Question from a Canadian

newwestbren · Nov 26, 2008

Hi all,

I'm an aspiring Canadian novelist who, in truth, isn't nuts about Canadian Literature and the type of writing that is successful in this country. I feel my stuff is more suited to American or British publishers.

My question - do agencies and publishers generally accept foreigners? Or am I limited to trying my hand in Canada?

Anyone know of any Canadian authors who have bypassed the whole cliquey CanLit industry?

Thanks.....

Stacia Kane · Nov 27, 2008

AFAIK most agents are happy to accept clients from all over the world, and publishers are the same; it's all about the writing!

I'm pretty sure we have a few Canadian members here with American or English representation and publication. So it's very likely one of them will be along shortly.

Mumut · Nov 27, 2008

I'm Australian and I'm being published in Canada next year. There are only slight problems translating from one language to the other.

willietheshakes · Nov 28, 2008

newwestbren said:
Hi all,

I'm an aspiring Canadian novelist who, in truth, isn't nuts about Canadian Literature and the type of writing that is successful in this country. I feel my stuff is more suited to American or British publishers.

My question - do agencies and publishers generally accept foreigners? Or am I limited to trying my hand in Canada?

Anyone know of any Canadian authors who have bypassed the whole cliquey CanLit industry?

Thanks.....

Hey, I respect an anti-CanLit rant as much as anyone (pour a half-dozen rye and gingers into me and watch what happens), but the traditional CanLit cliche no longer holds true (if it ever really did). Look at this year's Giller list -- one of those books conforms to the traditional CanLit cliches, and only just barely. Similarly, only one book on the GG shortlist conforms to those cozy cliches...

If you're writing strictly in genre, yes, you'll have better options outside of the US (though CDN genre publishing is on the rise, and highly successful).

As far as representation goes, an agent in Canada will be able to sell you into the US and UK, an agent in the US will be able to sell you into Canada and the UK, etc.

Toothpaste · Nov 28, 2008

Canadian represented by a UK agent here. As long as what you want your foreign agent to represent appeals to the country in which they live, you should be fine.

Yeshanu · Nov 28, 2008

newwestbren said:
Anyone know of any Canadian authors who have bypassed the whole cliquey CanLit industry?

Yep.

willietheshakes · Nov 28, 2008

Yeshanu said:
Yep.

I'll see your "Yep" and raise you Charles deLint, Nalo Hopkinson, Robert Charles Wilson and dozens of others.

It should be noted, though, that one Sawyer's most recent contracts is with Penguin Canada (the same place that publishes Guy Gavriel Kay, R. Scott Bakker, Jack Whyte and others).

scarletpeaches · Nov 28, 2008

Whatever became of that Margaret Atwood chick?

willietheshakes · Nov 28, 2008

scarletpeaches said:
Whatever became of that Margaret Atwood chick?

I think she'd be the "whole cliquey CanLit industry" the OP was referring to...

scarletpeaches · Nov 28, 2008

Well probably. I've only ever managed to finish two of her books.

The shortest ones.

kathleen_grant · Dec 28, 2008

I'm Canadian, but am totally going to try to publish in the states.

The Publishing Industry in Canada is--well.. crap to be quite frank. That's because most writers self-publish here.

Seriously, there are about 15-20 literary agents in all of Canada. The chances of being represented by one are slim.

But there are many Canadian authors who get published in the states. I've never heard of any problems with it.

Best of luck to all Canadian Writers out there!

Carmy · Dec 28, 2008

Atwood heads the cliquey crowd. I can't stand her stuff.

Raising you willietheshakes -- Pauline Gedge.

Kathleen42 · Jan 4, 2009

kathleen_grant said:
I'm Canadian, but am totally going to try to publish in the states.

Same.

Canadians are quite accustomed to reading books from American publishers and I'm not sure the same is true in reverse. Also, the target market for my book is larger Stateside.

Still, spelling "color" without a "u" was bloody painful.

Toothpaste · Jan 4, 2009

Kathleen42 said:
Still, spelling "color" without a "u" was bloody painful.

Don't worry about spelling your words the American way in your MS. It really doesn't matter. Mine were all spelled the Canadian way and there was no issue changing them once I had an American publisher. Nor was the American publisher turned off that my original MS had Canadian spellings in it. They are used to that.

ezc_19 · Jan 4, 2009

Kathleen42 said:
Same.

Canadians are quite accustomed to reading books from American publishers and I'm not sure the same is true in reverse. Also, the target market for my book is larger Stateside.

Still, spelling "color" without a "u" was bloody painful.

color
honor
"s" instead of "z"
center

......drives me insane

Kathleen42 · Jan 4, 2009

Toothpaste said:
Don't worry about spelling your words the American way in your MS. It really doesn't matter. Mine were all spelled the Canadian way and there was no issue changing them once I had an American publisher. Nor was the American publisher turned off that my original MS had Canadian spellings in it. They are used to that.

Really good to know for the next one (I was worried that it would turn agents off) . Thanks!

Saskatoonistan · Jan 23, 2009

I am chuckling along with my cat about some collective distaste for Margaret Atwood. I'm Canadian and whenever you turn to Canadian newspapers and media sources for opinions on Canadian literature, it's like she's the holy freaking grail. Me? I can't stand Margaret Atwood. I do like that Andrew Davidson though.. Gargoyle is a fantastic book.

If you're a genre fiction author, the pickings are slim for getting represented or published by the Canadian industry.

willietheshakes · Jan 23, 2009

kathleen_grant said:
The Publishing Industry in Canada is--well.. crap to be quite frank.

What?

kathleen_grant said:
That's because most writers self-publish here.

What?!?!

kathleen_grant said:
Seriously, there are about 15-20 literary agents in all of Canada. The chances of being represented by one are slim.

Come on now...

It's not a numbers game. Write a good, publishable book and a good query letter and you'll find representation in Canada. Or the US. Or the UK. Wherever.

Fail to do any of those things, and it wouldn't matter if there were 10,000 literary agents in Canada.

kathleen_grant said:
But there are many Canadian authors who get published in the states. I've never heard of any problems with it.

Well, you got that right...
And many of them have Canadian agents. And separate Canadian contracts. Etc, etc.

Question from a Canadian

newwestbren

Stacia Kane

Girl Detective

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Yeshanu

Elf Queen

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

scarletpeaches

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

scarletpeaches

kathleen_grant

Carpe Diem

Carmy

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

ezc_19

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Saskatoonistan

Still the wrong side of Saskatoon

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.