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This week: 5 Publishing Myths: True or False Edited by: Vivian  
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Myths abound in the writing world. Some about publishing are true, and some aren't. Let's examine 5 myths and see what truth we can find.
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Publishing Myths: True or False? Five to Start
Some of the publishing myths circulating scare authors enough that they are unwilling to try to have their work published. Some of the “myths” have a little truth mixed with fallacy; others have a large amount of truth; and the rest are completely false. Let’s examine five of those myths and see what is true and what isn’t.
Myth 1. A writer has to know someone in New York City to get published.
First of all, not all publishers are located in New York City any more. Every state has small or university publishers. California, Texas, and Utah have some rather influential publishers now. They may not be one of the giant four, but they are gaining in stature. Some small presses offer as much as the large houses for new authors.
Secondly, the idea of only celebrities being sought by publishers isn’t exactly true. Of course a major publisher may better promote a celebrity’s book or even read a manuscript by one first, but the work still needs to be well-written – most of the time. In today's publishing world, even celebrities have problems finding a publisher. Major publishers are not taking chances any more; in fact, some authors who have been contracted for years find they won't be given another contract. That's not a myth, by the way.
However, the idea that an author must have a personal connection to a publisher, if he isn’t found on Entertainment Tonight, isn’t so. Yes, having a next-door-neighbor who is the aunt of an editor with Doubleday may get a manuscript read sooner, but that doesn’t mean anything else. If the writing is poorly done, it will be just as rejected as something off the “slush” pile which wasn’t good. Nancy Kress, in Writer’s Digest June 2001, says, “Connections will not close the sale if the manuscript is no good.”
Myth 2. An author needs to be represented by a mega-superstar agent.
A good agent can help writers make their way through the legal mazes, presenting material to publishers, finding the solution for different aspects of the publishing field. That doesn’t mean that a writer should either get the best-named agent in the world or not try to get an agent. For most small publishers, an agent isn't required as for a major publishing company.
The key to finding an agent is to find one who knows the business, who is interested in promoting his/her clients, and who wants what is best for the client. That doesn’t always mean the “top” agents in the field, who have many clients and obligations.
Now in the days of instant communication, excellent agents can be found everywhere, but California has become second in importance to New York. The main thing to look for is experience, other clients, successes in author clients. Finding whether the agent is a member of the ethical organization, AAR, is one step to discovering a competent, honest agent. Finding an agent who works well with the client helps for a successful partnership.
In today's tight publishing market, agents find their jobs much more difficult since major publishing houses are accepting fewer and fewer authors, depending mainly on their current and more high-selling authors.
Remember, though, a bad agent is worse than no agent. And, an agent isn’t always necessary, but that’s an entirely different subject, maybe to be covered another time.
Myth 3. Writers must start small and write what they know.
Let’s break this down into two parts. First, writers must start small: No, they should start with the best they have to write. Sometimes, an author can take a short story and expand it into a book, but that doesn’t mean that all writers have to write flash fiction and short stories to start. If a book is what a writer has inside, then a book should be written.
Yes, at times a non-fiction writer does better submitting to local and regional magazines and newspapers, but not always. If a topic works for a major newspaper or magazine, a writer should submit a proposal to that paper or magazine. The only real limits on an author are the ones talent, lack of effort, or fear create.
The second part of this myth is writing what a person knows. Actually, Daniel Lazar, an agent from Writers House agency, says, “Writing what you know should actually be write what excites you.”
Of course research increases what people “know.” Also when anyone writes about anything, bits of knowledge are used. For example, I have never traveled in space. If I decided to write about traveling to another galaxy as a colonist, I would have no personal knowledge about the topic. However, I could take the experience of going under anesthetic to show how a person being put into suspended animation might feel as a drug takes effect. Writing such a story or book would excite me enough to allow me to use a little of what I know, what I research, and what I imagine. An author’s interest and excitement is more important than what is already known about a subject or topic.
Myth 4. Authors have to label the exact genre of work to get an agent.
According to agents Irene Goodman and Daniel Lazar, at the OWFI Writing Conference, an agent is impressed with a well-written, attention grabbing pitch letter and interesting, good material rather what genre the material may be or not be. Labeling something as horror/thriller/romance/sci-fi doesn’t garner any type of interest on the part of an agent. If it’s a novel, the agents say, then just say, “My novel ...”
Myth 5. Agents are members of a big club that’s secret and hard to get into.
What’s sad about this myth is that it is false. Anyone can call himself or herself an agent. There is no license required or test to pass. Anyone can have business cards printed up or place advertisements in newspapers or magazines calling himself an agent.
Many real agents exist all over the country. They are people who have been involved in or with publishing and have connections with publishing companies. Some may have been published themselves; others may have been editors or otherwise involved with a publishing company.
Authors need to research to find the type of agent they need, but agents don’t belong to a secret club. The secret is for writers to ask questions. In fact authors need to ask themselves if they really need an agent. Since the major publishers are accepting much fewer manuscripts, agents aren't always the answer to being published. Authors might research smaller, traditional, honest publishers.
That ends the first five myths of many. In time we’ll examine some more.
Sources:
1. Oklahoma Writers Foundation Inc. Conference, May 6, 2006, session with Daniel Lazar of Writers House
2. Nancy Kress, “ Urban Myth vs. the Truth,” Writer’s Digest , June 2001
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