Countdown
By Jon F. Merz
Download all of Jon's "Countdown" columns in e-book form for
free by clicking here.
Issue 52
Welcome to Countdown, the column that will take you inside the process of getting my first novel "The Fixer,"
into print.
One year ago, I heard that I would finally become a published author - a
novelist. The news that a major publishing house wanted to put my novel
out justified the seven year struggle to see print. I was overjoyed,
excited, and anxious about the coming twelve months. I had no idea what to
expect; I had no information about what challenges I’d be facing.
I set out to find some help. And found almost nothing.
This newsletter began as something of a whim - a way to get my name out there in
front of people and also a (hopefully helpful) guide to those in the same boat
or those who would some day be in the same boat. I wrote a weekly column
straight from the hip. My successes, my failures, and my lukewarm
in-betweens have been laid out here for you all to read and enjoy - or at least
learn from.
In so many ways, we’ve learned from each other. Those of you who have
been kind enough to send me notes over the last year with suggestions,
compliments, or even the occasional criticism have helped make this newsletter
more than the simple thing it started as. It’s become a roadmap of sorts
- pockmarked with waypoints where we’ve journeyed together and tried to
untangle this crazy publishing world. Some of the more important things I
think we’ve covered include:
1. How to stick up for your beliefs when dealing with editors and agents without
necessarily coming across as a pain in the buttocks.
2. Agents are not necessarily 100% nifty and sometimes you have to remind
them they work for you and not vice versa. And sometimes you have to fire
them and move on.
3. Unless you are signed to a multi-million dollar deal, you’d better plan
on handling your own publicity campaign, otherwise your book may vanish very
soon after its pub date.
4. Asking for blurbs from major authors is an entirely feasible proposition -
provided you have the guts and courtesy to approach them.
5. Marketing is NOT a dirty word for authors.
Twelve months to publication filled with routine tasks like copyediting, page
proofing, cover art, typos, marketing, signings and appearances, website
overhauls, and more. And twelve months filled with the unexpected like
having to fire my agent and dealing with a lackadaisical publicity department at
my publishing house.
And despite the fact that this is the final issue of "Countdown," the
challenges and obstacles - as well as the successes, show no signs of stopping.
For example, this week I sent an email to my former agent asking how she
intended to begin marketing subsidiary rights. Her response was that since
my publishing house has foreign rights, she doesn’t intend to do anything.
Well, the sticker is my pub house doesn’t have foreign rights. We kept
those. So I’ve got to remind my agent that we do have those rights and
get her off her butt to market them. Fun, fun, fun.
I’ve got the copyedited manuscript for THE INVOKER sitting on my desk, still
awaiting my attention. It’s been a crazy couple of days and I’m
obviously behind schedule. But it’ll get done. They always do.
I’m still trying to nail down an appearance on a local radio show. I’m
still mailing out scores of review copies (something my publisher should have
done, but didn’t…). And I’m still trying to figure out why a
national chain like Border’s hasn’t gotten my book in stock yet, despite the
fact they’ve had it on order for months.
So as much as this is the end of "Countdown," it’s the start and
indeed, the continuation of my career as a novelist. I’ll still be
talking about all the things that happen as I journey along. You’ll
still be able to read about the new novels, the fun stuff and the tough stuff as
well.
But our "Countdown" is at last over. THE FIXER sits on shelves
in stores; it sits on shelves in homes; it’s being read. And since the
book is out, we are at last…out of time.
I’ve had an incredible amount of fun writing this and I hope you’ve found a
lot to learn from in these pages. This newsletter is what I wished I could
have found twelve months ago. I hope you hang on to it and reread it from
time to time. There will always be archived issues out at my site (and
yes, I know the page needs updating - it will be soon…) and if you’ve missed
any, please go back and read the issues you missed.
If this newsletter has helped you, I’m glad. Drop me a line when you
have success of your own to talk about. And then help out another
struggling writer if you can. Remember to give something back. Hoarding
success doesn’t help anyone - least of all the hoarder.
The new newsletter will be published monthly. It might be a bit longer.
And if you’re subscribed to "Countdown," there’s no need to
re-sign-up. The new newsletter will be sent from the same list maintainer,
so you’re already subscribed.
So that’s it. El finito grande. Thanks for letting me talk to you
and I hope we’ll be speaking for many years to come.
Dare, persevere - and succeed!
ORDER
THE BOOK BY CLICKING HERE.
Countdown Newsletter is published weekly by Jon F. Merz. All contents
copyrighted 2001. No part of this column may be reproduced in any form
without express written permission from Jon F. Merz. Contact information:
email: zrem@earthlink.net
URL: http://www.zrem.com.
Don't forget to buy your official THE FIXER gear at http://www.cafepress.com/fixer1.
All proceeds go to benefit children battling AIDS at the Elisabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS foundation located in Los Angeles.
If you'd like to receive this column by e-mail each Saturday, please sign
up for the newsletter at Jon's website!
