O - Options
Posted by Creepy Query Girl , Tuesday, April 17, 2012 5:29 AM
I went into a bookstore the other day for the first time in forever.
As you can imagine, the books sold were in French. It’s hard to find books in English around here besides a one-shelf section in most big stores. There’s no such thing as a Barnes & Noble in France. At least, none that I’ve seen.
But while perusing the cluttered independent bookstore, I did come across titles of books I recognized and had read in English. Authors that I’ve come to know through the blogosphere who were lucky enough to have the rights to their books bought up by French publishers.
But instead of feeling at home amongst one of my most favorite objects and pastimes I felt...defeated. It’s the kind of defeat that comes from battling for so long and hard entering a place where your dreams are there staring you in the face – unobtainable and out of reach. Will my book ever be sold in a store like this? Will I ever succeed?
I know I have options and I’m weighing them carefully. I watched a documentary last night with my husband and one of the catch phrases spoke to me. ‘There are those who know, and those who do.’
I know what I have to do.
But I’m not sure when I’ll have what it takes. Some make self-publishing look so easy. But it’s not. It’s not easy to pull yourself together and give everything you have. No excuses. No rejection letters. No agent or editor, publisher or marketing director to blame if you don’t claim success.
It’s just you – the work you put it into your book, your cover, and your promotion that determines whether you make it or not. Talk about pressure. But, at least today, we have options. Which is more than most aspiring authors could have said ten years ago.
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So true we all have options. And we all need to do what's right for us. There's a lot of resources out there for you if you do decide to self publish. Remember, there's no right or wrong. Just what's best for you. Try to use that knowledge to not get discourages.