What I learnt from publishing a book. 

"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer) 01/27/2019 at 02:11 • Filed to: None

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I’m a lucky ass bastard.

I was very lucky to find an editor that liked my book, and I must recognize that it is a privilege that most writers don’t get to experience.

Writing any sort of thing is 10% talent, 50% exposure, and 40% luck. I know a lot of people who are a lot more prepared, a lot more creative, and, overall, a lot better than I am yet didn’t have the chance to publish.

It’s very strange, knowing that my name is relevant now. I mean, they’re talking about releasing it in over 100 stores nationwide and possibly publishing outside Latin America: It is insane.

Of course it is a privilege, but a very strange one. It’s not that I feel that I don’t deserve this, it’s just that I feel that some people deserve it a lot more.

A friend of mine always yaps about her notion of egoism around authors.

“ How dare you write? ” she said, with absolute seriousness, and I didn’t have an answer. How dare I assume my thoughts are worthy of exposure? The t ruth is that only someone who wants to be read publishes, and most people who write want to publish. So why did I write?

But maybe it’s more about the social responsibility of publishing something. Much like that stupid game from 2013, flappy bird, sometimes it’s healthier if we stop our monster from continuing its path than it is to let it live.

I’m very worried about the reviews for my novel. I of course want to see what people think about it, but I’m terrified that someone will see my bluff.

That someone realizes that I have no experience and that my book maybe doesn’t deserve shelf space. Maybe they realize that it’s nothing.

My literature teacher from 10th grade is one of those people, he could disarm my book in a matter of seconds. He’s a published author too, and one of many that are more competent than I am.

Did he ever get to 100 stores? Man, I doubt it, and it is a shame. It seems like the world is very unfair with some people and I can’t stand it. But I did dare to write the book, perhaps deep down I really just wanted to be told that it sucked in order to let go of my frustrated dream of being a journalist.

If it had happened that way, if the editor had shut it down from the first instance, I’ve be hurt... But I wouldn’t be worried that they let me publish in lieu of someone who might be better.

DipodomysDeserti > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 02:27

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Congrats! I’m surrounded by writers, so your friend’s views on writing is bewildering to me. My bro is the editor of a newspaper, and a good friend of mine once won an Emmy for her writing. But we’re all poor, so maybe our worldview is a bit different from your peers.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 02:36

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don’t forget to show us the cover

Spanfeller is a twat > DipodomysDeserti 01/27/2019 at 02:38

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Her view is mostly about how much of a right she has on impacting someone else’s life. Of course, a lot more shit has to go through that thought process of her. I think the whole “how dare you” is down to her self conciousness, which I also have a lot of. I am very scared of what will happen next, and the luck that drove me here is still hanging out in the back of my mind reminding me not to take it for granted.

On the economic side, I did research it a lot and I was underwhelmed... The average book only sells 3000 copies on the US, and most authors don’t really get back their advance. It depends a lot on how you negociate it and with whom, but I am genuenly surprised by the fervor with which the editorial talks about the novel, it’s almost as if they think it might make money.

Spanfeller is a twat > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/27/2019 at 02:39

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I will...
soon....

MrDakka > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 03:13

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Dont forget about us once you have Bruce Wayne money

Spanfeller is a twat > MrDakka 01/27/2019 at 03:19

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Lol... first thing they told me was “you won’t have bruce wayne money after this” 

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 08:23

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Sounds like you’ve got a case of “imposter syndrome” which is common for thoughtful people who have any self- doubt and experience career prominence. Best wishes. 

arl > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 09:02

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Imposter syndrome. Happens to many people when they take on new jobs and start new careers. They wouldn’t publish you if they didn’t think you were a good writer.

So congrats, and “ fake it till you make it” !

vondon302 > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 09:34

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Ccongrats and good for you. As someone who will read just about anything I always fantasize about being a writer. It’s got to be a ton of work with not much of a chance to even get published. So kudos to you for beating the odds.

An d let us see that cover when ya can.

Longtime Lurker > Spanfeller is a twat 01/27/2019 at 13:09

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Send a copy to your literature teacher, get his opinion on it that will be a good marker for the criticisms you might face. And teachers like seeing stuff like this from their students.