What to Expect
Network and Ask Questions
"It's a very crazy rollercoaster of ups and downs, rejections, exceptions, fans, etc." - Tyler Jolley
"Thinking that you accomplished one thing doesn't mean that you don't have to worry. It doesn't matter where you get, there's still things you stress about." - J Scott Savage
"There's a fine line between having realistic expectations and letting yourself be a little jaded. There are some depressing statistics. When they say that only one out of a thousand people get published who submit manuscripts, you've gotta say, 'I feel sorry for those other 999 son of a guns, because I'm going to be the one that gets published." Maintain some realism. It may take a while, but my favorite quotes is, 'There is one word for a persistent author: published.' It may take you five years, ten years, fifteen years, but it will happen if you improve your craft, improve your skills, and you keep doing what you're supposed to (in terms of submissions and seeking feedback), you will get published." - James Dashner
"Don't compare yourself to other writers. You have your own journey." - Heather Moore
Trust the Professionals
"There are times when you say, 'Here's my input, do your job.'" - J Scott Savage
"Remember that your cover designer probably hasn't read your book. Don't tick them off. You have to have confidence in them. They know what's going to sell." - Tyler Jolley
"I have a very good relationship with my editor at Random House. We obviously both have the same goals, so she's always seeking my advice on covers, but I'm also very aware that I never have that final power or final say. In the end, you have to trust the marketing and sales people, they know what they're doing." - James Dashner
To Be Successful
"I cannot stress this enough. I know for a fact that the number one factor in my career that has made me take these little baby steps to success has been the professionalism side of things. Do not burn bridges. Everything you do, pretend you are not a writer. Be a CEO. In any industry, people want to work with people they like." James Dashner
James Dashner is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers’s Weekly,Indiebound Bestseller, and author of The Maze Runner series.
Website: http://jamesdashner.com/
Blog: http://jamesdashner.com/blog/
Heather Moore is the USA Today bestseller and award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels and thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore. She also writes women’s fiction, romance, and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, including The Newport Ladies Book Club, the Amazon bestselling anthology series A Timeless Romance Anthology, the Aliso Creek series, and the USA Today bestseller Heart of the Ocean.
Website: http://www.hbmoore.com
Blog: http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com
J Scott Savage the author of sixteen novels including the Farworld series from Shadow Mountain, the Case File 13 series from Harper Collins, The Shandra Covington mystery series, and the new Mysteries of Cove series coming September 29th.
Website: http://www.jscottsavage.com/
Blog: http://www.jscottsavage.com/blog/
Peggy Eddleman is the author of SKY JUMPERS (a Bluebonnet Nominee, a Beehive Nominee, a Golden Sower Nominee, a South Carolina Children’s Book Award Nominee, an American Booksellers Association’s ABC Best Book of 2013, a NYPL’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing selection, and a Kids Indies Next selection) and its sequel, THE FORBIDDEN FLATS.
Website: http://peggyeddleman.com
Tyler Jolley is the author of The Lost Imperials series.
Website: http://jolleychronicles.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6438572.Tyler_Jolley