There's No Secret Handshake

Today Shannon Hale blogged about how every story must sell itself—that there is no secret Publishing Club and once an author is in, they're in for good. I want to add to her thoughts. I've had people suggest (some lightly, some not) that I belong to a secret publishing club, and that I have given my editors advice on which prospective authors to publish. This just isn't realistic. I don't have that kind of power, nor would I want it. My editors have never contacted me to ask my opinion on an author they're thinking about working with. They don't care what I think, and rightfully so. Because the thing is, I don't have to have a great working relationship with the other authors on my editor's list—I only have to have a great working relationship with her.

So if you're a writer and you're working toward publication, please know this. Your story sells itself. It's as simple as that. There is no secret handshake into the publishing world. It's not a popularity contest. When the rejection letters keep rolling in, it's easy to want to blame someone else. It's natural to want to understand why editors keep saying "no."  Trust me, I know. I've been there. But the truth is, established authors aren't conspiring against you. No one is conspiring against you (except maybe yourself). Editors are continually hopeful that the next manuscript they pick up will be the one. They want to love your story.  When they're reading your book, it isn't about you.  It's about the story.  

As Shannon said, it's a pretty level playing field out there. And that's the way it should be. Because when you do get published, you'll feel an immense sense of achievement and satisfaction knowing your book is getting published because it's a darn good story...and not because of external forces you had no control over.

-Becca