- Joined
- Oct 10, 2008
- Messages
- 264
- Reaction score
- 22
My novel was rejected by about 120 agents as well as a couple of editors. I wasn’t able to get many editors to look at the book unagented, but the two who did are both big players in the SF, Fantasy and Horror business. I’ve spent the last decade trying to become a career novelist, or at least land a mass market deal, and I haven’t succeeded. I’ve written five novels, had two agents and accumulated hundreds of rejections. I’ve heard it said that with perseverance a good manuscript will eventually land a deal. A lot of people automatically assume that either I don’t have the talent, my book isn’t good enough, or I’ve done something wrong. I don’t accept that the science of slush is so exact. I realize this tack won’t endear me to some but I want to make a few things clear. I don’t think these 120 agents and 2 editors are idiots, or evil or incompetent. I just think they passed on a potentially profitable book, and I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is. There’s no vast conspiracy to see me fail, merely indifference. That’s understandable; the slush piles are tremendous, people are inundated and overwhelmed. But the question for writers trying to build a career: Is our best chance at success sitting passively in the slush pile or actively taking our work directly to the marketplace?
Let me answer some anticipated questions. I spent $300 on cover art and $69 on formatting. I did not pay for editing, however the book was read by many including a Stoker-award nominated editor and a well-known published author, along with a number of regular folk. Their suggestions helped improve the manuscript immensely. I wrote this book in 2008, trunked it for a couple years after failing to place it, and then reread and polished it another dozen times in the last month or two. My brother proofread the book for me; he is a Columbia University and NYU Law graduate and a voracious reader but has no publishing background.
I’m doing eBook only for starters. This is not a vanity project. If there’s interest in a print book, I’ll do one.
Why didn’t I try the small press first? Because I’ve published a novel, novella and collection already with three different small presses. I learned a lot and enjoyed all three experiences, but also realize I will always be a hobbyist following that route and I have loftier aspirations.
Why not write another book and shop that? I’ve written 5 novels, 2 since shopping this one and it’s only getting harder to get consideration from the big houses, assuming that’s your goal. I believe my best chance to succeed in the current market is going it alone.
So, at $369 of overhead, my breakeven point is not hard to reach at all: 177 copies. What would make this a success? For starters breaking even, and then hopefully far beyond.
We all want to believe the cream will eventually rise to the top, but if that’s true in the slush pile, why is that any less likely if we go directly to the consumer? I’ve read on this very board: “There is no luck involved in the slush pile.” Human nature coupled with the law of large numbers makes that statement utterly ludicrous. If we agree that 95% of slush isn’t suitable, what about the other 5%? My guess is there are a lot of people here in that other 5%. My success or failure is my own, but it does have implications for many who frequent this board. My book has just gone live. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks for reading.
Let me answer some anticipated questions. I spent $300 on cover art and $69 on formatting. I did not pay for editing, however the book was read by many including a Stoker-award nominated editor and a well-known published author, along with a number of regular folk. Their suggestions helped improve the manuscript immensely. I wrote this book in 2008, trunked it for a couple years after failing to place it, and then reread and polished it another dozen times in the last month or two. My brother proofread the book for me; he is a Columbia University and NYU Law graduate and a voracious reader but has no publishing background.
I’m doing eBook only for starters. This is not a vanity project. If there’s interest in a print book, I’ll do one.
Why didn’t I try the small press first? Because I’ve published a novel, novella and collection already with three different small presses. I learned a lot and enjoyed all three experiences, but also realize I will always be a hobbyist following that route and I have loftier aspirations.
Why not write another book and shop that? I’ve written 5 novels, 2 since shopping this one and it’s only getting harder to get consideration from the big houses, assuming that’s your goal. I believe my best chance to succeed in the current market is going it alone.
So, at $369 of overhead, my breakeven point is not hard to reach at all: 177 copies. What would make this a success? For starters breaking even, and then hopefully far beyond.
We all want to believe the cream will eventually rise to the top, but if that’s true in the slush pile, why is that any less likely if we go directly to the consumer? I’ve read on this very board: “There is no luck involved in the slush pile.” Human nature coupled with the law of large numbers makes that statement utterly ludicrous. If we agree that 95% of slush isn’t suitable, what about the other 5%? My guess is there are a lot of people here in that other 5%. My success or failure is my own, but it does have implications for many who frequent this board. My book has just gone live. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks for reading.
