So it's been years now, nine years of working on the three books and learning the process.
With the Ox and Scorpio, it was how to assemble, select a self-publisher, use some of the web tools and establish some social media foothold - beginnings of a nascent 'author platform'. I joined the local writers' guild, the Gettysburg Writers Brigade (ht Gunner).
Then Sigrunn's Saga was about refining a fiction narrative and working with a professional editor. It was my first fiction work. I waded a little further into the business end of being an Indie Author. I hosted a couple of special events, promotional events with giveaways, autograph sessions, and a little more social media and networking. I did more research and built on shelved collaborative efforts and projects.
Finally, Salem's Son is published. Now we've put a new emphasis on branding with increased social media presence (I'm on twitter now) and a humble advertising budget. I've stepped up in the Brigade, even leading sessions now. What have I learned?
I just don't have a passion for marketing, selling, numbers, rights management, or most of the rest of the business part of this...business. That business is writing, writing is art, not accounting. Sure there is a creative element to crafting a platform/brand and all of that but learning it and trying to master it is eating all of my time! When am I supposed to work on my WIPs?
Instead, I decided that I've refined enough. Twenty years of writing incisive military intelligence analysis and award-winning pieces for the government, and with what I believe is a craftsman fiction voice in bloom, I've decided I can't and don't want to, do this alone. I've crafted my first query letter and submission package today.
Not going to lie, I was excited, even thrilled to find an agent looking for submissions with a specific desire for 'marginalized own voice' works, 'dark fantasies', and anything with 'ghosts' or 'witches'. The agent described Salem's Son and its offspring as what she was looking for. What else could I do? I thought for a moment, 'am I going to have to sell out, compromise my craft and vision?' I doubt it. I just need to find an agent who will work with it.
I've got no delusions about my first letter is the one, Agatha Christie with billions in sales, spent 5 years hunting for an agent. I'm as skilled in my own genre - I easily must expect to spend as much time and effort in this. Art takes time. I can't force it. I learned that with Ox and Scorpio, I had to delay it for three months. Salem's Son is honestly my first project, started in 2004 before being shelved to ferment and be rewritten in its entirety. Sigrunn's Saga was the third idea, hatched in 2012 though it's roots go back as far as 2002, yet it launched in 2018, 2 years before Salem. All of this takes time, so a thousand-mile journey beginning with the first step - I'm taking the first step.
If you're thinking about trying this or where to start, start with where you want to be and start building your identity/brand/platform towards that. Refine and improve as you go but get started on a presence before you've got that book ready to go. Don't rush your art, and keep your eyes open for opportunities. I probably waited too long and well, there is a short story contest I want to get in so I need to get back to writing, oh, you can find me on twitter as @WartoothWriter.
UPDATE: just as I wrapped this up I spotted a review on Goodreads, it's a three-star, hey fine I'll take that I'm honestly thrilled! But, then outta curiosity, I click over to Amazon to check sales reports/ad spending and low and behold:
With the Ox and Scorpio, it was how to assemble, select a self-publisher, use some of the web tools and establish some social media foothold - beginnings of a nascent 'author platform'. I joined the local writers' guild, the Gettysburg Writers Brigade (ht Gunner).
Then Sigrunn's Saga was about refining a fiction narrative and working with a professional editor. It was my first fiction work. I waded a little further into the business end of being an Indie Author. I hosted a couple of special events, promotional events with giveaways, autograph sessions, and a little more social media and networking. I did more research and built on shelved collaborative efforts and projects.
Finally, Salem's Son is published. Now we've put a new emphasis on branding with increased social media presence (I'm on twitter now) and a humble advertising budget. I've stepped up in the Brigade, even leading sessions now. What have I learned?
I just don't have a passion for marketing, selling, numbers, rights management, or most of the rest of the business part of this...business. That business is writing, writing is art, not accounting. Sure there is a creative element to crafting a platform/brand and all of that but learning it and trying to master it is eating all of my time! When am I supposed to work on my WIPs?
Instead, I decided that I've refined enough. Twenty years of writing incisive military intelligence analysis and award-winning pieces for the government, and with what I believe is a craftsman fiction voice in bloom, I've decided I can't and don't want to, do this alone. I've crafted my first query letter and submission package today.
Not going to lie, I was excited, even thrilled to find an agent looking for submissions with a specific desire for 'marginalized own voice' works, 'dark fantasies', and anything with 'ghosts' or 'witches'. The agent described Salem's Son and its offspring as what she was looking for. What else could I do? I thought for a moment, 'am I going to have to sell out, compromise my craft and vision?' I doubt it. I just need to find an agent who will work with it.
I've got no delusions about my first letter is the one, Agatha Christie with billions in sales, spent 5 years hunting for an agent. I'm as skilled in my own genre - I easily must expect to spend as much time and effort in this. Art takes time. I can't force it. I learned that with Ox and Scorpio, I had to delay it for three months. Salem's Son is honestly my first project, started in 2004 before being shelved to ferment and be rewritten in its entirety. Sigrunn's Saga was the third idea, hatched in 2012 though it's roots go back as far as 2002, yet it launched in 2018, 2 years before Salem. All of this takes time, so a thousand-mile journey beginning with the first step - I'm taking the first step.
If you're thinking about trying this or where to start, start with where you want to be and start building your identity/brand/platform towards that. Refine and improve as you go but get started on a presence before you've got that book ready to go. Don't rush your art, and keep your eyes open for opportunities. I probably waited too long and well, there is a short story contest I want to get in so I need to get back to writing, oh, you can find me on twitter as @WartoothWriter.
UPDATE: just as I wrapped this up I spotted a review on Goodreads, it's a three-star, hey fine I'll take that I'm honestly thrilled! But, then outta curiosity, I click over to Amazon to check sales reports/ad spending and low and behold:
My first review on the Amazon page is a 5 star!! Kinda the lift I needed today.
The next two are also 5 star wow!
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