Stephanie Osborn - Things They Don’t Tell You In Author’s School, Installment #3:
Some things have nothing to do with your manuscript.
Thing Three: There is a pecking order among authors, and it is not entirely determined by tenure, sales figures or awards.
Who published you? How big was your last advance? (This is not, coincidentally, often determined by the size of the publishing house.) The bigger the publishing house, the larger your advance, the higher up the pecking order you are – at least in the minds of some.
Be prepared to experience resentment from those below you, and disdain from those above. Some of us view the playing field as level – but not all.
Kootenai River in NW Montana, near Canadian Border
photo by Gene Tunick of Eureka, Montana
This truth is a real shame but, thankfully, it's not too wide spread. The writing community is brimming with writers who can be supportive and encouraging; who will cheer along with your success. Sure, we might secretly envy you but most of us are generous enough to give you the kudos you deserve and use your success as motivation to push us onward.
ReplyDeleteEqually, we're often here to support writers who are walking the road behind us. Writers tend to be open to sharing their experiences, their tips and advice. We remember that we were once where that novice writer stands today and pay forward the generosity of those who paved the way for us.
But, we've got to have a thick skin. Because there are those who can belittle or demean our efforts. What I've found, however, is it is more likely to be your non-writing friends and family doing it to you and those in the industry.
Good post. I have one to add--are you a genre author and what is it? Genres don't put you at the top of the hierarchy. :) But I write what I like to read, and I'm happy with it.
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