Who Will Buy Your Book Thoughts, and Skagit Poetry Festival Report

Panoramic View of La Conner

Skagit Poetry Festival

Skagit Poetry Festival was so fun – anyplace you can talk to local publishers, catch up with local poets from all over, see Robert Pinsky, Ellen Bass, and Ada Limon all read in an hour, and check out sunsets on the water, herons and tulips all at the same time is a winner for me. I was pretty wiped out when I got home (in fact, I’m still recovering today – stupid MS symptoms) but I’m glad I went! I came home inspired. Here are some pics so you can pretend like you were there too!

Thoughts on “Who Will Buy My Book” and Book Contract Expectations (and Why I Wrote PR for Poets in the First Place)

So, two articles came out today that people were talking about. The first was “Who Will Buy My Book” on the Millions, and the second was all about expectations with book contracts on Books By Women: “If You Give a Writer a Book Contract She’s Going to Want Everything” http://booksbywomen.org/if-you-give-a-writer-a-book-contr…/…

Both these posts will ring true to writers, especially writers who are embarking on their adventure with their first book. Their expectations are either way too high, or their jealousy at other people’s success will make them feel angry or they don’t understand what to expect from contracts or confusion about what publishers are going to do or not do for them…I wanted to empower writers. I wanted to give them tools and help them navigate the crazy world of publishing a book. This is really one of the reasons I wrote PR for Poets in the first place. I felt frustrated that no one in my MA or MFA program talked about what to expect when they signed a book contract, talked to publishers, or published their books. I mean, you’re just setting people up for disappointment and discouragement. People want people to buy their books, review their books, come to their readings…but really, I wish that everyone had an older more experienced mentor sit down with them and talk about what’s realistic, especially for poets.

The one thing I don’t want people to think after reading articles like this is “Oh, I’m a helpless victim of a terribly unfair machine” or something like that. We are not victims – we are artists who choose to do what we do. For God’s sake, don’t attack another friend you think might be slightly more successful than you – celebrate their success because really, that’s the only way to be a friend. There are things we can do to protect ourselves from disappointment, there are things we can and can’t control (we can’t -and shouldn’t want to – control whether our friends buy our books or how well our books are reviewed or which bookstores our books will be on the shelves at.) However, we can be pro-active – that’s what I wanted people to know. There are conversations we should have about expectations of marketing and distribution with publishers who are interested in publishing our books. How many ARCs are they sending out? Will they help with blurbs? Etc. Then there are ways to get the word out about our books. Whether or not we throw a book party for the release. There are ways to build community in your city, online, and everything in between, and being a dynamic part of your writing community is a good way to ensure people will be more enthusiastic about your book – especially if you attended their readings, offered to review their books, or bought your darn friends books! (Yes, you should do those things, but do not expect anything in return – it’s just part of being a good community member.) If you have fun doing readings, do a bunch of readings – but if you don’t, don’t! If you are great at social media, that may help you sell books – if you buy an ad somewhere, your publisher will probably appreciate it (and might even split the cost with you.)

The point is, if you feel disappointed, try to do something about it and not let it crush your dreams. And keep writing! If you encounter the heartbreak of an empty reading audience room (it happens, even when we do our best to promote a reading,) laugh it off, get a drink or browse the bookstore, and chalk it up to experience. If your book doesn’t change the world when it comes out, don’t worry – most books do not change the world. Maybe your next one will be a hit. When we compare ourselves to other people and get jealous of their success, that doesn’t really set us up for success – unless it gives you motivation to aim higher with your goals. The art of practicing graciousness – with other writers, with publishers, with reviewers, with our communities – and being grateful for the good things that come our way are key to remaining a happy and not bitter writer. And believe me, I understand where both these writers are coming from…Every time I start to feel that bitter feeling of “I should have gotten that award/grant or I can’t believe so and so rejected me” I try to think of the lucky opportunities I’ve had and the unexpected gifts I’ve been given. The kindnesses I’ve received. And I just feel that the best way to deal with those feelings is to reach out to those around us and help them. Say something nice to a friend. Buy their book, or review it or order it from your local library. A lot of times that will make us feel better, and them feel better, and maybe create a more beautiful writing community. If you add grace to the world, it will probably come back around – but even if it doesn’t, you’ve accomplished something great. Anyway, I’d love to hear from you about these articles – do they ring true for you? Was there advice you needed when you started out but didn’t get? What’s the most useful advice a mentor gave you about publishing? Leave comments! If you think I’m being too Pollyanaish, tell me that too!