There are very few writers in the world who don't think about publication, specifically publishing their work(s). Children, for example. Or maybe the odd diary-writer. But most other writers, poets, playwrights, journalists, or novelists, they all dream (and have the occasional nightmare) of publishing and getting their words out there.
I am no different.
Exposition time! I was in the fifth grade when I started writing my novel (and I'm pretty glad it's taken ten years to write, since I've improved and no longer start my writing with lines like "It was dark. Except for the street lights and the moon.") and back then, I didn't worry about getting it out to other people. I wrote for me. I wrote that story before I wanted to read it, because I wanted to live it. Then as I entered middle school, I started showing it off to friends. And it wasn't until I was about twelve (so, seventh grade) did I seriously want to start showing it to more and more people, so I started to strive for publication. That's when I realized I wanted to show people the stories I had, because I wanted to entertain them, to make them feel things, to escape any awful situation they may be in.
I had high hopes for myself and I thought I would become the next J.K. Rowling. And as I read more and more into how publication works, how to submit manuscripts and all that, I began to realize how naive and optimistic I was. As Lori May says in her article Bypass Obstacles to Traditional Publication "It's increasingly difficult to get your work into readers' hands. ... Writers are expected to come to deadline with a near-perfect manuscript, and even then there's no guarantee of publication ...". Which, in her article, is a perfect segue to talking about self-publishing.
I'm over my stage of "self-publishing is the lowest level of publishing and doesn't match up to traditional publishing" and I've moved onto to accepting the fact that because of the way the world's technology is expanding and e-readers are exploding, that self-publication and ebook publication are great opportunities - if you have help or are as equally talented as an artist, a PR specialist and editor as you are a writer. In the world of art and talent, my only saving grace (not a big one, but it's something I like to pride myself on) is my writing skill. My art skills make my four year old cousin look like Van Gogh.
I rely (and often crave) on the help and constructive critiques from others, especially those whose opinion I can trust and whom I respect as professionals. I would much rather go the direction of traditional publishing first, trying my hardest to get an agent, an editor and eventually a publishing house that will accept me and want to help me get my story out. In the future, maybe as a last resort or as a way to get other things out in the world of print, I may try my hand at self-publishing, so long as I can afford a professional editor or an artist to help design the book cover.
But who knows where the publishing industry will be in five years.
I am no different.
Exposition time! I was in the fifth grade when I started writing my novel (and I'm pretty glad it's taken ten years to write, since I've improved and no longer start my writing with lines like "It was dark. Except for the street lights and the moon.") and back then, I didn't worry about getting it out to other people. I wrote for me. I wrote that story before I wanted to read it, because I wanted to live it. Then as I entered middle school, I started showing it off to friends. And it wasn't until I was about twelve (so, seventh grade) did I seriously want to start showing it to more and more people, so I started to strive for publication. That's when I realized I wanted to show people the stories I had, because I wanted to entertain them, to make them feel things, to escape any awful situation they may be in.
I had high hopes for myself and I thought I would become the next J.K. Rowling. And as I read more and more into how publication works, how to submit manuscripts and all that, I began to realize how naive and optimistic I was. As Lori May says in her article Bypass Obstacles to Traditional Publication "It's increasingly difficult to get your work into readers' hands. ... Writers are expected to come to deadline with a near-perfect manuscript, and even then there's no guarantee of publication ...". Which, in her article, is a perfect segue to talking about self-publishing.
I'm over my stage of "self-publishing is the lowest level of publishing and doesn't match up to traditional publishing" and I've moved onto to accepting the fact that because of the way the world's technology is expanding and e-readers are exploding, that self-publication and ebook publication are great opportunities - if you have help or are as equally talented as an artist, a PR specialist and editor as you are a writer. In the world of art and talent, my only saving grace (not a big one, but it's something I like to pride myself on) is my writing skill. My art skills make my four year old cousin look like Van Gogh.
I rely (and often crave) on the help and constructive critiques from others, especially those whose opinion I can trust and whom I respect as professionals. I would much rather go the direction of traditional publishing first, trying my hardest to get an agent, an editor and eventually a publishing house that will accept me and want to help me get my story out. In the future, maybe as a last resort or as a way to get other things out in the world of print, I may try my hand at self-publishing, so long as I can afford a professional editor or an artist to help design the book cover.
But who knows where the publishing industry will be in five years.