You know, for more than ten years, I wrote about my life and I think today what I was waiting on was a “happy ending.” In life there are no real happy endings, mainly because life continues. When I was reunited with my first born son a year and a half ago, I was able to write that last chapter, something positive to end the story with. Then, other events occurred and I went back to the MS to keep writing. It was more than journal writing; it became a different life, or maybe as you mentioned: healing. I do feel that the book has some merit, and would be beneficial for a large audience to read especially in today’s fallen economic times. Although, I may need to hire a ghost writer to help me or at least to click the send button. I think maybe I fear the word: rejection, more than about what others may think.

To have your life “rejected” in a typed up letter, would be hard to handle. Of course, I’ve survived so much, why is this one challenge so difficult! This is a rhetorical question of course. Ah– I’m venting.

The best part of my life has to do with creative writing, it can take a person back to review, or fast forward and dream. I’d like to find some middle ground where I can simply enjoy things and my writing while I can still remember my name

Thanks for “listening.”

– Katina

I understand how difficult it can be for writers who feel shy and vulnerable about what they’ve written, especially if your story was heartbreaking to write. So maybe just getting it out was enough.

Have you seen the book The Healing Power of Memoir? I wrote a post about it that you can read here: http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2010/01/10/writing-a-memoir-7-tips-for-defeating-your-inner-critic/

Who says everyone has to publish their memoir after it’s written? Or at least why rush into it? It could stay in your drawer for a while, and maybe you could self-publish later for selected readers who feel safe to you. If that feels OK, then you could try a wider group of trusted friends and empathic family members.

Ultimately you might feel differently, and could shift to broader submission, self-publishing, distribution and readership.

Although this discussion has to do with the blog, I’d like to throw something out here since so many amazing professionals have posted here:) If it’s not acceptable, my apologies.

I cannot seem to let go of my ms, even though it is written, and proof read. I’ve paid an editor to do a professional edit one last sweep if you will. Not even pre-paying can get me motivated to submit it. The story was heartbreaking to write and I still have some PSTD from some past traumas, hence the reason for writing this particular book. I’m afraid to admit that my book is beating me up. Any advice on this?

Again, please feel free to edit my comment reply if this is unacceptable. I have been trying to work on my book and I simply don’t want to ever read it again. Why do I hate it so much! Any book writing therapist in the mix?

Thanks,

– KW

Interesting to note that alot of the people leaving comments arrived HERE because they love Nathan.

I’m in promotion and I work with both traditional and POD authors and you are so dead on with the comment regarding “pre-existing platform”. There are some very motivated authors published by Independent publishers using digital or POD technology and eBook publishing that have far surpassed the measily 100 books touted as their limit by naysayers. I’m glad to see they are of interest to editors, agents, and publishers alike.

I do enjoy reading your blog. Lots of excellent info in your archives.

The other scenario, where there are no agents, and everyone can just pour their books onto the Net on haphazard sites; where there is no clear way for a reader to sift through the hundreds of thousands of books that will be out there; where you will waste your time downloading things that sound okay, but end up being grammatically unreadable because they haven’t been through any sort of editorial process – this is what will kill the book industry.

I know that there are bad apple agents out there and I’m sorry you’ve had experiences that reflect poorly on our profession, but I share your optimism about the e-publishing world. It’s not necessarily your agent’s fault for trying to shoehorn you into certain areas that you didn’t want to operate in. We have to respond to the market. But when things are opened up with e-publishing there will be lots more freedom, and readers will be the ones deciding what succeeds.

But this isn’t going to mean the end of agents. I just think you’ll see our job transition from gatekeepers to promoters/amplifiers who spot talent, work out distribution and packaging deals, sell subrights like film, audio and translation, and try to help an author reach the next level of success.

You write, “What is more likely is that editors will simply band together and form a brand of their own and through this brand the electronic works will be siphoned and accordingly, stamped with approval.”

What makes you think editors are going to do this instead of agents, or that this would represent a better deal for writers?

Agents might not be particularly popular among the unagented, but our approval ratings are far, far higher for those who do have agents and who have successfully published. Our interests are aligned with the authors, whereas editors have to answer first to their publishers — it’s not in an editor’s interest to give an author the best deal possible. You need an agent to get the best deal. I don’t doubt that there will be small presses who do precisely what you outline, but authors will always need agents to negotiate on their behalf with whatever companies are distributing content.

Again: we are on the side of the authors. As long as authors are around, agents will be too. If we didn’t earn our commission we simply wouldn’t be around right now. Who is going to submit an author’s work to film studios for a movie adaptaion? Negotiate contracts? Work out distribution deals? Get a better deal for an author when their work takes off? Serve as business/creative managers? Sure, authors can do this on their own, but a) who has that kind of time, and b) you’re not going to do better than someone who has this kind of expertise.

I feel like a lot of times people let their frustrations with agents result in some misguided hopes for our demise. Just remember, we’re on the author’s side. Hoping that we disappear so that authors can face the Amazons and publishers of the future on their own is not particularly constructive.

You don’t need to wait. You can self-publish your book now, on any one of many reputable POD independent publishing services. For not that much money you can launch your book to readers online, posting one or more free chapters, web marketing, selling downloads on your web-site. No reason to postpone the day.

Alan