Two Truths And A Lie: What I’ve Learned Going From Small Press To A Big Publisher

We’ve all played this game, or at least some version of it. It’s an icebreaker activity in which partygoers circle up and introduce themselves by telling two true things and one lie. It’s then up to the remainder of the players to guess what is real and what is not. Oftentimes the false statement is so convincing it’s difficult to detect. And sometimes what was thought of as outrageous turns out to be the most surprising truth.

When I started writing novels and began dipping my toe into the publishing world, I had a lot of truths to learn. Everything had to be studied, from crafting a synopsis to pitching agents and building a platform. The learning curve was steep and sometimes daunting. But the desire to have my dream realized was strong. I put my head down and did what so many of us do: research, research, and more research.

What I came away with was a list of beliefs about the publishing industry. More specifically, I established certain assumptions about the offerings of small presses versus big houses.

Fast forward five years, with one novel published and two more on the way, and those early assumptions and beliefs have altered. This is due in part to my author experience and also because elements of the industry are changing.

When my debut novel released a couple of years back it was pubbed with a small, indie press. At the time it had been a big leap of faith for me to announce to the handful of agents, who still had the full manuscript but were taking upwards of nine months to respond, I was setting aside my “large publisher” dream. Because let’s be honest, most of us have had that dream of being backed by a big house and selling a million books with a hefty paycheck at the end.

Those success stories, however, tend to be few and far between. And what we imagine for such a minute number of fortunate authors doesn’t always turn out to be the case for the majority.

The truth is I adored my experience with my small press. I was cared for, listened to, and cheered on as my title was packaged up and sent off into the world. While I didn’t receive a big advance, I did have the benefit of some nice royalties on the other side. And yes, distribution was on a lesser scale – I didn’t find my book in the Costco’s or Sam’s Clubs of the world – but it was scattered throughout the country in both independent bookstores and community libraries. All in all, it was a lovely experience.

And because of that first leap of faith to launch my career with a small press, I soon signed with a wonderful literary agent and was offered a two-book contract with a much larger publisher.

Now that I’m with a bigger house, some things about my experience have changed. But not everything. The second biggest (and maybe most surprising) truth I’ve learned is that in spite of all the wonderful support from my publishing team, whether it be at a small press or a big house, I still need to take marketing matters into my own hands.

These days many authors spend a percentage of their hard earned advances hiring independent publicists to obtain coverage with publications, podcasts, and speaking engagements. Because of this, authors find themselves spending a good portion of their time away from writing and in the business of self-promotion. Social media and readers demand this nowadays. So whether you’re an extrovert or not, the truth is you’re going to have to get out there and make some friends. (See my earlier post on Why Book Clubs are the New Book Tour.)

And now for the lie. Everyone will judge you by your book’s publisher. Wrong.

The fact that I’m now with a big house is exciting to me and me alone. My readers, not so much. All they really want is the book.

Yes some people will judge, but those people won’t matter. What matters most is the opinion of your readers. Hands down it’s all about the book lovers. Players in the industry care, other writers care, but the fans that find your book and decide to love it simply don’t. They care about the story you came to tell. And, in turn, they’ll care about you.

So yes, signing a contract for a two-book deal with an established house is fantastic. I admit I smile every time I think about it. But I’ve also witnessed similar euphoria from both indie and traditional authors alike. It’s a kind of creative happiness that can be achieved on any level. I hope you find yours.

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Nicole Meier’s previous novel is The House of Bradbury. Her forthcoming book, The Girl Made of Clay, releases September 25th (Lake Union Publishing). She is a native Southern Californian who pulled up roots and moved to the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, three children, and one very nosy Aussiedoodle. Visit her at www.nicolemeierauthor.com.

About THE GIRL MADE OF CLAY

An emotional exploration of the frayed bond between a father and daughter…and what it takes to mend it.

After Sara’s father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire, she’s suddenly forced to care for a man who is more of a stranger than a parent. Once known as his muse, Sara long ago lost her father to his desire to live the celebrity life.

Now TR’s abrasive and unpredictable presence in her home is reopening old wounds—and causing the rift in her already-strained marriage to deepen. As her young son begins bonding with the grandfather he never knew, Sara must decide if she can find it within herself to forgive the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Will she walk away from a chance to rebuild what was lost, or will she find, by bringing her father back to health, that healing can come in many forms?

Tags: featured, publishing, women writers

Category: On Writing