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First, go and see my entry in Marketing your book thread.
Overall, if you think the newspaper industry is a mess, the book publishing industry is in even worse shape. I never could get an agent (I tried for a year until four months ago). Most trade publishers tell you point blank on their web sites that they won't read any unagented manuscripts. That's because agents these days are supposed to do rough editing, etc. since publishing houses have gotten rid of many editors for financial reasons.
I was lucky to find a reputable trade house, where the top editor read my book and saw it worthy of publication. It will come out in March. The topic: urban history, specifically racial change in neighborhoods.
Here are problems that I encountered in my search for an agent.
The supposed rules of the games are bizarre. On the one hand, some agents don't want to consider you if you have sent the proposal to othere agents. On the other hand, go to agents' web sites and many now contain a note that they will let you know only if they are interested.
So how long are you supposed to wait until you send it to someone else?
My own success rate in even getting an answer was miserable. Granted, the timing was the worst possible because the country was sliding into recession.
I got a modest advance. Some of it will go to get maps done (a cost that the publisher shares with me, according to my contract). With the first African-American president I would think my book will have some market attraction, but who knows. Public libraries and even universities buy fewer and fewer books.
That said, writing my book -- I'm now doing final editing, i.e. responding to the publisher*s questions and suggestions -- was the most redeeming thing I have done in my life. Maddening but utterly satisfying, seeing a rough idea mature into a book.
I am already doing some urgent interviews (because of the people's age) for my second book. The publisher knows nothing about this yet but my current contract gives them an option to buy it.
If anyone has any info. about the publishing industry that they'd like to share, I'd love to hear it. Finding a literary agent, especially, has me really frustrated right now.
dealt with it quite a few years ago... while it wasn't a negative experience by any means, it was extremely time-consuming... which is why I opted for the POD route this time around
With poetry, maybe with other books too, with small presses at least, they have a lottery system where you send in like 20 bucks with your manuscript, a reading fee or whatever. Whichever book or books that win out, they get published.
what a scam...ive been there... send me $12 (or whatever amount) reading fee, then you get a letter saying your poetry has been selected to go into an anthology, and for only $68 (or whatever amount) you can be one of the first to purchase the compilation. no thanks!
With poetry, maybe with other books too, with small presses at least, they have a lottery system where you send in like 20 bucks with your manuscript, a reading fee or whatever. Whichever book or books that win out, they get published.
There was a time when some agents would read your work for a fee, and critique it. These days the scene has only gotten worse. I have sent manuscripts/outlines/proposals "over the transom" to publishers but only one, Warner Books, sent me a rejection and a brief critique and explanation. Publishers prefer to deal with agents they know and work with.
Catch-22: You can't get a novel published without an agent, and you can't find an agent these days. It's easier if you already have something in print, but, how do you get into print? Catch-22 again. In defense of agents, they are swamped with wannabe writers' submissions.
With poetry, maybe with other books too, with small presses at least, they have a lottery system where you send in like 20 bucks with your manuscript, a reading fee or whatever. Whichever book or books that win out, they get published.
this sounds like such a scam! I've heard time and time again that the only money you should pay to get your work read is postage. the only time I would pay any sort of money is an entry fee for a truly legit writing contest
Quote:
Originally Posted by nmweatherman
There was a time when some agents would read your work for a fee, and critique it. These days the scene has only gotten worse. I have sent manuscripts/outlines/proposals "over the transom" to publishers but only one, Warner Books, sent me a rejection and a brief critique and explanation. Publishers prefer to deal with agents they know and work with.
Catch-22: You can't get a novel published without an agent, and you can't find an agent these days. It's easier if you already have something in print, but, how do you get into print? Catch-22 again. In defense of agents, they are swamped with wannabe writers' submissions.
Maybe lightning will strike? I hope. (Sighs)
I know it was a rejection, but I think it's AWESOME you got a personalized critique from such a major publisher! most just mail out mass rejections. at least someone really took the time to look over your work and comment on it.
I've heard it is easier to get published in literary magazines and and getting published in those (at least in the well known ones) can give you a leg up in terms of being published in larger houses. there are also some legit writing contests out there where winning can really help your prospects (I recall one children's book publisher having a yearly contest where first prize was a contract)
The book I am working on is a mix of history and genealogy, a niche to be sure. My publisher not only provides digital and paper, he also does the promoting. He does understand the industry ins and outs. If you have something he likes, he will work with you to make it happen.
Although I'm not sure this book isn't just a little self-serving, I got an insight into how you might find a publisher from: "78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published & 14 Reasons Why It Just Might". The author is Pat Walsh. It sounds like some of you are already up on all of that, but I had no clue.
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no thanks!
