Three Things Publishers Look for in a Writer
Some publishers care less about the writing and more about the marketing plan, and some don’t care about how the word is going to get out just so they somehow “get out the word.” Instead of some generic list of what publishers don’t want, or chiding publisher’s who remain stuck in old or dysfunctional ways, here’s a few things from an inside out perspective, especially as it relates to C&R Press, our business models, and aiming for a rewarding future–both profitable and fun.
Authors with a passion for their writing: Passion for writing can look a lot of different ways. If it’s a literary fiction writer or poet, the passion shows through in the craft. If it’s topical nonfiction, the passion will come through from the content itself. However it exactly translates from the type of work, in the end you have to be deeply committed. That’s how you’ll push yourself to generate the best material you can. That’s how we will build our brand. Passion translates into high caliber content. If you’re currently struggling with tapping into that passion, or knowing who you really are as a writer, here’s a helpful article.
Authors with a passion for getting sticky: Once you have the content, you should want people to see it, right? You should see if it might translate into some sort of royalty for your hard-earned time, right? If you’ve found what you want to do, if you’re passionate about it, then supporting your work is a joy. That joy should feed you. That’s how we see it. That’s what we’re looking for. Sure, there are ceilings based upon material type, networks, resources, and luck. My suggestion to other writers is to use the same creativity you bring to your ideas, your characters, your writing, and apply it to ways you can “get sticky,” and tap all the possibilities there are out there.
Someone who shares their ideas: Publishers who want to remain relevant need to offer real service. We’re on your side here. Some of us even are authors! We’re not just a credibility machine, or a validating agency which punches your ticket and merely seeks to profit off your original content. If you know a publisher’s terms and conditions transparently from the beginning, and view the relationship as a partnership, then why wouldn’t we want to hear your ideas? Whether it’s offering suggestions, keeping a publisher informed, or brainstorming ideas. In short, we’re building a community, people we want to work with who are professional and fun.
In other words, a rare breed.
Next: Three Things Writers Look for in a Publisher
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