Hello everyone,
You may or may not know that I did not make it into the top 10 in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. From the day I first submitted my novel in January, I knew winning was uncertain, but I still hoped. After I started to read all the glowing reviews, though, I began to think my novel was even better than I'm afraid it is. So many people, after only reading the first chapter, claimed to be hooked, claimed to want to read more, claimed to be enthralled. And even though Publisher's Weekly did not give an entirely glowing review, it was still pretty impressive. Whenever some hooligan had the temerity to write a 3 or 4 starred review, I downplayed their comments. Just goes to show how a bit of flattery can affect the pessimistic mind.
The cutoff date for the first round loomed and I didn't even feel a flutter of nerves. I read through the contest rules again and saw that they would choose between 10 and 100 to make it to the next round. I checked my novel's status and felt assured since it seemed ranked pretty high compared to others. When I sorted the entries according to "average customer review," I hovered around 26-29. Seemed like my chances were good, even if they just picked the top 30.
But they only chose 10, and my PR Consultant (aka Mother Teresa) (aka Clint) tells me that most of those chosen for the top 10 were not ranked so high according to average customer reviews. However, they all had stellar Publisher's Weekly reviews.
So I didn't win. What did I learn? I learned that my novel does have potential market value, that the story is intriguing, that people like it. I learned that I need to be a more aggressive marketer. My standard method of watching events transpire around me will not sell my book. I emailed a few friends and colleages and ahem...professors, and the number of those contacts who actually wrote a comment was depressing.
But I am quite grateful I submitted A Minor Revolution, and I am glad for the experience. Maybe it will have an affect on my publishing future, maybe not. But it taught me some valuable lessons and let me know what a handful of objective readers think of my work.
Thanks to those of you who posted comments.
Kirstin
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4 comments:
Kir - You ARE a winner! You finished a novel and entered it into a big competition. That took guts! You not only dream of being a published novelist, you are taking action to get there. You should be proud of your efforts!
This writing gig is not an easy thing! Elizabeth recently wrote me that breaking in takes work, determination, and stamina. You took a big step here, a risk, that has paid off. You put your work out there in front of a big audience. You are on your way, my dear. You will get this done, I just know it.
In the meantime, you are making a difference in the lives of your students, friends, and your beautiful family. Yes, I'd say you are already very, very successful. When the book is published, it will be icing on the cake.
Celebrate your chutzpah!
A
Kir,
I was reading an interesting article that mentioned not getting attached to things too much. Write it and push it and then write something else. I think the fact that you have a book the is market ready is great and you should push it and keep promoting the book. But, more importantly, start writing something else. I've always divided promotion and creation. Writing is creative and driven by emotions, reading, and ideas. Promotion is based on selling, writing marketing letters, tracking submission, and networking. So, I think while this is a bit disappointment - I think you have the skills and the imagination to write great books. When I think back to my first book - it was a lot of learning and not a lot of substance. I only wish my first novel was as polished as yours. When I started my second novel, I wrote it in half the time, with double the intensity. Your book should be sent out and promoted, but on the creative side, it is already gone... write forward.
Write forward...like pay it forward...I really like that!
Great advice, Ron. True words for many things in addition to writing. I'm finding the balance necessary in promoting my new company. Market here, deliver there....
Anne
Thanks, Ron and Anne, for your helpful and encouraging comments. Sometimes I forget what an accomplishment it is to have undertaken and finished a novel. And I have started #2, but I only have written 1 page so far. ;) Gotta get back to it.
Kir
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