As a serious Catholic, this scares me. My fiction is full of religious themes as well. The world is full of traps for someone like me. Then again, I've already been kicked around pretty well and have practice answering tough questions with love. I treat everyone with the inherent dignity they deserve. Any advice or thoughts?
I'm not sure what you are asking for advice on-- on being interviewed? Or asked about your religion, perhaps? If these are your questions I think listening to Catholic authors being interviewed on mainstream podcasts and radio shows might give you some inspiration?
Yes. Both the fickleness of cancel culture and the query, I guess.
Yes, your podcast idea is good. I listen to enough Catholic radio to hear most of those queries. I've also been in the trenches myself, answering questions.
As a seriously devoted Catholic, if I ever get published, I'm even more worried now. The world is full of traps for someone like me. Then again, I've been pretty well knocked around before, trained to deal with awkward questions and respect the inherent dignity of everyone. Any advice?
As someone in the middle of a major depressive episode, where medication hasn’t been helping and that has be kicking my ass for two years, I am appalled by your saying creative writing is like mental illness. I hope you never, ever, have to deal with anything at all like what I have been through.
I literally just paid, like 10 minutes ago, for a one year subscription to your Substack, and this is the first post I read, and I’m wondering if I wasted my money.
Yes it is wrong to be a racist. It is also wrong to do what you did, make light of a serious medical condition, what you said is kind of like racism, but instead of race, you used mental illness. I am certain you can do better, and I hope I see that.
Julie, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I actually have struggled with mental illness and severe depression, it's what my memoir is about. Thus, I was not making that comparison blithely. You do not have to agree with me, but I do think that sometimes, an obsession with writing and with the characters and plot points and problems we're creating, plus the wish to find some level of success with these things that we've made up-- in short, an obsession with things that we are creating in our own minds-- can replicate a kind of mental illness. This is something I believe. I do not think this is the case for everyone, but I know from experience that it is the case for many-- quite a lot of my friends have entered severe depressions because of their writing (or perceived failures with their writing), and I have lost two colleagues (writers) to suicide this month. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and allowing me to share mine. I am sorry to hear that your medication hasn't been helping-- that must be beyond challenging and I hope that there is relief for you on the horizon.
This scandal reminds me of the novel Yellowface, by R. F. Kuang. The protagonist, Juniper Song, is an experienced writer (not a debut author) who knows how to play the publishing and social-media game. But she's consumed by envy and haunted by the ghost of another writer, whose work Juniper has stolen. The novel explores serious themes of racism, identity, and cultural appropriation in publishing, but it's also darkly funny.
Thanks for this Courteney. This takes me back to the publication of my first novel in 1992 when, having been desperate to be part of the published world, I finally joined it and had no clue how to behave. As you say. there's no job description! I was so in awe of editors and agents that I didn't think of them as real people who would have appreciated some thankful attention from me, and a recognition of the hard work they did to bring the book to publication and promote it, including taking me round New York bookshops to sign copies and organising a reading and a launch party. I was so terrified and out of my depth that I probably treated them quite casually and possibly rudely. For a short time I was at the centre of their professional attention but I didn't know how to act professionally myself. And to be honest, quite a few books later, I'm still more scared of them than I should be. I'm in the process of pitching a new novel to agents now and will bear this in mind from now on!
This is so true, and so insightful! I worked in the cafe of a a motorway service station when I was 19, and spent at least half a day reading manuals & safety guides before I was even allowed to clear tables or stack the dishwasher. We definitely need more of this in publishing! I feel a *bit* more on it now I'm going through the publication process with the second novel - but part of that is down to reading 'Before and After the Book Deal'.
Thanks for this important and timely post, Courtney. You are SO right that debut authors (and all writers hoping to be published) need a code of conduct and agents ans publishers need to be clear on expectations. I love your book and recommend it when I’m teaching or giving advice to new authors.
Thank you for this, Courtney. What a shitshow. It's interesting to hear your take on it.
Before and After the Book Deal is a must -- ABSOLUTE MUST -- read for any writer wanting to pursue publication. This is reminding me it may be time to re-read it.
Thanks for this thoughtful reflection on this controversy, Courtney. I agree with you that it would do everyone a world of good to have some kind of manual for what it's like to be a debut author, especially if you're lucky enough to get a big book deal. For some people, like Corrain, no amount of etiquette training will make a difference if they are that selfish, troubled, desperate, misguided. But why does the publishing world have to be such a frigging mystery? That benefits no one. And that is why your book sits on my shelf!
holy shit omg. had no idea about this scandal (haven't been on twitter much lately) until i read about it here. first of all, BEFORE & AFTER THE BOOK DEAL is essential, and i tell everyone i know about it and your substack because, as you say, without your stack and those of others you cite, everything about publishing a book would be so much more opaque. i understand that impulse to share what you know in order to spare others from more painful lessons than necessary. having just come off a book launch and tour, all i want is to better prepare new debut authors. i had the benefit of being older and having a long career in a different industry—so at least i know how to be professional. but i'm not a natural extrovert or performer and it is A LOT to get thrown into the marketing bonfire with zero experience. i feel fortunate i was part of poets & writers' GET THE WORD OUT, which prepared me somewhat. but i can't imagine as a young person dealing with all the pressure w/o any guidance.
I’m a psychiatrist and I spent 90% of my OWN therapy sessions this past year talking about my debut book launch! And all of my expertise still didn’t prevent me from burning out and suffering through much of what you describe. This industry is so hard. Launching a book requires an entirely different skillset than writing one. Thank you for this post and for your work Courtney.
Thanks so much for this. It is spot on, and honestly, why I would never pitch to an agent again. I polished a manuscript and pitched this year because I write historical fiction and more than 90% of that genre is traditionally published. Throughout the pitching process, every voice inside me kept saying, "This isn't in alignment. It's too much of a Pandora's box." Thankfully, all agents either passed or ghosted my pitches. I'm very process-oriented and I simply had too many questions about what happened "after" the deal and what would be expected of me (I loved your Before and After the Book Deal, but I still had so many questions and doubts). I also follow a few popular authors on Instagram, and while their candor was appreciated, some of what they were experiencing wasn't good and those experiences weren't what I wanted. I knew, however, that those same duties would be required of me should my book end up traditionally published. Your Big Picture paragraph in this post one million percent resonated. If I feel this way at over age 50 with a close group of writer friends, it's no wonder someone younger with possibly less of a support system imploded and did such egregious things. For her sake, I hope Cait gets the help she needs. For the book world, it's terrible that this happened. Maybe it will serve as a wake-up call that debut authors need help / guidance/ mentorship that they're not currently receiving.
Thank you for sharing your experience here, Brooke! Indeed, self publishing is a positive form of opting out of all the madness and pressure of trad publishing. I self published in my 20s and it was a super positive and empowering experience! Luckily I've been very fortunate to have great experiences with traditional publishing-- but not everyone does.
Amen. The willful opacity of the book business so often sets writers up for failure and it's something agents/publishers should really be thinking more about. Thanks for this, Courtney.
Dec 13, 2023·edited Dec 13, 2023Liked by Courtney Maum
Every single word of this. Wow. Wow. Thank you. I am a first time author with a book that releases next June from a big 5 imprint (Harper Collins, Nelson Books) and it's been such a wild ride. I own your book and it's been a HUGE Help. I keep taking notes form everything you say. I have a good agent and a good editor too but it still baptism by chaos. Thank you for validating these feelings.
Baptism by chaos!!!! That is the perfect way to put it. If you have a Bookshop.org link for your book, share it and I'll include it in my storefront of Subscriber pubs!
As a serious Catholic, this scares me. My fiction is full of religious themes as well. The world is full of traps for someone like me. Then again, I've already been kicked around pretty well and have practice answering tough questions with love. I treat everyone with the inherent dignity they deserve. Any advice or thoughts?
I'm not sure what you are asking for advice on-- on being interviewed? Or asked about your religion, perhaps? If these are your questions I think listening to Catholic authors being interviewed on mainstream podcasts and radio shows might give you some inspiration?
Yes. Both the fickleness of cancel culture and the query, I guess.
Yes, your podcast idea is good. I listen to enough Catholic radio to hear most of those queries. I've also been in the trenches myself, answering questions.
As a seriously devoted Catholic, if I ever get published, I'm even more worried now. The world is full of traps for someone like me. Then again, I've been pretty well knocked around before, trained to deal with awkward questions and respect the inherent dignity of everyone. Any advice?
As someone in the middle of a major depressive episode, where medication hasn’t been helping and that has be kicking my ass for two years, I am appalled by your saying creative writing is like mental illness. I hope you never, ever, have to deal with anything at all like what I have been through.
I literally just paid, like 10 minutes ago, for a one year subscription to your Substack, and this is the first post I read, and I’m wondering if I wasted my money.
Yes it is wrong to be a racist. It is also wrong to do what you did, make light of a serious medical condition, what you said is kind of like racism, but instead of race, you used mental illness. I am certain you can do better, and I hope I see that.
Julie, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I actually have struggled with mental illness and severe depression, it's what my memoir is about. Thus, I was not making that comparison blithely. You do not have to agree with me, but I do think that sometimes, an obsession with writing and with the characters and plot points and problems we're creating, plus the wish to find some level of success with these things that we've made up-- in short, an obsession with things that we are creating in our own minds-- can replicate a kind of mental illness. This is something I believe. I do not think this is the case for everyone, but I know from experience that it is the case for many-- quite a lot of my friends have entered severe depressions because of their writing (or perceived failures with their writing), and I have lost two colleagues (writers) to suicide this month. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and allowing me to share mine. I am sorry to hear that your medication hasn't been helping-- that must be beyond challenging and I hope that there is relief for you on the horizon.
Hi Courtney,
This scandal reminds me of the novel Yellowface, by R. F. Kuang. The protagonist, Juniper Song, is an experienced writer (not a debut author) who knows how to play the publishing and social-media game. But she's consumed by envy and haunted by the ghost of another writer, whose work Juniper has stolen. The novel explores serious themes of racism, identity, and cultural appropriation in publishing, but it's also darkly funny.
Ellie Barton
Yes, it really does! I tried reading that book but it stressed me out too much.
Sorry! My first comment on this platform and I spelled your name wrong! I must be terrified of Substack too!
Absolutely not a problem, Sue!
Thanks for this Courteney. This takes me back to the publication of my first novel in 1992 when, having been desperate to be part of the published world, I finally joined it and had no clue how to behave. As you say. there's no job description! I was so in awe of editors and agents that I didn't think of them as real people who would have appreciated some thankful attention from me, and a recognition of the hard work they did to bring the book to publication and promote it, including taking me round New York bookshops to sign copies and organising a reading and a launch party. I was so terrified and out of my depth that I probably treated them quite casually and possibly rudely. For a short time I was at the centre of their professional attention but I didn't know how to act professionally myself. And to be honest, quite a few books later, I'm still more scared of them than I should be. I'm in the process of pitching a new novel to agents now and will bear this in mind from now on!
Thank you so much for your honesty and for sharing! And congrats on your publications.
This is so true, and so insightful! I worked in the cafe of a a motorway service station when I was 19, and spent at least half a day reading manuals & safety guides before I was even allowed to clear tables or stack the dishwasher. We definitely need more of this in publishing! I feel a *bit* more on it now I'm going through the publication process with the second novel - but part of that is down to reading 'Before and After the Book Deal'.
Thank you, Katie!
As someone who is in the messy middle of her pivot into her writing career, I really appreciate this post!
Thanks for this important and timely post, Courtney. You are SO right that debut authors (and all writers hoping to be published) need a code of conduct and agents ans publishers need to be clear on expectations. I love your book and recommend it when I’m teaching or giving advice to new authors.
Thank you, Liza!
Thank you for this, Courtney. What a shitshow. It's interesting to hear your take on it.
Before and After the Book Deal is a must -- ABSOLUTE MUST -- read for any writer wanting to pursue publication. This is reminding me it may be time to re-read it.
Thanks Kolina!
Thanks for this thoughtful reflection on this controversy, Courtney. I agree with you that it would do everyone a world of good to have some kind of manual for what it's like to be a debut author, especially if you're lucky enough to get a big book deal. For some people, like Corrain, no amount of etiquette training will make a difference if they are that selfish, troubled, desperate, misguided. But why does the publishing world have to be such a frigging mystery? That benefits no one. And that is why your book sits on my shelf!
holy shit omg. had no idea about this scandal (haven't been on twitter much lately) until i read about it here. first of all, BEFORE & AFTER THE BOOK DEAL is essential, and i tell everyone i know about it and your substack because, as you say, without your stack and those of others you cite, everything about publishing a book would be so much more opaque. i understand that impulse to share what you know in order to spare others from more painful lessons than necessary. having just come off a book launch and tour, all i want is to better prepare new debut authors. i had the benefit of being older and having a long career in a different industry—so at least i know how to be professional. but i'm not a natural extrovert or performer and it is A LOT to get thrown into the marketing bonfire with zero experience. i feel fortunate i was part of poets & writers' GET THE WORD OUT, which prepared me somewhat. but i can't imagine as a young person dealing with all the pressure w/o any guidance.
It is a lot, right? Thank you for sharing your experience here! And welcome back from tour!
I’m a psychiatrist and I spent 90% of my OWN therapy sessions this past year talking about my debut book launch! And all of my expertise still didn’t prevent me from burning out and suffering through much of what you describe. This industry is so hard. Launching a book requires an entirely different skillset than writing one. Thank you for this post and for your work Courtney.
Thank you for admitting this! It's so important for people to hear. Thank you. And good luck with that book!
Hi Courtney,
Thanks so much for this. It is spot on, and honestly, why I would never pitch to an agent again. I polished a manuscript and pitched this year because I write historical fiction and more than 90% of that genre is traditionally published. Throughout the pitching process, every voice inside me kept saying, "This isn't in alignment. It's too much of a Pandora's box." Thankfully, all agents either passed or ghosted my pitches. I'm very process-oriented and I simply had too many questions about what happened "after" the deal and what would be expected of me (I loved your Before and After the Book Deal, but I still had so many questions and doubts). I also follow a few popular authors on Instagram, and while their candor was appreciated, some of what they were experiencing wasn't good and those experiences weren't what I wanted. I knew, however, that those same duties would be required of me should my book end up traditionally published. Your Big Picture paragraph in this post one million percent resonated. If I feel this way at over age 50 with a close group of writer friends, it's no wonder someone younger with possibly less of a support system imploded and did such egregious things. For her sake, I hope Cait gets the help she needs. For the book world, it's terrible that this happened. Maybe it will serve as a wake-up call that debut authors need help / guidance/ mentorship that they're not currently receiving.
Thank you for sharing your experience here, Brooke! Indeed, self publishing is a positive form of opting out of all the madness and pressure of trad publishing. I self published in my 20s and it was a super positive and empowering experience! Luckily I've been very fortunate to have great experiences with traditional publishing-- but not everyone does.
Amen. The willful opacity of the book business so often sets writers up for failure and it's something agents/publishers should really be thinking more about. Thanks for this, Courtney.
Thank you for reading and for sharing-- I appreciate it and you.
Every single word of this. Wow. Wow. Thank you. I am a first time author with a book that releases next June from a big 5 imprint (Harper Collins, Nelson Books) and it's been such a wild ride. I own your book and it's been a HUGE Help. I keep taking notes form everything you say. I have a good agent and a good editor too but it still baptism by chaos. Thank you for validating these feelings.
Baptism by chaos!!!! That is the perfect way to put it. If you have a Bookshop.org link for your book, share it and I'll include it in my storefront of Subscriber pubs!
Oh thank you! That is really kind. Here it is:https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sex-talk-you-never-got-reclaiming-the-heart-of-masculine-sexuality-sam-jolman/20857132?ean=9781400243907
Added!