Whoops, I missed this answer, sorry!
A difference to the decision to self pub I guess. I'm not sure.
A difference to the decision to self pub I guess. I'm not sure.
My understanding is that small publishers (and even some big ones) do not do a lot of marketing on your behalf. If that's the case, you might as well self-publish and have full control. However, it would be worth trying one book with a small publisher to see how many sales they can achieve.
gbondoni, I would love to know who your small press is that you are impressed with. Old Hack, it seems like you have some good ones to mention as well. I am not a romance writer, but, like the originator of this tread, I have sent many queries, and gotten no where so far. In my case, I do believe subject matter is part of the issue. The story involves domestic abuse (it is a women's fiction, and despite the topic, has a positive ending), and some agents don't even want to look at that. Those who do, I believe are still hard to convince.
The thing is, everyone who has read the book, liked it (those related to me and those who are not).
One person who read it does book reviews for a small magazine in the area where I grew up (also the area where the book takes place), and she liked it. But I am having no luck with agents. I have read many things that tell me this is often the case with new writers, but it is hard to know what small presses are worth sending to. I would love to know of some small presses that other writers have had good experiences with.
My understanding is that small publishers (and even some big ones) do not do a lot of marketing on your behalf. If that's the case, you might as well self-publish and have full control. However, it would be worth trying one book with a small publisher to see how many sales they can achieve.
My understanding is that small publishers (and even some big ones) do not do a lot of marketing on your behalf. If that's the case, you might as well self-publish and have full control. However, it would be worth trying one book with a small publisher to see how many sales they can achieve.
I also know that a lot of what agents are looking at is sales possibility (which I understand), and that means that if you are a first time, nobody special author like me, you are at the back of the list.
I also know that a lot of what agents are looking at is sales possibility (which I understand), and that means that if you are a first time, nobody special author like me, you are at the back of the list. If you are a known name you can write crap and get it published. That's just the way it is.
Troyen this is really not true. Every single author ever began as a debut author. Publishers love debut authors. Debut authors have huge potential for multiple books, for instance.
There are numerous members here who sold their first novel as complete unknowns.
Yes, I know. When I said "a no body special," I wasn't just talking about previous publishing experience, but other factors that agents and publishers can use to increase the sales ability of a book. Things like being someone known to the public, having won awards, or having expertise in a field that relates to the story in the book. Those things, if you have them, certainly help.
I know everyone had to start at the beginning once upon a time, but there are a lot of debut authors, and only so many are going to get published. I don't think that the ones who don't always fail because their book isn't good enough. Some really good books came from authors who had a hard time convincing a publisher to take a chance on them. Because a new author is a chance that publisher is taking. The book might do well, it might not. That author might write lots of other great books, they might not. That is what I am saying.
Yes, I know. When I said "a no body special," I wasn't just talking about previous publishing experience, but other factors that agents and publishers can use to increase the sales ability of a book. Things like being someone known to the public, having won awards, or having expertise in a field that relates to the story in the book. Those things, if you have them, certainly help.
A celebrity, for instance, could write drivel, and it would still sell.
I am not saying that a debut author can't make it. I know everyone had to start at the beginning once upon a time, but there are a lot of debut authors, and only so many are going to get published.
I don't think that the ones who don't always fail because their book isn't good enough. Some really good books came from authors who had a hard time convincing a publisher to take a chance on them. Because a new author is a chance that publisher is taking. The book might do well, it might not. That author might write lots of other great books, they might not. That is what I am saying.