37 Comments

Thank you for sharing your experience, and congratulations on writing your first book.

I recall my own Paris Syndrome experience, and am currently in the very early stages of writing my first book.

I now love Paris, so will try to remember that when I reach the time of publishing the book if it doesn't feel great in the beginning.

Expand full comment
author

Good luck with the book! I think if your expectations are realistic then the experience will be a positive one. ☺️

Expand full comment
Jul 24Liked by Allegra Chapman

Congratulations! As you said, many dream of writing a book and a few make the dream come true. Focus on your why and enjoy the process are applicable in pursuing any dream.

Expand full comment
author

Yes, so true!

Expand full comment
Jul 26Liked by Allegra Chapman

Thank you for this! Coming up to nine months since the publication of my first novel (though feeling the need to say partnership published) and now having to face the facts I need to repitch and find a different publisher even though sales are in four figures.....😕

Expand full comment
author

Oh my goodness. The second book is a whole other story... (sorry!)

Expand full comment
Jul 26Liked by Allegra Chapman

This is still the first book, that will have to be delisted and republished. A complete friggin nightmare.

Expand full comment
author

Oh no! How come? Sorry it's been so challenging!

Expand full comment

The deal they are offering for year two is pants! That'll teach me not to read the small print.

Expand full comment
author

Oh how rubbish, I'm sorry.

Expand full comment
Jul 26Liked by Allegra Chapman

It might just work out for the better...a relaunch, and new publisher with different contacts and reach, a new cover, second edition.....sales are ace so far, and already have one offer, so it's not all doom and gloom!

Expand full comment

So helpful! I self-published my first book earlier this year, and I thought a lot of how I was feeling was because it was all on me. I guess I assumed that traditional publishing means you get all kinds of support that I wish I had. Now I do feel a little more empowered and justified in reminding myself how much work that I need to do to help people to find my book. Thank you!

Expand full comment
author

Yes, having done both I would say that traditional publishing does give you a bit of a boost, feeling that you have a team and a bit of help, but then self-publishing gives you more control and autonomy, and there's definitely not the huge amount of help with the traditional route that people imagine.

Expand full comment

Fantastic advice Allegra, thank you! 💖 I think you may have given me the confidence to finally put a serious book proposal together (non-fiction).. yay! 👏 I just have to believe in myself now and go for it.. I've been sitting on this book for almost 10 years now! 😳😁

I have written a children's book recently and have a proposal typed up, but not sure what to do with it.. do you literally just start sending it to publishers and cross your fingers? 🤣

Expand full comment
author

Yay!! Go for it! So with a children's book, you might be best finding an agent first. There are resources like Writers and Artists Yearbook that last agents looking for certain things. With the non-fiction book proposal, I would say research other books that are similar to yours in topic and audience - what are the books that people who read your book would also want to read - and see who published them. Then you can check out the submission guidelines on their website. Annoyingly, they all have slightly different requirements, and you have to tailor your submission to their requirements otherwise they won't even consider you! Some of them have a specific proposal template they want you to follow, some want sample chapters, others are more easy going. So it's time consuming, but once you have a proposal ready it's fairly straightforward just to tweak it for each publisher.

Expand full comment

Oh wow! Thank you so much for your lovely detailed response and fabulous advice! I think I'll start with writing a proper book proposal for the non-fiction and researching similar books, etc.. Thank you! 👍🥰

Expand full comment
author

Let me know how you get on!

Expand full comment

I will do 😊

Expand full comment
Jul 24Liked by Allegra Chapman

Your book sounds brilliant! As does your journey to get here. Such a reassuring read, thanks so much.

I’m 5 years in, 4 books in first draft format (more or less) and just going through my first publishing experience on the back of winning a writing competition.

Not the (e)book I thought I’d have out first! It came out of nowhere, from working in flow, from prioritising and taking care of my needs first. I’m trying to lean into process, get a feel for working with a publisher (outdated in many ways like you say but also a real support where you can lean into it). It’s a process, a challenge, a journey for sure!

Expand full comment
author

Congratulations on winning the competition and being published! Isn't it funny how sometimes these things come from nowhere when the universe gives us a push in the right direction?!

Expand full comment
Jul 24Liked by Allegra Chapman

Congratulations Allegra! Excellent advice.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you!

Expand full comment

This is such a deep and wonderful post Allegra, your generosity to share the real behind the scenes is so so appreciated. I am celebrating you for this incredible creation, it takes so much and you have it in your hands. I really hope to have a poetry book in my hands in the next year…. I’m planning on self publishing and it’s truly for the fun and experience of it above anything else. I would be happy if I sold five!!!! Xxx

Expand full comment
author

Thank you my lovely! Well you've sold one already - I'm putting my order in!

Expand full comment

Oh you are the loveliest! Thank you xxx

Expand full comment

Very insightful Allegra, thank you so much for this. It’s nice to see we are not alone in this 😌

Expand full comment

Resonated with this as an editor at an indie press — we write (an publish) for the love and the income is mostly tiny

Expand full comment
Jul 26Liked by Allegra Chapman

Come on, we’re not that rude… 😂

Expand full comment
author

As a former Londoner, there is no judgement here!

Expand full comment

You are spot on. When I became a traditionally published author I definitely had this experience. The crash to Earth from stellar heights of excitement hurt. The most difficult part for me was that the highly experienced senior editor who had championed my book and bought it for the publishing house, left before my publishing day.

The other staffers were lovely but less involved because it was not their project, just something they inherited.

I tried making proactive meetings with the marketing people to see how I could go all out to promote my book when it came out and they were politely like ‘We’ve got this, don’t you worry.’

When it came out I was shocked to have to look for it in bookstores. I had crazily expected it would be at the front!!!

All up, the book did well, got great reviews, but was not pushed into the market as I had assumed it would be. I felt there were so many missed opportunities and I didn’t have the contacts to pursue them that the publishing house had.

Expand full comment
author

Our marketing person is on annual leave for our launch so that's fun. One author friend said "you expect launch day will be like your birthday, but it's just like a Tuesday". Sounds about right.

Expand full comment

This is a fabulous article Allegra and you’ve nailed the feelings perfectly!I had a pretty dreadful traditional publishing experience of publication day and so I then chose the Indie route. I published my second novel last week. Much fewer expectations second time round and much more relaxing. Thank you!

Expand full comment
author

Sorry to hear the first experience wasn't great, glad the second one was better!

Expand full comment

Hahah. Loved this. Laughed a lot.

I lived in Japan for a little while.

I recently published a book

Expand full comment

Why did I read it like Paradise syndrome? 😂

Expand full comment