How To Have Perfect Timing
By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin
Much of the publishing world is
outside of our control as writers. Publishers, editors, agents, retailers and
readers are just a few of the key decision makers in the publishing process. As
someone who writes for a variety of places and works in the community as an
acquisitions editor, occasionally I see internal dynamics which will make a
decision go against the author instead of in their favor to get
published.
Here's a recent example, an
author submitted an excellent book which was appropriate for our publishing
house. In addition this author was committed to spending a large and explicitly
stated amount of money on the promotion of this book. Yet when my colleagues
looked at the details, the manuscript was large and in fact when moved into
production was going to be over 400 pages. My colleagues asked me to return to
the author and see if he would be willing to reduce the book manuscript to
something with a higher likelihood greater book sales or possibly split it into
two books. When I spoke with the author, he was unwilling to reduce it or split
it. This stance became a red flag warning that he was not coachable and would
likely be a “difficult” author. Despite the large promotion money, my colleagues
decided to pass on publishing this book.
I'm telling you this story for
several reasons. Publishers are looking for authors but the right
authors and publishers also have experience about what sells and doesn't
sell in the marketplace. As a writer, you show them something through your
response. In this case the author revealed his lack of flexibility and
willingness to learn from the publisher. The publisher made their decision from
this interaction.
Because there are many details
that can be seen and unseen outside of your control as a writer, how can you
have perfect timing?
1. Be active pitching your
ideas and book
proposals. Whether it is a guest blog post or podcast or radio show
interview or speaking at an event or publishing a book, the author (or their
representative) has to be pitching them. You have to be actively pursuing these
opportunities because in general they will not come to you through passive
activity.
2. Be consistently meeting new
people. As writers we need to be constantly expanding our network and
connections. As I've often written in these entries, who you know is as
important as what you know. It's one of the reasons I continue to expand my
connections on LinkedIN. Last week I spoke with an experienced editor who called me and was referred from another friend. I spoke with this editor and also we
connected on LinkedIN. This editor was looking for either a full-time position
or freelance work. I noticed his small number of connections on LinkedIN and
encouraged him to expand them.
3. Seize and follow-up,
when an opportunity comes across your desk (for anything). You must actively do
something. Your activity and consistency is one of the critical elements for
finding and having opportunity.
4. Learn new aspects and
continue to experiment. You must apply what you are learning to your
writing life. There are many different paths to success. You can learn from many
different sources such as live events, reading books, reading online, taking
courses and much more. Be committed to continually learning.
You can't control anyone other
than yourself. Take your own responsibility and get out there. Like the author Paul Little said, “God can't steer a parked car.” The timing for many
parts of publishing is simply outside of our control. Your consistent action and
perserverance will be the difference maker. Many others will give up and yet you
continue. Then some day your timing will be perfect.
I'd like to have perfect timing
and the only way I've found achieve it is to take consistent action. What
insights have you found to have perfect timing? Let me know in the comments
below.
Labels: ;perserverance, activity, author, connections, consistency, How To Have Perfect Timing, learning, LinkedIn, pitching, publishing, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life
