Notes from the Chicago Writers Association Event Path to Published

​On Saturday, February 25, I had the honor of attending the Chicago Writers Association event, Path to Published. It was a panel discussion co-sponsored by Columbia College’s Creative Writing Department that featured five authors and a moderator with a range of writing and publishing experiences. 

Their journeys to publish their works ranged from self-publishing, to traditional publishing via an agent, to traditional publishing via direct contact with the publishing house, through to hybrid publishing. The panelists gave tips on how to promote your work, key factors in self-publishing (like ISBN numbers) and an honest conversation of the expenses that come with writing. 

I have found myself that my experiences as a writer the last few months have indeed been expensive - from hiring a development editor/proofreader to a graphic designer to setting up my website URL - so it was good to hear this from other people. (I covered some of this in my blog post Why I Pay an Editor.) 

The discussion lasted over an hour and then opened up to questions and answers. I took copious notes throughout. Nearly a week later, here is some of the information that is still resonating with me. 

• Only 2% of authors make a living from being an author - we write because we love to write not because it will pay the bills
• There are several key steps to take to get your books into libraries and bookstores, ranging from a PCIP number to a Library of Congress control number to an ISBN number (for audio, print and e-publications). Make sure to research these things before you self-publish
• Reviews are key to book promotion. You can pay for them, but authentic reviews are better
• The New York publishing world is a world in and of itself, and it moves slowly. Patience and persistence are key
• Even if you get your book traditionally published, a lot of the promotion will still be up to you, so it’s important to have a platform. You will have to become your own promoter!
• So, if your publisher asks you for a marketing plan, keep in mind - this means how will YOU market your own work
• Know your audience - if you don’t know who your book should be marketed to, your publisher won’t either

Along with these great tidbits, there was a wealth of suggested resources. Here are a few that I jotted down:

Chicago Specific:

• Windy City Publishers - a local hybrid publisher
• Chicago Writing Workshop - June 24

Additional Resources:

• Booklife.com - the promotional arm of Publisher’s Weekly
• Alliance of Independent Authors - the global association for authors who self-publish
• Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s blog about hybrid publishing

I hope you find this information as useful and interesting as I did. I’m already looking forward to the next event. It will take place on May 13th. They are still forming the topic / panel, but if it is as good as this one was it will be totally worth it so Save The Date!

Thanks to everyone at the Chicago Writers Association. I’m proud to be a member.