The work of a writer versus that of an author is distinct, and so the biggest advice I have is to know which mode to be in as you work. While in writing mode—ruminating, drafting, revising—honor your particular creative appetite and gather everything that fuels the fire of your project. For me, this has meant journaling, talking about the project with trusted readers and collaborators, going to readings and events, and probably most important, reading deeply and widely and taking in other art. In essence, learn to trust your gut about when you need to go out into the world to gather more kindling, and when to make yourself stay at your desk and hammer it out. Writing requires a certain ferality. One of the things I hear my colleagues and myself saying to authors speaks to this wildness: You write it and let us worry about how to sell it. This is truest during the early phase of creating. And when you’re in the depths of the creative process, try not to worry too much about author-mode things like pitch letters or comp titles.
While you’re in author mode, my biggest advice is to be a good collaborator: Every step of the publishing process involves other people, and both the process and the outcome benefit hugely from good working relationships. So bring ideas to the table, and don’t be afraid of asking questions. Ask for what you want, but also be ready and willing to take suggestions and make adjustments. And finally, make yourself reachable: Make a website with contact information or a contact page. In author mode, you’ll be querying and pitching a lot, but hopefully there will also be readers of your work who are interested in collaborating with you, so make sure that they can easily find you when they want to.
—Anni Liu, editor, Graywolf Press
Photo credit: Yvet Youssef