you are in full writing or editing mode. Although, I have five other humans in my house who constantly interrupt me and no curtains on my office window, so I guess there’s not a whole lot of accuracy in that image.
You’ve written a whole story from start to end. Yay! But a manuscript is not a book. From the moment I signed my book deal, I realised that writing the story is just the beginning. Once it hits the publishing house, the beautiful dance of collaboration begins and it takes a team of talented individuals to bring that story to life. Editors, designers, page setters, marketers, salespeople and so many others work tirelessly behind the scenes to polish the manuscript, create captivating cover art, and spread the word. Anyone who self publishes has my utter admiration, for they are the ones responsible for every cog in the wheel of publication (unless they pay to outsource, of course).
Once you and your team cast that book into the world, you go back to your little writing cave and start banging out words again. This solo venture is made easier by being part of a writing group and having keen early readers sample your work and offer feedback. Writing alone is only one small part of the experience and the collaboration is where the magic happens.
2. Naming Books is Hard (or I’m Just Rubbish at it)
Ah, the eternal struggle of naming a book! Who knew that condensing an entire story into a few impactful words could be so challenging? Believe me, I've spent countless hours agonising over the perfect title. It needs to capture the essence of the story, intrigue potential readers, and stand out among a sea of other titles.
Me trying to come up with a winning title (Photo: Oscar Keys)
Someone Else’s Child was originally called The Fundraiser. Given the story centres around a fundraising effort for a child with cancer led by a strong woman who’d do anything to get that money, it felt completely apt. The fundraiser was both an event and a character. The problem was, that title didn’t necessarily hook the reader. It didn’t make you stop at the shelf and say “ooh, I wonder what that’s about”.
Some of the other suggested titles:
A Perfect Friend (too generic)
The Final Fundraiser (yeah, I was still trying to get the word ‘fundraise’ in there somehow)
The Patient Mother (sounds a little more like a self-help book?)
I believe we landed on the right one in the end. Someone Else’s Child does make you stop and wonder whose child it is and what the book may be about. Coupled with that stunning cover, it hooked enough readers into picking it up and reading the blurb. Job done!
And now my publishing team and I are starting this process all over again for my second book due out in May 2024. I’m driving my friends, family and publisher ABSOLUTELY NUTS! Thanks to everyone who replied to my facebook post asking for votes. I think we’re closing in on the right one and hopefully I’ll announce that in an upcoming newsletter.
3. You Can’t Rush the Process
My friends, we must embrace the virtue of patience, for it holds the key to the publishing realm. Actually this is something I had to mutter to myself A LOT. Both through the editing process, waiting for the book to finally go out almost 18 months after I’d signed the deal, and then the aftermath of the release.
The path to success in this industry is not a fleeting sprint, rather a steady marathon of dedication and resilience. It's natural to be swept away by the exhilaration of seeing your book proudly displayed on shelves, yearning for immediate triumph and acclaim.
However, I had to listen to the wisdom of others saying true success is a gradual unfolding. Editing makes the book the best it can be, and then once it’s in the world, nurturing a loyal readership, leaving a lasting imprint, and evolving as an author with each subsequent creation are the keys to longterm success. And there’s not really any way to speed that up.
4. Reviews are for Readers, Not Writers
As a writer, it's natural to crave feedback and validation for our work. However, I've come to realise that reviews are ultimately for readers. This was a VERY hard lesson for me to learn. When my book was brand new in the world, it received lots of really encouraging reviews. Then, the dreaded 1-star landed. All authors have at least one. Even Shakespeare. Some say it’s what makes you a real author!
Sadly, I let myself be crushed by the review. It was mean-spirited and seemed highly unnecessary. Perhaps reviewers forget that authors are people too and upon release everything feels so raw and pivotal, as though every word uttered about your book could make or break it. Surely, I thought, reviewers could just say “not for me” and jog on? Particularly for a debut author.
A publicist’s warning!
When that review came in I was strongly advised by everyone in my publishing team to STOP READING REVIEWS! My husband ended up blocking goodreads.com on our server because he knew my willpower was non-existent.
Of course we cannot all love the same books, so naturally there will be readers who expected something and got something else. It’s a little weird when I read book reviews (not my own necessarily) and the reviewer was disappointed with some element of the book that is actually a core feature of the genre (for example, one reviewer gave a memoir 1-star because the story was too sad!). I’m not sure I quite agree with publicly slamming the author (play the ball, not the player and all that), but ultimately what I think is irrelevant.
Reviews, whether glowing or critical, help fellow book lovers decide if my story is their cup of tea. So, as much as I appreciate every review I receive, I’m reminded that art is subjective. What matters most is creating an experience that resonates with readers who connect with my stories.
5. You'll Never Escape Imposter Syndrome, Even When You're Published
Let’s talk about the persistent, pesky companion known as imposter syndrome. You might think that with a published book under my belt, it would vanish into thin air. Alas, imposter syndrome lingers, reminding us that self-doubt is a universal experience. No matter the achievements, accolades, or positive feedback received, that nagging voice can still creep in, whispering that we're not good enough.
It takes energy and conscious thought to celebrate our accomplishments, and even the most accomplished authors have faced that sneaky imposter syndrome. We just have to keep telling ourselves we belong here, and our stories deserve to be read.
6. People are Lovely
I had expected there to be competitiveness and protectiveness, people who were unwilling to share their insights, or authors who closely guarded their patch of success. For the most part, I have found this community to be a soft place to fall, a meeting of like-minds, a compassionate ear when things aren’t going to plan. And if this year has taught me anything, it is that not much goes to plan.
What has buoyed my spirit has been the incredibly supportive book community. Not just other published writers, but aspiring writers and keen readers. People who have gone out of their way to congratulate and support me.
Booksellers and librarians are also enthusiastic champions of local authors and try to help promote where they can. I have found each and every book-lover (and even some non book-lovers!) I’ve met to be kind, receptive, optimistic, and well-wishing. I count myself very lucky.
So, happy first birthday little pink book!
Heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who bought the book, recommended it, reviewed it, shirt-fronted your best friend until they read it, borrowed it, shared posts, turned up to events, sent me excited photos when you spotted it in the wild, or requested bookshops or libraries stock it. To all the librarians and booksellers who pressed it into the hands of readers, I am forever indebted.
All you lovely people will never know how much your support has meant to me. Shall we go and have a celebratory biscuit and/or piece of cake?
KOx
Gorgeous biscuits by my dear friend Tanja at Choice Cakes.
Fabulous cake by my talented friend Trudi who does this as a hobby. I know, RIGHT?!
