Bill Arnott: I’ve Finished My Manuscript

I’ve Finished My Manuscript! What Happens Now?

Bill Arnott

I’ve had fun, for the most part, splitting my author time between indie and traditional publishing. Like most things, both sides of the coin have pros and cons. I know successful writers who turn down traditional deals to pursue indie endeavours, loving the freedom to write and sell what they want, how they want, when they want. I admit, it’s a nice feeling passing someone a copy of your book in exchange for a twenty. (Yes, I claim that on my taxes.) Meanwhile, other writers want nothing more than to sign a traditional publishing deal.

Obviously, I’ll be giving you an exhaustive analysis of the process in the next 500 words or so, he said mirthfully. But seriously, think of this as a carefully thought-out but concise overview. If you’re one of the majority that would like to publish your (brilliant) manuscript traditionally, please do the following: get it as close to flawless as possible—spelling, grammar, punctuation and layout. You already know how to change hats between creative and editorial. Hone this skill—the ability to change roles. You’ll need to develop this expertise further as you shift focus from creating your book to marketing it.

But I don’t want the word “product” associated with my art, you might think. Sorry, that ship sailed the moment you chose to share your book with strangers or you expect compensation for your effort. If you only cared about the art, you’d write your book and set it with pride on a shelf. But if you’re reading this, your work is commercial. Yes, it’s art. And it’s product. No matter how you publish—indie or traditional—the marketing (i.e. your commercial success) is entirely up to you. That’s not to say a traditional publishing team won’t be there to help, guide, and coach. They will. But you marketing your work is part of the deal. In fact it’s probably the most significant part of the equation. We all know great books that don’t sell, and crap books that sell like gangbusters. It doesn’t warrant analysis. It is what it is. Which I find empowering. Write your very best work. Then rewrite it many, many more times.

And know that bestsellers don’t get written, they get made. Any book can be a bestseller with sufficient commitment and a great deal of ongoing effort. The formula’s simple. Not easy, but simple.

Back when pithy expressions of empowerment were de rigueur, we’d say “plan the work and work the plan.” Know this. Apply it. It works. If you intend—not hope or wish—but intend to make your work a commercial success, commit to it. Plan it. State it (to yourself; no one wants to hear your grandiose aspirations). Then go to work. This is, after all, a career. A wonderfully sustainable one. And because of its endless rewards (connections, friends, support) it has to come with challenges. And let’s not forget fit. Seek out a publisher that’s right for you. Yes, it’s overwhelming, mind-numbing work, but so is (was) writing, rewriting and editing your (still brilliant) manuscript. Start with your network. Ask around. I chose a small geographical base to begin with, which helped organize my planning, then worked outward from there—city, province, etc.

The Association of Book Publishers of BC has a handy list of (BC’s) traditional publishers. Look through each publisher’s catalogue. Find genres or styles comparable to your own. (But my work’s utterly unique. No it’s not. And that’s good.) Then get out there and introduce yourself. Queries are important (and imperative) but a preliminary conversation—some fact-finding Q&A— can go a long way in determining fit and often quicken response times.

There’s a joke I like: “When you write a bestseller, people actually reply to your emails. But if you haven’t (yet) written a bestseller, you actually have time to write!” Point being, as I like to say, there’s no right or wrong, only what’s right for you. And if finding a well-suited traditional publisher to help take your book to the next level is your objective, then know that it’s in your wheelhouse. Write your best work, plan your prospective publisher short list, systematically approach your target publishers, and never, ever stop until you’ve accomplished what’s truly important to you.