Failure

YK, I never got this business of being afraid to send a query out. So you get some no's or ignores. No different than what happens at work or anywhere else you're trying to do business.

And I have sometimes wondered how the people so incensed at Publish America function at their jobs when something doesn't go their way. Do they carry on this way there?

3/23/2010

Ruby...

Believe in yourself....You have a
dream, hold onto it, don't let anyone tell
you different, take it from someone who
believed in his dream and had four books
published....

Cheers...Joe....

Ruby,

Fantastic post. Fantastic piece of writing. I can tell you can write. Go for it. Don't fear failure. However, there are those who say people fear success more than failure. That might be something to think about.

Carol

Hi Ruby,

If you have received four requests from agents, you have already succeeded more than most aspiring writers. You are concerned about the quality of your work and will it be good enough. My first manuscript was not polished and had mistakes that I'd missed when I submitted to the best publishing houses in London. It made it to the discussion stage and was rejected because the publishers didn't feel confident enough to put money behind it. Had I written a genre book, it would have stayed in the slush pile. I don't have the burning desire that many upcoming writers have for a particular genre and, therefore, would not have been able to compete.

If your work is rejected, it will be because your work is either not commercial enough or the stiff competition makes you a runner-up. Writers get wrapped up in the creative side of book production while hard-nosed publishers are only concerned with making a profit. This is a tough business.

Four agents? Submit today. You are wasting precious time.

Ruby said:

Quote :

Avoiding resentment and the
negative blame game? Not a problem. Whatever the outcome of my quest for
publication, I would not trade one minute of the journey. I am first
and foremost a reader, and I have had the pleasure of meeting more of my
writing idols than I could ever have imagined. Those encounters will
forever be treasured.

And that's what it's all about.

Ann

Hi Ruby welcome to the forum and I am very happy to wish you luck. I went in search of a place where I could meet other writers and found it here. I’ve not been here long but I have found the interaction with others really valuable. The best thing about this place is the support and encouragement. I hope you find the same.

The first published work is the most important and the most difficult. So you are right to check and double check that you are giving it your best shot. Being published it an essential step in the development of every writer. I believe therefore that you must submit but only you will really know when the time has arrived.

I support my family from writing which means that I cannot afford the luxury of extensive reworking. For the moment you can so give it your very best shot and in your own time when you are ready submit.

Best wishes

mike bryon wrote:

I support my family from writing which means that I cannot afford the luxury of extensive reworking.

I find that a curious comment. My manuscripts are sent out for peer review. Depending on the comments, extensive reworking may be (and have been) needed. If I didn't do it, either the manuscript would not be as good (meaning the likelihood of sales would not be as good), or the publisher simply wouldn't publish it. I don't make my living from writing, just side money, but I don't see how that would make a difference.

The context is before the manuscript has been submitted. Changes are sometimes requested before acceptance but that's another matter.

Carol Troestler wrote:

Ruby,

Fantastic post. Fantastic piece of writing. I can tell you can write. Go for it. Don't fear failure. However, there are those who say people fear success more than failure. That might be something to think about.

Carol

Thanks for the compliments, Carol.

You may have a point in what you say about success. I know from friends who have new careers that there is enormous pressure to follow success with success. Gone are the days when houses would carry new authors until they could earn their keep. While I think I may be happy with one success, I am pretty sure I will be crushed if that is all I have in me. Although I would hope that I would eventually be happy that I did have that one success, lol.

Also, once your first ms is in the hands of your agent you are expected to start your next. And edit the first one as required! Whew, I barely have time to work on this one!

Ruby

joefrank wrote:

3/23/2010

Ruby...

Believe in yourself....You have a
dream, hold onto it, don't let anyone tell
you different, take it from someone who
believed in his dream and had four books
published....

Cheers...Joe....

Thank you Joe! I plan to hold on with both hands until they are pried off by forces beyond my control!

Ruby

A publisher may love your book, but, the publisher does not have the last word. The sellers have to say, "Yes, we can sell it."

There are many people who have to say, "Yes."
It is run like any other business..."What does it cost to print?"..."How big is the market?"..."Can the seller sell it?"
"Does this un-known jerk have more than one book in him/her?" "Is the author easy to work with?" etc, etc.

Look at it like you're selling the idea of your book to Donald Trump. You have two minutes...go.

Shelagh wrote:

Hi Ruby,

If you have received four requests from agents, you have already succeeded more than most aspiring writers. You are concerned about the quality of your work and will it be good enough. My first manuscript was not polished and had mistakes that I'd missed when I submitted to the best publishing houses in London. It made it to the discussion stage and was rejected because the publishers didn't feel confident enough to put money behind it. Had I written a genre book, it would have stayed in the slush pile. I don't have the burning desire that many upcoming writers have for a particular genre and, therefore, would not have been able to compete.

If your work is rejected, it will be because your work is either not commercial enough or the stiff competition makes you a runner-up. Writers get wrapped up in the creative side of book production while hard-nosed publishers are only concerned with making a profit. This is a tough business.

Well, getting requests to submit from a pitch session may sound great but it equates to paying more for the speed pass at an amusement park so you can go to the head of the line. This by no means is intended to denigrate the requests, all it means is that I am able to skip the query phase. My work still needs to prove itself.

Pitch sessions are also great for de-mystifying the scary world that agents inhabit. My first pitch session was a little intimidating, I waited in line with hundreds of other nervous hopefuls, certain that the minute I opened my mouth they'd put up a hand and say sorry, not for me. But it was nothing like that. Each and every one was interested in what I was putting forward, and of the five agents I pitched to four were interested. The one who said no did not handle my genre. Afterwards I chatted with some of them and regretted not pitching to more. One agent whose blog I read religiously and scares me was so very nice in person! I told her that I was afraid to pitch to her and why, and she laughed. And then told me that if I got no takers from the other four to go ahead and submit to her, as long as I didn’t tell anyone that how nice she really was. But I am getting off track, sorry.

I am also making an effort to learn the business side of publishing so I can be prepared for whatever comes next. I realize that one of the functions of an agent is to represent the author, but I am not one to leave my fate in the hands of others so I want to fully understand this wacky and wonderful world of publishing that I intend to infiltrate, one way or another, lol!

Ruby

alice wrote:

Four agents? Submit today. You are wasting precious time.

Alas, my ms is not yet done. But I am dancing as fast as I can!!!

Ruby

mike bryon wrote:

Hi Ruby welcome to the forum and I am very happy to wish you luck. I went in search of a place where I could meet other writers and found it here. I’ve not been here long but I have found the interaction with others really valuable. The best thing about this place is the support and encouragement. I hope you find the same.

The first published work is the most important and the most difficult. So you are right to check and double check that you are giving it your best shot. Being published it an essential step in the development of every writer. I believe therefore that you must submit but only you will really know when the time has arrived.

I support my family from writing which means that I cannot afford the luxury of extensive reworking. For the moment you can so give it your very best shot and in your own time when you are ready submit.

Best wishes

Thank you for the welcome! And yes, I agree that the first is very important.

Ruby

ruby wrote:

alice wrote:

Four agents? Submit today. You are wasting precious time.

Alas, my ms is not yet done. But I am dancing as fast as I can!!!

Ruby

Finish it . Set a deadline and go for it.

domenic Pappalardo wrote:

"Does this un-known jerk have more than one book in him/her?" "Is the author easy to work with?"

I have never perceived that my books were accepted because the publisher thought I'd be submitting more.

Ruby, you are like a breath of fresh air! I love reading your posts (oops--maybe I should put this on the "love" thread).

I agree with Helen!

alice wrote:

ruby wrote:

alice wrote:

Four agents? Submit today. You are wasting precious time.

Alas, my ms is not yet done. But I am dancing as fast as I can!!!

Ruby

Finish it . Set a deadline and go for it.

Yes ma'am!

Ruby

Thank you Helen and Alice.

LC wrote:

domenic Pappalardo wrote:

"Does this un-known jerk have more than one book in him/her?" "Is the author easy to work with?"

I have never perceived that my books were accepted because the publisher thought I'd be submitting more.

Hmm, I have never heard this regarding a publisher either. I have heard this from agents however - does the author have any ideas for more books. And in fact when I was pitching, two of the agents asked me if I had anything in the queue after the current ms was complete, and it just so happened that I had my handy-dandy cheat sheet with me, lol. I whipped it out and handed it over, and both were happy to see my ideas. I would not be surprised if they asked for fulls partly because of my list.

I do not see anything wrong with an agent asking if you have more ideas, I am sure they would like an author who can produce multiple books, it is a benefit to both the author and the agent, not to mention the house who publishes the books. Although, because my goal is to be a full time author some day, I am constantly jotting down ideas whenever something comes into my head or catches my eye. It is odd how a phrase or image can spark a story in my twisted little brain.

I am pretty crazy like that!

Ruby

Ruby,

How much do you have to go before you are through with your manuscript?

Deadlines are important.

Writers need to work to a schedule.

I feel that is where the failure comes for most.

They say "I will do it later."

Later never works.

I have come across both requirements (more than one book and easy to work with).

In non fiction is it not so common to have an agent and the author has a lot of dealings with the publisher (good thing). However, if an author is too demanding, if they raise loads of issues with editorial staff and marketing, if they make themselves a royal pain in the arse then the publisher will give up on them. It has happened even when their work has sold worthwhile numbers.

For my experience publishers would rather invest in a series that a single book. They can always drop out of the deal if the first book does not sell but if it does they want their investment and the risk they took to pay and pay again.