The Ups and the Downs
By chulce
@chulce (1537)
United States
January 5, 2011 5:56am CST
It is amazing how our writing has changed in the last 15 years. With the introduction of the almighty world wide web, a new world of publication developed. This publication has opened up a vast world to many of us writers who are now being able to produce and actually become published writers. However, there is a down side, certain aspects of it still are enough to help boost that one part of our writing that is our true passion, for example mine is to become a published writer of children's fiction. As of yet, the only things that I have had published have been through freelance and none of it for children.
It is still difficult to break into the mainstream form of publication, you still have to have the right story line, the right concept, the right influence that editors are looking for in the world of book publishing.
Oh sure, there is self publishing, but then there is also the critical measure of making sure that you edit your own work properly and make sure you don't have any grammatical errors that will be picked up on.
There are some publishers that have been sloppy with their decision making, it amazes me that these certain books made it to the shelf with out another critical eye or someone in that firm actually taking the time to sit down and read the book through one last time before it went to print.
You would think by now that it would be easier to get certain materials published, but it has become evermore difficult.
Today as I sit and write this, I wonder what else I need to do to get to that level that my story needs to be at. What else do I need to do to get it in the right hands. I guess only fate will tell.
How many times have you picked up a book and wondered how it got published with all the errors in it. Or how that subject made the cut and yours didn't? Isn't it fascinating how being an actor can get a book published faster than anything? Who cares if it is good or not. Based on name alone people will buy it.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
6 Jan 11
It's awful, how many mistakes are made in books and magazines any more. I wonder if proofreaders are ever employed? Or if they are, have they really studied what they need to know? Spelling is the worst, but grammar and simple typographical errors are very common any more. Maybe it's a part of the dumbing of America, I don't know.
Have you tried changing the title of your piece to see if that might get more attention? You have to gear it so the reviewers that sift through the manuscripts are impressed enough to send it on up the line.
Also, have you thought of hiring a proofreader and/or editor or someone with a keen eye to edit your piece and then self publishing it? Just a thought.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
9 Jan 11
I'm sure you're right about the proofreading. Spell checkers don't know the difference between "their" and "there" though! There's nothing that can do as good a job as a human being, IF that human being is trained.
Good luck with getting published! I'm sure you will.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
8 Jan 11
In many aspects. I think that the job of a proofreader has been left to all of the electronic devices that we have for example spell check with the different writing applications that are available. This was suppose help cut down the need of someone to proofread the material.
I really feel that they shouldn't have, or if they didn't they need to get better people.
Yes, I have attempted to change the name of my piece. Thanks for the idea though. I am currently looking to see how much a literary agent will cost and what all they will do to promote my books and help me get them published. After all that is their job.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
6 Jan 11
the problem with publishing a book or a story is it has to be marketable in the viewpoint of a larger part of readers. to be marketable is truly difficult because there is no definite interpretation for the whole concept. it all depends on what sells for God-knows-who at a particular point in time.
perhaps it would be good to try and try, so the saying goes. who knows at one point in time, there is that market for your stories or books to be on that level.
good luck to you!
@chulce (1537)
• United States
6 Jan 11
To totally agree, but I think that the screening process of certain things, needs to go through more than just one person making the decision. I have been to several publishing companies and that's the given situation. They don't think of going through a survey process, or hiring outsiders to read a manuscript and get opinions. I think that would also help a great deal. Just like the way some of the manufacturers do with the product surveys and such, testing to see if a product could potentially work.
@lingli_78 (12821)
• Australia
6 Jan 11
i'm not a writer... but i can understand how you feel and your frustration... yes, it is hard to become a well-known writer and get your book published especially if you just started... it really required lots of hardwork and determination to success... and i agree with you that if a famous people write a book, it will get published faster and easier just because of the name alone which sometimes i think is not fair... take care and have a nice day...
@chulce (1537)
• United States
6 Jan 11
Thanks for your thoughts, I really appreciate it. Its all about that almighty few dollars that we can all put in our pockets. Publishing companies are no different, if they see a big name and they think they can get that person to write a book, they will try it. Of course they don't see the whole picture and realize that the book has serious potential to be a flop because that person doesn't have any writing talent. So the bottom line of course, its all about the money.
@fannitia (2167)
• Bulgaria
5 Jan 11
Hi, Chulce! I'm older than you and I live in Bulgaria - a former socialist country. It's sad to mention but before the "wind of changes" in 1989 here, it was impossible to see a published book with errors! Sometimes a few ones appeared during the printing process. But after that the editor was checking the book one last time and a little note with the errors was added. It was a time with fake economy and without freedom of speach. There were only state owned publishers and self-publishing was illegal. But they were giving enough money to get editors and proof-readers and publish perfect texts. Nowadays most kids wright with errors because they see them in the books (there is no need to speak about the net!)
And you have to submit your work to different publishers. Maybe it's possible to try in other countries. I wish you a good luck
@chulce (1537)
• United States
6 Jan 11
fannitia,
Thanks for your input. Wow Bulgaria, fascinating. Would love to hear from a local some history information. You have already given me some, just with the little bit about publishing there.
It is horrible how children are viewing the bad writing and then following suit. Many of the schools are trying to correct the issues, however, if the information in their own grammar books are incorrect, how can we expect our children to have the right information. In many ways, I feel that some of the older text books need to be reprinted and used in the schools again. I feel by having the correct information, it could help improve things a great deal.
@AdalieM (1134)
• United States
6 Apr 11
Self publishing can be easy but some people think of it as a big joke. Unless you have an English major and know all there is to know about proper grammar you'll be OK, but you will have to edit and proofread your own work as you said. I love to write, but I don't consider myself as a professional writer. I am writing a horror novel, but I know I won't get far if I self publish my book, I just want to do it for the satisfaction of having something published. If you really want to become a famous or known writer you will have to accept rejection and keep on trying until the right publisher sees your talent, if other books went to print with a few errors it shows me and you that we can get a book published no matter what.
• United States
5 Jan 11
Book publishing business can be stressful, disappointed, and hopeless if you have no other source of income to keep you going. However, I believe that the harder you try the more chances you will get somewhere, someday.
Maybe it is time to stop asking why others make it and you didn't; asking why is like pulling a leg, it will never stop. If you are really passionate about writing then think of it as your hobby, have fun with it and it might bring you unexpected joy at the end.
Good Luck
@chulce (1537)
• United States
6 Jan 11
You are right, it is a stressful world. But, not just in the writing market, right now we are stressed all over it feels like.
You are correct in stating that the harder you work the better chances you have. It reminds me of somethings that I have seen on here. There are so many people looking for easy money, I'm sure that if they just apply themselves, they can get where they want to be.
Thanks for your wonderful words, believe me, I'm going to keep pressing on and continue to see if I can get my children's novel published.
