So, everyone has a different way they go about sending out submissions. For me, my first and foremost goal has always been to secure an agent. I have many reasons for this. I don't know anywhere near all there is to know about the internal workings of the publishing industry. I have almost zero (I've met a few editors at conferences, but they're friends not networked contacts, and for me there is a difference) contacts within the publishing industry. I'm not such a much that I have a huge platform already in place. I have the makings of a small group of friends, but it's not much by most standards. I can't manage my way out of a paper bag. So while I CAN manage to organize myself with my own writing, I don't have a huge amount of faith that I could arrange, organize and carry out complicated things like signings or readings or out there self promotion things. In short, I need someone who can help me learn how to do those things in a correct and successful manner.
But I digress. The point is, I've always had the goal of getting an agent, viewing that as the first step in my road to publication. So I've always focused on submitting to agents and everything that goes with that.
However, along the way, people have suggested that I sub to publishing houses as well, I just never have. Part of the reason for that, was that I was afraid of what I would do if I ever actually got an offer from a publishing house (big and mainstream or otherwise) because there's just so much to think about when you're looking at something like a publishing contract.
Now, with three years of querying agents behind me, and a growing stack of rejections that read 'If it weren't dystopian, I'd offer,' or 'In the wake of the Hunger Games, I'll have to pass, otherwise I'd offer' or 'Very strong and commercial writing, but due to personal developments, I am not taking on new clients right now' and a plethora of other variants of rejection that is (according to the agents) more about personal preference than bad writing, I'm starting to consider subbing to publishing houses, even while I continue to query agents.
So what do you peeps think? Has any of you subbed to publishing houses? I'm going to need to research how to even go about it. And I'm not sure I'm actually going to do it. Just something I've been considering.
Monday, February 18, 2013
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After three years of going the traditional route - agent and immediate fame - I researched small publishers and picked two that caught my eye. Both were reputable, honest, and transparent.
ReplyDeleteI submitted a mss to these two small pubs that agents had rejected 130 times. Both requested the full almost immediately. I signed with Musa Publishing.
Dip your toe in the water and go with a small publisher. You can always seek an agent for another mss at a later date.
CD Coffelt pontificates at Spirit Called