- Joined
- Feb 14, 2011
- Messages
- 2,295
- Reaction score
- 412
- Age
- 40
Y'know, when I was around 11 or 12, I'd written a 400-odd page book (in size 14 comic sans, 'natch) and was convinced I could get it published.
Hand on heart, looking back, what I wrote was complete dross. But you know what? Every publisher I wrote to was kind enough to reply, explaining that my idea was "really good" and that if I keep working on it they will look at it again in a few years, or they just weren't publishing fantasy novels at the moment, or even recommending writing courses. Based on the letters it was obvious they had all at least forced themselves through a few pages, too.
How do they manage it? From what I hear, publishers are generally swamped with queries as it is, and yet they still take the time to do something as sweet as letting a naive kid down gently. It was just really sweet, y'know?
Anyone else have similar experiences?
Hand on heart, looking back, what I wrote was complete dross. But you know what? Every publisher I wrote to was kind enough to reply, explaining that my idea was "really good" and that if I keep working on it they will look at it again in a few years, or they just weren't publishing fantasy novels at the moment, or even recommending writing courses. Based on the letters it was obvious they had all at least forced themselves through a few pages, too.
How do they manage it? From what I hear, publishers are generally swamped with queries as it is, and yet they still take the time to do something as sweet as letting a naive kid down gently. It was just really sweet, y'know?
Anyone else have similar experiences?