So there was no magic to it. I just wrote constantly and kept trying to get better and nurtured delusions. It's totally normal. I've never lived in NYC so I was never connected to publishing. I was always in small towns, in the Midwest.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
I used the internet to figure things out. There is a lot of advice online for writers, most of it bad, but some of it useful. I wasn't making much money. Erotica paid. Lit mags did not. I started a magazine with my friend @mbartleyseigel called PANK and learned so much more.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
It was a labor of love. We made mistakes CONSTANTLY. It took us like 6 years to be able to pay writers. But we always had our writers best interest at heart. We just wanted to put work into the world that we loved.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
I started writing for the PANK blog, then HTMLGIANT, then the Rumpus, then the Guardian, and now the NYT. But this happened over years, with lots of ups and downs and very little money until then there was money.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
It happens differently for every writer and it doesn't happen at all for some, for all kinds of reasons, some of which we can change (systemic discrimination and underrepresentation) and some of which we can't.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
Along the way I encountered so much amazing work in the small magazine and press world. And I met a writer whose work blew me away and I thought, I want to make a book with this person so I started Tiny Hardcore Press.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
I had no idea what I was doing. I had very little money. I made so many mistakes. Ugh. But I also got to put some gorgeous books in the world, loved by a tiny but devoted audience.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
And I also published my first book with a micro press, Ayiti. And it was eye opening to be on both sides of the micro press experience and to see that no one knows what they're doing, 90% of the time.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
I sold Ayiti without an agent, for no advance, but the contract was fair, and the publisher was a good guy. The book sold reasonably well for a micro press book but I didn't really make any money on it. (It is being re-released by Grove in June 2018)
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
One thing I did learn from all the mistake making at all levels, is that money flows to the writer. You should never be paying someone to look at your work or publish your work or any of that.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
You may not make money, particularly in the micro press world, but you should not be spending money. And also, if you're going to go the micropress or small press route, you need to educate yourself on the realities.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
Talk to the other writers on that press to find out about their experiences. Understand that there is little to no budget for publicity or marketing or touring. Often times, there is a staff of one and that person has 10 jobs.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
Read your contract, if there even IS a contract, carefully and get second and third opinions if you feel overwhelmed. And protect your creative work. Make sure you protect things like film/tv rights and other creative offshoots. You never know what can happen.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
I wrote this in 2012 about having a micropress. It might be useful to you if you're thinking about signing with a micropress. https://t.co/V0Bzth4OxD
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
Have a great thanksgiving.
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 23, 2017
Writers were incredibly thankful for the thread and the candid advice, so much so, they responded with pure gratitude.
Great thread. A friend is a successful author & people always ask how she got there. She starts, "15 years ago…" & their eyes glaze over. People don't want to hear about the hard work.
(And authors SHOULD spend money on editing if they self-publish! Signed, a copyeditor. ?)
— Erin D. Crum (@MlleCrum) November 23, 2017
This was very informative, thank you
— Patrick Karlsson ? (@Patrickesque) November 24, 2017
Feel free to extend this amazing thread with a BOOK!
I'm just saying.
There's never too many inspirational books for authors!
Thanks again for the thread! pic.twitter.com/wwEiRVi4dU— Kenya Wright (@KenyaWrightBook) November 24, 2017
Thank you for sharing. I have an inner writer that needs to get and needs to learn more. Much love. ❤️
— ⚡️DJ Styles⚡️ (@somanystyles) November 24, 2017
Such a great thread! I’m being published for the 1st time in Jan 2018, an essay in an all-female anthology via a small press. Hoping it leads to more. Reading about your experience & how long it takes is totally resonating ??
— Tara Dublin (@taradublinrocks) November 24, 2017
Thank you for sharing your story! And, more importantly, thank you for all that you’ve done to give underrepresented authors a platform!!!
— Shaun Barger (@ShaunBarger) November 24, 2017
This is all so great and interesting! I loved reading it. Not to sound like some kind of terrible inspiration quote on a mug or anything, but the journey is everything, isn't it?
— Jess McGuire? (@jessmcguire) November 24, 2017
You're generous with offering advice. As a first-time author these are all great points. I got my start with zines. ?
— Julie Chadwick (@JulieHChadwick) November 24, 2017
Thank you so much for your advice. It is invaluable.
— Ana (@meltzine) November 24, 2017
Wow @rgay you don’t know how much this thread means to me. It was absolutely what I needed to hear/read as I’m struggling to make some major life decisions and figure out my path in life. Forever grateful. Thank you.
— Mary (@holy_grizz) November 24, 2017