Olympus by Maria Quinn

CLIMBING EVEREST ( AKA GETTING A NOVEL PUBLISHED)

Maria Quinn

tosca


Getting my debut novel on the bookshelves, courtesy of my publisher Harper Collins, has been a long and arduous journey. It was a unique journey, because every novel is unique (well let’s say should be, though copy-cat publishing…books so like each other in theme, characters and presentation is a cancer that’s spreading) but some aspects of the process seem common to all mainstream-published authors, and I’ve been asked to talk about them.

Because you have a declared interest in the subject, due to your membership of writing.com, I’ll try not to serve up the same old stuff you’ve heard a hundred times, though all of it is probably true. Rather I’ll get to the basic fact. Writing a book (and I’m only talking here of fiction) that persuades a publisher to take the risk involved in accepting it and putting it into the marketplace, is a monumental task, so if you’re not up for hard, disciplined work my best advice is ‘forget it’.

I use the word ‘risk’ deliberately, because that’s what publishers do, they gamble on their judgement that a book will sell, at least well enough to recoup their costs, which are substantial. So publishers are not the big bad bogey men so many writers think them, and they want to like every manuscript that lands on their desk. But they don’t have the time, or the need, to be teaching writers their trade, because when they toss one manuscript aside, there are a hundred underneath it. If they see brilliant raw talent, they might just take a punt that, with direction and nurturing, a good book will eventuate. But how many of us can truthfully say our manuscripts hold that kind of promise?

Thus learning the craft, as well as the art is up to us as writers. Only when you do this and your manuscript turns into a book should it be presented to a publisher, either by the author or, preferably, by an agent. Publishers read submissions from reputable agents, they go to the top of the pile. Unsolicited manuscripts from unknown writers go into what’s know as ‘the slush pile’ and most never come out. Yes, a tiny minority of writers get the first book published without the help of an agent. But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of contracts, international and film rights, royalty percentages, writers generally reach out for an agent, and first-time writers who got there on their own, against the odds, then find it easier to get an agent to take notice, because they come bearing gifts, a publishing contract in hand.

So how do you know if your manuscript has become a novel that stands a chance of traditional, on-the-bookshelf publication? Because you read voraciously. To write well you must be a reader and if you read the best writers, you will hone your judgement. You will learn to see the difference between good writing and amateurish pap. By the time you are making this judgement your novel will be at least several drafts in, perhaps so many you lose count. It will have changed, sometimes unrecognisably, from the original. It will interest readers other than those who are close to you, family members and friends. ‘Outside’ readers are essential to any writer. Ideally they will have the market profile you’re aiming at (if you are analytical enough to have determined that market. You need to be, it’s one of the first questions a publisher, or agent will ask you.) I suggest you always click on the profile of those who review your work, so that you can access the reviews in relation to your desired market, judge who the work actually appeals to

Then you will put it away, hide it in a bottom drawer somewhere and pretend you don’t know it’s there. Your fingers will itch to get at it and you’ll toss and turn at night, resisting the temptation to switch on the light and start reading. You will be strong, neurotic, but strong for weeks… yes weeks. Then you will give in, open the drawer and read the complete manuscript in one sitting. And you will know if it’s time to send it out into the world.


Check out & Order Maria's book: http://www.storyworldonline.com/

tosca

© Copyright 2007 tosca (UN: tosca at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.