No One Is Coming to “Discover” Your Book
When I was 19, I spent almost a year busking in coffee shops in Atlanta.
Yup, I was the stereotypical 90's "chick with guitar," belting out my songs about thwarted love and the longings of my soul to mostly disinterested audiences of businesspeople and starving writers.
I was pretty good, if I do say so myself.
In fact, I was making a living as a musician -- if living on ramen noodles and scraping spare change from between the seats of my car to pay for gas counts as a living -- and getting out there, little by little.
Back then, it was still possible to “be discovered” as an unknown artist.
My thinking? If it happened to Jewel, why shouldn’t it happen to me?
But many months and hundreds of gigs later, I finally started to see that getting discovered – at least, in the romantic way I imagined – was a pipe dream. Worse, I was feeling victimized by my own expectations around “being discovered.”
If no one was coming to scoop me up and plant me on the stage at Lilith Fair, did that somehow mean I wasn't good enough to be seen and heard?
It was crushing.
(And so, I moved home to Rhode Island, went to hairdressing school, and put my creativity to a different and much more lucrative use. Then, in 2006, I started my journey as a writer and editor … and the rest is history.)
I know my life unfolded exactly as my soul planned. I would be a completely different person if I’d spent my life as a touring singer. But part of me still wishes I could go back and tell that 19-year-old artist, “Honey, it’s YOUR job to believe in yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to do it first.”
And yet, how many of us are waiting for just that?
I speak to many authors who still dream of “being discovered” by a publisher. They think that if their work is good and compelling enough, some faceless giant will scoop it up, put their weight behind it, and make sure it's front and center at every bookstore in the world.
That kind of thing was a long shot even 30 years ago - but now? I know more people who have been struck by lightning than have been given a good publishing deal as an unknown author. No shit.
And so, I’m here as the bearer of good and bad news.
Bad news first:
No one is coming to “discover” your book
An awesome idea is NOT ENOUGH to interest a traditional publisher these days. They are businesses like any other, and they want guaranteed sales. For this reason, even nonfiction authors with audiences of 50k+ and TONS of potential are getting turned away by publishers and agents because they’re “too niche” or “not today’s hot topic.” I see it happen every day. It’s maddening.
Authors who DO get book contracts are often disappointed when they realize that their traditional publisher isn’t going to put any energy into selling the book. In fact, many authors are expected to invest thousands of dollars in PR and marketing as part of their publishing contracts – which, to me, negates the benefit of having those contracts in the first place.
The fact is, YOU have to put your energy and dedication behind your book before anyone else does. If you’re not willing to invest the time, energy, and money to make your book its best self, don’t expect anyone else to swoop in and take on that job. If you’re waiting for that, get ready to keep waiting.
But, here’s the good news …
YOU can create your book’s success
Our clients work with us because we create books that can hold their own beside ANYTHING the big 6 publishers put out – and our authors are 100% in charge of their own destinies.
When you choose to take the reins in your publishing journey and put the full weight of your conviction behind your book – including a financial investment – you say to yourself and the Universe, “I am willing to do what it takes to make this book a success.”
The more you back yourself, the more successful you will be. You don’t need ANYONE’S approval – even that of a publisher – to stand behind what you’ve created and get it out there in a huge way.
More, the barriers between authors who work with fee-for-service publishers and traditional visibility opportunities are dissolving. Our clients’ books are in bookstores (including national placements with B&N), libraries, and online with retailers like Target and Walmart. We’ll be moving into retail giants and airport bookstores this year.
Why? Because we’re putting OUR energy behind our vision, just like our clients do. We aren’t conventional, but we are committed – and we believe we can reshape the industry through our commitment to Ideas for Impact.
The takeaway: Back yourself first, and make your decisions from there.
PS: Yes, that's me while I was in Atlanta, with my hair dyed black and my teenage angst on full display!