A good move forward

[sabrinamari]

I just withdrew my book from my original press. I've been calling on and off for a week and a half, and today was the first day I was able to speak to a human being.

It felt good.

Since I've begun corresponding with other presses, I've learned that the right press will answer your emails, correspond with you promptly and address your concerns. They'll even lay out their own---it's wonderful!

Because I had never worked on a book before, I didn't know that the long silences and indifferent treatment I experienced with my original press were unusual, so I stuck with them for a long, long time. I even fell into the "no contact" pattern easily myself---in truth, I have to watch for this in my own behavior and shift direction away from it on a regular basis. Maybe this is part of why I stayed.

But now that I've met with two experienced author/mentors in my field and begun following their advice, I know better. I have a new game plan in place, and I'm moving forward in search of the right fit. I haven't heard yet from New Press #1 but I just got advice to move on to New Press #2 and #3, and I'll follow that advice this week.

Yay---I feel better. Stagnation, get thee behind me!

Comments

[puckmls.livejournal.com]

Good for you, saying no to that dysfunctional crap. My impression is that this is a partnership -- you and the publisher work together towards the common goal of publishing your book -- and that communication is an essential part of it. Onward and upward!