BY CYNTHIA HAMMER
Some things are meant to be. About the time COVID came along I received a memoir from a friend in Australia and thought, “Heck, during COVID isolation, why don’t I write my memoir?” So, I did. At first, it was to be a little memoir I would give to my children, but then I really got into the writing and found I had a lot to say.
I had never written a book, so I took free online writing courses.
Learning how to write dialogue, the importance of simple, concise, straightforward language, and the value of description was fun and challenging. My writing kept improving, and that was satisfying.
I shared my writing with friends, who said, “This is good as well as informative.” They encouraged me, but I also learned that friends typically say that.
Working with a Professional Editor
I hired a professional—a developmental editor. He cost as much as a college course, and working with him was like taking one. I had written 55,000 words. His first action was to discard 15,000 of them, restructure my memoir to read like a hero’s journey, and have me write 6,000 new words to fill in the journey’s gap. Then, it was on to submit book proposals.
Could I find a publisher for my book, even though I was a first-time author in a challenging market?
Finding a Publisher
I read that only 2-3% of authors find a publisher, which was intimidating information, but COVID made submitting proposals easy. Instead of needing to mail out proposals to numerous agents and publishing companies, they now accept proposals as email attachments. I spent days researching where to send my proposal and set up a form to track who I emailed and the status of my replies. I sent more than 50 emails and got five replies, all negative.
I was ready to give up and consider self-publishing when I got a call.
A publishing company was interested! Oh, wondrous joy! They liked my writing. They would take a chance on a first-time, 78-year-old author. My book, Living with Inattentive ADHD, was released on August 29, 2023.
Another Learning Experience
Working with a publisher was another learning experience, but less fun.
There are two advantages to working with a traditional publisher:
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It increases the likelihood of having your book reviewed. Recognized, national ADHD authorities write positive reviews about my book. They wouldn’t have given my manuscript a second glance if I self-published.
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Most publishers access huge markets for distribution. On the day of its release, my book was available on Amazon and other stores in the U.S., the UK, Canada, and Australia.
The downsides of working with a publisher:
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You have no control over when the book will be published. It was almost two years between signing the contract and having my book published.
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Most contracts give the author very little money. My $16.95 paperback book pays me $1.27 in royalties—talk about an unpleasant learning experience.
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Publishers typically expect authors to market their books. So, I do lots of work, and they make most of the money. I didn’t know this when I started.
Then There’s Marketing!
I developed new skills writing a book and working with a publisher. Now I have to learn book marketing skills. But there is more. While writing my memoir, I learned that my late-in-life diagnosis of the inattentive type of ADHD continued to be a problem for others.
Helping Others
I created the website www.iadhd.org, completed paperwork to establish a nonprofit called the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, and established a board of directors. Then, I focused on educating about inattentive ADHD by writing blogs, publishing online articles, creating a presence on social media, and recording, editing, and posting videos on our YouTube channel. (Search for Inattentive ADHD Coalition)
My labors of love continue—selling my book, writing articles, doing author presentations, and leading the nonprofit where I am the executive director. My days are exciting, interesting, full, and fun. What could be better when you get ready to celebrate your 80th birthday?
Cynthia Hammer, MSW, discovered that she had the inattentive type of ADHD at age 49. She has written a memoir/self-help book, Living with Inattentive ADHD, published by HatherLeigh Press. She is also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization, Inattentive ADHD Coalition (www.iadhd.org)