Trials of an Unpublished Author – Part I
by Elizabeth Evans Fryer

How will I find the time to write this? How long will it take? When do I have the time to do the research? Do I really need to do research or can I make everything up? Am I seriously considering this?

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, fiction or not, you have likely considered these questions. Luckily for me, I was unemployed and searching for a creative outlet when these questions hit. Last November, I decided to take a break from writing cover letters and sending out resumes to do some serious reading, just for enjoyment. Around Thanksgiving I read a book that inspired me to write my own, and I honestly didn’t give the above questions much thought—since I had the spare time—but instead began writing my memoir right away.

By the end of January my preliminary reviewers began editing the first draft, and with the book away, my creative endeavor exposed, and this part of my life from more than 20 years ago laid out for others to read and judge. The next logical questions slapped me in the face:

• Will people care?
• Will they want to read this story?
• No one knows much about it, but do they want to?
• Who will publish this book? Are there others like it?
• Should I get an agent?

I took advantage of my time off from writing, when my reviewers were reading and commenting, to do some reading of my own. From Amazon.com, I ordered three books that seemed similar to my story—written by survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). After reading them I realized that my story is targeted to a different audience from the others. I tell a different side of the tale. So yes, the book is unique. And since the three previously published books that deal with TBI are out there, I know a market exists for my book.

Knowing that I have a unique story, I queried agents trying to sell them on it. I had set in my mind that I would quit querying after a dozen rejections and go ahead and self-publish the book: Querying book agents was too similar to sending resumes to perspective employers, and I had given that up months ago.

After the first five agents rejected my idea, I faced the probability that I would likely self publish, and I asked myself the next set of questions:

• Should I submit to more than a dozen agents?
• Should I submit until I get accepted?
• Should I submit proposal packages directly to publishers?
• What was my purpose for writing this memoir?
• If I self-publish, will I make any money?
• Is that important (see purpose for writing the book, below)?
• How will I market the book?
• What will be my main markets?

I first considered my motivation to write my memoir: Did I write it to sell the story worldwide and gain fame and riches? No, I could honestly answer that I hadn’t. I wrote the story because I wanted to find out what my family experienced during my recovery from the coma. I wrote the book for myself. But then again, people in my hometown are still curious about my life: My mom runs into my freshman basketball coach at the grocery, and he asks, “How’s Libbi doing?” Someone from my grandpa’s church asks him, “How’s your granddaughter who fell off the horse?” So I wrote the book for my hometown as well. And that answers my question of who my main market is.

With a local main market, I could see no use in spending more time and effort querying agents and publishers, but I started a marketing plan right away. I have no marketing background, but I met an author-speaker at the Columbus Writers’ Conference last year who suggested having a personal Web site. So I bought space on a server, and my project manager (yes, I have a job now, which I interviewed for in October, before I gave up the job hunt), his brother, and SWO-STC’s own Web guru, Chris Schapman, helped me set up my site,
www.elizabethevansfryer.com.

In July I attended a one-day writer’s conference at Xavier University to learn more about self-publishing, and I’m spreading the word about my site: I have e-mailed my entire address book about it, and I brought up the Web site for my former school district and e-mailed every teacher and staff member I knew who still has an e-address listed.

With my Web site up and the third—hopefully final—draft of the manuscript off to the editor, I am in limbo, taking a break, and researching self-publishing companies. Please stay tuned.