Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Preparing for Battle...


I always believed my greatest challenge would be writing a novel. Until recently, I had no idea how naive that belief was. You see, writing the novel was only the first step in the long march of becoming a successful writer. It is, by definition, the lowest common denominator of the writing equation. Even the most gifted writer can not sell a novel if they don’t finish it right? But it’s a mistake to believe that simply writing a novel is enough, just as in the false belief that getting a college degree will lead to a career. It is simply the standard by which all comparisons begin.

I love battle metaphors. They seem appropriate when describing struggle, sacrifice, and sorrow. In many ways I equate self-publishing with a battle. Not because anyone dies or loses a limb but because you have no idea what it is really like unless you’ve actually experienced it. I suppose that’s true with many endeavors, especially crime scene work.So I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was to discover I was not fit for battle.

I feel like that soldier who has been issued his pack, his uniform, his rifle and then walks out onto the battlefield filled with a sense of invincibility. That feeling lasts right up to the moment a rocket propelled grenade streaks towards him. That’s because no matter how much you prepare for battle, no matter how advanced your gear, no matter how many lectures you’ve heard about the pain of war, there is nothing that compares with reality. It’s about confronting the unexpected. As an author I thought I had a good strategy. I thought I had a plan. But as every experienced General will tell you...no good plan survives the battlefield.

And when those unexpected obstacles rear their ugly faces you have two choices. You can freeze or you can move. I choose to plow forward; strategically. I’m not abandoning my plan, I’m simply modifying it. I go back to the veterans and seek council. But I keep moving forward. I am convinced that, by whatever means, I will take that hill. I will be victorious. Even if I fail, I see no other way to achieve the success I desire.

So when you find yourself unprepared for the battlefield of Indie publishing don’t give up or lose hope. Simply re-evaluate you plan, adjust your maneuvers, or reorganize your battlefield. The publishing landscape is changing before our very eyes and none of us has a crystal ball. This is good news. This is a time of opportunity; a time to influence the shape of the battlefield. So keep moving....keep up the pressure. No surrender, no retreat.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for this post. My son was a soldier for ten years, and that preparedness made him a better man.

    Publishing is really more like a long war, with many competitors and many battles along the way. Good luck to all of us.

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  2. I do the same thing in my class. Class planner. Battle tactics. If something isn't working, monitor, modify and adjust.

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  3. Very well said, Tom. The truth is that all of us, veterans and newbies alike are stumbling around on the same battlefield together. This new age of e-publishing has made that field a very even one. None of us knows what the next day will bring in this ever-evolving industry, and most of us are just feeling our way through, trying to make sense of it. Yes, some have been more successful than others, but I would say none of them have achieved that status because they had an "in" or prior knowledge, which gave them the advantage.

    The good news is that if you have a viable product, you stand just as much a chance of finding success as the ones before you who have found it. Keep plugging away. Persistence is the key to unlocking this particular door. Congrats on your first book--no matter what, that is a huge achievement-- and best of luck with it.

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  4. Well, I would say that that's true. When I first wrote a novel, I had thought that was most of the job. Then I learned that I had to double as my own secretary unless I could afford to pay one, which I could not.
    Years later, I have only learned that there is even more to the job than that. Some marketing and promotions as well as the secretarial support and the writing are all part of the job.

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  5. What a terrific post, Tom!

    With each coming battle I face, I hope to have clearer plans based on experience, better weapons in the form of better writing, and a stronger heart because I have no choice but to be in this battle.

    As far as I'm concerned, the only way I can fail is if I quit.

    Btw, THE SCENT OF FEAR is in my lineup, and I'm looking forward to a rollicking ride!

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  6. What a terrific post, Tom!

    With each coming battle I face, I hope to have clearer plans based on experience, better weapons in the form of better writing, and a stronger heart because I have no choice but to be in this battle.

    As far as I'm concerned, the only way I can fail is if I quit.

    Btw, THE SCENT OF FEAR is in my lineup, and I'm looking forward to a rollicking ride!

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  7. Good luck with your first book, Tom! I look forward to reading it!

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