Well hallelujah, you've written your One Big Novel. Now what? Chances are you've been eyeballing some publishing houses while writing it. But hang on there, Tex. You don't want to go submitting willy-nilly.
While it's always been your life's dream to be published at Del-Rey (or whatever publishing house of your choice), make sure they publish what you write. If you write crime drama and they only publish fantasy, well, you're outta luck. One of the best things you can do, in my opinion, is look for an agent. No, "agent" is not a four-letter word and I'll tell you why.
An agent does so much more than "take your money from your pocket." Yes, it's true agents take a cut from your royalties, most take about 15% for the *life* of your book. Yup. They don't only take a slice from your advance, but from the entire printed life of that book. However, publishing houses send the checks directly to the agent, and the AGENT then cuts you a check, so you never have to pay a "bill", the money is already taken out.
"So Becka," you say with an arched brow, "why would I want an agent again?"
Well, for starters, agents have a GREAT rapport with the editors in the industry. They know what they're looking for. They literally chat over coffee and donuts. I personally know an agent who had lunch with one of the editors from Harlequin books. They are very buddy-buddy. Because of this, if they find you, they're Hot New Author with the Hot New Novel, they're going to shout it from the rooftops. And the editors will listen. Not only can they slip you into the big houses, but they can also get you a *multi-book* deal. The editor reads your novel, decides, "Hey, I LOVE this Hot New Author!" Then immediately picks up the phone to call your agent to beg, plead, and otherwise cajole this Hot New Author into writing more books for them. Hot damn. You just got New York eating out of the palm of your hand.
Now, couple this with the fact that agents actually READ the contracts. Sure, you'll read it too, but are you familiar with all that "legal jargon?" Chances are you'll scratch your head at the flowery legalese and move on. But an agent's educated eye will catch things you might have missed. "Wait, wait, wait. You want my Hot New Author to ONLY use their name under YOUR imprint??" or "Hold the phone, my Hot New Author is only getting a $3000 advance? For their Hot New Novel you were just crowing about? I don't think so."
Yup. Agents go to the mattresses for you. I don't personally have an agent, but if I ever approach New York again, I will get one, and I know exactly who. Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency. She's such a sweetheart, I wouldn't want anyone else handling my books. Agents are also able to get your book read by editors who will ONLY be approached by agents. Have you ever looked longingly at your Favorite Publisher only to be daunted to see the line "Agented Submissions Only"? Doors will open that were closed to you before.
But aside from the agent thing, when you're ready to submit, READ THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Never poo-poo what a publishing house tells you to do. If they want it submitted on pink construction paper folded into Japanese cranes, you darn well better do it that way. They have these rules for a reason: ease of reading. They get SO many submissions, that they simply toss the ones in the can who didn't follow the rules. You think I'm lyin'. :-| Nope. Literally, IN THE TRASH. Deleted. Buh bye.
If you're a "diva", get over yourself. You ain't the Hottest Author on Planet Earth. Your "precious baby" WILL be edited. There isn't a publishing house on this rock that sends a book through the process without editing it, unless of course, you pay for a vanity press, but that's an entirely different article. However, you are not totally at the whim of the Almighty Editor. You can say "no" to their suggestions, but you must be prepared to fight for your case. In most cases, they'll let you keep your scene the way it is. But if they have a good reason, then you must change it; they *bought* your book, after all. You did write it, but for all intents and purposes, they own it for the duration of the contract.
When you write your query letter, be short, to the point, and list your writing credits. Editors want to know how much experience you have in the genre, if you're a noob or if you've been around the block. Don't be afraid to tell the editor "I haven't published &#$*." Of course, you'll want to do it without the obsenities... But you catch my drift.
When you write your synopsis (which is a two to three page summary of your story), make sure it's no longer than three pages. Most publishers only want **two pages**. So describe the meat of the story ONLY. Don't explain about sideplot A, B, & C if they're not important to the OVERALL plot of the book. And never ever EVER leave the ending of your book off the synopsis. I cannot stress this enough. The synopsis is NOT a book blurb! Don't think it is!! Editors want to know HOW IT ENDS so they can make an educated decision of whether or not they want to buy the book. If your hero dies in the last chapter and it's a romance, that's a BIG no-no. Romances MUST have an HEA (happily ever after for you noobs lol). If the hero dies, it's merely women's fiction. An editor must know this. So throw in spoilers galore, people. You won't be "enticing" them, unless you *want* to "entice" them to chuck your submission in the trash.
Publishers are slower than molasses in January underneath a concrete slab. Don't be looking for a reply ANY sooner than three months, six if you're lucky. But a word of advice? Unless your One Big Novel gets chosen for Oprah's Book Club, you're not going to get rich off of it. I'm sorry to say, being an author is not a "get rich quick" scheme. An author's "wealth" and "success" comes from an entire library of books. Their backlist, their current books, their upcoming books. So, what are you going to do while waiting to hear word from Publisher A? KEEP WRITING. If you're an author in your heart, keep writing.
Write your Second Big Novel. And your Third Big Novel. Believe me, it will keep you sane, and at least pass the time until you get that coveted package from the mailman postmarked from Manhattan. And let me tell you what... If your first book doesn't sell, then perhaps your second or third will. The more books you write, the better your chances of actually getting published. And have a plan. If Publisher A rejects you, send your manuscript off to Publisher B, then Publisher C. The world will not end if your first choice won't buy your book. Keep your chin up and keep on truckin'.
Remember, as Nathaniel Hawthorne once said, "Easy reading is damned hard writing."
Amen, Brother Hawthorne, amen.
~~Becka
~*~*~*~
**Rebecca Goings is a romance novelist, published at By Grace Publishing, Champagne Books, and Samhain Publishing. She currently has 12 books published, with 5 more looming on the horizon and 2 more signed contracts, on which the ink is barely dry. She was awarded the coveted "Author of the Year" Award of 2006 from Champagne Books, which she polishes every day to a glowing shine, and lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and four beautiful rugrats.
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Comments: 36
Just want to help out my fellow authors. There was a time I didn't know smack about publishing myself and wish I'd had some kind of "knowledge" I could download into my brainpan. :P Unfortunately, I learned it all the hard way. *sigh*
But it doesn't hurt to "pass on what I have learned" to y'all, if you need help, that is.
~~Becka
After investigating their website, I am going to be submitting my query to them ASAP. Thanks so much for the link and great article! And cross your fingers for me.
Best,
Melissa
Note to Trish: I think we're haunting the same blogs - LOL!
Good luck!
~~Becka
Lots of good advice here. I write memoir rather than narrative fiction. This genre is an even smaller pool of publishers. Memoir is also my preferred reading form. I thought since the publishing world for this format is so targeted, I'd try going directly to the publishers.
Nice to see something like this featured here.
The questions in my mind after reading this is are;
Where will I find lists of agents/agencies?
How do you recognize an effective agent/agency?
Do agents specialize in genres, as some publishers do?
Thanks for this article.
Best of luck.
Where will I find lists of agents/agencies?
You can go to www.writersmarket.com and subscribe. The Writer's Market is also a book you can buy from the bookstore. Be sure to get the most recent edition. This book/website has FABULOUS information on publishing houses and agents, pretty much all you will ever need to know. Just like agents know editors, agents also know each other. So if you begin speaking with an agent and ask them about Joe Agent out in California, they might have some "dirt" on him, or perhaps sing his praises.
How do you recognize an effective agent/agency?
Yes, there are some snakes in the grass agents out there, so you really have to be careful. I'd say submit to an agent whose clients you really admire. If you go to an agent's (or agency's) website and they DON'T post their client list, that would be a red flag for me. Agents should be boasting about who they've signed. And you know what? Don't be afraid to contact big named authors to ask them about their agents. Just because someone is famous, doesn't mean they live on the moon. LOL Most authors are very personable, and as long as you don't pester them 24 hours a day with every question under the sun, you should get a favorable response.
Do agents specialize in genres, as some publishers do?
I believe so. The Knight Agency specializes in romance, however, they do take other fiction. The Writer's Market should be able to tell you that as well, giving names, addresses, and phone numbers of agents who specialize in selling your genre. :)
Good luck!
~~Becka
Most publishers want to be the ONLY house you submit to. Because if you sell the book to Publisher B, you've wasted Publisher A's time.
IF the house allows simultaneous submissions and you DO sell to Publisher B, send a courtesy email or correspondence to Publisher A, telling them you sold the book so they don't waste any more time reading through your submission.
While publishing houses do compete with each other, watch out. All the editors are chummy with EACH OTHER, and if you burn one editor, word can spread quickly about you, and soon, you'll be on the blacklist. DON'T BURN YOUR BRIDGES!!
~~Becka
your experience.
The Road was featured!
Self publish- why pay people to be your agent when you can self publish?
We live in a new world now and like recording labels for music- they don't offer enough anymore that anyone who is willing to do the work can make all the rewards.
If you build a better mouse trap- people will beat a path to your door.Promote- promote- promote- it also helps that you have over a million viewers already, but if it is good that won't be to much of a problem- there are many ways to skin a Cat- so to speak and publishers are going the way of the old ancient reptiles- reach a world audience- your computer can do more for you than any publishing business-
Its my opinion and everyone has one.
Just be original and you too- can be the next big thing!
Nigel for President in 2008
I suppose you "could" be chosen for Oprah's Book Club fresh out of the gate, but it's doubtful. I would liken it to winning the lottery. LOL Possible, but improbable.
Self-publishing, while attractive to "get your book on the market quick" is still expensive. Unless you know a bit about formatting and can get your own book up on Lulu.com or CafePress.com to "do it yourself", you're going to be out hundreds of dollars at publishers such as "Publish America" or "Author House". The sweet thing about actually having a true publisher (as opposed to a vanity press - that's what they're called) is that you don't pay a red cent. They pay you.
True, you don't NEED an agent. I don't have one. There is no law. But they do make certain doors open for you, and make things "easier" in the long run (with big New York houses). Smaller electronic presses don't really need an agent, because they don't quite have the flood of submissions New York has.
But self-publishing companies are called "vanity presses", because they do nothing to get your name out in the industry. They print your book, take your money, don't even bother to edit them (unless you pay extra), and only have them available on their own dedicated online store. I've never come across a self-published book on Amazon.com, although I could be wrong here, someone feel free to correct me, because I truly don't know, I've just never seen it.
Also, good luck getting a self-published book into bookstores. Why? Because bookstores demand to buy the books "at cost", so they can mark up the price and get profit. Ever wonder how bookstores can sell a book for "cheaper" than the cover price? Because they sure don't buy the book for that much. They buy the book at a discounted price, then mark up as they see fit. Also, bookstores demand the stock can be returned to the printer if they don't sell. Most self-published books cannot be returned once bought, and a lot of times, the author is stuck "panhandling" scores of their own book to bookstores (which they had to buy out of pocket and sell "themselves"). Nine times out of ten, a bookstore will not take these books. So the author is stuck selling them at trade shows and the like, or to family/friends, etc.
There is no money in self-publishing. The industry frowns upon it because it's usually where books go that have been rejected hither and yon. Self-publishing isn't a true writing credit, because ANYONE can do it if you have the money to burn.
To each his own, I guess, but if you're serious about becoming a Big Name in Publishing, it's probably not the route for you. Publishing houses are NOT going the way of the dodo, and I don't even know where that information is coming from. LOL As long as people read books, there will be publishing houses.
~~Becka
You have to keep your name in front of the masses in order to move books, and although your publisher sends your books to be reviewed and such, don't expect them to do much promotion beyond that. They might book online chats in chatrooms, but those alone will not sell a lot of books.
So start building your web presence for name recognition, even if you're not published (yet). If someone thinks to themselves, "Hey, I've heard of So-In-So" they're more likely to buy. :)
~~Becka
What do you mean by burning and editor? How would that be possible?
Also, I was wondering, do agents take care of payroll/income taxes when they pay you?
Thanks again. This has been a very valuable discussion.
You're very welcome! Here's what I said in context:
"...if you burn one editor, word can spread quickly about you, and soon, you'll be on the blacklist. DON'T BURN YOUR BRIDGES!!"
It's merely a figure of speech. If you become "known" for not following directions, then your name "might" be tossed around different editors for different houses, that's all I was saying. These editors DO talk amongst themselves, about their submissions and their Hot New Authors and the like. But they also relay information about "troublesome" submissions who either didn't follow the submission guidelines (again and again), or who are "divas" in the business, thinking their $@!t smells like roses. LOL
Even unpublished authors can "make a name for themselves" if they're whispered about in editors' cirlcles, but not in a good way.
"Oh, girl, you won't believe who submitted to me again!"
"Oh, not the one who thinks they walk on water!"
"YES!"
"Ooo, I'll keep an eye out for them in MY submission box."
"I feel sorry for the editor who signs THAT guy..."
Just an example to show you what I meant. :)
~~Becka
Nice article... I'll keep the text of your article on mind...
heavy and enchanting ticker trailer...
Do you choose the song(?)...
Yes, I make the videos myself *and* choose the music.
For the curious:
http://www.rebeccagoings.com/screening.html
~~Becka
Now, how about an article on how you've been marketing your novel?
I had a company design my website, Dagian Designs, and they've also done a few of my book covers. http://www.dagiandesigns.com The graphic artist over there is stellar, I love her to death. Even met her in real life. She's actually the wife of a friend of a friend. Small world, eh? :P She's got very affordable prices, and you can tell her Becka sent ya, and unlike the Knight Agency, she WILL know who you're talking about. LOL
I'll post something on marketing and creating a web presence if you guys want. Might take me a day or two to get it all organized and posted, but I'll let you know!
~~Becka
That was a fantastic article. I've gone through that unsolicited manucripts are not accepted and submit by agent only routine. So frustrated with that I finally concentrated my search on small press publishers. I have eight books published and a contract for the ninth one in the mail. Included in these books are two series...one science fiction, the other paranormal. I will admit, I always wanted a New York Publisher, and I believed my agent(s), two different agencies, would see that come to fruition. But that did not happen. My agents did little or nothing to push my books. So what was I to do but go direct. My publisher may be a small press company, but they are fantastic and they do pay a small up front advance.
There is one point I would like to make to anyone searching for an agent. DO NOT, and I mean that sincerely, pay money to an agent to represent you. One of the agents I had charged a monthly "administrative" fee. Four years later I realized I was being taken by this agency, and came to the conclusion a bad agent isn't any better than not having one. Just my opinion, but thought I'd throw that in.