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Realistic expectations and clear communication are essential to support new authors’ mental health.
The Bookseller’s recent survey of debut authors produced damning results and sounded a loud warning to aspiring authors about the perils of succeeding in their dream to be published. Fifty-four percent of respondents said the process "negatively affected their mental health".
Thankfully that wasn’t my experience back in 2020, although the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic certainly didn’t help matters. Contracted with a small, indie publisher who talked me through the practicality of the process, I knew my book had no chance of bothering the Sunday Times bestseller charts, I was just pleased to be published.
Yet according to the survey my experience was in the minority. What were the common factors with those debut authors’ bad experiences and what can be done to support new authors in the future?
One thing that struck me with the survey was that it didn’t record if the debut authors who responded had pre-existing mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, and whether their agent and publisher knew about it so they could better meet their needs. Fostering an open culture where authors feel able to be open, honest and talk about their mental health without fear of prejudice would certainly help the debut authors’ experience.
The lack of clear, professional communication was often mentioned by the survey’s respondents as a cause of disillusionment. Clare Christian, my debut publisher, says that managing expectations is vital. "Publishers and agents need to understand the repercussions of getting it wrong. With good, clear communication, disappointments can be avoided or anticipated along the way." Those in the book industry shouldn’t promise what they may be unable to deliver, and as well as giving authors best case scenarios, they should also talk about the worst, she explains.
Although I wish it weren’t the case, the days of publishers nurturing authors’ careers despite sales not meeting targets are no longer with us
Also mentioned in the survey, and frequently by authors I spoke to, was silence and a lack of response from editors, publishers and agents. Marketeer Katie Sadler, who has years of experience in the book industry, advises debut authors to "ask questions, and ask them again if you don’t understand or get an appropriate answer. Don’t be afraid of being the (polite!) slightly difficult author".
Building connections with other authors helps she adds, as can online resources such as The Empowered Author, which she co-runs with Sam Missingham. Not everyone, however, agrees with respondents’ opinions.
Are debut authors in need of a dose of realism? Established author David Barnett, writing in the Independent, said of those who reported that their experience adversely affected their mental health: "This is a terrible thing, to say someone feels like that at what should be one of the happiest times of their life. However, it does force me to wonder… what did you actually expect? And why?" He goes on to add that "to be a writer requires a bit of toughness, or at least, pragmatism".
One author I spoke to, who has been trying for two decades to secure a traditional publishing deal, with many rejections and near misses under her belt, pointed out the mental health consequences of NOT getting a debut deal. "Endless rejection I would argue is just as bad for your mental health," she said, "but it teaches you resilience. So maybe some of these authors need to focus on being more resilient."
Being an author is a dream job, one that regularly features in lists of people’s ideal career change, but there’s also a general myth in society that authors are well paid and the job is glamorous: all launch parties and worldwide book tours. Not so for the majority. We do it because we love writing.
You’re only a debut once. Done well, it’s a lifetime achievement
To improve the debut author experience agents, editors and publishers should give a clear idea of what the author can expect, and, as they say in adverts for shares, that sales can go down as well as up. As the aspiring author mentioned to me, publishing sadly isn’t just about quality of writing. "Publishing does not favour the author these days. It’s a business, you are a commodity, your book is a product," she said, "it’s about how much of your product sells. If you were a flavour of Walkers Crisps and you didn’t sell, you would be removed from the shelves."
Although I wish it weren’t the case, the days of publishers nurturing authors’ careers despite sales not meeting targets are no longer with us. Authors have to be realistic, but it’s also the publisher’s responsibility to set expectations, meet them on their side and recognise the strain that the publishing process can have on an author’s mental health. For example, at the beginning of the author-publisher relationship agree on a mutually desirable way to move forward when it comes to communication. Whatever is settled on, sticking to the plan is key, as is not over-promising and asking all authors when they sign a contract if they have any health needs to be aware of.
You’re only a debut once. Done well, it’s a lifetime achievement. It’s in all our interests to make the publication of an author’s first book a positive, memorable experience to ensure we have an equitable, healthy and thriving publishing industry.