Top 10 Tips to becoming an author
December 6th 2006 01:48
At my Melbourne book party I was approached by a man who was very keen to learn how he might get his book published. He was so excited about his book and when he told me what it was about, so was I. It was set in the Australian Taxation Department (love it!) and the characters were accountants. It sounded like an Australian version of BBC’s series The Office.
“Can you send me some chapters?” I asked. “I’d love to read it!”
The man looked puzzled. “Well, no,” he replied. “I haven’t actually written it yet.”
It turned out that the man not only hadn’t written the book, he had absolutely no intention of putting down a word until he was assured of a contract. “Well I’m not going to waste a year of my life writing a book if it’s never going to be published!” he scoffed.
I was too polite to assure him of the one certainty – he was never going to get that book published.
Publishers almost never buy a manuscript sight unseen. I only remember it happening once in fact. That was for Bill Clinton’s memoirs.
This man wasn’t Bill Clinton. He wasn’t even a published author. He was an accountant.
The reality is, writers need to show publishers completed manuscripts before they will be considered. And the reality is, sometimes (dare I say, most times) they end up not getting their book picked up at all. That’s why publication can only be one reason why an author writes a book.
My first book, How to be French, is about my relationship with my friend Julie, which began and flourished in our French classes. I didn’t have a contract when I wrote it. I really hoped that it would end up on the shelves, but if not, I knew it would always be a special document to me and Julie. The book I am currently working on is about my father’s death. It may never be published (I am not even sure I want it to be published) but even if it isn’t, it will be a very important document to my family and future generations about a tragic turn in our lives and a time in which we had no voice.
So, what if you are working on a book and you can’t find a reason other than publication to continue? Well, I would question its value in the first place. If you are not driven to write about something, if there is no desperate need to write it, how can you expect people to be motivated to read it?
My advice: find something you need to write about. Then write.
Return soon for more tips to becoming an author!
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Comment by Adele
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Day Break TV
The odd thing is, the same attitude comes up in regards to short stories. Shorts take so little time to write and polish, I'm amazed that anyone wouldn't finish one.
Good advice and thanks for the post.
Comment by Margaret
Comment by Adele
Lost Fanatic
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Comment by Margaret