We have now reached 2009 and we’re getting more and more emails from brand new authors who have either already started making costly mistakes or who are on the verge of doing so.

Is it the economy that is prompting people to suddenly bring their writing to the forefront in an attempt to supplement their dwindling incomes? Or, with so many layoffs and business failures, are these people just now finding the time to write? Whatever the reason, many hopeful authors are debuting their magnificent manuscripts. And many of them are making some dreadful choices.

Unfortunately, some writer types are missing the publishing gene. They know how to write. They can complete a project. But they have no idea how to proceed beyond that. And, even though most writers must do some measure of research in order to produce a nonfiction or fiction book, they don’t seem to have the ability to appropriately research the publishing industry. They don’t know what their publishing options are, the possible consequences of their choices and their responsibilities as a published author.

Anyone who has been in this business for any length of time knows that it takes a completely different mindset and a different set of activities to shift from writer to published author. Attempt to enter into the world of publishing without enough information and expect a quick road to success and you will be among the more than 76 percent of authors who fail each year.

Why do so many authors find themselves in bad situations? Here’s why: They leap before they look. They seek the easy way to success. They do a surface Internet search and believe the hype of the first companies to appear. They feel they did the hard work—the writing. Now they want to coast and rely on someone else to take it from here—to create a success from their amazing projects.

Hey guys, you already know that writing is hard work. It can be grueling. But I’m here to tell you that experiencing success with your published book is 10 times or even 100 times harder. And success comes to those authors who are willing to learn, to work and to sacrifice.

What are the steps to successful publishing?

• Education. Study the publishing industry and keep studying.
• Participation. Be involved and savvy every step of the way.

Think about it, if you wanted to become a parent, would you start seeking services to help you feed the baby, cuddle her, bathe her, shop for the necessities and eventually discipline her? No. Parenting is a hands-on activity and you should look at publishing in the same way. Sure, you will seek out expert advice, but you, the parent, will decide which to accept and you will apply it.

You, the author, must understand how the publishing industry works. You need to know your options and the possible consequences of your choices. And you must take responsibility for creating the measure of success you desire.
I’m going to go out on a limb and offer the following warnings to new authors:

• Do NOT consider publishing your book until you have written a book proposal (a business plan for your book) and you have had your manuscript professionally edited. You will learn volumes about the potential for your particular book through a well-researched book proposal. And you will learn volumes from a savvy editor who is also knowledgeable about the publishing industry.

• Do NOT sign with the first publishing service that woos you. You need to know that there are right around 100 such services. Some are better (more author-friendly) than others. And, of course, there are other options for authors. You do not have to pay to have a good book produced.

• Do NOT sign any contract that you do not fully understand. Do not rely on the company representative to explain the contract. Get the assistance of a literary or intellectual properties attorney.

• Do NOT hire a press release service to help you promote your book—at least not without truly understanding what they offer and what your alternatives are. It has been my observation that the author is much more apt to have better results sending press releases than an impersonal service—especially if the author educates him/herself as to the process.

• Do NOT even consider signing with a distributor unless you understand your major role in marketing your own book.

• Do NOT expect a representative from any agency, organization or company to do the work you must do on behalf of your book project. You know your book better than anyone and you care about it more. You are the ideal advocate and promoter for your book. If you can’t see yourself in an active marketing role on behalf of your book, consider producing it simply as a lovely gift for family and friends.

If, on the other hand, you want to experience success with your magnificent book—you want to help others, make a difference in the world, teach an important concept or simply entertain readers—take charge of your potential success.

What should you know about publishing? Everything. It is up to you, the author, to educate yourself and this means serious and constant research, lots of comparison studies, subscriptions to important publications, membership in appropriate organizations, a study of books by publishing experts, the willingness to become and to remain involved and all with a wide open mind.

Robin Beck