I just tried to post this as a comment on Sarah Hoyt’s post about breaking into writing. Dunno if it went into moderation or just got eaten
Sarah, who I esteem very highly and is full of pungent and sensible advice on writing and other matters, left out two rules:
1. Write the book *before* you sell it.
2. The probability that your manuscript will be accepted varies directly with the size of the pre-existing fanbase the editor knows you have.
OK, this might just be me. But I’m a successful writer of nonfiction, with four solo books and two collaborations under my belt – all of which have done well. One of the four solo books cracked the NYT bestsellers’ list, and all but the very first of the solo books are still in print. So there’s reason to believe I’ve been doing something right.
1. Write the book *before* you sell it.
When editors don’t have to deal with the risk that you’ll blow a deadline or not deliver at all, they become amazingly compliant (well, for editors).
And it puts you in a power position come contract time. When we’re talking terms, I never have to speak the possibility that I might take the *completed* manuscript down the street to another publisher, but it’s there. Pulling me extra royalty points, and the ability to cross out any clause in the contract that claims rights other than “you get to print and sell this edition of this book” without fuss from the editor.
(In particular, *never* sign away the copyright. Nor “ancillary” rights like electronic publication. And if they tell you “standard practice”, your proper reply is “Fuck that noise!”)
2. The probability that your manuscript will be accepted varies directly with the size of the pre-existing fanbase the editor has reason to believe you have.
It is possible that the most powerful words a writer can say in today’s market is “Look at these site stats! My blog has X thousand readers”, for X high enough that at a 10% or so nibble rate the publisher can count on selling out a normal print run.
The most effective way of becoming a famous writer is to be famous for something else, first. Even if it’s just Internet fame – that can be enough.
UPDATE: It was in moderation. It has appeared now.