| Your Book is Your Baby. Treat it Like One! by EJ | | | | Your first print run will be as much expense as profit |
| Thornton Most authors refer to their book as their | | | | and so much work, you'll wonder why you're bothering. |
| "baby" without really knowing how accurate that | | | | Many young parents ask themselves questions like, |
| comparison is. I found out as I wrote Angel On Board | | | | "Why did we want this again?" But then they pick up |
| that writing a book is like a pregnancy, long, drawn out | | | | their baby, feel the love again, regain their strength and |
| and private - only you can do it. It has to grow from | | | | get going again. When the first print run is sold out - it is |
| the seed of an idea to the actual entity we hold in our | | | | a milestone. Your baby is growing up and it's taken its |
| hand the first time we see it in print. That first meeting | | | | first few steps. |
| is an incredibly memorable experience! Some people | | | | When you make it into your second printing, you can |
| cry, some jump up and down - most just stand in awe | | | | see the impact of the first round's efforts and you, as |
| that the book is finally real and they can hold it in their | | | | a book parent, mature and enjoy how your book has |
| hands. Most, women at least, clutch it to their chest | | | | grown. Now the book can support itself a little. This |
| and are so proud, they can't hold back the tears. | | | | stage is much akin to when a child starts working odd |
| It's a Book! It's a Baby! | | | | jobs, like babysitting or lawn mowing. They create their |
| Now, this book, like a baby, needs to be taken to | | | | own spending money - and they want to spend it on |
| professionals to "check it out." It needs an editor, a | | | | themselves! Hoorah! So, do - spend that money on the |
| baby book doctor, to clean it up, check it out, cure its | | | | book, invest in advertising or flyers and postage or |
| woes and medicate its weak spots. The editor, like a | | | | promotional material, memberships to authors groups |
| pediatrician, is on your side and wants what you do - a | | | | or conferences or your own booth at trade show, and |
| healthy baby book! Editors can cost you money, but | | | | entry into catalogs with a good circulation. All these |
| you'd pay a doctor - right? You wouldn't trust your | | | | things the book can now do for itself and you can |
| baby's health to an amateur (like your neighbor or your | | | | watch these new ventures pay off and ultimately, your |
| sister - even though they got an "A" in Health), so why | | | | second print run is sold out! You baby is growing up |
| would you trust your baby book's well-being to one? If | | | | (but you're still probably driving them everywhere). You |
| you're smart, you won't. | | | | can see the potential of this new family member, you |
| Next, you want to share your baby with others. You | | | | can see their personality develop and how they |
| want the world to know how great your baby is. This | | | | interact with the world. And you are so proud! During |
| is where most new book parents go wrong. They | | | | the third and fourth printings, you're dealing with a |
| think the book can speak for itself. It can't! You're going | | | | young adult book. They're out on their own, they're |
| to be working long hours and sacrificing a lot of sleep. | | | | earning their own way, but they still want and need |
| Much like a newborn baby is a full time job, so is a | | | | your involvement and encouragement in their lives and |
| newborn book. New parents don't get a lot of rest | | | | you love them so much, you can't imagine not being |
| because the demands of a baby are so intense - it is | | | | there for them. |
| that way here too. You've taken on another full time | | | | If they make it to this point and you haven't quit on |
| job introducing your baby to the world. A press kit | | | | them (because it's only you who can quit), then it can |
| needs to be developed, press releases need to be | | | | support itself and in return take care of you. It has |
| written and sent, reviews need to requested, | | | | arrived! Your baby is all grown up, but just like adult |
| interviews need to be scheduled, book clubs and book | | | | children, you're still very involved in their life. |
| stores need to be approached, book signings | | | | Now, what if you're a prolific writer? Just like that |
| scheduled and networking needs to be done! Don't you | | | | prolific parent, there's a second book on the way, while |
| send out birth announcements? Don't you schedule | | | | the first one is barely learning to walk. It happens, and |
| christenings and take your baby places to introduce | | | | with most authors, it happens A LOT! Like with a |
| them to the world? It's the same concept. No one | | | | second baby, you're not so scared, you're smarter |
| knows about your baby has arrived, unless you tell | | | | now, and you know without being told or questioning all |
| them. | | | | the things that you need to do for a baby. The older |
| You'll have to invest money to support your new book | | | | sibling book many times can be helpful in raising the |
| project, just like you'd support your new baby. They | | | | new book (especially if it is a series), but each will |
| can't support themselves yet - let alone you - it's crazy | | | | always be an individual (even if they look alike). Don't |
| to expect them to! | | | | forget that, when you have a little family of books |
| Many book parents don't sell out of their first print run | | | | growing up right before your very eyes! |
| because they expect their baby to come out walking | | | | The other main point that new authors forget is that a |
| and talking. That baby needs carried and dressed and | | | | book is a lifetime commitment - they'll have this |
| driven everywhere to introduce it to its readers. Then | | | | beautiful baby all the rest of their lives and frankly, it will |
| its readers will start to talk about it (a voice of its own). | | | | live on beyond them, just like our children do. Each one |
| Its readers will recommend it to others (it starts to | | | | is a new addition to the family and must be nurtured |
| walk on its own). Now, thanks to your efforts and | | | | and taken care of. You have the rest of your life to |
| encouragement, you start to see your baby start to | | | | have a relationship with this baby and to watch it grow |
| walk and talk on its own. And it's a thrill to start seeing | | | | and become. |
| sales come through from efforts beyond your own! | | | | Don't rush the process, it is all a wonderful ride! |