Dear New Author,
The Midwest Writing Center, MWC, captured my
attention sometime around 2008. It was about the time when I started writing
for the Galva News. I had a great editor in Doug Boock, but I knew I had a lot
to learn if my news items and features were going to get better. Julie Jenson
McDonald was a columnist and feature writer for the Argus-Dispatch newspapers.
She often wrote about MWC, then located on the third floor of the Bucktown
Center in Davenport. The trip from Bishop Hill to Davenport for one day
workshops was the best option for me at the time. Out of the usual three
offerings, I could count on one or two that would meet my needs.
I was never an attentive English student in
school, and I basically had to start from scratch. So, while I was
catching up on what I should have known all along and learning the nuts and
bolts of writing, a book about Bishop Hill percolated in the background.
When I thought it was
time for me to seriously think about publishing my first book, I naturally
looked to MWC Press, an imprint of the Midwest Writing Center. Along with the
one-day workshops I’d been attending I splurged and enrolled in a three-month
novel writing workshop. From there I gathered the courage to register for the
David R. Collin’s Writers’ Conference, an annual event at the end of June. Courage
was the correct word here because I began as the shy person in the back of the
room afraid to raise my hand, get noticed, or be expected to speak. Breaking
away from all that took time, but it did happen.
I presented my first
novel, Clouds Over Bishop Hill, a cozy mystery, to a panel at the 2015
Collin’s conference and it was accepted as a MWC Press printing project. After
content and line editing, it was published in Aug 2016. All that editing was
very valuable for me. I still feel that it gave me the best possible book for
that time.
My first foray into
self-publishing came in 2017 with a slim volume of short stories. My original
goal was to have a few handbound books suitable for Christmas gifts. I ran out
of time and decided to use CreateSpace, since MWC Press used it. I did my own
formatting and cover. I got something that was adequate.
My second journey into
self-publishing came with Shadows Over Bishop Hill, the sequel to COBH.
Again, pressed for time because I wanted to have it out for Bishop Hill’s 175th
anniversary in 2021, I thought that since I had some experience with
formatting, I’d be OK to tackle a bigger project. I was wrong. CreateSpace had
turned into KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing, and was much more involved than I
expected. My computer literate husband and KDP University helped me get the
novel ready to publish, but it was a stressful time for me. That was just me. Others
may have more computer skills than I. Just know that the pros do earn their
money.
And speaking of pros, I
paid professionals for cover designs or both novels. Getting blurbs for the
back covers always takes time and it often comes down to politely asking an
author you know well for help. Another bonus for attending workshops,
conferences, and critique groups.
Marketing is a huge job
for any author and doesn’t diminish no matter what kind of publishing one
pursues. One of the advantages I got out of presenting to MWC Press at the 2016
DRC Writers’ Conference was their request for a marketing plan. It made me
think of my possibilities. Unfortunately, all plans have been put on hold or
drastically altered in the past two years of pandemic. I am still trying to
cope with that.
My best advice to any
new author would be to check out KDP and see if it’s a good fit. Do be aware
that using Amazon ISBN numbers, while free, will limit your marketing options.
Read the fine print. I created my own press and purchased my own ISBNs. KDP is
my printer.
Self-publishing and
hybrid publishing opportunities have grown immensely and there are options out
there that I don’t know about. As frustrating as the last book was to complete, I
would do it again. My advice would be to do the research and find the best
opportunity for your needs.
I hope this has been
helpful.
Mary D
MWC is a non-profit organization and a great
asset for this area with resources for any writer, at any stage of their
career. Find information at:
https://www.mwcqc.org/
