Persistence and Money ?

Written by: admin on October 2, 2011 @ 12:00 pm

In my experience thus far, those two things are what it takes to get published. I have only been seriously pursuing publication for my books for the last three years (give or take) but I?ve quickly learned that persistence and money are necessary to get published for the vast majority of writers.

You need persistence in everything having to do with writing and publishing. We need to be persistent in writing, in reading, in studying the craft, in writing some more, in plotting, in character development, in incorporating our themes into our book without overemphasizing them, in editing, in a hundred more things that have to do with our work.

And that?s just the writing part. We also have to chase leads, query agents, submit to publishers, attend writers conferences, network with other writers, build our platforms, write proposals? the list goes on and on.

In all of these things, persistence and money will help you get published sooner.

I got my first short story published because I submitted and followed up on it several times over the course of one year. This persistence led to two more short stories and a poem getting published by the same magazine, and now I?m even running a magazine for that same publishing company. BUT I never would have made that contact without attending the ACFW Conference in 2009, where I met someone who referred me to Written World Communications. That conference cost money?around $1,000 after lodging, transportation, and conference fees.

Going to a reputable writer?s conference (ACFW) changed everything for me. There, I learned how to be persistent, and I learned what I needed to do to get pubbed. I know that I?m on the path toward publication now because I went to that conference. It was such a good use of my money that I attended the past three years.

I also went to a new conference in August hosted by Ted Dekker. That was a pricy one too, and it was only open to 100 people, but I managed to find a way to attend, thank God. Ted?s conference was billed as revelatory with regards to publishing and getting pubbed. In other words, it was about persistence.

Speaking of persistence, I?m took the opportunity to visit B&H Publishing, one of the firms interested in my work, while I was in Nashville for Ted?s conference. I figured that if I was going to spend the money to be in Nashville for the event, then I might as well get a taste of the local flavor via visiting a prospective publisher. It was a great chance to reconnect with B&H (whom I became acquainted with at the ACFW Conference), and to talk with them about what my publishing future with them might look like. That?s an example of my money and my persistence working together for my benefit.

I wonder if persistence and money are interchangeable sometimes? Most of us are either strapped for cash, strapped for time, or both. But if, say, we?re poor as dirt, but we can be persistent, maybe that can compensate for inability to attend writers conferences and comparable events?

I?d imagine that it goes the other way also, that having money to spend can make up for a lack of persistence, but then people will raise questions as to the quality of the work. In this modern age, anyone who can afford to pay an editor (if they want to) can self-publish their own books on the internet. People can publish their books WITHOUT editing them if they want to. But given that approach, will they ever produce something ?best-seller? quality, just because they had the money to do so? I?d say it?s possible, but unlikely.

I?d rather have the persistence than the money. Persistence is something you can develop if you don?t have it, but it?s key to success as a writer. Money is something you can earn, and it will help to open doors for you (via writer?s conferences, hiring freelance editors, buying books to read for pleasure and/or on writing, etc.), but it shouldn?t be the only thing that gets you published.

If you have money, instead use that as a resource to ensure you STAY published once you reach that point. Invest in your career: use it to travel on a book tour, or to develop marketing for you and your work, or hire someone to help you with your marketing. Using my money to sell more books is what I hope to do once I get published.

Now it?s your turn.

What role do you think persistence and money have in your writing life?

Do you give them equal time?

Is one more important than the other to your writing career?

How do they work together?

Please share your thoughts with us.

-Ben

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Tags: ben erlichman, October event, Persistence and Money

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Source: http://nextgenwriters.com/2011/10/02/persistence-and-money/

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