Thoughts and Tips for Aspiring and Debut Authors

Before publishing my novel, THERE ARE NO RULES FOR THIS in May, I had been either writing it, editing it, proofreading it, or getting it ready for prime time in some way for over 8 years. So, while I am only newly on the other side of publication, I have some thoughts and tips for aspiring and debut authors! 

Once you know your book is going to be published, there’s a dead space of time (or so it feels) before your pub date. It can be anywhere from 1 to 3 years, depending on your publisher. Yes, that sounds like a dreadfully long stretch, but there’s actually plenty to do (cover design, getting permissions, tip sheets, hiring a publicist if desired, and lots more.) I did all those things… but there a few things I did NOT do that I wish I had.

PROOFREAD

I had edited and proofread my book dozens of times before I signed my contract with my publisher. I had hired not one but TWO copy editors, who were amazing. I had friends proofread my book, and my publisher put it through their proofreading department. All that said, the first edition of my book still had several typos in it, which were pointed out to me by readers. Oof. Luckily we sold out fairly quickly and needed to do a second run, allowing me to make the changes I knew about. I wish I had taken extra steps like reading it out loud or highlighting as I read to make sure I really saw every word. 

PROMOTE

I felt squeamish about promoting my book before it was out in the world. Well, now I know that was just plain dumb. Pre-orders are important and there was no reason I couldn’t have started talking more about it way before it was published! I now see authors starting to drum up interest in their books even a year before it comes out, and they are getting lots of likes and pre-orders. Good for them. Now I know. 

NETWORK

Since my book came out, I’ve attended a number of writing events, retreats and conferences. I had done so before, but never to the level that I am doing now. I wish I had leaned further into networking earlier in my publishing process. One of the best things that has come out of writing my novel is how many amazing writers,  publishers, and readers I’ve met along the way. I’ve found it to be a very supportive community. Writing is a solitary endeavor, so it’s nice to find likeminded souls who understand the unique brand of lunacy all writers tend to embody. I often call my husband from these events and say, “Writers are weird. I’m having the best time.” The earlier you start finding your book people, the more you’ll have when you are published!

OWN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT

There’s a weird thing that happens once your book is published. You finally feel like this thing you’ve been doing alone and in the dark has worth. But now I see that it was all those years, all those days working for nothing other than the love of my characters and telling their story were what got me to this place. I wish I had given my unpublished self more grace and been a better cheerleader for her. Every day that we write, we are writers. Having a published book makes me no more of a writer than I’ve always been. 

ENJOY THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Drink water, drink wine, see your friends and family, exercise, sleep, snuggle your pets and kids. Once the book is published, your journey that felt like a nice leisurely hike suddenly feels like a long, fast sprint. It’s exciting and fun, but it changes the pace of your life for awhile. I had no idea what to expect and I am loving having readers (seriously, it’s the absolute BEST) but I have also had to spend a lot more time away from home than I’m used to. I was apologizing to my teenage son about it recently and he said, “It’s ok, mom. It’s all part of the hustle.” Which made my heart soar, because it was so sweet and also so true. 

I’m happy to report that we just embarked on our third print run for THERE ARE NO RULES FOR THIS! Just last month it won two Zibby Awards: Best Book For Best Friends and Best Book That Made You Cry. I’m still hustling, but also enjoying and relaxing into this part of the journey. Hearing people tell me that my book touched their hearts in some way brings me a level of joy I didn’t even know to expect. Keep writing, reading, and believing! 

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JJ Elliott is a professional copywriter with a degree in English from UCLA. She lost her mother to suicide as a teenager, and spent over two years in her 20’s manning the suicide hotlines in LA. One of the reasons she wanted to write this book is because she finds herself increasingly frustrated by the way suicide is treated in print and on-screen, as a mystery to be solved instead of a multi-layered, complex situation that can rarely be boiled down to one specific “reason.” A native of Northern California, JJ lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two teenage children. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, play tennis, drink wine and eat cheese. There Are No Rules for This is her first novel.

THERE ARE NO RULES FOR THIS

People like Feeney Simms don’t commit suicide. Beautiful, charismatic, mother of two, wife to a handsome, successful husband, beloved by her friends—this is not the typical picture of a tortured soul. But one summer night, Feeney drives to the beach and swallows a handful of pills. No note, no explanation, nothing. Like that, she’s gone.

Faced with this loss, Ali, Max, and Liddy, Feeney’s closest friends, are left reeling, grappling with the devastating cocktail of grief, guilt, and anger that’s left in the wake of a suicide. In a desperate attempt to avoid further loss, the three women make the unorthodox (and very Feeney-like) decision to hold their own funerals while they are still alive—and the experience changes each of them in ways they couldn’t have imagined.

There is a known printing error on some copies of this book. If you bought a book with this error and would like a complimentary replacement, please contact the publisher at www.shewritespress.com.

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: How To and Tips