Kelli wrote to ask me this question:
Could you please advise what a writer is do when all
avenues have been exhausted in trying to get their book
published and self-publishing/co-publishing is not even
an option. I am feeling a little like I should just stop trying and stop
writing, this is my second book.
My response:
Don’t quit! I was writing for FIVE AND A HALF YEARS before I got a contract with a traditional/commercial publisher. During that five and a half years, I wrote during most of my spare time and completed several books – most of those will remain in my basement closet, they’re so bad! All I can say is put that book back on the shelf and start another novel. Also, are you involved in a writers’ group or a critique group? If you congregate with like-minded individuals, that may help you. Since I write Christian romance novels, the two organizations that have helped me the most is Romance Writers Of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Both of those organizations may have chapters and critique groups that meet in your area? You’ll need to check and see. Also, two blogs that you might want to visit regularly are Literary Agents Chip Macgregor and Rachelle Gardner. I visit both of these blogs and they are always giving cool advice for both new and seasoned writers. Go to those blogs and scroll through some of the old posts. They’re a wealth of information to use if you’re trying to get your work commercially/traditionally published.
I can’t really advise about self-publishing because I’m not very familiar with it. I know I never wanted to get self-published – I wanted to sign a contract where I’d be getting an advance and royalties for each copy of my novel that sold. I didn’t want to pay to have my work published. I do know that if you self-publish, you need to be sure you have a solid marketing plan so that you can sell lots of books. I know self-publishing USUALLY works better if you’re doing NON-FICTION.
Vanessa wrote:
I’m a writer and I’ve been “shopping” my novel around for a little while. I’ve gotten good responses from editors, but no one is willing to give me a chance so I’m trying to decide how to proceed. I’ve done some partner publishing with Beckham Publishing on two other books with my husband, but my novel is what I really want to get released. Any advice? An editor from a major company really liked my book but when it came before the larger group it was rejected. This person has put me in touch with an editor they use and I’m planning to work with her to do final edits on the book before proceeding.
My response:
Read my advice for the previous question. Also, you might want to send that editor, the one from the major publishing company, a letter, thanking her for considering your work and, you’d like the opportunity to submit another project to her in the future.
I’m not sure how to tell you to proceed from here. If you’ve already shopped it around, and there’s no other place to submit it, then you need to place that book on a shelf and start another? If you’re asking how to proceed as far as self-publishing is concerned, I’m not sure what to tell you to do since I’ve never self-published my work.
You could also search for a literary agent. It’s possible that there are publishers out there that may be interested in your work but they take agented submissions only?
Hope my responses helped!
Got anymore questions? Please send them in!
Excellent answers, Cecelia! I think it’s important to add that, even as you shop books, it’s important to be writing others, and mention them in your queries/cover letters. If an agent/publisher likes your writing style but isn’t interested in that particular story, listing others can be a wise move.