Advice on getting published

2011-09-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve written my first novel. It’s a first draft and I need to do more work on it but I think an agent would be able to help me iron out the creases.

Getting an agent is arguably harder than finding a publisher for your novel. Your manuscript needs to be the best it can possibly be when an agent sees it. Make sure it is a final draft and as polished as you can make it. Once an agent takes you on, they are quite likely to offer you advice on improving your work but, if it looks sloppy to start with, they would be unlikely to want to represent you and probably won’t even have read beyond the first few pages to find out if the story is worth considering.

Do I need an agent? Why can’t I just go straight to a publisher?

These days most mainstream publishers only deal with literary agents. That’s the way the industry has developed. In fact, some publishers don’t even accept submissions from anyone that isn’t an agent. You need to get an agent if you want to be published by one of the larger, mainstream publishers. If you don’t, then, that’s a different matter. There are a number of smaller, independent publishers who would be happy to see your material without it being represented by an agent.

OK. So where do I find a literary agent?

The best, most up-to-date source is the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2012 which you should find in most good bookstores and on Amazon or other similar outlets online. Most libraries stock it if you don’t want to spend the money on the book itself.

At what point should I think about getting an agent?

If it’s your first novel, I would probably write the whole thing and get that final polished draft under your belt before approaching an agent. Alternatively, you might decide that you have a good first section of the novel written and you know how the rest of the story is likely to evolve. If that’s the case, you could send the first three chapters and a strong, well written synopsis. Even if you have the whole thing written, agents usually prefer only to see the first three chapters and a synopsis anyway. Tip: read Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook carefully to understand what each agency requires you to send them. They do differ in their requirements.

How should I send the material?

Again, check Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. Most agencies prefer you to send them a hard copy rather than a manuscript by email.

How should I present my material?

As simply and cleanly as possible. You should include a brief covering letter stating what the novel is about, a short statement about genre or similarity to any published writers and any publishing history (short stories, reputable creative writing courses). This letter would accompany the three chapters and synopsis. Use a regular font, white paper, make sure that it has been checked for spelling or grammatical or punctuation errors, and don’t try to dress it up or attract attention by using fancy letterheads or pink fluffy containers or by putting the pages in plastic sleeves or adding illustrations (unless part of the novel itself). Keep it simple. This looks far more professional and will instil confidence in the agent or reader when they come to look at the material.

I’m so excited about my novel. I can’t wait. Can I send it out in a mass mail-out?

Probably not a good idea. Agents would not be happy if they find out that you have done this. It is better to send the manuscript out to one agent at a time and then, perhaps if it is rejected by a few agencies, you might begin to send it out to two or three at a time thereafter.

How long should I wait for a reply?

It can be a frustrating time for writers but be prepared to wait. Agencies will be receiving hundreds of manuscripts a week and agents usually do their reading in their spare time when they are travelling to and from work on the tube or at home when they get a spare moment. Six weeks used to be considered a reasonable amount of time to wait although considering the amount that agents receive nowadays, this is now a conservative estimate. If you have not heard anything in three months, I would contact the agency by sending a polite email asking if they have had a chance to read your manuscript.

I’ve had a standard rejection slip. Is that all I get after all the time and effort I put in to sending my life’s work out to them?

I’m afraid so. You are not entitled to any feedback although of course agents or readers may give you some indication about why they have decided not to accept your manuscript. Don’t get disheartened. Take the feedback on board and make any changes you need and send it out again.

But they didn’t even bother to send the manuscript back!

Did you include return postage and packaging?

Well, no.

OK. Well, there’s your answer. Next time include that and make it clear you want it returned if you really want the manuscript back. I know it’s a waste of paper but it might be easier to let the manuscript go. After all, it might have become grubby after sitting in a dusty office for several months and may not be suitable to be sent out again anyway.

What if they steal my idea?

Believe me, they won’t. As long as you’re dealing with a reputable agency, you don’t need to worry about that kind of thing. If they like your ideas, they’ll snap you up as a client.

I’ve had my manuscript accepted! They’re asking for a fee though…

Don’t go there, is my advice. No respectable literary agency charges you a reading fee or guarantees a publishing deal. They make their money only if they manage to get you a book deal and then they take a percentage of that deal (typically 15%). Asking for money upfront or guaranteeing publication is not the way the publishing industry in the UK (or anywhere else as far as I know) works.

This is going to take forever. I’m beginning to lose heart now. How am I ever going to get published?

There are a few things you can do to boost your chances. Firstly, as you can probably see, sending manuscripts to agencies and have them sitting on slush piles is not really an efficient way of getting your manuscript properly looked at. One tip would be to get out and about liaising and making contacts within the writing community. This means either doing courses or workshops or attending writing conferences where agents and editors and other writers are mingling and rubbing shoulders and exchanging ideas. Often there are opportunities to chat to people within the publishing industry and if you subsequently contact, say, an agent that you met at one of these events, and draw attention to the fact that you chatted about your work and he or she invited you to send some material in, then this is likely to prompt the agent to look on your manuscript a bit more attentively or promptly. If your work is good enough, it will find an agent.

I’ve had my manuscript rejected by every agent in London. What should I do now?

Here are some things to consider:

· Presentation. Did you check it was sent in the correct format, font etc?

· Agency. Did you send it to the right agency? If you’re writing a Young Adult novel, there is no point sending it to an agency that doesn’t deal with children’s writing. The same for genre fiction like Fantasy or Horror. Make sure you send it to an agent that deals with that kind of writing. There are some agencies that specialise in Crime. If your book is a Crime Thriller, did you try these agencies? If your writing would appeal to the same audience as an established writer’s, try to find out which agent / agency publishes this writer. It’s not always easy to discover but worth a try. At least, then, you know that the person you’re sending the manuscript to is interested in that type of writing / genre.

Writing. What kind of feedback did you get, if any? Was there a common factor in why they felt the material was not for them? If it needs more work on it, think about going away and doing a course or joining a writing group. Have you had proper feedback from other writers? Don’t listen to your mum or your boyfriend / girlfriend / spouse if they’re not experienced writers. And don’t think for one moment that you don’t need advice. Everyone needs to have their work workshopped at some point if they want it to be the best it can be. If you’re confident about the material, you might think about having a manuscript critique done (a service we offer here too). See yourself as a craftsman/woman who needs to modify or make changes to improve your work. We all need a different perspective from time to time.

Maria, Literation 12/9/11

Getting your work out there...

Advice on getting published