2011 has been something of a mess in publishing as publishers scramble for survival amidst full systems change.
The bottom line is some publishers will work it out and some won’t.
I predict that 2012 will be the year that publishers remember the importance of partnering with authors, rather than merely treating authors like “content” they can “leverage.”
That’s my great hope for publishers, anyway.
Against the backdrop of all of this mess, focused writers have to still be able to ground and gain traction in their writing careers. I know, because I train them.
And when I look around at my peers, other authors, long-time freelancers, and teachers, I see that it’s the most focused who are still able to flex their writing skills for income.
In other words, those who can flex their skills still earn.
And those who freeze up in fear and refuse to learn…well, I’m not really sure what’s going on with them.
The bottom line is, you either see the changes in the publishing landscape as a challenge to take on or you let your fears lead you into dark places.
The writers who are still writing in 2012 will have faced the dark times and figured out how to thrive anyway.
During 2010 and part of 2011, I wrote a book about how to grow a creative career no matter what is happening in the economy or the publishing world.
I’m not saying that neither matter, I’m just saying you either roll over and die or you roll up your sleeves and dig deeper within yourself.
That’s what the lesson of tough times is supposed to be. If there’s not going to be any growth, then what’s the point of all this?
You either get caught up with the negative Neds and Nellies or you put your creative energy into growth, innovation, and partnering wisely.
You either take your writing career into your own hands and produce yourself (which I have been saying since 2005) or you concede that you have been pretending that this was true, while you were secretly hoping that the publishing industry was going to parent you like a child.
The publishing industry has no interest in parenting writers. (And neither does anybody else, for that matter.) Writers need to man- and woman-up and grasp the opportunities that are right in front of us.
Are you in charge of your writing career or not?
You have a whole day stretching out in front of your like a field of infinite potential.
And you could take five or ten steps today that would insure you will still be around writing tomorrow.
Take those steps, writers. And ignore all the nonsense out there. There’s still plenty of it with more cropping up each day.
Steer clear of the yimmer-yammer—do your work, instead.
Because the writers who are doing their own work, are crushing it.
What can you do?
- Update your professional portfolio.
- Update your online website/blog/portfolio.
- Organize your past work. Look for ways to re-purpose it.
- Figure out your platform dynamic by taking my “Build Your Author Platform” self-study course (coming in January) or my Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform course.
- Make a plan to take your writing career to the next level by leveraging the best of what you’ve done and the best of what you currently offer.
In 2012, I’m leading writers into a bright future. I hope you are coming with me.
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I’m rocking and ready for 2012, Christina. Spending the past 13 months studying the industry in-depth, I realize the opportunities for new and seasoned authors in this changing climate. Adaptability is key to thriving.
Thank you for the encouragement Christina. A good reminder for all of us!
Christina, I like your hope for the author-publisher relationship – “‘I predict that 2012 will be the year that publishers remember the importance of partnering with authors, rather than merely treating authors like ‘content’ they can ‘leverage.'”