With fewer traditional publishers willing to publish new
authors and the overall publishing industry getting harder books published,
today's writers must wear many hats by necessity.
Today’s writer has two options, DIY or outsource.
Outsourcing can become expensive and some writers may not be able to afford
outsourcing, so that leaves DIY.
The hats of DIY that writers must wear.
- Writer
- Editor
- Proofreader
- Publisher
- Promoter
- Marketer
- PR person
- Video Creator
- Retailer/Wholesaler
- Booking Agent
- Web Designer
- Content Creator
- Web Manager
- Content Manager
- Social Media Manager
- Networking Manager
- Shipping Manager
- Bookkeeper
- Entrepreneur
- Record Keeper
So much for time to write. If you want to be a writer, you’ll
find the time to write. No one ever said the writing is easy in today’s writing
market.
Writing take dedication and hard work to be successful,
whatever that means to you. Only a few writers make it big, the rest work hard
and with some luck and hard work can make some money writing.
Writing is a calling, not a way to get rich unless you come
up with the next “Harry Potter”, which rarely happens. There is a good deal of
luck in making it big. J. K. Rowling the author of the “Harry Potter” series,
was rejected 12 times before a friend of her daughter read it and told to her
father about how good it was. He took a chance on publishing it, we know how
well that went.
If you are a writer that must DIY everything because you
just don’t have the money for a literary agent, which can cost thousands of
dollars, if you can find one to take a chance on your book, you will have to
wear many hats and learn what you need to get your book in front of readers.
This article is to enlighten you about the uphill battle you
face as you work toward publication, and getting your book into the reader’s
hands.
Robert Medak
Freelance
Writer/Blogger/Editor/Proofreader/Reviewer/Marketer
14 comments:
Interesting article. That is a lot of hats that today's writer wears.
And I thought juggling parenthood was difficult!
It's a different world that writer's travel these days.
Yikes! It's frightening when you actually list the things we writers must do. Donna, parenting is still way more difficult! :)
Wow, no wonder I'm so tired! :)
Thank you, Susanne.
This is why writing is a business.
Parenthood is the most difficult thing.
Unfortunately, true, Mary Jo.
I agree the parenting is harder, Karen. Writing today isn't like it used to be.
And harried, Heidi.
Wow. Very helpful post.
Nice one, Bob. What a good job we all love multi-tasking, and aren't we lucky to have the opportunity to learn so much about the business from every perspective.
Like the thought of all these hats in rainbow colours piled Bolivian style one on top of the other.
It is indeed a chance to learn what it takes to get a book published in today's publishing arena, Annie.
Thank you, Debbie.
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