Augustine Harper

As a fledgling author, it is hard to overstate the importance of know-how and advice from those already in the industry. Most of this advice is aimed at the writing process (which I will definitely cover in future blog posts!). However, if you’re like me and looking for help on what to do after you’ve written “The End,” you might not know where to look. Most authors love to give their fans a look into the writing process itself, detailing their methods for crafting memorable plots and captivating characters. While this is immensely helpful for writers trying to turn an idea into a full novel, how do you go about getting published?

Enter, Kathryn Mae Inman, author of the riveting memoir Counting Spoons: A Memoir of Heroin, Heartache, and Hope. Published in February of 2022, Counting Spoons has received glowing reviews on platforms such as Amazon and Goodreads. I am fortunate enough to know her and be able to follow her guidance through the complicated world of publishing. As I was first delving in to the “business side” of the writing world, I turned to Ms. Inman for advice. I hope you will find it as enlightening and helpful as I did!

Q: Say I have just finished my book. What should I do next?

A: Before you do anything, make sure you’ve done a round (at least) of editing yourself. Catch all the silly mistakes and typos that will affect readability. Now, you’ll want to find some beta readers. In many ways, a beta reader is more important than a professional editor. They’re a small sample of the “average reader,” and can give you an idea as to how the public may receive your book. Friends and family are a good place to start. You can also use social media, especially Twitter, to find beta readers. There’s also websites dedicated to helping writers find readers for their work. While not every reader is going to give you high-level feedback, even knowing whether or not they understood and enjoyed the story is helpful. I recommend at least finding one beta reader, though having three or more is better.

Q: Beta readers can take awhile to get through a story. Is there anything else I should do in the meantime?

A: It’s never too early to begin working on a book synopsis, book blurb, and query letter. While the need for these things can differ depending the route of publishing you go for, they’re helpful to have on hand. Landing an agent or publisher essentially comes down to the quality of your pitch, so a strong query letter can make or break you. The synopsis is another document often requested by agents and publishers. Its purpose is to outline the entire arc of your story, in order to give agents an idea what your story is about, and if it seems like a good fit for their agency. These things might seem easy, but they’re a lot harder than you think! Start now, and you’ll have plenty of time to perfect your queries and synopses before you’re ready to start exploring publishing.

Q: Speaking of publishing, is there a specific method you think is best?

A: All forms of publishing have their merits. Generally speaking, publishing is done in one of three ways: either through an agent, directly through a publisher, or through self-publishing. There are many obvious benefits to having an agent. They’ll be the ones dealing with the publishers and working to get you a publishing deal. This means less work for you, and more time to focus on writing. You will also typically get a sign-on bonus. However, agents take commission, meaning you’ll make less money on sales. I know when I was first starting out, the idea of landing an agent seemed impossible. For many, this can seem like a difficult first step, especially as a new writer with nothing but a debut novel to show for it. Going straight to a publisher allows you to avoid the process of finding an agent. However, you’ll have to query and court the publisher without the support of an agent. You’ll also be alone in navigating the contracts. Whether you go for an agent or seek out a publisher, it’s important to be wary of scammers. Always research offers. Most agents will have a website to prove their legitimacy, same with publishers. The main goal of having an agent or publisher is to have them absorb all the costs of publishing. A publisher who wants you to pay isn’t traditional, so you need to be careful. Agents and publishers take a commission, that’s where they make their money. Self-publishing is also a good option, as it allows you to bypass the business side of the industry. However, that means all publishing costs go to you.

Q: Many famous writers, such as Neil Gaiman and John Green, have large social media presences. How would you recommend a new author utilize social media?

A: The most important thing you can do is make an author website. Here, you can put your personal information, contact info, and describe your work, among other things. This makes it easier for curious agents and publishers to get more familiar with you, and get a sense if the relationship is a good fit. Making a website is pretty easy nowadays. You can use platforms like WordPress to set up a site, and pay a nominal fee for a URL. Keep the site title simple. yourname.com is the best. If someone were to look your name up on Google, you’d want the first result to be your website, so avoid unnecessarily artsy titles. For other social media, it varies. It’s typically believed that agents would like you to have 10,000 followers on all of your social media accounts. While having a large audience of people is very helpful for spreading the word on your work, not all social media sites are created equal. Twitter is definitely one of the better platforms for writers. It’s very popular with people of all ages, allowing you to reach a broad audience. Twitter is definitely something I used for marketing. Other sites can be hit or miss. Facebook can be good for marketing both businesses and yourself, though it’s much less popular among the younger crowd, so if you have a younger target audience, Facebook wouldn’t be the best bet. Instagram is another very popular site. However, it is very visual, making it less ideal for promoting a written medium. In any case, a large social media following makes it easier to promote new work, and also makes it more likely for you to be noticed by an agent. That being said, the single most important factor in your success is your writing. Having a large audience is helpful, but can’t make up for not having a solid story. Your number one focus should always be your writing!

Q: Do you have any other advice for new authors looking to get published?

A: Never give up! Getting published takes time. There will be rejections, but if you keep putting your work out there, sooner or later you’ll find the right agent or publisher for your story. Work hard and be patient, and sooner or later your dream will become a reality.

I can’t thank Ms. Inman enough for her guidance and advice. I hope this advice can help some of you on your writing journey. As Ms. Inman emphasized, the path to getting published is a long and winding one. I have already started drafting a query letter and synopsis as she suggested. If writing those is anything like writing my debut novel, it will be quite awhile and many drafts until these documents are in their final, presentable form. As always, I’ll keep you updated on my writing journey, and will continue to share what I learn along the way!