Robert Young

Okay, write first or sell first? It’s a huge question, and one that needs to be addressed. How you answer could make a difference in months or years in your life. In honor of full disclosure, I have tried both ways. Additionally, the only things I have sold that were not already written were books that were part of a series.

Write the entire book first if it’s something you HAVE to write and, either it never has to be read by others, or you will take personal responsibility for seeing that the work gets published (= self-publishing; more on that later). If your life can go on without writing the book, you’re not willing to put the resources into self-publishing, or you don’t really want to spend the next six months to ten years working on something that most likely (yes, the odds are against you) will not see the light of day, try selling the book first. Or, at least try to get some interest from agents or publishers abut your project that will inspire you to write on.

If you’re going to write first, get going. What are you waiting for? Remember, checking out the marketplace first for your book can be helpful, so that you don’t replicate something already done and so you can see what publishers might be on your target list when it comes time to send out a query. Some good resources, in addition to similar books in libraries and bookstores, are The Writer’s Market, which list hundreds of publishers and is updated every year, and periodicals like “Writer’s Digest” and “The Writer Magazine.” If you’re writing for kids, check out The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Childrens Writer.com.

Next time, self-publishing. Bring your unbridled energy, and don’t forget your checkbook!

I’ve recently received questions about publishing, so I thought I’d address the topic here in a series of posts. While I have been having my books published (24) during the past 20 years, I DO NOT consider myself an expert on publishing by any means. Just when I think I have it figured out, something changes and I’m back at square one. And changes are happening now more than ever. As a result, I am a continuous student.

The fact of the matter is, anyone can publish a book. That’s pretty much a good thing since it means big publishing houses have less than total control of the market, but it can make it challenging for consumers to sort through an increased number of books of varied quality (which we have always had to do, so no big deal!).

Here’s my thinking process when approaching a publishing project: First, I start with, What am I interested and curious enough about to want to spend a good deal of time with and write about it? When I have something in mind, I think about the market. Will other people be interested in the topic and want to read what I write? If the answer is “yes” I’ll write with a particular audience in mind. If “no” I’ll write it for myself and not bother to market it for publication.

Checking the market is a very important step. Are there similar book on the market? Who is the publisher? Knowing this is especially important if you have a specific genre (e.g. biography) or topic (e.g. teaching autistic children) in mind. Knowing what’s currently available and who publishes what can save you a lot of time and effort later on when it comes to marketing your work. It can also help you decide whether it’s worth it to pursue a project.

The first manuscript I completed was called Positively Peppermint and was a nonfiction book for children all about…yes, peppermint, it’s history, how it’s grown, what it’s used for, etc. I was so excited when I discovered there were not kids’ books on the topic. None! However, as my rejection notices from publishers piled up -25…30…50…75 – I realized that maybe there was not much interest (read market) for this topic. What I did, though, was take a slice of that manuscript (peppermint oil is used to flavor chewing gum) and use it as a spark for another project, which became my first published book, The Chewing Gum Book.

Next post will be cover “Do you write it first or do you sell it first?”

Stay tuned.

The news became official this week – Borders book stores are closing for good. While this announcement does not come as a complete surprise (Borders has been “on the ropes” for quite some time), it does bring sadness. I have enjoyed shopping at my local Borders since it came to town. I know, my preference for Borders helped bring about the demise of small, local bookstores, and I’m truly sorry for that. But dang it, driving downtown to the small, indie bookstore, trying to find a parking spot, feeding a meter, and forever watching the clock to make sure you weren’t ticketed took something away from the experience. And the selection? No contest.

Sure, Borders wasn’t my ideal bookstore – that be Powell’s in Portland – given that its kids’ section, especially the nonfiction area, has dried up over the years, the cashier lines could be ridiculous at times, and their book buying became directed by headquarters, eliminating local decision-making and thereby drying up the a good market for local authors, but the store was convenient and comfortable to hang out. And the words, surrounded by millions of words and, with them, endless possibilities. I’ll miss the place.

Book signings are those curious events that can buoy your spirits, drop you to the depths of despair, or just leave you wondering. Last weekend I did an event at the Gilbert House in Salem. What an appropriate place to sign books about A.C. Gilbert, who spent his early years there. There were a sprinkling of kids (mainly preschoolers) and parents that came around, and I had many interactions during my two hours there, but one stands out.

A middle-aged woman, wearing graying hair and a jeans jacket, sidled up to the table where I sat. I told her a little about the book, what it’s about and how I came to write it. The woman picked up the book, examined the cover, then opened it up and began reading it to herself. No skimming it, or paging through and scanning. She read it, every page of it.

As she read, I sat there uncomfortably, much like at a garage sale where someone is examining one of my prized (although I’m willing to sell it) possessions. But a book – my book – is harder. It is not merely a possession; it’s a creation. My creation, from start to finish.

After what seemed like a month, the woman finished reading, closed the book, and set it back on the table. What was she thinking:

“Gawd, what a boring book!”

“I could have written this myself.”

“I already read it, so why buy it now?”

Patiently, I waited for a critique, a comment, a question. But, I got none. The woman just turned and walked away. What did she think of the book? I’ll never know.

So it goes at book signings.