Progress in finding a publisher
November 17th 2008 06:10
Ive got one thing to say about all this business.
OUCH!
Now. First thing this morning, I was ready to go. Ready to rip roar, get my work out there. In a whole day of searching, I have come up with only a few. First of all, forget major publishing houses. They all say they dont accept unsolicited manuscripts, and have no submission guidelines. They only like agents. What have I got to do to become an agent?
These are the major publishers I like, and Id like to present them to the Orble world, to ask, has anyone heard good or bad things about them? Do they actually publish people? Has anyone else sent out to them? Also, advice on submissions, what you did when you first sent out submissions to publishers, what you wrote, how you wrote it, what you sent. Lets hear it, all welcome.
Giramondo Publishing company.
No submission guidelines onsite. Very basic pages. Email and snail contacts. Good books and authors advertised on page - have strong base in Australia starting up new writers, (apparently) I have emailed them for more info on submissions.
Allen and Unwin
Now. Scared me a bit, cos I recognise the writers they have published. Their submission guidelines are huge, they request - No email, hard copy only, the first 60 pages of manuscript, plus synopsis, a cover letter outlining specific market, experience...All that jazz. BUT the reason I have included them in my top three is because they have a great little thing called Friday Pitch. For Friday Pitch if it is mailed, it must ARRIVE on Friday. If its emailed, it must be sent Fri or Thurs night, so its all there for Friday. It has a separate email adress and only requires the first chapter of the manuscript and a synopsis. Its like a fast track, quick entry, and you can do Friday pitch every friday, if you like. However, its only novels, no short stories, poetry or compilations accepted.
Ginninderra Press
Great writers and stories advertised on this site. Good submission guidelines, you can only submit hard copy. I really like these guys. They accept everything - Poetry compilations, the only requirement is emotional impact and arresting imagery. For novella/story format, 10,000 to 20,000 words very favourably looked upon, or collections of stories up to 40,000 words. The requirements in this format include socially aware/convincing story telling. Of course novels too, with synopsis and a few chapters.
Those are the 3 I have picked as the best, and I would like to know if any of the Orblears agree/disagree. Would I be wasting my time submitting here? After sorting through a HEAP of Chaff, these are my picks for the best grain. All 3 seem open, honest and genuine about accepting material, they seem to offer a 'chance' even if you're unknown, and they dont mince it or sell themselves, they just say here we are, this is what you do to submit. No bells and whistles hiding fine print that says "ACTUALLY. YOU PAY US"
Highly regarded but not in my top 3 were -
Broken Ankle Books
No submission guidelines that I could find, so I have emailed for more detail. A lovely site - focused on emotional work, grief berevement. Poetry and prose. Nice ideas and good work on site but I have no idea if they prefer hard copy or email, or formats, word amounts...Ya get what I mean....
Brandl and Schlesinger
Huge amount of submission guidelines. Breaks down to synopsis, 3 sample chapters and a CV, including cover letter detailing your experience, audience etc...And unlike Allen and Unwin, no Friday pitch, just the LOOOONG way. They also mention without an agent you're pretty much screwed.
Short Shorts
Online mag, may pay for good short stories, must be under 200 words. Prefer personal narratives, emotional based, with humour, twists, mystery and sex.
Goth is dead
online mag that pays for poetry and prose. They have an onsite link so it seems they dont care what you send - just get it out there and see! They do funky sketches too. Good niche for nuts like me?
Cheshire Cat
Online magazine, paying for submissions, not quite goth - more pagan based, bit airy fairy but they are open to all types of submissions and also have online link.
For overseas - particularly London and other parts of Europe - I have found a stunning amount of publishers looking for erotica, either in poetry and story form, specifically requesting women writers! Now, given that they only accept hard copy, your airmail letter gets a bit expensive, but it would be worth putting together a portfolio and sending it off, theres 'Black Lace' 'For Women' 'The Hot Spot' and a lot more, and it seems to be a much wider market overseas than here.
My research began at Google, that directed me to sites, I also used 'asa authors' site, recommended to me by my Dear High school english teacher....(sorry Sir, it just wasnt that informative) and, believe it or not, my most useful site, was a government one. First time for everything. Its 'Culture and Creation.gov.au'
( I have not used active links to any of the mentioned sites as I do not have permission from that site to do so. This is strictly an overview and discussion on these base ideas and publishing houses. The information listed is sufficient to take you there through google or any other search engine. )
So....Ive got my adresses to send to. Ive realized a horrible problem.
I dont have a manuscript.
I always wanted 'The Savage Princess' (discussed in this post - Really Long Link
to be my first ever published work. Then I asked Kman, "How long did it take Tolkkien to do Lord Of The Rings?" "Oh you know," he answers, "His whole life" So I simultaneously felt a whole lot better and a whole lot worse. Ive got that many novels in the works it just aint funny. Ive got a crime novel (The Shutters to the Soul) that I love, teenage murder mystery (The Macbeth Daggers) a vampire novel, unnamed and barely touched, as well as dozens of other ideas I can barely remember right now. I have two 'modern' stories in production, one is 'Truth' and the other, though without a name, has a better structure and is fully planned. They are sad, violent stories similar to this -
Really Long Link
'Truth' could be finished by next week if I really got to it. Its told in teen slang, the words are just thrown at the page. Its delicate prose and poetry slung from the neck of a VBbottle. If it were optioned today, I could finish it, so for a manuscript, that will have to be what I push. But for tonight, Ive got to get together a portfolio of poetry in different genres and literary levels, and a few short stories.
Hopefully, Ive done the hard part, the research I mean. Cos it was like a demon clampin onto my spinal cord, all that research. Only to realize I have nothing prepared to send. But thats next....
OUCH!
Now. First thing this morning, I was ready to go. Ready to rip roar, get my work out there. In a whole day of searching, I have come up with only a few. First of all, forget major publishing houses. They all say they dont accept unsolicited manuscripts, and have no submission guidelines. They only like agents. What have I got to do to become an agent?
These are the major publishers I like, and Id like to present them to the Orble world, to ask, has anyone heard good or bad things about them? Do they actually publish people? Has anyone else sent out to them? Also, advice on submissions, what you did when you first sent out submissions to publishers, what you wrote, how you wrote it, what you sent. Lets hear it, all welcome.
Giramondo Publishing company.
No submission guidelines onsite. Very basic pages. Email and snail contacts. Good books and authors advertised on page - have strong base in Australia starting up new writers, (apparently) I have emailed them for more info on submissions.
Allen and Unwin
Now. Scared me a bit, cos I recognise the writers they have published. Their submission guidelines are huge, they request - No email, hard copy only, the first 60 pages of manuscript, plus synopsis, a cover letter outlining specific market, experience...All that jazz. BUT the reason I have included them in my top three is because they have a great little thing called Friday Pitch. For Friday Pitch if it is mailed, it must ARRIVE on Friday. If its emailed, it must be sent Fri or Thurs night, so its all there for Friday. It has a separate email adress and only requires the first chapter of the manuscript and a synopsis. Its like a fast track, quick entry, and you can do Friday pitch every friday, if you like. However, its only novels, no short stories, poetry or compilations accepted.
Ginninderra Press
Great writers and stories advertised on this site. Good submission guidelines, you can only submit hard copy. I really like these guys. They accept everything - Poetry compilations, the only requirement is emotional impact and arresting imagery. For novella/story format, 10,000 to 20,000 words very favourably looked upon, or collections of stories up to 40,000 words. The requirements in this format include socially aware/convincing story telling. Of course novels too, with synopsis and a few chapters.
Those are the 3 I have picked as the best, and I would like to know if any of the Orblears agree/disagree. Would I be wasting my time submitting here? After sorting through a HEAP of Chaff, these are my picks for the best grain. All 3 seem open, honest and genuine about accepting material, they seem to offer a 'chance' even if you're unknown, and they dont mince it or sell themselves, they just say here we are, this is what you do to submit. No bells and whistles hiding fine print that says "ACTUALLY. YOU PAY US"
Highly regarded but not in my top 3 were -
Broken Ankle Books
No submission guidelines that I could find, so I have emailed for more detail. A lovely site - focused on emotional work, grief berevement. Poetry and prose. Nice ideas and good work on site but I have no idea if they prefer hard copy or email, or formats, word amounts...Ya get what I mean....
Brandl and Schlesinger
Huge amount of submission guidelines. Breaks down to synopsis, 3 sample chapters and a CV, including cover letter detailing your experience, audience etc...And unlike Allen and Unwin, no Friday pitch, just the LOOOONG way. They also mention without an agent you're pretty much screwed.
Short Shorts
Online mag, may pay for good short stories, must be under 200 words. Prefer personal narratives, emotional based, with humour, twists, mystery and sex.
Goth is dead
online mag that pays for poetry and prose. They have an onsite link so it seems they dont care what you send - just get it out there and see! They do funky sketches too. Good niche for nuts like me?
Cheshire Cat
Online magazine, paying for submissions, not quite goth - more pagan based, bit airy fairy but they are open to all types of submissions and also have online link.
For overseas - particularly London and other parts of Europe - I have found a stunning amount of publishers looking for erotica, either in poetry and story form, specifically requesting women writers! Now, given that they only accept hard copy, your airmail letter gets a bit expensive, but it would be worth putting together a portfolio and sending it off, theres 'Black Lace' 'For Women' 'The Hot Spot' and a lot more, and it seems to be a much wider market overseas than here.
My research began at Google, that directed me to sites, I also used 'asa authors' site, recommended to me by my Dear High school english teacher....(sorry Sir, it just wasnt that informative) and, believe it or not, my most useful site, was a government one. First time for everything. Its 'Culture and Creation.gov.au'
( I have not used active links to any of the mentioned sites as I do not have permission from that site to do so. This is strictly an overview and discussion on these base ideas and publishing houses. The information listed is sufficient to take you there through google or any other search engine. )
So....Ive got my adresses to send to. Ive realized a horrible problem.
I dont have a manuscript.
I always wanted 'The Savage Princess' (discussed in this post - Really Long Link
to be my first ever published work. Then I asked Kman, "How long did it take Tolkkien to do Lord Of The Rings?" "Oh you know," he answers, "His whole life" So I simultaneously felt a whole lot better and a whole lot worse. Ive got that many novels in the works it just aint funny. Ive got a crime novel (The Shutters to the Soul) that I love, teenage murder mystery (The Macbeth Daggers) a vampire novel, unnamed and barely touched, as well as dozens of other ideas I can barely remember right now. I have two 'modern' stories in production, one is 'Truth' and the other, though without a name, has a better structure and is fully planned. They are sad, violent stories similar to this -
Really Long Link
'Truth' could be finished by next week if I really got to it. Its told in teen slang, the words are just thrown at the page. Its delicate prose and poetry slung from the neck of a VBbottle. If it were optioned today, I could finish it, so for a manuscript, that will have to be what I push. But for tonight, Ive got to get together a portfolio of poetry in different genres and literary levels, and a few short stories.
Hopefully, Ive done the hard part, the research I mean. Cos it was like a demon clampin onto my spinal cord, all that research. Only to realize I have nothing prepared to send. But thats next....
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Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
Well, I work for one of Australia's top 5 magazine publisher's so although we focus on 'print' it's a bit different obviously to the publishers in your short list.
Personally though, I have dealt with Harper Collins (Australia) and Allen & Unwin. A Colegue of mine has also had a book published by Get a New Life, by Kaye Fallick
Allen & Unwin, 2004.
If you don't want to go down the road of getting an agent- which can be both costly, and sometimes even more difficult than contacting the publishers direct- I would suggest looking for alternate avenues to get your work in the hands of the decision makers.
Befriend someone on the inside (easier said than done I know)... or even contact other published authors and ask them about their experiances; most people will be more than obliged to impart some words of wisdom.
I guess one other thing to mention, and it is a bit of a moot topic BUT... don't write anything negative about the publishers you plan to contact (or publishers in general). We recently didn't give a job to a candidate after having found his blog, which contained some not so great references to us...
Good luck!!
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ahh interesting! I went to an Author talk last week - Tamara McKinley- interesting woman. She was saying how difficult it is for Aussie authors to find international success - mentioning that you would be hard pressed to find an authir like Di Morrissey in an English bookstore.
It`s a tough niche we have carved for ourselves! Let us know how it does. Dean (always eighteen) may be able to offer you some insight too, he recently sent in his novel to a publisher
Ash
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Thanks for your input - good stuff! Talking about research and especially on other published writers, Ive been there done that....Its about the only active thing I have done for my writing career in the last ten years.
Im happy to get an agent, I just cant afford one. It sounds like all they do is sales and promo anyway, and Im the queen of that.
According to what you just said...I do know someone on the inside! Buy you a beer buddy?
I dont believe Ive said anything negative here, about any of them. Ive only stated what they have said on their own websites, I havnt a clue what they are actually like to deal with...And from our discussion in the writers forum, you should know I dont make swift judgements. Im the kind of person who blames myself if they send it back!
Hello Darlin Ash!
Always great to see you babe! Thats interesting - something Ive known for awhile though. Its hard, if you focus on the American books, all the authors talk about is the 'NY times best seller list' and its not until you actually start to move in the world that you realize its completely different over here!
I put a heavy focus on Sarah Douglass - I didnt know she was Australian until I had finished her first book 'Battleaxe' she's got some level of international success and she's a very decorated writer. I really love her story, and I need to pick up some of her later work because I feel the early worksfail in a lot of places, yet still, they are the ones that got her on the map and won awards. I really and honestly believe that I could do as well (if not better) within a few years, so I hold her up as something to strive towards.
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
And no, I don't think you've said anything negative here either although I have seen a few other people slagging of big publishing houses on Orble before; just something to remain conscious of I guess (obviously, I don't take my own medicine but hey, I bet there's a number of Doctors out there that still smoke right?)
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
And my big dream is to get published by Harper Collins - you will never hear a bad word about them!
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
There are two links in this post, the first link will lead you to an overview of my major work, 'The Savage Princess' fantasy romp. First(actually more like tenth) draft almost finished.
The second link will take you to a short story called 'Callie' which is the same theme as my modern novel, 'Truth' which is a brutal story working on the hero/villian theme.
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
*update* nevar mind, found them haha
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I guess now is a great time to remind yourself of all those absolutely famous people who were rejected umpteen times by publishers of little scope or imagination. And then to remind yourself that timing is so often crucial, meaning long labourious hours researching what is happening in the *real* world of literature at the mo (in your genre)...whos buying and whos not?
A good indication is looking at the absolutely latest releases by each publishing house for a little insight into the current minds of the people you are trying to open a dialogue with?
Good luck kiddo, my prayers are with you... oh and some more fairy dust for you too ...
Lilla x
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis