There’s another author that lives in my same city. We’ve both been on the same noontime talk shows: we’ve both been featured in articles in the newspaper. At the bookstore both of our hardcover novels are displayed together at same local-author table. Most people assume we are colleagues, but there are some very important differences between us.
My novel was published by a large New York City publisher; his novel was published by a vanity press masquerading as a legitimate publishing house. As a result his novel is rife with errors, lacks a plot and is clearly the efforts of a novice. I doubt it would have been accepted by a traditional house.
I spent fifteen years learning to write until I felt ready to submit my work to an agent. I went to writers conferences, read tons of craft books and joined a novel critique group. He’d never written anything before his first novel and pounded out it out over a period of six months.
So why does this bother me? His novel will probably go nowhere beyond the small city where we live, and he won’t make a dime off of it. But still the situation grates my nerves. When I was recently introduced to him at a party, the host said to me, “Bill is an author, just like you!”
“No, he isn’t!” I wanted to retort.
Writing a book doesn’t make someone an author anymore than applying a Band-Aid to a skinned knee makes someone a doctor. Reviewers of large newspapers, publishing people and most media outlets can spot these so-called “authors” fairly readily, but how can the average Joe tell the difference between a real writer and a dilettante?
I know I sound petty, but as a writer who went through a great deal of trouble to learn my craft, I’m annoyed that my efforts and other authors’ efforts are diluted by not-ready-for-publication authors.
After all, the public is deluged with plenty of traditionally published books; it shouldn’t have to sort through the efforts of amateurs as well.
I’m not saying there is no room for self-published and subsidiary presses. Some self-pubbed novels are well written but not particularly commercial. Other self-pubbed writers are only interested in an audience of friends and family.
Authors like Bill might get a little bit of local press and notoriety by leap-frogging over the steps to become a “real” author, but they are bound to be disappointed in the end. Nobody wins in these situations.
If I sound like a gatekeeper to an exclusive country club, I apologize. In fact, I’m glad to help aspiring writers and always take the time to answer their questions and give advice. I’m also thrilled when authors I’ve counseled finally see success in the publishing world.
But to those people who want to take shortcuts to publication, I say, why not take some time to perfect your craft? Why not wait until you’re ready for “real” publication. It’s a slower process but I promise the rewards are much greater.
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“Rife” is the correct usage in that sentence.
The error to which I was referring is the question mark inside the quotation marks. It belongs outside because there was no question mark in the original text.
I guess we all make mistakes.
In answer to your previous post, Karin, I was not referring to your usage of “rife” in the original article. FWIW.
I wonder if JK Rowling knows she is not in this authors class!
Not having spent years perfecting her writing skills.
OH well she does have her millions to console her
Hmm, I looked at several biographies of J. K Rowlings and I don’t see any evidence of her having self-published. I’d also like to emphasize that I have nothing against self-published books. The Celestine Prophecy was self-published and a great success!
Self-publishing and vanity presses are savvy moves for many authors who can’t interest traditonal publishers. But to write a error-riddled, incoherent book and expect to get media attention and bookstore placement is a bit much. That was my entire point but obviously I didn’t do a good job of communicating it. Mea culpa.
I spent fifteen years learning to write until I felt ready to submit my work to an agent. I went to writers conferences, read tons of craft books and joined a novel critique group. He’d never written anything before his first novel and pounded out it out over a period of six months.
This comment you made does sound egotistical
I don’t see why. Don’t all kinds of people train for long years in their respective professions? Is it a mark of an egomaniac to learn a craft. Would you think this comment was arrogant if it came from a plumber or an electrician?
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