Ashley Clark, @the_handwritten_story
Believe it or not, my road to publication took ten years! There were a lot of highs, a lot of lows, and a lot of Reese’s Pieces consumed. In many ways, this long wait was a gift, because I learned a whole lot about the writing process (and myself as a writer, too) in this timeframe. One thing I did not learn a whole lot about, however, was publishing itself and my new responsibilities as an author. Can you relate?
I had received a contract with my dream publishing house! Everything would be smooth sailing from now on, right? Hmm. So why did I feel as though I had no idea what my next steps were? After the initial euphoria about my contract began to fade, in its place I was left with a mixture of immense gratitude, the thrill of finally having a readership… and the overwhelming sense that now I was actually going to have to deliver this thing to real readers. No longer was writing a big-picture dream… now it had become a big-picture reality, a reality that came with the sobering realization I could fail at this very publicly. Ha! No pressure, right?
Now, I was very fortunate to have an incredible publicist and marketing team behind me, answering all my newbie questions along the way, but even still, I found myself sometimes wondering what the next right thing is to do. Should I grow my newsletter list? Focus on book signings? Instagram lives? Facebook groups? Give up and watch endless reruns of Gilmore Girls? There is no magical formula to marketing, and that’s part of what makes it tricky.
Here are three things no one tells you ahead of time about publishing. I hope they encourage you today to do the next right thing, and not to feel overwhelmed by the vastness of releasing your long-cherished story into the world.
- Slow and steady wins the race. Yes, I sound like an Aesop Fable here, but it’s true. Sometimes it’s easy to look at the number of copies you have to sell for your book to earn out and come away feeling powerless. Don’t believe that lie. Keep forward momentum going every week. Maybe you sold five copies of your book at a signing. Great! Maybe two of those five people are in book clubs that now want to feature your book.
- Grow your newsletter and social media platforms using strategic and incremental steps. I have never understood how some authors have these giant newsletter lists the size of a Walmart distribution center. It always seemed like some sort of magical spell to me. And that’s because until recently, I have been the world’s worst at newsletters! I send them way too sporadically, and I forget to tell people to sign up. Small wonder my newsletter list has been small, right? A lightbulb went off recently that this is an area I need to work on, so since then I have been intentional about running a giveaway and getting behind-the-scenes information to my newsletter subscribers, and you know what? My list already grew dramatically. Funny how that works! Ha! What platform do you want to grow? What can you do today to achieve incremental progress in that area?
- Focus on the can’s. Just because you have no control over your final numbers does not mean you have no control period. It’s terrifying to think that the “success” of your book (success by its most material definition, at least) is out of your hands. We all feel overwhelmed by the weight and implications of that reality. But that doesn’t mean we have no control over these numbers either. Maybe you can’t get your book in every Barnes and Noble store. But maybe you can get some copies in the stores near you. Maybe you aren’t going to be picked up by Good Morning America. But maybe you can connect with some local readers’ groups who are looking for an author to feature.
When it comes down to it, there’s a big secret no one tells you about publishing: it does not define you. You were a “real” writer before you were published, you are a “real” writer at the brink of your contract, and you are a “real” writer come what may thereafter. Because God is the one who has called you. Taking the pressure for validation off yourself and instead guarding your love of writing, with gratitude for your readership, makes all the difference in the world.
So keep writing friends… and while you’re at it, sign up for my newsletter. 😉
In 1929, a spark forms between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career. Their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. Still, Eliza and William’s passion grows despite the barriers, causing William to deeply regret the secret he’s keeping . . . but setting things right will come at a cost.
In present-day Charleston, a mysterious benefactor gifts Lucy Legare an old house, along with all the secrets it holds–including enigmatic letters about an antique silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney, whom Lucy’s been avoiding since their disastrous first date, is set on buying her house for his family’s development company. As Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, its garden, and the silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history’s sake but also for her own.
“Clark makes a moving debut . . . . Those who enjoy inspirational time-slip stories will want to check this out.” —Publisher’s Weekly on The Dress Shop on King Street
Ashley Clark (www.ashleyclarkbooks.com) writes romantic women’s fiction set in the South. With a master’s degree in creative writing, Ashley teaches literature and writing courses at the University of West Florida. Ashley has been an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers for over a decade. She lives with her husband, son, and rescued Cocker Spaniel off Florida’s Gulf Coast. When she’s not writing, she’s rescuing stray animals, dreaming of Charleston, and drinking all the English breakfast tea she can get her hands on.