Yes Yes and Amen! I believe there is another way, but it won't look just one way. Best for us to follow the prompting from the Holy Spirit and ask for revelation on what we write, how we write, how/where we publish, and all the other details. I'm sad Christian publishing looks the way it does overall, but as with everything else, God wants to redeem what's been broken in publishing too. Bit by bit. As for you dear friend...please keep writing. Love you and always cheering you on!
Yes. I love that you wrote this Jess. (I think you know how I feel about these things!) I remember telling my small press dreams to someone advising me at a writers' conference on the next steps in my publishing journey. I said my dream was small press because my favorite books came from small, mostly university-based presses. The response was, "You don't want to do that. You want a big five publisher. Let's get you an agent." I got caught up in the one way to do things, the prescribed road of joining online communities where you learn the nuts and bolts of platform building and getting attention. Turns out, on this side of the first book deal, that no, that route to publishing wasn't a great fit for me at all. Seminary was.
No one in Christian publishing told me higher education was the right path for me and for what I wanted to do with writing. I'm two years down the right road for me now, and all I have left in my MA program is my thesis/culminating project. I am doing the sort of writing I love now, outside the public eye while it's coming together, and my highest hope is to be published by a small press.
Deb thank you so much for this! It often feels like publishing is a conveyor belt you just get dropped on. So thrilled to hear of your continued joy at school!
Thanks for this post. As an indie-author (self-publisher, whatever we want to call it) who is wondering about the world of trad publishing and whether I ought to explore that route for future projects, this is so encouraging, to read something different than complaints and gripes.
This was my experience, as well. It was a ton of work, but I had so much freedom and support during the publishing process. I often forget how lucky I was. Thanks for this.
I have had 2 different agents. (Both were great). I've been traditionally published 4 times with Christian publishers. I got so jaded and discouraged with the "business first" approach, and broken promises (and how they chase people with huge followings but sketchy theology) that I'm now embracing direct sales (indie publishing). It's still the same amount of marketing work, (I think it's worth repeating: It's the same amount of marketing work= YOU are fully responsible whether trad or indie published) but now I can make the changes to the cover. I can run a poll and pick the best subhead, I can do. . .whatever I want! And one of my books from 20 years ago just keeps selling, like the Little Engine that Could. Sooooo, I would encourage faith-based writers to think about that. (Listen to Mary DeMuth's interview on Writing Off Social podcast). On the other hand, if a small publisher came along (who didn't want all rights forever amen including everything electronic until I die) and was secular- I might bite. Because then I wouldn't have the expectations of behavior you do with faith-based publishers. #heartbreak. On the other hand, all this experience has clarified the most important thing: faith-based writers write for an audience of ONE. If He says, "Well done!" Then the job is done. Not what social media says. Not what Amazon says. Not what my Shopify store says. As long as we are chasing favor apart from God, we will be forever discouraged.
This was so thoughtful and deeply encouraging. What a gift to have found a publisher you admire and find mutual support from. Currently pinching myself that publishers such as these really do exist! Thanks for sharing another way of navigating it all.
I love this. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you for saying so Tasha-that means such a great deal!
Yes Yes and Amen! I believe there is another way, but it won't look just one way. Best for us to follow the prompting from the Holy Spirit and ask for revelation on what we write, how we write, how/where we publish, and all the other details. I'm sad Christian publishing looks the way it does overall, but as with everything else, God wants to redeem what's been broken in publishing too. Bit by bit. As for you dear friend...please keep writing. Love you and always cheering you on!
Such an encouragement. The redemption does feel like it’s happening as you say, bit by bit.
Yes. I love that you wrote this Jess. (I think you know how I feel about these things!) I remember telling my small press dreams to someone advising me at a writers' conference on the next steps in my publishing journey. I said my dream was small press because my favorite books came from small, mostly university-based presses. The response was, "You don't want to do that. You want a big five publisher. Let's get you an agent." I got caught up in the one way to do things, the prescribed road of joining online communities where you learn the nuts and bolts of platform building and getting attention. Turns out, on this side of the first book deal, that no, that route to publishing wasn't a great fit for me at all. Seminary was.
No one in Christian publishing told me higher education was the right path for me and for what I wanted to do with writing. I'm two years down the right road for me now, and all I have left in my MA program is my thesis/culminating project. I am doing the sort of writing I love now, outside the public eye while it's coming together, and my highest hope is to be published by a small press.
Deb thank you so much for this! It often feels like publishing is a conveyor belt you just get dropped on. So thrilled to hear of your continued joy at school!
This post is wonderfully encouraging. Thank you, Jessica!
Lesley I am so grateful to hear this!
Thanks for this post. As an indie-author (self-publisher, whatever we want to call it) who is wondering about the world of trad publishing and whether I ought to explore that route for future projects, this is so encouraging, to read something different than complaints and gripes.
Matt I am so glad you found some encouragement here. There is a path forward for certain.
This was my experience, as well. It was a ton of work, but I had so much freedom and support during the publishing process. I often forget how lucky I was. Thanks for this.
I am so thrilled to hear you had a similar experience!
I have had 2 different agents. (Both were great). I've been traditionally published 4 times with Christian publishers. I got so jaded and discouraged with the "business first" approach, and broken promises (and how they chase people with huge followings but sketchy theology) that I'm now embracing direct sales (indie publishing). It's still the same amount of marketing work, (I think it's worth repeating: It's the same amount of marketing work= YOU are fully responsible whether trad or indie published) but now I can make the changes to the cover. I can run a poll and pick the best subhead, I can do. . .whatever I want! And one of my books from 20 years ago just keeps selling, like the Little Engine that Could. Sooooo, I would encourage faith-based writers to think about that. (Listen to Mary DeMuth's interview on Writing Off Social podcast). On the other hand, if a small publisher came along (who didn't want all rights forever amen including everything electronic until I die) and was secular- I might bite. Because then I wouldn't have the expectations of behavior you do with faith-based publishers. #heartbreak. On the other hand, all this experience has clarified the most important thing: faith-based writers write for an audience of ONE. If He says, "Well done!" Then the job is done. Not what social media says. Not what Amazon says. Not what my Shopify store says. As long as we are chasing favor apart from God, we will be forever discouraged.
This was so thoughtful and deeply encouraging. What a gift to have found a publisher you admire and find mutual support from. Currently pinching myself that publishers such as these really do exist! Thanks for sharing another way of navigating it all.
Grateful you found encouragement here!
I am published with your small publisher. They are unique and kind.