OH YOU SWEET SUMMER CHILD.
So there you go.
That’s the true journey of every self published or debut author in the country if not the world (no exxageration, bro).
I’m not telling you all this to complain.
I’m saying publishing isn’t perfectly smooth for anyone!
It has its highs and lows. I’m pretty sure 0% of debut authors have got it all together. I know of authors who refused to go to college for higher education, decided that they could be a full time author, spent lakhs on a book release, and then did not even sell more than 30 copies. It’s a very sad thing, because most authors live in a fantasy dreamland that’s quite far from reality.
If I can ever give one piece of advice to writers pursuing publication: WRITE AND KEEP WRITING.
Write literally millions of words. Nothing makes you better and more confident than sheer amounts of practise.
If I can give you one more piece of advice: Work on your employability skills. Get a degree that has good value, get a decent job that pays you well so that you can pursue and finance your dream with independence and dignity instead of depending on your parents/siblings/boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife.
It’s important that you are able to finance your own dreams. It’s your responsibility to be fit in all ways possible in order to fulfil the demands of this market.
This has been the only life line of advice that I have stuck to from 2012 – the year I wrote my first short story. I wish a lot of other young authors had proper guidance to equip themselves with good jobs and education, so that they don’t fall trap to publishing scams or just general financial tragedies on account of ignorance.
I repeat, I am not writing this to scare young people or to complain about how bad the publishing industry is. I’m just giving an honest, practical account of the journey that you’ll have to take in case you are planning on publishing your first book, so that you’ll be prepared. You’ll be able to think clear and make well-informed decisions.
I love the process, and fortunately I’ve had wonderful publishers to work with that both my books have come out / are coming out without me investing in them. But this is not the case for many authors I know, which is why I thought it’s important to make people understand that publishing is not an instant ticket to stardom. It’s a slow, demanding career that requires a lot of patience, a lot of luck, a lot of market understanding and a bullet proof game plan in order to crack that code to becoming the next national bestseller.
Anyways, final judgement: getting a book published is wonderful for the self-confidence. 10/10 would recommend. But just be practical and don’t depend on it for a living. Get a cool well paying job or like marry someone rich ( just kidding…..or am I?)
XOXO,
Bala ❤
Buy my book The Tales and Musings of a Small Town Girl – Click Here.
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