A Writer's Guide to Getting Published: Gordian Knot Edition
I’ve said it before, even yesterday to a struggling friend, and I’ll say it again: The easiest part of writing a book is writing a book.
It’s this “platform” thing.
I do realize that at some point someone’s going to call me on this.
“If you write one more song about how hard it is being on the road as a rock and roll star…” But hear me out.1
When you write a song, nobody changes the title of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” to “A Shallow World: How materialism and consumerism stopped me from finding genuine happiness.” Nor are you expected to have used that title in your pitch email in order to entice acceptance.
Also that’s ridiculous. As long as there are used handbags and websites like Fashionphile and Rebag one can always find genuine happiness.
…
I’m back. Just got a little distracted as I was linking to those sites.
The titles are apparently what make or break whether or not an editor will even open your email sometimes, and certainly if they’ll publish it.
Look, Taylor, we like the piece, but we’ve re-titled it, “Leaving My Red Scarf Behind: How dating an older man ruined my self-esteem.” “All Too Well” just doesn’t say anything.
It’s not just the titles I find vexing. It’s also that whole “being a writer” thing, the part where I have to come up with something and then write it.
Then, when I do that, I have to find a place that might accept it. It’s way easier to be accepted if you’ve been accepted other places. Or if you’ve had a book published. Much easier to have a book published if you’ve had lots of pieces accepted lots of places.
I have so far developed a friendly relationship with a few editors, women I like and respect. Once someone knows you, you have a better chance of getting in the door, and they’re more able to say, “Too long, lose the scarf, maybe cut the second snowfall scene.”
But platform requires that long list of places one has published, proving one’s salability among the masses.
I spent much of yesterday working on a quirky little piece. I’ve noticed a resurgence of Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher Than The Rest2” on social media platforms. I think that may be in part because it speaks to our current (in the US) feeling of hopelessness and betrayal, but also our singularly American belief in good prevailing. To quote my own, as yet unpublished piece3:
Maybe “Tougher Than the Rest” is rising again because this weary testament to possibilities is the most American thing of the moment. So many of us are disillusioned, disgusted, and betrayed. We’re seeing something we thought we knew and could count on—something we believed in— be dismantled and defiled.
But hope, we just can’t quit you.
I worked on it, sent it to my little group of writing friends who were kind enough to give comments. I edited it, re-sent, they again gave their time and opinions.
During all this editing and writing and reviewing, I was desperately scanning the interwebs looking for a place to send it. I read Salon (they’re really into porn these days, and that was too big a re-write), Vox, Slate, all the other online places I often go to read. It didn’t really fit. I thought about Rolling Stone, but their submission process is so hostile I didn’t bother. Finally, after yet another round of fiddling with the piece, but before I’d gotten back the second round of friend comments, I decided to send it to the NYT Opinion submission portal, figuring “New York Times” a looks good on a writing resume. People don’t have to know it was an obituary, or a Marjie meander of no qualifications and under-educated thought.
“Not for the NYT or Wash. Post,” was my friend’s feedback that came in literally seconds after I’d hit submit.
No, probably not. In three days, when they haven’t responded, I’ll send it somewhere else. The thing is, I kind of love the piece, and I know who I’d pitch it to if I wasn’t just trying to collect “have been published in” names right now.
It’s so hard being on the road.
My Agent says I have to start correctly capitalizing the letter following quotation marks. Or correctly not capitalizing them. This would be easier if I knew the rules, but instead I’m randomizing what I do in hopes she feels proud of me for my ability to change.
Should I Stay Single?: How a stranger at a bar renewed my ability to trust
That probably breaks some major rule, and the Submission Police will break down my door, just as soon as those ICE assholes free up the parking.
As usual, Marjie, I laughed my way through this. You expressed this platform thing so well. I do hope you've lifted your spirits with Fashionphile and Rebag.
I hope you find a place for your piece. We all need to hold onto hope right now because it's about all we've got. Except putting words on the page which almost always makes us feel better about something, not necessarily the state of our country.
Hang in there! Your big beautiful platform is on its way.
Always fun to get one of your posts in my inbox! And always perplexing to read about how difficult it is to get published...a platform? Surely not....look at the absolute tripe already published...that Shades of Grey (or is it actually Gray?) book. My goodness. Don't tell me what's her name had lots of smaller pieces published, although she worked in the industry or something, didn't she.
Anyway, what do I know!? It does seems like publishers are getting writers to do their work for them. Surely they're the experts and should know if a book would sell.
Good luck with the platforming. I enjoyed the retitling of songs, made me laugh.