Do You Have the Stamina for Traditional Publishing?

I’ve heard it said that “traditional publishing is not for the weak of heart.” That sounded absurd to me when I was unpublished with stars in my eyes, hoping to be noticed. Twenty-five years later, I know that the statement I once scoffed at, is true—perhaps more now than ever.

I have a friend who is currently writing a book that she plans to self-publish through Amazon. Her experience is sheer delight because she is taking her time with it.  A better offer for the day?  That’s ok, she’s free to go with it because she is on her own timeline. She’s her own boss from title, to cover, to the date the work is released. I might add she’s been working on the very same book for over four years.

Traditional Publishing has Guidelines and Timelines

Writing a traditionally published book is very different. There are guidelines, timelines and editors who accept or reject your precious words. There are design teams and marketing teams who come up with your cover, a title and a plan once your book is released. And a publisher will expect you to meet the deadlines agreed to and trust their expertise when advising you.

Traditional publishing is not a vanity endeavor. It is partnering with a publisher who is investing a lot of time and money into you, your writing and your message. Your name on a book cover comes with hard work but it will not change your life, make you more popular or ease any secret insecurities. And your name on a book will not be the gateway to quitting your day job. But having your name on a book will represent months of hard work and a committed partnership with a publishing house.

Let’s face it, we live in a culture that celebrates celebrity, and this can mess with our minds and motives without us knowing it. The culture shapes us but God’s word says, we are not to be shaped by the pattern of this culture (Romans 12:1). The goal of writing is not to be noticed but to serve the reader—either through entertaining and thought-provoking fiction, or life changing non-fiction.

 It’s not about us, as much as it’s about them. Writing a book is hard work, and though some days are exciting, others are a blur of slugging through the word count and sifting your soul for ideas. Either way—whether self-publishing or traditional publishing—writing a book is hard. But traditionally publishing is a steeper climb because you will be working with publishers who are investing in you. It’s serious work. It’s time-honored commitment. It requires staying humble enough to be teachable, workable and pliable with a publisher’s ideas and plans for your book—from title to cover.

Questions to Ask Yourself

For those who want to be traditionally published, here are ten questions to honestly ask yourself:

1. Do you like people enough to spend your time building a platform?
2. Are you comfortable building a brand? Namely promoting yourself and your work.
3. Are you willing to change your schedule, plans and time, to build your every chance you get?
4. Do you want to build a career as a writer or just interested in writing one solo book?
5. Are you disciplined enough to build “self-care” into the crazy life of writing, speaking and promoting your brand?
6. Are you open to title changes; full chapter edits and a publisher that wants to change your dream of a book?
7. Are you comfortable taking criticism and using it for growth?
8. Are you willing to learn the craft, not just dream of becoming a Christian household name?
9. Are you ok with never getting a royalty check if your book doesn’t sell out the advance?
10. Are you ok with still needing a day job?

 

What about traditional publishing do you find the most challenging?