While running California Coldblood Books, I’ve received a few hundred submissions. I’ve appeared on podcasts and on some convention panels in my capacity as editor, and I’ve also been interviewed a few times. I’ve probably had a dozen friends, acquaintances, or colleagues approach me about publishing their books or developing their projects.
But I’ve rarely been asked this:
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
So here goes, and please remember—these are only my opinions. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.
So much of this is out of your hands.
It really is. Even a dozen years ago, the model we’ve always thought of as the way to get published—write a novel, write a great query letter, query agents, get a book deal—was vanishingly difficult to pull off, and over the years, as the industry has contracted and company after company has folded, it’s become even more rare.
As the saying goes, so much of it comes down to who you know and how well they know you. The vast majority of the success and wealth in these industries is funneled to the already rich and/or the already well-connected.
If you’re not independently wealthy, it’s not impossible to be a productive writer … but it’s challenging. It’s challenging to hold down a full-time job and carve out the time every day to be creative.
Is it possible to somehow make it off the slush pile and get a book deal? Sure. Anything’s possible. But if you’ve been working at it for years and years and feeling frustrated, please know that it’s probably not your fault.
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When I’ve made offers on projects—and I haven’t made many—it was as much about timing as anything else. I made offers when I had room in my schedule to produce a new book. I made offers when I was financially able to. I made offers when I received strong submissions from people who I thought I’d enjoy working with.
But as my decade with CCB rolled on, I found myself increasingly unable or unwilling to take on projects from people I didn’t already know or who didn’t come highly recommended from someone I already knew.
I’m proud of all the books I’ve published, but even I, as a complete unknown and tiny publisher, had to narrow my entryway a bit.
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Over the last couple years, I’ve received fewer submissions and even fewer good submissions. I try to respond to everyone with whatever feedback I can, and in the case of the really strong submissions I’ve received, I have on occasion tried to connect them with other people in the industry.
I’m proud to say I’ve helped some folks people find representation, and in addition, I’ve helped make a few other connections that (I hope) have made a difference in some people’s lives and careers.
I also do my level best to grant as many favors as I can. It’s not often, but these days, whenever someone’s asked to pick my brain about publishing, I try to do them a favor instead. No, I don’t do it for everyone, but if we know each other well enough, and I like what you’re about, I’ll do my best to help advance your career.
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I know I’m not saying much. I know this is probably small comfort if you’ve been pushing that rock up the hill lo these many years with no success.
All I can say is: It’s probably not your fault. So much of this is out of your hands.
Robert J. Peterson, Author 