Publishing Lows

The parts of publishing that don't make it onto social media

I usually try to be pretty upbeat about publishing. So many good things happen like book deals, and launches, and awards! And I get to do what I love, I make worlds, conjure characters, and tell stories. Every time someone tells me their kid loved one of my books or I get sent a bundle of thank you cards from a school it makes me remember what it’s all about: sharing my stories with children.

Naturally, we all tend to celebrate the highs in publishing and splash them over social media, our websites, and our newsletters. People only see the highlights and to the outside world it probably looks amazing and sparkly. Just this morning someone commented on Facebook how exciting it was watching my amazing literary career.

Bad news can come when you least expect it

But I know the truth. I know the news that landed in my inbox about Kane Press (the publisher for my upcoming series with Laura Zarrin). I know about the gut punch I got the day after Christmas when I found out the sixth Wish Library book was canceled. I know about the bad Kirkus review my first book got. I know about the two wonderful editors who left the publisher before one of my books launched leaving it “orphaned”. And I know how many manuscripts of mine have died on submission, relegated to the depths of my Google drive. Plus I don’t even know how many rejections I’ve received over the years. Too many to count!

From Publisher’s Weekly

This kind of news doesn’t make it to my social media highlight-reel, it won’t get publicized on my website, and I don’t share it in a newsletter (until now, anyway!). Sometimes if I’m feeling particularly cynical I might regale an acquaintance in Trader Joe’s with the realities of publishing and how I only get royalties every six months, and that no I’m not rich, and no I’m not getting whisked off on book tour. Oh, and that TV series I excitedly posted everywhere about, no that’s not happening either.

So, what do I do when bad news hits? First, I tell someone about it. Of course, that’s usually

Vicky Fang

. We text several times a day as a matter of course and she’s always there at the end of my phone when I need to rant! I tell my husband who may not understand the industry in the way Vicky does but he often has something useful to suggest or at least he gives great hugs! I have other writerly support groups I can talk to as well who are great at listening or giving advice when I need it. It reminds me of the importance of one of my favorite parts of this industry, the community. Plus, my agent is always available to help me navigate hard news.

Sharing the highs and lows with Vicky

As well as the sharing with trusted people in my life, I like to take a long walk to process the news. Bad news is good for my step goals! I also give myself time to wallow if necessary. And sometimes that includes a favorite treat, a nap, or watching a show. It’s okay to wallow for a bit and to grieve. I put a lot into a book and when it doesn’t get the reception I hoped for, it hurts.

But in the end I remember there is only one thing that I can control. My writing. Publishers may come and go, a book may die on sub, editors might change jobs mid-edit, a series might get canceled, but I’ll always have my words, my stories, my worlds, and my characters. So that’s where I point my energy when publishing gets me down. No matter what, I will always be a writer.

Getting back to the writing

Over to you, what do you do when you get bad publishing news?

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With gratitude, Christine & Vicky