I've made some intial attempts at contacting agents and have so far had no luck. I am trying to get a literary novel published and my book doesn't have that killer plot or pitch that immediatly gets attention. I am wondering if there are other ways at getting agents or publishers attention besides merely sending out letters. It seems like such a difficult way to go about things, sending out a letter and maybe a chapter of your book and waiting six months to hear back, almost always a rejection. I also have the disadvantage of not having had any short stories published in journals or magazines. Does anyone have stories of other ways they got their novels published besides sending out letters?
- Status
I'm only aware of four ways to get traditionally published other than those you describe above:
1. Get famous.
2. Get a referral from a published author.
3. Set up camp on an agent's doorstep.
4. Contact publishers directly until you get an offer.
You might think I'm being facetious, but I'm serious. Other than the four points above (and the third one is questionable, but people have done it), the query letter is the agents' preferred way of evaluating stories. Why? Because they get about 100 submissions for every one that is publishable. The query gives them a chance to weed out the bad ones before requesting a partial (or full).
If the market weren't so incredibly flooded, it would be easier.
It will take a good query letter, a professional attitude, and a lot of persistence to get published, but it is possible, assuming your book is well written and commercially viable.
--- Mya Bell
1. Get famous.
2. Get a referral from a published author.
3. Set up camp on an agent's doorstep.
4. Contact publishers directly until you get an offer.
You might think I'm being facetious, but I'm serious. Other than the four points above (and the third one is questionable, but people have done it), the query letter is the agents' preferred way of evaluating stories. Why? Because they get about 100 submissions for every one that is publishable. The query gives them a chance to weed out the bad ones before requesting a partial (or full).
If the market weren't so incredibly flooded, it would be easier.
It will take a good query letter, a professional attitude, and a lot of persistence to get published, but it is possible, assuming your book is well written and commercially viable.
--- Mya Bell
Here's another avenue you may wish to explore--self-publishing.
There's a Yahoo group called Self Publishing you may be interested in joining, if only to lurk.
You'll learn a heck of a lot about marketing your books, if nothing else.
Here's the link:
finance.groups.yahoo.com/...ublishing/
Mari
There's a Yahoo group called Self Publishing you may be interested in joining, if only to lurk.
You'll learn a heck of a lot about marketing your books, if nothing else.
Here's the link:
finance.groups.yahoo.com/...ublishing/
Mari
There is another way, particularly with literary works, but it is far from a quick fix and requires both patience and talent.
I know of a man who has been steadily submitting too, and winning, contests for literary short stories for a long time. Publishers have actually come to him to ask him to write a novel for them. Unfortunately he is a short story writer and is not sure about the plunge into novels.
I know of a man who has been steadily submitting too, and winning, contests for literary short stories for a long time. Publishers have actually come to him to ask him to write a novel for them. Unfortunately he is a short story writer and is not sure about the plunge into novels.
There are many agents who deal with literary fiction, and there are smaller publishers who are searching for the next literary genius. Why not submit to them and see what happens? Why so impatient? Six months, twelve months, twenty-four months... Have you exhausted your options yet?
There's a thing called perseverance.
There's a thing called perseverance.
Perseverance is a good quality to have, unfortunately I am lacking it at the moment. I have sent queries out to agents and have been rejected, yet none have read my full manuscript. So I can't tell if my book is well written and publishable. I personally think it is but have had no one in the business read it. So I wish I could just talk one on one with an agent, have him read my book, and then tell me honestly what he thinks of it. But with these damn query letters you have to be a salesman and I would rather just write books, not market them. I've contemplated just sending out my full manuscript with the cover letter reading only, "Read this. If you like it get back to me. If you don't, no problem."
Marketing
Unfortunately, marketing is part of the process. It's like finding a job. Unless you personally know the hiring manager, you can't just go up to him and say "we need a one on one interview -- if you like me, hire me. If not, no problem." You need a resume and a cover letter, before you're invited for an interview... Sometimes it takes months, if not years, to find a good job.
There's a reason why this process exists. If every writer would send an agent or editor the full ms., no work would be done because they would spend every waking second of their lives reading mss. Hey, tough, you're not the only writer in the world with a book to sell. Why should they read yours and not the others'?
Unless you personally know someone, that's the way it is. You can always say "f-it, I'm going to self publish."
It's frustrating, sure. But why are you so impatient? Are you writing your next book? Are you obsessing over getting this one book published, like NOW?
If you need some honest opinion, join a professional writer's group or workshop or go to writer conferences and ask a real agent to evaluate a sample of your work, or if you know any authors, ask their opinion. What did your beta readers say? Did they like your book? Hire a professional editor/book doctor...
Unfortunately, marketing is part of the process. It's like finding a job. Unless you personally know the hiring manager, you can't just go up to him and say "we need a one on one interview -- if you like me, hire me. If not, no problem." You need a resume and a cover letter, before you're invited for an interview... Sometimes it takes months, if not years, to find a good job.
There's a reason why this process exists. If every writer would send an agent or editor the full ms., no work would be done because they would spend every waking second of their lives reading mss. Hey, tough, you're not the only writer in the world with a book to sell. Why should they read yours and not the others'?
Unless you personally know someone, that's the way it is. You can always say "f-it, I'm going to self publish."
It's frustrating, sure. But why are you so impatient? Are you writing your next book? Are you obsessing over getting this one book published, like NOW?
If you need some honest opinion, join a professional writer's group or workshop or go to writer conferences and ask a real agent to evaluate a sample of your work, or if you know any authors, ask their opinion. What did your beta readers say? Did they like your book? Hire a professional editor/book doctor...
I sat down a year ago with my 2004 resolution: to find an agent for my mystery novels.
I mailed countless queries to both agents and publishers, submitted chapters, outlines, whatever.
I finally located an agent this past November. So the search took nearly a year.
As has been suggested, persevere. If your book is worth publishing, you will eventually find an outlet.
Some suggest self-publishing. What this essentially means is that you pay someone to print your book for you, then you try to sell copies to recover your outlay.
This method guarantees that your book will see print. It does not guarantee however that you'll ever see any profit.
I myself have zero interest in self-publishing and have not got the money should I change my mind. But it may be for you.
I mailed countless queries to both agents and publishers, submitted chapters, outlines, whatever.
I finally located an agent this past November. So the search took nearly a year.
As has been suggested, persevere. If your book is worth publishing, you will eventually find an outlet.
Some suggest self-publishing. What this essentially means is that you pay someone to print your book for you, then you try to sell copies to recover your outlay.
This method guarantees that your book will see print. It does not guarantee however that you'll ever see any profit.
I myself have zero interest in self-publishing and have not got the money should I change my mind. But it may be for you.
Well, you'll surely spend a lot of dough doing that, and your response will likely be the same.
Agents are busy. Their client lists are mostly always full. This means that they have no time to read an "over the transom" submission.
If your query or synopsis doesn't interest them, they will absolutely not take the time to read your book "cold". It costs too much in time for this to occur.
Have you submitted sample chapters to this forum and other forums for review? Maybe it's a hard simple fact that your book isn't quite good enough yet. Or it may be.
Do you have any external evidence that your novel is well written, good enough for consideration? That is, other than friends, has anyone read it and commented?
Or you may have simply hit a dead spot in your agent search. If your responses are "thanks but it's not for us" then cross that agency off your list for good. Don't waste another stamp.
But if the response is "we're full right now" or "our list is saturated" or similar, wait 3-4 months and try again.
Also your query must be good. Have you asked anyone here to review it?
Don't self publish. It's a horrible idea for a first novel. Keep submitting, and while you're doing it, keep writing. If you get to the point where you've been rejected by every single agent in the English-speaking world, start submitting to the smaller presses that don't require agents. By the time you're done with that, you'll have five more novels written.
Don't give up
As Mya and others have said, be professional, write the best query letter you can, and don't give up. Start writing your next novel. Or write anything, even a journal. Or how about letters to the editor of your local newspaper? Just keep writing. And yes, there are many good small traditional publishers.
As Mya and others have said, be professional, write the best query letter you can, and don't give up. Start writing your next novel. Or write anything, even a journal. Or how about letters to the editor of your local newspaper? Just keep writing. And yes, there are many good small traditional publishers.
Re: Don't give up
And even once you find an agent--results are not overnight. And one the agent finds a publisher it can be a year, or even two years before the book is on the shelves.
When you say you have submitted to "some" agents and gotten rejections--how many is some? Two? Five? Ten? More?
It took me 3 months and 65 queries to find my agent--yes, I sent them out in droves. I discovered frauds, lists full, non-responders, not right for us, simply no written on my query letter sent back to me. And I had a lot of requests for the full ms--many responded with "wouldn't know how to market this."
Are you sending out one query at a time?
Simultaneous Submissions applies to requested partials and full manuscripts, not query letters.
Patients in this biz are a must. The wheels of publishing move very very slow--so slow that at times I think the wheels all have one flat side.
Shawn
And even once you find an agent--results are not overnight. And one the agent finds a publisher it can be a year, or even two years before the book is on the shelves.
When you say you have submitted to "some" agents and gotten rejections--how many is some? Two? Five? Ten? More?
It took me 3 months and 65 queries to find my agent--yes, I sent them out in droves. I discovered frauds, lists full, non-responders, not right for us, simply no written on my query letter sent back to me. And I had a lot of requests for the full ms--many responded with "wouldn't know how to market this."
Are you sending out one query at a time?
Simultaneous Submissions applies to requested partials and full manuscripts, not query letters.
Patients in this biz are a must. The wheels of publishing move very very slow--so slow that at times I think the wheels all have one flat side.
Shawn
Re: Don't give up
Ha ha! Your accidental typo was a hoot! I'm sure that many of us are indeed "patients", or should be.
Re: Don't give up
There aren't any shortcuts or golden keys or secret handshakes. There's just writing a book that lots of people want to read.
While you're waiting:
a) write another, different, better book.
b) get those short stories into magazines and journals.
There aren't any shortcuts or golden keys or secret handshakes. There's just writing a book that lots of people want to read.
While you're waiting:
a) write another, different, better book.
b) get those short stories into magazines and journals.
:lol :rollin re:
I know I have to do more and have patience. I am wondering now if there is even a market for my book. It is a first person literary novel about a college student who is obsessed by an unattainable girl, thinks a 10 year old college student might be God himself, goes out with a religious fanatic, and has numerous surrealistic fantasies that blend into the narrative. Maybe even if it is well written the subject matter appeals only to me and not the book buying public. If that is the case then no matter how many query letters I send out no one will be interested. I think I will post my full query letter and a sample chapter but does anyone think from my short description that this subject matter can sell?
I know I have to do more and have patience. I am wondering now if there is even a market for my book. It is a first person literary novel about a college student who is obsessed by an unattainable girl, thinks a 10 year old college student might be God himself, goes out with a religious fanatic, and has numerous surrealistic fantasies that blend into the narrative. Maybe even if it is well written the subject matter appeals only to me and not the book buying public. If that is the case then no matter how many query letters I send out no one will be interested. I think I will post my full query letter and a sample chapter but does anyone think from my short description that this subject matter can sell?
Re: re:
If it's a good book, there will be a market. Meanwhile, write another one. How many agents have your queried? Don't even think twice before you hit 200.
If it's a good book, there will be a market. Meanwhile, write another one. How many agents have your queried? Don't even think twice before you hit 200.
Re: re:
Does anyone have stories of other ways they got their novels published besides sending out letters
It's called six degrees of separation.
Marketing and persistence gets a lot of crap published, but that's okay.
Remember, you are the bread and butter of agents and publishers. They work for you, not the other way around.
Turn the concept of "finding, seeking, marketing yourself" and all that around: the agents and publishers must attract your attention. You are hiring them and don't ever forget it.
This whole idea that writers practically have to beg to get published frightens me.
People want to read your book. Assume that and act accordingly. And agents want to pay their mortgage and buy their bitchy wives roses on Valentines day; without you, they'd be on the dole. Not the other way around.
Good luck.
Does anyone have stories of other ways they got their novels published besides sending out letters
It's called six degrees of separation.
Marketing and persistence gets a lot of crap published, but that's okay.
Remember, you are the bread and butter of agents and publishers. They work for you, not the other way around.
Turn the concept of "finding, seeking, marketing yourself" and all that around: the agents and publishers must attract your attention. You are hiring them and don't ever forget it.
This whole idea that writers practically have to beg to get published frightens me.
People want to read your book. Assume that and act accordingly. And agents want to pay their mortgage and buy their bitchy wives roses on Valentines day; without you, they'd be on the dole. Not the other way around.
Good luck.
Amen
Thank you, thank you, so much for saying that, Gala!
:smokin
I am so tired of writers sounding subserviant, as if their agent is doing them a huge favor by representing them, much less having the confidence to actually believe their work will be published.
I started writing almost two years ago full time after owning a small adversting business for 10 years. I have committed myself to spend the rest of my days writing. And even though I love to write, to me, the process of emotionality ends with the completion of the work. After that, it's just business.
Thank you, thank you, so much for saying that, Gala!
:smokin
I am so tired of writers sounding subserviant, as if their agent is doing them a huge favor by representing them, much less having the confidence to actually believe their work will be published.
I started writing almost two years ago full time after owning a small adversting business for 10 years. I have committed myself to spend the rest of my days writing. And even though I love to write, to me, the process of emotionality ends with the completion of the work. After that, it's just business.
Re: Amen
You don't want just any agent -- You don't want a bad agent -- You don't want an agent you can't get along with -- You don't want an agent who won't try to push your work.
I personally will not deal with anyone who is either too literal minded or who has no sense of humor.
Unless things have changed even more in the last twenty years than I thought possible...Once you have sold your novel to a decent publishing house agents will want to represent you -- The publishing house will gladly give you a list of agents they respect.
You don't want just any agent -- You don't want a bad agent -- You don't want an agent you can't get along with -- You don't want an agent who won't try to push your work.
I personally will not deal with anyone who is either too literal minded or who has no sense of humor.
Unless things have changed even more in the last twenty years than I thought possible...Once you have sold your novel to a decent publishing house agents will want to represent you -- The publishing house will gladly give you a list of agents they respect.
Re: Amen
I am so torn on that issue, finding an agent versus going straight for the publisher. I have seen arguments for both, and each viewpoint is sound. It's a dilemma. I will not be ready for that process for a few more months, but I am still on the fence.
I am so torn on that issue, finding an agent versus going straight for the publisher. I have seen arguments for both, and each viewpoint is sound. It's a dilemma. I will not be ready for that process for a few more months, but I am still on the fence.
Feedback and contacts
A good writers critquing group will give you the feedback you need.
If some of the writers are pros or semi-pros, they might also point you in the right direction regarding agents and publishers - if or when your material is good enough.
Don't self publish (unless you're writing specialist non-fiction or humour) - it's sad.
Avoid putting too great a proportion of your work online since this may pose legal problems for publishers.
Money flows towards the author.
Don't trust anything anybody tells you unless you know their credentials - i.e. listen to Uncle Jim, but take this post with a pinch of salt.
Good luck. Wish I could write full time.
mwths
PS You might gain some insights on rejections here:
nielsenhayden.com/makingl...04641.html
A good writers critquing group will give you the feedback you need.
If some of the writers are pros or semi-pros, they might also point you in the right direction regarding agents and publishers - if or when your material is good enough.
Don't self publish (unless you're writing specialist non-fiction or humour) - it's sad.
Avoid putting too great a proportion of your work online since this may pose legal problems for publishers.
Money flows towards the author.
Don't trust anything anybody tells you unless you know their credentials - i.e. listen to Uncle Jim, but take this post with a pinch of salt.
Good luck. Wish I could write full time.
mwths
PS You might gain some insights on rejections here:
nielsenhayden.com/makingl...04641.html
Re: Amen
Finding a publisher is harder, since so few now accept un-agented submissions, but it's still possible.
And while you're looking for the publisher, search for the agent simultaneously. That's what I did, and I landed the agent first.
You don't really have to make it either/or. I'd recommend you search for both at the same time, and see what happens.
Finding a publisher is harder, since so few now accept un-agented submissions, but it's still possible.
And while you're looking for the publisher, search for the agent simultaneously. That's what I did, and I landed the agent first.
Re: Amen
Thanks, katdad. I like that idea, a lot actually. I believe that's exactly what I will do!:hat
Thanks, katdad. I like that idea, a lot actually. I believe that's exactly what I will do!:hat
- Status