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You may remember [yeah, right - Ed.] I posted a new novel, Selfies, here a while back. I had a total of four (count 'em!) reactions from the Four Or Five Guys©. Two used the same phrase - "quite enjoyed it". Imagine the impact they'd have on the cover! Another "eventually" found it to be a satisfactory read, presumably after slogging through the beginning and middle parts. The fourth sent me a much appreciated and thoughtfully detailed positive reaction (thank you, Nico!). So at least four of you read it. There may be more, who didn't quite enjoy it, or enjoy it enough to get through it, and were kind enough to keep their opinions to themselves.
Over the last few months I've submitted it to thirty-nine literary agents, in the UK, the USA, and three publishers in France who accept manuscripts in English. I researched individuals who represent this genre of novel. Each submission has to conform to specific and slightly differing requirements in terms of what they want to see, and what they want to know about you. It's nothing like as simple as emailing the manuscript (you never send the whole book). Each submission is individually researched and tailored and formatted.
I contacted a total of forty-two (count 'em!) people, each of whom advertised their wants specifically enough for me to not waste their time. Let's count the replies: zero. I'm not talking about rejections. I'm talking about simple acknowledgement of receipt. Something along the lines of thank you for your submission, I'll get back to you. Or not. How long would it take to press send on a boiler-plate reply like that? But no, nothing. Zip. Nada. A deafening silence.
Either the submissions were not read at all (very likely) or speed-scanned and spiked, or read and ignored. But not one was even acknowledged. This is publishing.
I never thought it would be a publishing sensation. It's just entertaining escapist fun, with strong movie potential. A holiday read, or, if the reader is the thoughtful type, something to think about. We'll never know, will we?
No, I'm not going to "self-publish" on Amazon or anywhere else. I checked the numbers. It would be lost in the flood. Millions of books out there, for free, not getting read. This is publishing.
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ReplyDeleteOke.
DeleteNot only is this publishing it's also filmmaking and record making as well. Lots of outlets and armies of people vying for attention.
ReplyDeleteI think we can include every profession/job in the list. What came as a surprise was the 100% lack of acknowledgement.
DeleteTo my mind, the lack of acknowledgment is unpardonable. When I was a managing editor (and now retired) for a couple of large-ish publishing houses (we loved saying houses and not companies), anything that came into and went from my offices demanded at least an acknowledgment and my editorial assistants KNEW that was the case (I didn't dissuade them from thinking it might be a fireable offense). You'd think it would be especially true for mss. going to agents that there would be at least a form letter that got triggered as a response. I'm embarrassed for them . . . -Muzak McMusics
DeleteIt's certainly changed from the last time I tried to get into print. You expect a lot of rejections, and getting a "sorry not for us" response is fine, because they've considered it. I've had hundreds! But not hearing anything at all, after you've gone to the considerable trouble of ensuring the submission conforms to their own peculiar requirements ... something has broken.
DeleteMy son drew all the characters for his childrens book.Australian animals in animated cartoon style.Very cute story suitable for sub 8 yr olds etc.After many many knock backs one replied.Pay us $6,000 up front send us full manuscript etc we will prepare draft. They sent it back with totally different characters etc said they new best for market.He is now not interested in Publishing!
ReplyDeleteYour son paid the publisher!? This is where the story ends.
DeleteNever, ever give a publisher money, if they like your book, they will give you money it’s called an advance.
DeleteUnfortunately, Farq, (as Psychfan pointed out) I think it applies to life in general nowadays!!
ReplyDeleteYes it does, and I'm not suggesting otherwise.
DeleteSlap me around with a dead fish!! I have got it downloaded .. but, just don't do much reading anymore!! Why not??, you ask. Not sure!!
ReplyDeleteI too downloaded it, and sorry to say I have Selfies in a folder with some pdf biographies, all are still unread - waiting to get a laptop or other tech. I still prefer a paper book.
DeleteMe too, but I've forced myself into the habit of reading books on my phone.
DeleteThat’s not how it works, that’s not how any of this works !
ReplyDeleteMost major publishers do not accept (read) unsolicited manuscripts directly from authors, only from literary agents. The agent acts as the necessary gatekeeper, giving you access to major imprints. Beyond just selling your book, a literary agent is a professional who represents writers to publishing houses. Acting as your “champion” and legal advocate, they pitch your manuscript to editors, negotiate publishing contracts, secure advances, and help manage your long-term writing career in exchange for a standard 15% commission. Like it or not, this how the book publishing industry works.
You talking to me? I contacted thirty-nine literary agents, in the UK and the USA, and four publishers in France (where the system is different, and publishers don't necessarily deal only with agents). Each of these agents had been carefully selected - they're usually pretty precise about the type of material they're interested in. I must have looked at (literally) hundreds of agents to find these thirty-nine. It's a long business. Not one took the trouble to acknowledge receipt, and that's the worrying bit. Not that I haven't had an offer, or I think the book merits one, but the absolute vacuum out there.
DeletePS My previous agent is long retired and completely out of the business, as is my first publisher (in the UK) who took the book because I gave it to him, a deal made before I got an agent.
DeleteDude, untwist your boxers!
DeleteI was just stating how it works to people not in "the loop". Did I say anything that isn't true?
My boxers are as loose as your furry mules, Babs. I don't understand who or what "that’s not how it works, that’s not how any of this works!" refers to, is all. It's not clear. Agents can be the champions you describe, or they can be incredibly lazy, as was my movie agent back in the Helium days, perfectly content to scrape off his 15% on a deal I'd basically brokered myself.
DeleteI see you updated your original post to include agents. Speaking of which, what you have to say about literary agents is true of any profession who works on commission.
DeleteDamn these fluffy mules are comfy!
No, the original post was always about difficulty in finding agents, Babs. It was as it is - no updating.
DeleteIn the interests of transparency, I have now added a picture to this piece. It's right at the top there..
DeleteYou have my sympathy Farq, old bean. Sadly I think it is an indication of what the 'Professional Class' is becoming. i.e. Too important for their own worth and the rest of us are just there to provide them an income as and when they see fit..
ReplyDeleteIn my case it's a surgeon who I was allocated to under the UK state health system back in December and since I heard from the central co-ordinator about my allocation to him, I have heard nothing, not even an e-mail from him or his assistant simply to introduce themselves in over 6 months let alone any talk of an initial consultation to check on the state of my condition and god forbid any talk of the actual surgery I need. From other sources I've heard a rumour that that consultant has now opted for semi-retirement (ie he's started doing private work) meaning I have no idea when I might get the surgery I actually need to restart my life which currently is on hold.
You see the same sort of disregard from elsewhere as well and particularly in the tech sector. How many times have you left your computer on only to find its rebooted itself because Microsoft update or some other update software has forced a reboot to finish its update running roughshod over any work you might still have running on it. Software instigated unscheduled reboots have probably cost me about a dozen hard drives over the years. And it will only get worse as these professionals hide themselves behind inflexible 'AI' (which for other reasons has more than doubled the price of disk storage to boot) and offshore support organisations.
In your case the only alternative I might suggest is seeing if there are any literary influencers out there in the great virtual beyond who might review your book but of course that comes with the risk of getting negative reviews as much as it offers the chance of getting a positive one. After all what you need is promotion of some sort to create some positive interest which might then attract their attention.
Anyway does anyone else want to borrow my hobby horse???
Thank you, POTRO, for your thoughtful response. I'm sorry about your surgery woes. Fly out to Bangkok and get it done in a week or so, cheaper than just about anywhere else and world-class. Equally good and cheaper hospitals elsewhere in Thailand. The only downside is that if you go to a private hospital they will try to sell you a fuller service than you need. It'll still be cheaper and quicker. I qualify for the government hospitals, which, on the thankfully few times I needed them, have been unbelievably quick and cheap and professional. One of the many advantages of retiring out here.
DeleteAs to getting involved with internet influencers or trying to get it noticed on the internet, I'd rather wind my bowels out on a stick and feed them to the dogs. But thanks.
Can you give us (fine, me) the link to download the book now?
ReplyDeleteI seriously enjoyed the book. Full stop. It deserves to be published. Full Stop.And I am sorry they are such shitty human beings that they did not reply. You and the book deserve better.
ReplyDeleteMy experiences with academic publishing are different, not least because if you can sell a few copies they are desperate to publish more (presumably how I got more than one book published and have interest in two more now). Part of the gig here is publishing an article/giving a talk/presenting a paper first kinda gives then a proof of concept, I suppose. When I was co-editor of a sad li'l book series that had a run that was certainly part of what we looked for.
Twisted Boxers, fluffy mules...what's next? Wild horses? Eye of the Tiger? (please god, no) How about The Signifying Monkey? That seems in keeping...