Firstly I would like to inform you that despite the fact that people may think that writing is an easy task, it is not. You are constantly re plotting, editing , thinking about your target audience. Then when you think that you have done the best you can with the manuscript your editor looks over it and constructively tells you what you could do to make the story better, and there the process go again the re plotting and editing.
If you want to be an Author it requires a lot of patience, hard work and time. I started my manuscript in 2007 and it was only in 2009 when the manuscript was properly completed. However despite this being an Author is a very rewarding especially when you get people saying to you that your book is very good, and so thought-provoking. You feel that you have done your job.
The next thing after you finish writing your manuscript is finding the publisher. I want to warn all Christian’s do not think that just because you go to a Christian publisher they would automatically accept your manuscript for publication.
The Christian publishers are like the secular publishers, they would only take books that they think would sell and from well-known Authors or Pastors who may have written a book. Which is a shame because God could have given you a really good message that you know would help someone but because you are an unknown Author the Christian Publishers that you sent your manuscript will not even give your manuscript a chance. There are some that would accept unknown Authors manuscript but this is very rare.
You have to remember that even though they are Christian publishers they are a business and are out there to make money just like anyone else. That’s why I thank God for my publishers Tate Publishing who are willing to give unknown authors a chance.
Finding a publisher can be a very frustrating, long-winded process, you can even feel like giving up or if you don’t give up you can take the route of self publishing. Self Publishing is a good option if you want the books only to go to just friends or family and you do not plan to make a career out of being an Author. However if you do plan to make a career out of it then it is best to have a publisher to back you up as they can take you’re book into the bookstores, arrange the marketing and distribution for you. Please keep in mind that as well as your publisher you would also have to do marketing for the book yourself.
Even though the process of finding a publisher can be frustrating never give up. If you give up then you have given into defeat and you have hindered your ministry. I was rejected at least maybe twenty times, some people have been rejected more than that. I thank God that he made me a determined person and I don’t give up easily. Remember it is God who inspired you to write in the first place and if God is in something then it can never fail and he will find you that publisher that would say YES. He made all things beautiful in his time.
I remember the overwhelming joy that I had when the Lord eventually provided me with a publisher and an excellent publisher at that. The thought that God gave you a vision and it finally became a reality I tell you it is such an accomplishment. Not only for me but for my children when I do have them this is a legacy that my children will have and I thank God for that.
If you have started writing a manuscript keep in mind these things:
- Why are you writing this book. Are you writing it because you just want to make money, or are you writing it because you want to encourage people and this is something that God has definitely told you to do.
- What message are you trying to put across in this book.
- What category will the manuscript fall into such as, fiction, non-fiction, self-help.
- Who is you’re target audience.
- Make bulletin points or do a spider diagram into the story of the manuscript as it would help you to write easier. It would also help the story to flow.
It is always good to do research into book writing and about being an Author. Remember as well as hard work this would be also an extremely exciting time in your life. Bare in mind to or write this down so you can see it in big letters NEVER GIVE UP!
