So you’ve finished your novel— the satisfaction is finally here, and you are wondering what’s next? What do I need to do to publish my book and get it on reader’s shelves? 

According to a recent survey by The Bookseller, it was reported that more than half of authors (54%) who have experienced the process of publishing their debut book, that the process negatively affected their mental health. Although opinions were mixed, only 22% of the 108 respondents to the survey described a positive experience overall in their first publication. 

If you’re wondering, “How do I avoid this? What can I do to prepare myself as an author?” It would be a good idea to introduce you to the publishing process with the support of Sara-Jade Virtue, Brand Development Director, Fiction at Simon & Schuster UK, in one of the Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival workshops.

Sara-Jade had the opportunity during the workshop to talk about the importance of authors being aware of all the responsibilities related to publishing their books from the publisher’s perspective. To improve communication, she pointed out that authors need to know the various steps that their manuscript will go through, including editing, marketing, publicity, and sales.

Photo by George Milton on Pexels.com

As Sara-Jade pointed out, “There are no borders when it comes to the literary world,”.

In this era, authors must be aware of how their works will be marketed locally or internationally. There will be readers everywhere, which should encourage you to choose your agent or publisher carefully since they will be the ones you communicate with frequently. You can also read Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2023 to delve further into the publishing industry and get some guidance on writing for publication! But remember, no one knows your story better than you!

Of course, even after you manage to publish your first debut book, the journey continues with the post-publication period. Although the marketing and publicity teams will work hard to create the best possible campaign, as an author, there are many things you can do to help the process! For example, contact your local independent bookshops! The best part is that they often have a “local authors” exhibit and would probably like to give a shoutout to books that are written by local authors.  

Additionally, using tools like social media or an Amazon author page will help you improve your online presence. Of course, in this case, your comfort as a writer should come first. As Sara-Jade noted in their introduction to the publishing process, readers and fans want to feel like they connect with you directly. However, you should only reveal as much or as little about yourself as you feel comfortable doing. 

All things considered, book publishing is a collaborative effort between the author and the publishing house, so it’s critical to be careful and clear about roles and communication at each stage to make the process go more smoothly. And just as importantly— good luck to all the author-hopefuls out there!

Bibliography:

Bloomsbury. (2023). Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2023. [online] Available at: <https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writers–artists-yearbook-2023-9781472991300/&gt; [Accessed at: 13 October 2023] 

Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival. (2023). Chair. [online] Available at: < https://www.edwomensficfest.co.uk/chairs&gt; [Accessed at: 13 October 2023] 

Fraser, K., Kemp-Habib, A. (2023). Bookseller survey finds debut authors struggle with lack of support. The Bookseller. [online] Available at: <https://www.thebookseller.com/news/bookseller-survey-finds-debut-authors-struggle-with-lack-of-support&gt; [Accessed at: 13 October 2023] 

Longo, L. (2020) Author–Publisher Relationships: What to Expect When You’re Publishing. The Editing Company. [blog] 16 January. Available at: <https://theeditingco.com/blog/author-publisher-relationships-what-to-expect-when-you-re-publishing&gt; [Accessed at: 13 October 2023] 

Virtue, S. (2023). Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival. An Introduction to the Publishing Process. [offline] 7 October 2023. Edinburgh. 

Writers & Artist. (2022). Look Inside Our 2023 Yearbooks [online] Available at: < https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/look-inside-our-2023-yearbooks&gt; [Accessed at: 13 October 2023]