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To plunge into non-fiction writing is not easy. To conceive the brilliant idea of a marketable and unique book is hard. To compile the book is even harder. To write an attractive proposal and find the right publisher is time consuming. To get a rejection letter is far too easy ! However, to get a nice and encouraging critique for your work is, by all means, a small bonus, while to get a further reward may be quite puzzling! Actually, a reward of a kind other than of getting published is not usually expected by a writer. But still, who wouldn’t agree that this is a baby step forward? My first non-fiction book was the outcome of twenty five years in-class teaching and researching, and still I needed a load of courage to persuade myself it was time I started marketing it. After following the writer’s ritual, that is to say, writing an attractive query, a synopsis and a sample unit, I dispatched them –by snail mail- to the first publishing company in my list of prospective publishers. I had carefully researched their needs and had chosen four of them to try first. Then it came the hardest part: I had to wait! Every day I checked the mail box, although I knew I wouldn’t have a reply soon , probably no sooner than in one or two months. But I was wrong. I got a reply in two weeks! The letter was bulky so I guessed the contents. Of course I did not expect my proposal to be accepted first time round, so I was prepared for the first rejection. Well, it was a rejection , all right, but that was not the end of it! The Editor’s letter was polite and the critique on my work was very encouraging. “ This is my bonus,” I thought feeling that I deserved some uplifting remarks. But that was only the first part of the parcel! As soon as I caught sight of the next paragraph, I realized that there was a second part as well! And it was puzzling enough to start me thinking. ‘However, if you are interested...,’ I read on. I had to read it several times before I could grasp the meaning of this offer, for it was a real offer after all! I was genuinely surprised as this had never crossed my mind it could possibly happen. I was offered a job as a reviewer in this big publishing company! Surely, it was something unexpected and also something I had not aimed at in the first place. I did not know whether to be happy for this new challenge or forget all about it. It took me three days –and nights- to make up my mind. On one hand, I knew that I wanted so badly to get my book published, but, on the other hand, I now had the chance to learn more from inside a book company. Although that job was not my prime target, it would probably help me enhance my writing and, why not, start new connections with people working in the same field . After all, it was a positive step, though only a baby one, toward publication. So, I decided to have a go. Any new challenge must be tried, that is what I believe. At the same time, I sent my book proposal to another publisher. (Who knows, I may get another bonus!) . I am more optimistic now about my project and I will not give it up before I reach the bottom of my list of publishers! In the meantime, I have another non-fiction book in the pipeline and keep writing every single day. The writer-publisher game is getting more and more exciting as the days go by, and the prospect of getting published one day gives me the motive to be happily active and creative; and this is the most important thing in life after all: to keep going while enjoying your day. So, don’t lose heart! If it happens to you to get a small bonus instead, accept it and go on. Remember that even baby steps can lead to your goal! And don’t forget to enjoy the route! Ends 713 words
Article Source: http://www.articledestination.com
--------------- Liana Metal is a teacher, writer and reviewer living in Greece. She has written fiction and non fiction and she is currently creating e books. liamet.tripod.com , Author-Promo.tripod.com E mail: lianamet20@yahoo.co.uk
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