Getting a book published isn’t easy for most people (don’t worry… this article isn’t going to be depressing). In fact, it’s going to be the very opposite. I’m about to give you the #1 thing that you need to get a book published.
It’s not talent (although that’s obviously important). It’s not connections. And it’s not insider information. It’s something that a cashier recently helped me realize.
Yes, a cashier.
Here’s what happened…
* * *
Getting a Book Published – Meet the Cashier
A few days ago I stopped at a grocery store on my way home. As the cashier rang up my items, I noticed that he looked nearly the same age as me.
“How’s your day going?” I asked.
“It’s going,” he said with a sigh.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s my third day working up front. I used to be in the back, unloading trucks. I had more privacy and freedom then.”
He didn’t make eye contact.
Awkward…
“Look on the bright side. Now you have lots
of people like me, happy to see you.”
The cashier forced a smile and rang up my next item. The scanner made a loud bleep-bloop sound. “It’s not so bad,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get used to it.”
I shuffled a couple of my food items on the conveyor belt. “I used to work in a grocery store, you know, unloading trucks and stocking shelves. I even worked as a cashier when I was… when I was… younger.” I almost let it slip that I was 16 when I did that. This man was probably in his 40s and I didn’t want him to feel embarrassed (you never know).
“Really… what do you do now?”
“I help authors get their books published.” I could understand the cashier being surprised. What are the odds? Plus, I was dressed to the nines, on my way home from a meeting with a client.
The cashier’s eyes lit up. “Oh! So you’re a literary agent?”
Now it was my turn to be surprised. “How in the world do you know about literary agents?” Yes, it was presumptuous of me to think he wouldn’t know about book agents… but the words flew out of mouth before my brain could catch up.
“I read a lot,” said the cashier. “And I’m a writer.”
“That’s awesome. What kind of books do you write?”
“Historical fiction, mostly. But I’ve only sent out a few query letters and never got a response. I’m probably not good enough.”
“Technically, I’m not an agent anymore,” I said. “I’m an author consultant… helping authors get agents. You should check out my website.”
As I swiped my debit card, the cashier and I talked a little more about getting a book published. He obviously wasn’t happy as a cashier. I wondered why he hadn’t submitted his book to more than just a few literary agents.
* * *
Getting a Book Published – The Epiphany
As I walked to my car, I started thinking…
Why do some people seriously pursue their passion (like becoming published authors) while so many others eventually give up – or don’t bother trying? Is there one thing that’s ultimately responsible for success in publishing? In life? If so, what is it?
I started thinking about my life…
I grew up in poverty.
Yes, poverty.
My father died when I was eleven (a story for another day). So my two older sisters and I were raised by our mother. She had a low-paying job at a nursery school. You can probably imagine what that might have been like.
If not, I’ll explain…
Our pantry was mostly “filled” with white bread (the oldest and cheapest stuff that you could buy, often stale), canned tomato and mushroom soup (generic brands), white rice, potatoes, powdered milk, and salt and pepper.
We didn’t buy peanut butter
and jelly (too expensive).
Or even butter or margarine.
Seriously.
But we did buy lots of things from clearance bins. Most grocery stores have shopping carts at the back of the store with deeply discounted items that are outdated or damaged. So, dented and/or outdated cans of vegetables were common in our house.
Talk about embarrassing.
I once had to help my mom wheel an entire cart (about 100 cans) of okra to the checkout counter… many of those cans were dented and/or missing their labels. A store clerk had written a price of ten cents on the top of each can with black magic marker.
You think that’s bad?
We actually went “dumpster-diving” from time to time as well, behind the grocery store. Now, here’s the point. My mother didn’t give me money or connections (she didn’t have those things to give). But she did give me one thing that money can’t buy.
Belief.
Belief that I was special.
Belief that I could be successful.
Looking back on it now, I see
how powerful that was.
At the time, I was just a scared little boy. No father. No confidence. Few friends. I had no clue what I was good at. And I had no idea how I’d ever make a decent living and/or provide for a family.
But somehow, I figured it out.
I think the main reason I was able to do it… is the fact that I had someone in my life who kept telling me I could do it.
That made me believe.
As a result, I worked harder than most of the people around me (come to think of it, I still do). I got modest jobs that turned into better jobs. I even managed to get accepted into a decent University, and pay my own way (one job during the school year, two jobs during the summers).
A couple years after I graduated, I became a successful literary agent and the Marketing & Licensing Manager for a well-known publishing company.
Why am I telling you all this?
Not because I’m great.
It’s because my conversation with the cashier
made me realize I’m blessed.
And so are YOU.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from
or what you’ve been through.
You are strong…
You are special…
You can do this…
Like most things in life, getting a book published isn’t
just about talent and insider information.
It’s about belief.
And one pound of belief is worth
ten pounds of talent.
That’s why I’m going to keep believing in you and sending you positive energy. I know that your belief (in yourself, and in your writing) will give you the strength you need to finish your book and actually get it out there.
Now, if you liked this article… post a question
or comment below (I need your mojo).
For more information about getting a book published, click here and get my free 15-part Guide to Finding a Literary Agent. Then click here to learn about the 3 different ways that you can get 1-on-1 help from me (free to fee) as your Book Marketing Coach. You can ask me questions about getting a book published on my blog. You can ask me questions about getting a book published during an introductory consulting call. Or you can join one of my longer-term coaching programs.
Either way, I look forward to
getting to know you better.
I believe in you,
-Mark
Mark Malatesta
Your “Undercover” Agent
* * *
* * *
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
Great inspiration you have given me to push out poems I have been collecting since 1979. Now I believe they can be great poems. Do you handle poems?
Hi Olaitan, thank you for that… and I’m happy to help if possible… but I want to make sure you know that I’m a former literary agent turned author coach. Now I help authors get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals.
Also… although I love poetry… It’s extremely difficult to get a literary agent or publisher for a collection of poetry… unless you’re already a well-published and/or award-winning poet. The good news, however, is that it’s not that hard to start getting your poetry published if you’re simply patient and persistent submitting your work to journals, anthologies, contests, etc. Poets, of course, often make wonderful essayists, short story writers, and novelists as well. That’s another way to get started and build your platform.
Before you do anything else, if you want to get an agent, read these 3 multi-part guides about literary agents: https://literary-agents.com/guide-to-literary-agents/, https://literary-agents.com/finding-a-literary-agent/, and https://literary-agents.com/get-a-literary-agent/getting-a-literary-agent/.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: https://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. You can also (if you haven’t done so already) get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: https://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: https://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great week, and happy holidays!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
http://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Did you ever go back to that cashier and give him a “pep
talk” or see if he still worked there? Just curious.
You change people’s lives with what you do.
Darlene
Thank you Darlene! Unfortunately, I never saw him again.
Maybe he got a big book deal? 😉
Happy 4th of July and
have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark, Thank you again. Inspiring, informative, soul building and professional. I never cease to be encouraged to continue following the dream every time I visit your pages. You are seriously becoming my hero . Another visit another kick along to get me moving all the way to… The End. 🙂
Thank you Catherine, you just made my day… thank you so much for taking the time to send your sunshine my way.
Have a good night!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Thank you, Mark for sharing your story and for the inspiration. I am looking forward to working with you.
Have a blessed day. Cynthia Bennett
🙂
Have a great weekend!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I like this article.
Thank you Cindymarie.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Sir: just read the story of your upbringing, and it was a minor shock. You have overcome an enormous amount of depredation, and I salute your courage and self-confidence. I respect and admire anyone who can triumph over such odds. Thanks for sharing with your audience.
Thank you Jeff, and have a positive and productive week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
A sad but great story. It just shows what can be done if we only have the strength to believe in ourselves. Mark’s story is one to install hope into all those who start a project then fall by the way-side. As I always say, Positive thoughts lead to positive results.From Mark’s and those that have already commentated, it shows my thoughts are correct. Have a great weekend.
Thank you Colin, that was incredibly kind of you.
Have a wonderful week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Dear Mark,
Thanks for sharing a piece of your personal history. Thanks for all this information to help us progress towards a publishing goal. And even though you don’t know any of us, just providing a positive word of encouragement; that we are strong, special and we can do this gives a boost of confidence that renews our hopes and desires to keep moving forward.
Cheers.
Thank you Angie, and have a great week!
I appreciate your kindness,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Wow Mark, should I say I’m surprised to hear that part of your story, that you grew up in abject poverty? Goodness, I am. Just as I was when I learned Marie Forleo of the award winning Marie TV, also grew up in a low class home.
Most of the time I fill my head with thoughts and excuses of why I can’t be the best that I can be, all in the name of excuses like; I don’t have much advantages, I wasn’t born in America, Amazon doesn’t even let me buy books because of the freaking part of the world I live in!
For two years now that I’ve taken writing full-time and spent last year querying agents for one of my books, I realize that the reason why I’m still yet to land that dream agent is because I’m loaded with fears and low self-belief. I lack the courage to push past the odds, like J. K. Rowling, to see my dream come true.
Scratch what I said the last time about going the indie way, (don’t get me wrong, this works for some writers) but I’m now energized to keep going.
Thanks Mark, for the support and encouragement. You ROCK!
Thank you Tessa, who knew… right??? LOL. And all of our heads are filled with thoughts and excuses about why we can’t be/do/have more. But it’s mostly bunk. So I’m glad you’re sticking with it. 😉
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
My response to the cashier story: Persuasive, heartfelt inspiration from a great writer who owns the special talent to express thoughts clearly. Mark, you have that admirable quality of sincerity based on experience. Thank you for sharing your words and reminding other writers to believe.
Thank you Patience, your comment was heartwarming and very kind. You just made my night. Thank you for taking the time. 🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com