Recently I was asked by one of my friends to participate in a focus group. I’ve briefly mentioned her before and all of her public relations loveliness – skills and knowledge – and that she is one of the persons in this field that I trust and respect for knowing the craft of the PR industry. As of late she has taken on a client that is an author. While she is in the process of mapping out a solid strategy for her client she figured a focus group could help her and the client see the current direction of the book without representation. While I don’t know any details or particulars about the author, it is obvious that the person is self publishing the book. Actually, it seems that the author is about to commit self publishing suicide if she doesn’t take heed to my friend’s suggestions and learns to trust the person she hired.
The focus group was asked to take a look at the current cover for the book. The aesthetic is actually easy on the eyes. It’s very simple and not over or understated. I even mentioned that the font seemed on point for the type of book that it seems to be. What I didn’t mention, but just now thought about, the photo could have stand to use some kind of action. Not a whole lot, but something more than a still shot of flowers.
Then the nitty gritty. The title was very confusing. It was hard to decipher what the book is truly about without wanting to run to a synopsis. I mentioned three (or four?) guesses on what the book is about. After that many guesses I think I would quit and not even want to bother trying to figure out its content. Based on the title alone, it was hard to understand the true demographic intended for the book. The flowers and a word within the title suggest that it is meant for women, but what kind? What age range? Which region?
My friend was so relieved at the responses she was receiving. She mentioned that before the focus group she made some suggestions to her client, to which the client seemed to reject them and adamant in their stance. The client already had books pressed up and ready for distribution. When I heard that I deeply sighed. Unfortunately it’s an all too familiar story, especially with self publishing authors. I read horror story after horror story from the women in my online writing group that have a literary service business that naturally includes the service of….. EDITING!
A few months ago a member shared how she was hired to edit an author’s work (who already had previously self published a couple of books) and her client was in too much of a hurry to have her book published. The rush was because the author wanted this particular book published in time to sell at a conference. Naturally the author rejected any suggestions made and told my fellow member to do the best she could and to have it “ready” by whatever time or date. My fellow member complied, but not without a warning or a word to her client. Of course she would have rather that the author waited to have a quality product, because not only does the quality of the book reflects on the author but the editor as well. People do realize that authors (well MOST of us) seek out an editor, even if it is Pookie from around the way that we’ve known since seventh grade that got the side hustle of “proofreader.” We have another set of eyes looking at our work as we are cranking it out. So, when the content of a book seems jumpy, has misspellings, off balance with the entire plot or just lacking character development, the audience not only attacks the author, but they also ask “who was the editor?” and then proceeds to go HAM (look that up if you dare) on both.
To all my writers looking into jump into the self publishing pool, or even if you are there already, you got to know the importance of what a public relations specialist and an editor can do. It’s a wonderful thing to go and self publish and build up a publishing independence like no other. Yet, if this is your goal, you can not afford to be sloppy with your work.
Okay, so you don’t think you have enough shillings to pay for a high price fancy editor. Truth be told, there is a wealth of editing resources that could possibly work for your budget, big or small. Editors saturate this industry, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one. To start, the key is right in front of your face, that is if you read other people’s work. Reading the acknowledgement section of any book can be your golden ticket. Unless the author is very brief and incognito with info, more than likely you will find out out who their editor, publisher, public relations person, cover designer, literary agent and their whole family and crop of friends from kindergarten are based on who they say “thank you” to. Look up these people (sans family and friends). Find out if they have websites. Research.
To give you another hint, go to your local library, bookstore, wherever there are books and find a Writer’s Market manual. It’s annually published. Look for the most recent year if the current year is unavailable to you. I say go back no more than two years from the current year. Writer’s Market breaks down the profiles of publishing houses, literary agents and an array of literary services (editors, etc.) their prices, genres they accept, contact info, and more. Currently, I have a monthly subscription to the online version of Writer’s Market. It’s a God sent!
It’s pretty much the same thing when looking for a public relations person. Yet searching for one can be a bit tricky. Like editors, public relations professionals saturate .. well not just an industry, but it seems like the earth! They are everywhere! However, not everyone is a real pro at this! There are people proclaiming to be in PR but don’t have a clue into all that goes into it other than sending a press release and having lavish parties. You really have to research and get a feel for what your potential PR pro can do for you. One of the saddest things about the self publishing business is there are some really good books that come from this market, but nobody is making noise about them. Maybe it’s not your desire to be a full blown author on that level, but you still want your self published book of poetry to go beyond your family circle. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have bothered to publish it at all.
When considering a PR person, take into account if and how they will present your book to the masses. A really good one will ask you questions about your message in the book (if there is a real message), your intended audience, what are your goals with the book and yourself (what direction if any?) and they wouldn’t necessarily be hung up on branding. They would rather that your true natural talent shine without trying to change you or make you fit into a mold that isn’t you. The brand would be you and not a false image of you.
Now that you’ve hired your editor and PR pro, do you have tough skin? Do have trust in them to help you? Are you willing to listen to their suggestions as these are professionals with years of experience in their craft and industry? If you are the least bit hesitant or thinking no, I’m going to need for you to just exit from this post and rethink why are trying to become an author in the first place. These are the professionals willing to help you. When you found and consulted with them, certainly they believe in you enough to take you on as a client. Otherwise, if you are willing to toughen up your skin, listen to suggestions and even compromise (hint – the idea of a compromise is not about changing your style of writing or image as author) when it comes to the content then you just may be ready for the publishing world; self published or big time.
Remember it’s all about quality and making you and your work shine!
Mahoganie: Musings East of the Anacostia River 
Posted on January 27, 2012
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