AM I JUST UNLUCKY, OR..

IS THE UNIVERSE TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING?

Photo by Tim Photoguy on Unsplash

At the start of this year, I firmly decided that, yes, this would be the year I got my memoir out of the cupboard and out into the world. The world of readers! It had been a long and winding road to get it written, but this would be the year it would be in print.

Oh, as if!

I debated between a traditional publisher or self-publishing for ages.

I was told (more than once) that a traditional publisher would not be interested in my memoir because I am a nobody. That a story of weight gain, weight loss and weight maintenance, along with a crazy adventure story would not be of any interest.

But when I finally came down on the side of self-publishing, I thought I had found my answer.

After all, if you are paying for it, and calling the shots in terms of the edit, the cover, the release date, I thought it would just be a case of A follows B, then C, and then, boom: book done. Just quick and efficient.

Oh, as if!

Instead, it looks like the world of self-publishing companies is full of cowboys wanting to hold up the stagecoach and get you to hand over the cash. Their documents, which set out each side's obligations, are just designed to snap your fingers off.

With the first company I chose, I was quite elated to have found the solution to my publishing journey, and was ready to roll.

Then came the contract. I had the Society of Authors check it over, and their verdict was: Run! Run away right now! This is not even a self-publishing contract, it is basically slave labour.

So much for that venture. I was fortunate to get most of my down payment back.

I have to say, that stung, but I was grateful to have been pulled back from a bad deal. I just thought, well, I've chosen the wrong company.

As I know a self-published book is dead in the water without a lot of marketing, I checked another company, who were trumpeting that they had quite the marketing team and knew how to get my book noticed.

So, we began emailing, with them gaining my trust. Once again, I thought I'd found the solution. Even though the book is still only 44,000 words, the company allowed 20 photos to accompany the text, and they were ever so nice and encouraging.

I thought, this is it. Here we go at last.

But I also knew the book needed a developmental edit before it sat well. There was backstory that I just couldn't seem to cut, or make fit elsewhere. It sat like a boulder in the river. So we arranged for a developmental edit to be done.

Before sending off the manuscript for this edit, I wanted an agreement between myself and the company, outlining terms.

I couldn't believe the agreement they sent.

The first agreement was for £850 more than we'd agreed. When I challenged it, I was met with 3 days of silence. I had no idea what was going on. That was a red flag for me. It cannonballed my confidence in them.

The second agreement they sent did not state any financial terms at all. I could have agreed to any amount. Again, when I objected, more silence.

Looking over these experiences, somewhat impartially, I have to say to myself, is writing to be published your game? How much head-bashing, disappointments and general BS do you want?

I know I'm stubborn and feel I have a good story, but there's a limit. I fear if this isn't the limit, it's darn close.

So maybe the Universe IS saying, cool it. That's it. Not your bag. Look elsewhere. I really don't know.

Does anyone have a self-publishing company or hybrid publisher that they can recommend? It seems I've not been particularly lucky in choosing dance partners for this venture.

I wonder what it would have been like if Stephen King had been able to self-publish. He could have by-passed all those rejections. But would his work have ever seen the light of day if he'd done that? All conjecture!

If you want to know the names of the two companies who were less than sterling, DM me, and I'll let you know.

Comments please. I could use a pick-me-up. Do you have a self-publishing story to share?