Awarded $3000 to finish my book, I had a choice to make: Hire a publicist or an editor? I came to the right decision, but the path leading there was twistier than I could’ve imagined.
You are so damn talented! I can’t wait to read your book! I’m sure you’ve thought about this already, but just in case, have you reached out to Jewish groups and synagogues? Or Hillel Houses on college campuses?
Hey, appreciate the hell out of this! And funny: I am AT THIS VERY MOMENT checking my list of said groups. Definitely going to be hitting them up. Thank you for the nudge!....
You definitely made the right choice! My first book was traditionally published so there was a dedicated publicist as part of the package and they still didn't get any reviews or podcast slots etc etc... there are just way more books than publicity slots and you still need luck even with a professional on the case - even more so if you're a debut author. Much better to focus on the part you can control, ie. writing an authentic, well-constructed book you can feel proud of.
I hired an editor (a fancy $.04/word one at that!). It should've been obvious from the start, but I had to work my way there, just like every other damn neurotic / grasping / first-time author ever.
One feels the tension of the process radiating through this. It's inherent, maybe, to writing without someone — readers or an institution — waiting to receive it at the end. But the whole thing also sounds as though it ended up wonderfully connected and good, with readers and grants there when needed. A great read, and hope the next steps go well!
Thanks for this! Yes, I didn't want to go too deep into the supplicantical (not a word, I know) nature of this business. I'm grateful for where it is right now. Thanks for the reflection!
a fascinating read, thank you!
You are so damn talented! I can’t wait to read your book! I’m sure you’ve thought about this already, but just in case, have you reached out to Jewish groups and synagogues? Or Hillel Houses on college campuses?
Hey, appreciate the hell out of this! And funny: I am AT THIS VERY MOMENT checking my list of said groups. Definitely going to be hitting them up. Thank you for the nudge!....
You definitely made the right choice! My first book was traditionally published so there was a dedicated publicist as part of the package and they still didn't get any reviews or podcast slots etc etc... there are just way more books than publicity slots and you still need luck even with a professional on the case - even more so if you're a debut author. Much better to focus on the part you can control, ie. writing an authentic, well-constructed book you can feel proud of.
Feel that, and thank you. It took me a while to get there, but I know without doubt it was the right choice....
Great news Seth! Fantastic! What did you decide to do with the $3000?
I hired an editor (a fancy $.04/word one at that!). It should've been obvious from the start, but I had to work my way there, just like every other damn neurotic / grasping / first-time author ever.
One feels the tension of the process radiating through this. It's inherent, maybe, to writing without someone — readers or an institution — waiting to receive it at the end. But the whole thing also sounds as though it ended up wonderfully connected and good, with readers and grants there when needed. A great read, and hope the next steps go well!
Thanks for this! Yes, I didn't want to go too deep into the supplicantical (not a word, I know) nature of this business. I'm grateful for where it is right now. Thanks for the reflection!
Beautiful! Love, R—