The Journey of 1000 Miles Begins Here

Jenny Milchman is my guest this week. Her debut novel will be out soon. Very exciting!
Recently I received an offer on my debut novel. It took eleven years.

That seems to me a pretty big number (although since receiving the offer, a startling number of other writers have poked their heads up to say, “Took me nine years,” and, “Ten for me,” or, “Twelve,” so perhaps my figure isn’t as high as all that).

Here are some other numbers associated with my publication journey.

I had three agents. I wrote eight novels, four of which were considered submission-ready, by me and/or my agent. Fifteen editors wanted to make offers on one or more of those novels. (All were turned down by their editorial boards, some sooner, some later in the process).

During the time I was writing, revising, querying, and on submission, I began reaching out to authors whose work I admired. (One of them became crucial to my finally getting an offer, but that’s another story). I still remember Jennifer Egan, author of THE KEEP and others, saying in an email: “Hang in there. In my experience when you start getting almost-offers, the real deal is close.”

She was right, although the two years that followed might be stretching the definition of close a bit.

Publishing time is like geologic time. It’s glacial. Even after receiving my offer, 18 months will pass before my book comes out.

While I was trying to break in, I learned about alternative routes to publication, along with the traditional one I was following. While I was trying to break in, the world changed, and getting your book out there became possible in a whole other way.

I teach writing, and when students ask me about the best way to get their books out there, I say there is no best way.

Independent publishing has many advantages—including the fact that an indie author gets to skip that eighteen month delay before her book comes out—and also the nine-ten-eleven years that often come before. Things like control over design, and a near-infinite amount of time to build your audience and try and get a title to take off are two other advantages.

Traditional publishing has its own list of ‘pros’, some of which are only becoming clear to me as I get deeper into the process. The brilliant mind of my editor, who is responsible for some of the best books being released today, is something I never would’ve anticipated. (I would’ve called my book done; she sees what it can be, if I can only rise to her vision). The plans the house has for the book—and its ability to enact those plans—is an advantage for which I also wasn’t prepared.

When students ask me for a prediction about the future of publishing, I tell them that no one can be sure. Some pundits have us never reading a paper book again, others have the indie pipelines hopelessly clogged. I have hope that both dire fates will be averted.

I think that there are pros and cons to both types of publishing, and that the wonder of the e-volution is that it’s opened up a wealth of possibilities that never existed before. If one of those possibilities is right for you as an author, then that’s the path to take.

Or maybe indie publishing will be right for you at one particular time. One particular book. Perhaps another book of yours down the line will be better off traditionally published.

On the other hand, if a traditional publishing deal is your dream, it’s wonderful that this option exists. It’s wonderful that a goal eleven years in the making can come to fruition for those who wish to pursue it.

Where does the journey of a thousand miles begin? These days, it’s wherever you choose to set your foot down.

About Jenny:

Jenny Milchman is a literary suspense writer whose debut novel, COVER OF SNOW, will be published by Ballantine in early 2013. Her short fiction has appeared on Amazon bestseller lists, and another story is forthcoming in an anthology called ADIRONDACK MYSTERIES II. Jenny teaches classes on polishing, pitching, and publishing your work for New York Writers Workshop. She co-hosts the series Writing Matters, which draws speakers from both coasts to events held at a local independent bookstore. Last year she founded Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, which was celebrated in 30 states, Canada, England, and this year spread to Australia. Jenny welcomes authors in the Made It Moments forum on her blog. Please look for her at http://jennymilchman.com