Having written your book you need to decide if it was it worth taking further. In my case I gave it to a few friends and family to read. Their reactions were all positive. I knew that my writing skills left a little to be desired so after some research I decided to send it off to some professional editors. I had three quotes the highest being 1250 GBP the lowest from the USA was, with the exchange rate 450 GBP. I obtained a free sample from each along with their quotation. The most expensive one had in fact miss understood one passage I had written. The editor had changed the text in such a way the meaning was lost. The cheapest one from the USA was also the best. They guaranteed their work so if you were not happy they would review what was done and rework it to your satisfaction. Guess which one I used? When I received the 78000 word edited document back after only three weeks. I reviewed the corrections. There were a few Americanisms such as ‘gotten’ that had crept into the text. Having deleted them I was left with a passable manuscript I was pleased with. The editor’s comments were positive regarding the story overall.
Once all the editors’ changes were incorporated into the manuscript it looked a whole lot better than my original. I decided that before I would try sending it to an agent or publisher I should get a professional review. There are various companies on the net who will do that for you. Some are quite expensive. I found a good one based in Canada that was very reasonable. They also guaranteed their work
The review was positive so it gave me confidence to try getting an agent to represent me. I purchased the Writers’ and Artists’ Year Book and the Writer’s Handbook. They are the best place to find information on agents and publishers. They also contain useful information on preparation and presentation of your submission documents. I looked through their lists of agents for ones who accepted Sci Fi. Unfortunately there was not that many.
I searched the web to get as much information as I could regarding the correct way to submit a book. All of the agents had slightly different requirements. However most requested an introductory letter, a synopsis of 1000 words and the first, one, two or three chapters. I found the synopsis the most difficult. Getting 78000 words down to 1000 was rather difficult.
Each one had specific rules on how everything was laid out, headers and footers or not as the case may be. Most required double spacing (I think that is ridiculous because it uses twice the paper and I don’t see any sensible reason for it). The impression they gave was that if there was one space or paragraph formatted incorrectly then the whole thing went in the bin!
So I checked and double-checked everything before posting the documents off to the various agents I had selected from the list. The first two who sent me a rejection said they did not take Sci Fi even though it clearly said they did in the year books (I checked)
Over the next few months most sent me rejection notes. Some returned nothing at all. A little disheartening really, especially after the editors comments and the review. So I got to thinking there has to be a better way.
With the pile of rejections mounting it was time to assess what was going on. I was sure I had something someone would enjoy reading. I had followed the submission rules each agent specified exactly. I had the manuscript professionally edited and I had revised it several times. It was certainly worth more than a cursory ‘Thanks but no thanks!’
Time for a bit more research, so after several evenings work I came to the following conclusions.
Agents and publishers are inundated with manuscripts. They use the slightest excuse for rejection to make their life easier. ‘Bound with a red elastic band not yellow, reject pile’
You are not famous then reject pile. (If you are famous then they know they will get sales of any book you write even if it is rubbish). No writing experience or publication history the reject pile again. This is one of those catch twenty-two situations can’t get published because you haven’t been published. They have enough established authors on their books already why bother with a total unknown? Apparently the only way to succeed was if you either knew some one famous or a well-known author to recommend you. Otherwise you have to know an agent or publisher personally.
It was a low point to say the least. I was at the ‘just print off a few copies on my printer and bind them for the family to read’ stage. I put the book to one side and left it for over a month.
I spent some time thinking. So what after a lot of effort, luck, and a pile of rejection letters I finally manage to interest an agent? The agent then has to interest a publisher in my book. I had considered trying to go to a publisher direct without an agent. It is however a rare occurrence now days for an unknown author to be accepted. According to the Writers Year Book the majority of publishers are closed to direct approach and will only accept submissions from agents.
I looked up the advantages and disadvantages of a conventional publisher. I needed to know if all the effort was worth it.
The main advantage is that the publisher will bear all the costs of getting your book into print then marketing and selling it. They have the contacts and the resources to push it giving you maximum exposure.
The disadvantages are with all the people involved you end up with very little of the money when your book is sold. It is typically 5% to 10% of the selling price. The other disadvantage is if the book does not reach the sales numbers they budgeted for within the first three to six months they will put you book into the ‘back issue’ catalogue. When this happens you writing career is as good as finished.
Of course all of the above is assuming you can interest a publisher in the first place.
