Watch out for publishing rumors. They can sabotage your success.
Almost everyone who enters the publishing arena for the first time, has heard a rumor or two. They’ve listened to the publishing war stories of those in their writers’ groups. They’ve met disgruntled authors at conferences and book festivals with stories to tell. Or they talk to neighbors who tried to get a book published in the ’80s. Some hopeful authors embrace the first of what seems to them the most logical/reasonable testimonial and consider it publishing gospel. Here are a few examples of publishing rumors that hopeful authors have shared with me:
Rumor
A publisher will take your 500-page manuscript, throw away 450 pages and then tell you to rewrite the book.
Fact
A new author actually used this rumor as a reason not to fine-tune her manuscript. I hope she believed me when I told her that this would be rare, indeed. Publishers get enough good manuscripts that they aren’t going to work from scratch with an unknown author. This is absurd.
Rumor
Publishers won’t even look at your manuscript if you don’t have an agent.
Fact
There are hundreds and hundreds of small to medium-size publishers who prefer to work without the involvement of an agent.
Rumor
All I have to do in order to get published is find an agent.
Fact
Sorry, an agent does not guarantee a publishing contract.
Rumor
It’s impossible for a first-time author to land a traditional royalty publishing contract, so I might as well pay to have this book published.
Fact
There are plenty of publishers who work with new authors—some of them claim that 75 or even 100 percent of their books are from first-time authors.
I will bring you 5 more rumors and facts in tomorrow’s blog post. And if you’ve heard what you consider a rumor and you would like to check it out with me, please send it to PLFry620@yahoo.com and I’ll give you the truth in the matter.
Happy Easter. While you’re home and surfing the net, check out my websites:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com
Despite great reviews in the international press I cannot find an agent – publisher because my book is subversive and different!
Cant think of any other reason as many published authors would not have received reviews like I have for my novel ‘Viaréggio,’ you can google reviews online.