OnlineBookClub.org

We get a lot of random chatter here about conventional publishing vs self publishing, as well as searching for an outlet for your writing. So I thought I’d offer my own experiences and thoughts on this, and ask for your own experiences in return. What I’d like to discourage is “publishers are all crooks” and such that is mostly just frustration or rumor. Let’s try to limit the tales of successful placement (or tales of woe) to your own happenings. And of course questions from newbies who might want help.

First a small intro, so you’ll know where I’m coming from. I’m very lowball as “successful” is defined but I have sold my writing for real money and therefore been professionally published. I am writing a series of modern American private eye novels, sold the first two to a very small mostly e-book house, made a few bucks but not a lot. I’ve finished the 3rd novel and I’m now trying to place it with either an agent or a publisher that accepts direct author submissions, but a bigger outlet than I formerly had, one that pays a lot more advance and is “certified” by the MWA (Mystery Writers of America) or an agent who’s a member of the AAR (Assn of Artists’ Representatives). In other words, moving on up. I’ve also sold short stories and essays to various magazines over the years. The operative word is “sold” meaning that I was actually paid real money, however small. I think that this is a demarcation line, a Rubicon that aspiring writers need to cross. So I have real world experience in pitching my stuff and in some cases, getting nibbles and then that delightful sale! But in truth, my writing income is marginal, essentially beer money. But it’s real, and it does make a difference notwithstanding the amount paid.

Your writing: It must first be complete, finished, done is done, put a fork in it done. Unless you’re a Kardashian you can’t “bet on the come” and expect anyone to sign you up just because you’ve got a nice story idea. I’ll focus on novels but it applies to short stories or articles, the same. Your novel must be finished and polished and meticulously proofread and edited and revised and revised and re-read and revised again. Do whatever you must to ensure that your product is as perfect as you can make it. If you don’t care enough to send the very best (as the ad says) then you cannot expect an agent or publisher or the buying public to care, either. So step #1 is to really make your novel shine.

Query: You will find numerous flowery examples of stunning and provocative query letters on various websites. It’s my personal opinion that such bombastic and theatrical queries are useless. Remember that the prospective agent or publisher has seen the exact same type of query thousands of times, some of them obviously cookie-cut from web examples. If you want to go that way, be my guest, but let us know how successful that was, okey?

My queries are straightforward business letters, very similar to a resume you’d send when applying for a job. I start by the simple statement “I am searching for representation for my private detective thriller ‘The Maltese Falcon.’ The novel (75,000 words) is complete and ready for evaluation.” I then tell them a little about the novel, where it’s set, the sub-genre (such as humorous or realistic or supernatural-themed or whatever).

Then a paragraph in which you quickly summarize the book’s overall story line, and (this is important) what makes your novel particularly enticing. For example, I tell them that my private detective isn’t the stereotypical tough-guy, but he’s instead educated and highly intelligent. And that the juxtaposition between this erudite man and the horrible crimes to which he’s exposed forms the principal drive for the story. And so on.

I tell a little about myself from a writer’s standpoint. Just as with resumes, you do NOT say that you’re a redhead or fat or thin or a Presbyterian or a Libertarian or anything similar. If you’re been previously published, mention it. If not, say so (“This is my first novel” -- which is okay). And please, please omit any high school or college stuff, unless for example, you won a national award for your journalism on the collegiate newspaper or a special national award for your thesis, something significant.

Provide the technical details, such as your book is available in MS-Word or PDF or whatever. And finally, give your real name (and pen name if you have one), your address, email, and phone.

And of course, attach or embed whatever the agency or publisher asks for. If they want the first 3 chapters, and so on. Now, if they ask for the first 25 pages and that cuts off a chapter, then just include to the end of that chapter. Just try to stick to the general requirements.

Multiple submissions: You’ll often find the requirement that you not send multiple submissions. In other words, sending out 15 queries to 15 agencies or publishers at the same time is verboten. Don’t sweat it. Everyone does it. If you were to send a single query and wait six weeks till you have a response, and then send another query, there will be astronauts walking on Mars before you sell your book. What this really means is this: If an agent or publisher responds to your query and asks for the full manuscript of your novel, then it’s considered ethical that you temporarily suspend sending the whole book to anyone else until you hear back.

The query list: Be smart and check each agent or publisher website and ensure that they are accepting new clients (for agents) or accepting unagented submissions (for publishers). Also ensure that they would like your genre of writing -- for example, as a mystery writer, I used the MWA approved publisher list. Whichever genre you’re writing in, you can find recommended lists of agents or publishers and use that list.

The waiting: You’ll get a few auto-replies right away, just verifying that the website received your submission. Next, you’ll get some TBNTs (thanks but no thanks) pretty quickly. Don’t panic (per Hitchhiker’s Guide) because these people’s list may be full or they simply don’t want your book due to its summary or theme or whatever. That’s okay. You’ll have to develop a thick skin as a writer, and there are numerous stories (Stephen King’s is memorable) about how many rejections are received before that “yes” finally arrived.

I went through this exact process until I found a publisher for my first novel. The publisher was legit (not a “vanity” press) and they treated me in a very professional manner, and my book was nicely edited and published, a classy trade paperback. And they then picked up my second novel and did the same. I didn’t make a lot of dough but, as I say, the direction of the money flow is what matters. If it flows out of your wallet, that’s the wrong way. If it comes in, however small, that’s the right direction and what you next want to do is to work to find a step up and make your next book even more of a success. That’s where I am now, pitching my book to much larger publishers houses who will actually market the book and stock it in stores. And believe me, that’s the greatest feeling of all for a writer, going into a bookstore and seeing your book on the shelf!

Okay -- your turn. And thanks in advance.

OK, should you mention in a query that your self-published book (that you're looking to officially publish) won an award, etc.? (Don't get excited, I haven't won an award, but I hope to in the future.)

Second question: why do agents seem so darned hostile? I've eliminated agents from my list because they post stuff like, "Ten stupid things to say in a submission," and "Why I couldn't care less about your book," and that sort of thing. Being a sensitive person, it's a turn-off, and it happens on a lot of their web sites.

Third question: I've heard nightmares about how they request an exclusive full document, and then months go by, and you don't hear word one from them, and you're withering on the vine. What to do?

Good questions.

1- If your self published book won an award, and if it's a "real" award, then yes, mention it. Understand, of course, that trying to place a book after it's been self published might be more difficult, as the book is now "second hand" and a certain amount of sales have already been racked up. Potential customers won't buy it a second time and that would cut into the new sales, so a publisher may be reluctant to pick up the book. It does happen that publishers do want the book anyway, but there is a slight downturn due to past sales hurting new sales. Which makes sense -- publishers are trying to make a profit, and a legit publisher invests a few thou minimum in prepping your book before making a red cent in profit.

2- I haven't seen such website postings from agents who are AAR members. I'd highly recommend sticking with only AAR (Assn of Artists' Representatives) because the AAR has a code of standards. Also check out "Preditors and Editors" for gripes about certain rude agencies. There are a gazillion agencies and a fair chunk of them are marginal. I agree that seeing rude or snippy comments about prospective clients is a turnoff and I'd avoid such agents. But we cannot let ourselves be "sensitive" when we're sticking our toes into the turgid waters of professional publishing. Developing a thick skin is a plus, even if that thickness is a sham that we use when dealing with rude or problematic agents or publishers, and inside we're our normal sensitive selves. Think of this as searching for a job when the job market is tight. You'll get your resume and application turned down a lot -- "We're looking for someone with more experience" or "Your qualifications are too minimal" and stuff like that is normal feedback. We have to move on and keep looking.

3- You may have heard nightmare stories but I can tell you that in my experience, it's very rare for this to occur. If an agent or publisher reads your query and sample chapters, etc, and then requests the whole book, they aren't kidding around. Why would they? They're a money making enterprise and they would not waste time on requesting the full manuscript and then dump it. If they didn't like the book premise they'd either not respond (some don't respond at all) or send you a quick TBNT. But if your full book is requested, they genuinely are interested. My personal calendar says "Give it a month" and then if you don't hear from them, send a very polite note "I was wondering whether I could help further in your evaluation of my book. You requested the full manuscript on Aug 20 and I am eager to know if the book is being evaluated. Thanks!" In my case it was a while and I was busy with other stuff, but during the interval of 5 weeks, my book had been read and liked by the first-level screener, then passed up (with a recommendation) to the next level, a staff editor, and then up to the editor in chief. So it's also possible that the delay is a good thing, that the book is being evaluated by several levels of staff, especially true for a large publisher. But you're right -- months is too long, and a reminder email after 3-4 weeks is perfectly okay.

We have to understand that in all of this, agents and publishers are not a charitable institution. They're there to make money. Thing is, they won't make one dollar unless they take in and sell books, and therefore when an agent or publisher accepts the book, it's a joint venture, you and the publisher (or agent who then places the book with a publisher), and hopefully you'll both make money.

I don't mean to sound venial when I tend to emphasize money, but selling a book on the open market, seeing that book on the shelves of a bookstore, having that book reviewed favorably by a recognized publication (NY Times, etc) is how success is measured for commercial fiction. Of course, having the book become a hot item on Amazon and racking up lots of e-sales is also good.

Hey, great info, thanks!!

As I stated, these comments are my own experiences and impressions. Others here may have different tales to spin.