Imagine you could go back an talk to yourself as you were just starting out writing seriously. What advice would you give?
Me: I'd tell myself, "when you get an agent, or get a publishing deal, don't bother telling your non-writer friends until you get closer to book release date. Non writers do not understand the industry well, and there are few things as annoying (and sometimes discouraging) as having someone ask you "Has your agent sold your book yet?" every other day. And then look pitifully at you when you say, for the thrid time that week, "No. Not yet." Or, when you tell them you did sell a manuscript, but that it won't be out for two years, it's bothersome having to explain over and over, that no, it's not because it needed a lot of work.
It would be far preferable (for me) if the conversation went like this:
"Hey I signed with an agent."
"Really? Has she sold it to a publisher yet?"
"Yep, sure has."
"Really? when will it be in stores?"
"Tomorrow."
Me: I'd tell myself, "when you get an agent, or get a publishing deal, don't bother telling your non-writer friends until you get closer to book release date. Non writers do not understand the industry well, and there are few things as annoying (and sometimes discouraging) as having someone ask you "Has your agent sold your book yet?" every other day. And then look pitifully at you when you say, for the thrid time that week, "No. Not yet." Or, when you tell them you did sell a manuscript, but that it won't be out for two years, it's bothersome having to explain over and over, that no, it's not because it needed a lot of work.
It would be far preferable (for me) if the conversation went like this:
"Hey I signed with an agent."
"Really? Has she sold it to a publisher yet?"
"Yep, sure has."
"Really? when will it be in stores?"
"Tomorrow."