Monday, October 14, 2013

Everyone Has One

Last week I raved about the getting back in the loop with my local chapter of RWA. A lot of things happened at the meeting and I came away energized. While there, I was fortunate to have some time to speak with a few members and share our publishing battle stories.

My writer friend had just had her one publisher close where she had a series of mystery books. The publisher was the first she'd worked with and she had a great relationship with the owners and editors. Though saddened and upset by the news, she immediately went to work and found a publisher, a bigger one, who wanted to take on her series. Out of the ashes rose a bigger, shinier opportunity.

We talked about working with our small presses, what we liked, what we didn't and where we hope our careers go. Both of us have similar plans and hopes though we're working with different publishers and don't write in the same genres. Both of us have a history that includes a publisher going out of business.

Another thing we shared was a story of an editor who was very difficult to work with. Though we both managed, having an unpleasant editor can really take the joy out of getting a book ready to be published. As we sat together and shared, I realized that despite the different types of writing we all do, most of us share the same experiences and the same goals. We all have stories of failure and stories of successes. Get a bunch of writers together and they have a story.

What story can you share of a success or failure? Bad publisher or editor? An agent who didn't do much for you? Do you work with more than one publisher? Are you friends with  other writers contracted by the same publisher as you?

Don't forget to stop by the IWSG blog and see what's happening there?

10 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I keep hearing of publishers going out of business, which is sad. But there are always other options if we look. Sometimes better ones!

Robin said...

Since I haven't published anything, I have no personal experience here. However, I also find it sad that the small presses are closing down:(

PK HREZO said...

Just like the old saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. I havent worked with any publishers yet. I chose not to go with a small press and self-pub, since I'd spent a long time educating myself on the process.
I can't imagine working with a bad editor. Ugh.

Maria Zannini said...

One of the editors I had wasn't very good at time management. She'd send me my edits way past HER deadline which then cut into my time.

I had to complain to the chief editor. I hated to do that but I didn't want the publisher to think I was the one holding up the works.

Christine Rains said...

I had a bad experience with a small publisher. The publisher took all the money and ran. Over 200 authors were affected by it. I'm much more cautious now. I haven't attempted to get another publisher since, but I will try querying next year with publishers I know are good from writer friends who are with them and my own research.

Unknown said...

Doesn't it feel good just to get together with other people who "get" your story? Ahhh-- it's good for the writer's heart.

Jemi Fraser said...

I haven't got to that stage yet - still on the learning curve - but I find it sad when publishers close!

Liz Blocker said...

Like most of the other commenters, I hate hearing about small publishers closing. But yes, one door closed always means another is opening, somewhere, somehow. I wish I had stories to share - some day I will!

LD Masterson said...

Well, I had one disappointing relationship with an agent. She professed her love for my sci-fi romance but I don't think she had the vaguest idea what to do with it. She kept sending me historical romances (good old fashioned bodice rippers) and telling me to write one of those. She never found a home for my book and we parted company when the original contract ran out.

Unknown said...

I hope I have the opportunity to swap stories like this one day. At this point, since I'm self published, all I can do is complain about myself...which doesn't sound good. Haha. It's great that your friend found a new publishing home. When one door closes, another typically opens.