by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

The pathway to publication is paved with potholes. Some say that for a writer to become published, you have to be in the right place at the right time. This thought is true to some extent but is not the norm. Others demand it happens only when they “make” it happen. Still, some abide by the old ways of “it happens when it happens.” Any of those things can and will eventually bring a writer to success, but what defines success? I live by the thought that the industry has a weeding process. That, in and of itself, can hurt.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

One can begin by saying it’s long and taxing. It is. But learning the craft of writing is no different than that of painting, acting, or singing. By that, I mean the individual must learn the craft. Over and over, I preach this scenario. Learn the craft. Learn the craft. Yet authors quicken their pace to find an easy in to publication which only leads to, once again, hurt.

Publication comes when a writer is publication-ready; that doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, study, and practice. Then it takes more. Waiting. The industry wheel turns slowly from trends to the physical side of printing. There is nothing fast about this line of work.

Publishers juggle multitudes of authors at once. Should you be contracted,  you aren’t the only spoke in the wheel. We are in the last quarter of 2023. This means contracting authors is slowing for the year. 2023 is closed, and those acquired during this year are looking at publication in 2025. I hear the gasps through my computer,  but you must understand some things.

Look at the reality. Let’s say a medium-sized publisher may only have four lead editors. They may contract fifteen books during the year. Those four editors must content edit three to four books each, but while they edit those books, they are still finishing edits on the titles scheduled for release during the current year. Their workload just went up. Now, our editors are juggling seven to eight books, and there are only seven days in a week. Add in managing the tasks that must remain on the timeline, like ensuring marketing has reached out. Cover designers and the folks in layout, interior design and proofing are working on their end. Are you beginning to see why the publishing process is slow? It’s not that folks are lying down on the job. The jobs are so plentiful, and the laborers who keep the balls in the air are few. Juggling the balls becomes a real challenge.

Then, throw in an author who misses a deadline, and all the balls that were tediously balanced now hit the floor. Things get pushed back, and books get delayed, which hurts the author and the publisher. So, how do you think I get a weeding process out of all this?

The weeding happens when authors are unwilling to wait until their work is ready for publication. It happens when they rush to a conference thinking the first thing they must do is get an agent even when they have nothing written – no completed manuscript for an agent to sell. Writers grow frustrated and tired and quit. Hence, the weeding process happens.

It breaks my heart to see enthusiastic writers lose their excitement because the industry isn’t what they thought it should be. The truth is publishers are producing large numbers of new titles yearly, they want your book to be as perfect as possible, which takes time.

Writing is a craft, and for you to do it well, you must study to learn it. Just like the painter learns techniques, writers must learn writing mechanics. This is a wonderful industry, but nothing happens quickly. Every part of the process is slow and meticulous.

Though tough, we are fortunate to work in an industry that joins us with others who seek and love the Father in heaven. There is nothing in life worth having that isn’t filled with hardships, frustrations, and hurts, but in the end, it was well worth the wait.

Even after twenty-five years in the industry, I still find those knocks that hurt. Don’t let the hard stuff knock you off your feet. Remember that the one who placed the desire to write in you, also guides His work in you to fruition. Keep writing. Keep practicing. Keep moving ahead. Your time will come.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.