That's probably a title you didn't expect to see from someone with an agent and a book under contract, but I'm still in the slushpile. Why? Because the slushpile has changed. I'm in the new slushpile, and lots of you are too. Here's my theory: if you aren't a best seller, you're still in the slushpile. In this day and age there is a published paid slushpile. Your book can sell. It can even sell okay and you can still be in the slushpile. That's what happens when anyone with a laptop is allowed to publish. I learned this from you! I did a post on how hard self publishing really made it for writers which you can read here. And most of your comments were really thoughtful but used this word "slush." And that's when it hit me. Today it's easier to get published and maybe even easier to get an agent than it was ten years ago. BUT it's harder to be successful. Except not really. Most writers would have been on a ten year plan back in the day. I started in 2010 and gave myself ten years to get an agent and a book deal. It's only been 3.5. I have an agent and a digital deal. I was all proud thinking I'd done in three years what should have taken ten. Here's the problem. We get proud too fast. It still takes ten years to really make your mark. In ten years I will be a bestseller. And now I'm off to write.
What are your thoughts?
You've got it right. It's much easier to get an agent and even get published today, but being successful is a completely different story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but only halfway. I do believe it's easier to get published via self-publishing, digital pubs, and maybe even some smaller presses. But it's harder than ever to get a print deal from the big twelve, which I think makes it even harder to get an agent whose sights aren't set on repping writers who appeal to the twelve.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. It's taken me 4 years to get an agent and a contract, but horror is a very hard sell -- not much market compared to romance and contemp -- so I feel very lucky I got anything at all. Wishing you luck to get out of the slush pile, Beth! :-)
ReplyDeleteKeep writing, you need a bunch of books to raise awareness and readership.
ReplyDeleteYou're spot on. Anyone can publish a book, but not anyone can be successful at it. Self-pub offers great writers a chance to find their audience when editors didn't connect with them, but with all the slush out there for purchase, that means writers have to work even harder to get noticed and gain loyal readers. I've downloaded all kinds of free books that I'll never read cuz it helped the author. And I've started books I've paid for, but never bothered to finish cuz the story just didn't pull me in. Bestsellers too!
ReplyDeletePlus, with self-pubbind AND trad, most authors dont become successful til they have a series or a number of standalone books out there. Look at Veronica Roth. Divergent did great when it came out but it wasnt a household name. Three years later when her entire series is out, her books are blowing up. She's a superstar. It takes time.
Yes, to what everyone has said. Writing is a tough business. I may never be a household name, but I write anyway because I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great lesson in perspective and also never settling for what we thought was the goal. Reaching goals doesn't mean we're done working. It means it's time to set another goal. :)
ReplyDelete