Publishing Dreams Misha Herwin

 

Once upon a time, in a century long gone, to send your book out into the world, there was only one path to follow. It was not the easiest one to negotiate, for there were a number of obstacles to be overcome; beginning with the quest for an agent.

The Writers and Artists year book, a might tome, was your bible. You scanned the details of each agency and marked the ones which looked promising. Then the precious manuscript was packed into a padded envelope and taken to the Post Office, making sure that you’d included return postage.

After this the wait. It could be days, which raised the suspicion that the sample chapters had not even been read. The classic was the time I bought the agent’s book on how to submit, followed her instructions to the letter, and in less than a week had the manuscript returned with the suggestion that I bought her book and followed the instructions on how to submit…

If after all the angst and frustration and agent expressed interest and took you on as a client, there was no magic wand, no instant acceptance by a publisher. However if luck was on your side, a contract meant an advance, which could be a more that useful amount of money and from then on your book was in the hands of others, as was the editing, publicity and marketing.

I know this is a somewhat simplistic account of how things used to be and that things have changed, but there is a part of me that yearns for those good old days, where it seemed that all you had to do was write the book, then sit back and let things happen.  Given present circumstances this would be my idea of bliss.

Or would it?

True, I wouldn’t have to worry about the technicalities of putting a book together. This being my first time attempting to go alone, I am somewhat terrified of the whole process of formatting ebooks and paperback. My choice of cover image wouldn’t keep me awake at night, nor would my marketing plan.

I would however lose the sense of challenge and never experience the satisfaction at having gained a new skill. Most important of all I would not have control.

Control is something that is very much lacking in my life. Living with someone with even mild dementia, let alone various other medical conditions, there is no predicting what each day will bring. Add to that dealing with Out Patients’ Appointments and the chaos that is the repeat prescription system then doing things for myself as and when I can gives me a confidence and sense of self that otherwise can so easily be eroded.

Above all is the knowledge that if it gets unmanageable, then I can delay bringing out the new book, or even take a break from writing if I need.

PS Potential cover for the latest book.