It was in 1990 when I agreed to work, on a part-time basis, writing the history of the Ojai Valley School in Ojai, California. I saw this 225-page comprehensive history book all the way through the publishing process in 1996. I’d already been writing and submitting articles for over 20 years and, when this project was completed, I went back to work full-time freelancing for magazines. I also had several published books by then.
In 2000, a colleague came to me asking if I would write a book for her client because she was too busy. It was a book on credit—how to get it without abusing it and winding up in financial trouble. They wanted the book pronto quick and I ended up writing the 16-chapter book in three weeks. A record, I would say.
I still didn’t feel that I was ready to receive clients on a regular basis. I had too much of my own work to do. But, a few months after I completed the ghosting job, I ran into the local chief of police at a community event and he told me about a fascinating book that he was writing—featuring a true crime that occurred in our county in the 1960s. He asked if I could do the editing and guide him through the publishing process. I agreed. I enjoyed the job. My client was happy. And I decided to hang out my shingle as an editorial consultant. (Read Jim Barrett’s excellent, unbelievable true crime, Ma Duncan.)
To date, I’ve worked with around 70 clients on various aspects of their projects and every month or so, I hear from new potential clients or a satisfied former client returns. In fact, I’ve had so many clients in the last two years that I have all but given up on my own writing work. I’m too busy with clients to write a bestselling novel. I rarely submit articles to magazines anymore. My life has become all about helping others to navigate the ever-changing publishing industry more successfully. And I do this personally—working with others on a one-to-one basis, by presenting workshops nationwide and through my books, such as The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and my latest ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit. http://www.matilijapress.com
I’d say that I’ve seen around 50 projects to fruition. Another dozen or so are still in the writing or publishing process. These books include creative nonfiction, self-help, recovery, memoirs, informational/reference, novels, spiritual, metaphysical, biographies and young adult books. Unfortunately, even with expert help, some authors just never get their books off the ground. Some of my clients changed their minds about producing their books when they understood the nature of the publishing industry better.
When you do this type of work, you never know where your next client is going to come from. Just this week, for example, I received an email from an author who said that he had stringently researched numerous editors that he found on the internet and ultimately decided to contact me. Others come to me at the recommendation of former clients or colleagues. And some find me through my promotional efforts.
Certainly, as with any freelance business, I experience dry spells. Each year, however, my client-base increases overall.
Do you sometimes feel as though you’re getting nowhere with your promotional efforts? You promote and promote and book sales don’t increase. You may not get immediate gratification for your promotional efforts, but believe me, people are noticing. There are people out there who are reading your promo material, who are hearing your radio spots, who have read reviews for your book, who have seen your book listed at various sites of their interest and who have made mental notes to purchase it someday. There are people who have bought your book and are telling others about it.
While you sit quietly in your home office wondering where all of your customers are, some are eagerly awaiting your sequel or your book tour to their city.
The point I’m trying to make this morning is that if you do good work—come out with an excellent, well-written, professionally edited book—and if you promote it appropriately, you are attracting attention. While you sometimes feel all alone in your efforts, you just never know when you’re going to get a call from a school librarian requesting dozens of copies of your children’s book for all of their 4th grade students or when you’ll meet someone at a civic club meeting in some remote city who was helped by your book on stopping addiction. If you have an excellent, useful and/or entertaining product and you are promoting it with gusto, you will receive the attention you desire and the sales will follow.
Share your story of unexpected success or sales by leaving a comment at this blog site. And contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com for an estimate to edit your manuscript.
I’m actually trying to get my comedy writing noticed. I write short stories about humorous experiences. My blog is located at michaeldmillar.blogspot.com