edit « Robin Writes

Not every book is good. Not every story you’re going to read is going to be good. But everyone has a story worth telling.

I personally believe that – that every person has a story. Everyone goes through different things, everyone has their own issues to handle, and everyone reacts to things differently. I always like hearing people’s stories.

There’s something about authors that I’ve always admired. Being published requires you to put yourself out there. Whether your writing is intensely personal or just a good piece of writing that you want other people to read, it is a part of you, and you are exposing yourself to the world when your work is published. You are exposing yourself to the possibility of rejection, and you are exposing yourself to critique, both good and bad.

Now, I am not saying that everyone should write a book, by any means. Not everyone is the best at articulating their stories (although in this day and age, sometimes it seems like anyone can write a book). Not everyone should be a published writer. Honestly, sometimes it is hard to even sit there and listen to someone talk. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t all appreciate the fact that everyone has had to deal with something at some point in their lives.

That’s why I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt and to be nice whenever possible. It’s easier to get hurt that way sometimes, when you give people too many chances and they let you down all the time. Sometimes you have to know when to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt and stop letting them take advantage of your kindness. But I learned that old saying, “Treat people as you would want to be treated.” So that’s what I do. I’m not saying that my way of thinking should be adopted by everyone. But I think there is some merit to it, and maybe everyone can try to do this just a little bit more.

I always thought that, even though I might not like a certain song or movie or book or whatever, it’s something that other people appreciate and understand, and it’s another kind of art that takes courage (or, I guess you could say for some people, arrogance or cockiness) to put out there. I think, even if I don’t like something, I can appreciate the fact that someone else likes it, and let them like it. I don’t have to like it. I can appreciate the fact that someone has taken the initiative and made him or herself vulnerable to get his or her art out into the world.

I know we don’t live in a world that necessarily honors effort over other things. But hopefully we can still keep that in mind when we go about our daily business, interacting with people, making choices, forming opinions, speaking our minds. Everyone out there is trying. Trying to make good lives for themselves. Maybe even trying to get their messages out into the world, like all artists do. Some are more successful than others. Some go about their lives being nicer and kinder than others. We might not agree with everything everybody does. Actually, I can guarantee you that we won’t. And we will inevitably come across people who try to hurt others, or maybe don’t try to do anything at all. But in the end, we’re all human. We can give most people credit for trying.

I’m not suggesting that everyone try to psychoanalyze everyone with which they come into contact to figure their stories out. This doesn’t have to be in the forefront of everyone’s minds. But maybe we can tuck this away, somewhere in a corner of our minds, and maybe remind ourselves everyone once in a while, so that we can act with a little more kindness and appreciate the attempts.

So, complain, pick apart, criticize all you want. Just remember that the people on the other end of your comments were making an effort, just like you do in your own lives. They struggle, just like you do. They have their own stories, just like you do. They could very well give it all right back to you.

So all of those songs and paintings and books you don’t like – give the artists props for trying. Of course, you’re entitled to your opinions. But all of you are entitled to have your stories respected.

Today’s guest post comes from Conny Manero, a writer friend of mine from our online article-writing days. She has published three books, and is working on several other manuscripts.

From Conny:

“Why are we writing?

“With the birth of self-publishing companies, a lot of people reached for pen and paper, or fired up their computer and started writing stories.

“Self-publishing companies make it easy. Just upload the manuscript, pick a cover design and you’re done. But then what? Now that the book is published, who will buy it?

“Not only do mainstream authors have a proper publisher who has contracts with bookstores where they can offload hundreds of copies, those publishers have a marketing department and an unlimited budget for promoting an author’s latest work and sending out complimentary copies.

“In addition to posters and ads, the marketing department organizes book signings and appearances on radio and TV.

“Self-published authors have none of that. If they want to send out complimentary copies, they have to pay for them. Press releases to radio and TV are a waste of time. As for getting books into bookstores… I tried that once.

“I approached the store manager of the book chain Indigo. I told him about my book and showed him a copy. When I asked for shelf space and a book signing he was all for it. Everything looked promising until he asked, “Who is your publisher?” When I told him the book was self-published, his enthusiasm went from hot to cold in a matter of seconds.

“Truth is, no matter how popular self-publishing has become, for bookstores it’s still a dirty word.

“So why are we writing? If you’re writing for the fun… go for it. If you’re writing because it’s therapeutic… good idea. If you’re writing in the hopes of catching a mainstream publisher’s eye or getting your book in a book store… your chances are slim to none.

“Part of the problem is that some self-published books are not worth the paper they’re printed on – they’re not just bad, they’re very bad. Some are littered with typos, some have bad grammar, while some are factually incorrect, or just poorly written.

“Take Maggie’s book for instance. She wrote about the poor starving children of Africa. When I asked her about her experiences in Africa, she told me she’s never set foot out of Ohio. Her book was purely research.

“Why do some people think they can get away with that? I suppose some clever soul is going to come up with the idea of writing about climbing Mount Everest or crossing Niagara Falls, just because such adventures can be researched online.

“Do I have a mainstream publisher for my books? No I don’t, I self-published too. Are my books any good? Who knows? Family and friends say yes, but they’re not exactly reliable critics. Would you tell you tell someone you know that his/her work stinks? Of course not. Not only do proper manners forbid such honesty, you wouldn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. Besides, what’s good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

“Perhaps what some writers need are good editors. Have you ever noticed how published authors always thank their editor? That’s because they make the original story better. Who knows what the original manuscript looked like? Maybe those famous authors write no better than you and I, but their publisher can afford to hire a talented editor.

“Why are we writing? I no longer know.”

I wanted to add a bit to Conny’s contribution today. She makes some very good points about self-publishing, especially when it comes to the attitudes of some booksellers. However, chain stores such Indigo or B&N frequently cannot host events or stock SP books for one reason: most SP books are print-on-demand, or POD, and aren’t in the registers of most chain stores. That means that, no matter how many books you might sell at an event, the store has no way to pay your for those books. One possibility is by taking payment yourself, which might require some extra accounting and work on your part; some stores might work with you, in that case.

Another thing Conny mentioned was traditional publishers. The Big Six, or Five, may unload “hundreds of copies” through big chain stores, but most indie booksellers purchase 3-4 copies of a book through a distributor such as Ingram or Baker and Taylor. And, unless your name is Patterson or King, they aren’t going to spend money on ANY author, new or established. Sure, they have contacts, and their names alone can open some doors, but they’re downsizing just like everyone else.

However, there are traditional publishers who aren’t part of the Big Five – small presses, like RHP, who do pay standard royalties (or higher) and who do a lot of promotion. The author is also expected to do promotion and marketing, but many, many authors with the Big Five do that too.

Whether an author goes the SP route or obtains a contract with any traditional publisher, there’s a lot of work to be done for everyone. The first thing, of course, is to make sure you have a top-notch product: your book. Then you have to put yourself out there, take the good with the bad, and keep working. Often, the writing turns out to have been the “easy” part.

Conny Manero lives in Toronto, Canada, with her son and four shelter cats. She is the author of two novels, “Waiting for Silverbird” and “Voice of an Angel,” and two children’s books, “Kitten Diaries” and “Debbie” (unpublished). She has contributed to publications such as Chicken Soup for the Soul, Elite Magazine and GreenPrints. She is also a freelance writer for websites such as Life Answers and Daily Glow.

When not writing, Conny is an active fundraiser for the Toronto Cat Rescue and a league and tournament player in ten-pin bowling.

You can read more at Conny’s blog.