- Joined
- Feb 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,028
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- 141
I'm in here for a moan rather than R&D because maybe I just figure that you lot will get where I'm coming from.
I've been subbing rhyming text picture books. Lots and lots of brick walls.
Firstly, unless you have a publisher that is specifically for that age group, this type of thing doesn't seem to be taken seriously. Not as a marketing prospect anyway.
The first problem you hit is that if you are just allowed to query agents and publishers, they presume you can't write in rhyme without even seeing your work.
As an example, even when I mentioned it to an agent on AW his response was 'write better, self publish or put it in a drawer'
Not exactly encouraging.
Then we have the fact that publishers are shutting their doors to unsol subs, pb's in particular, rhyming text even more so.
They tell you to try an agent.
Agents tell me that to get a return PB's need to be translated (costs are high with rhyming text) and also you need to be a known writer or poet to get in.
So basically they don't take on new rhyming text writers.
So far this week, I've had four rejections - 3 of which tell me that they are closing to unsol pb mss.
So, I can't get an agent and I can't get a publisher to look at my work till I get an agent.
If I moan about it, people tell me to write something different - maybe I should consider erotica?
Only I don't 'do' something different. I write rhyming text ... (insert swear words of your choice)
Maybe my work is bad. Maybe it is mediocre. To be honest I haven't got a clue anymore.
I know I do the best I can and make it the best I can, although I never think it's perfect.
I know I believe that there is a place for rhyming text in the lives of children.
I know I believe that it can lead some children into reading that otherwise wouldn't necessarily want to go there.
Anyhow, I'm just having a moan because I'm at the point where I'm going to have to cut off my right hand in an effort to force me to put the pen down and just go out and get a proper job. And then I have the bigger problem of trying to switch my brain off and concentrate on things more important - cos at the minute it feels like everybody else thinks writing rhyming text for children is the least important thing in the world.
I have a sulky face - it looks like a smacked backside - I'll feel better tomorrow.
Thanks for listening.
I've been subbing rhyming text picture books. Lots and lots of brick walls.
Firstly, unless you have a publisher that is specifically for that age group, this type of thing doesn't seem to be taken seriously. Not as a marketing prospect anyway.
The first problem you hit is that if you are just allowed to query agents and publishers, they presume you can't write in rhyme without even seeing your work.
As an example, even when I mentioned it to an agent on AW his response was 'write better, self publish or put it in a drawer'
Not exactly encouraging.
Then we have the fact that publishers are shutting their doors to unsol subs, pb's in particular, rhyming text even more so.
They tell you to try an agent.
Agents tell me that to get a return PB's need to be translated (costs are high with rhyming text) and also you need to be a known writer or poet to get in.
So basically they don't take on new rhyming text writers.
So far this week, I've had four rejections - 3 of which tell me that they are closing to unsol pb mss.
So, I can't get an agent and I can't get a publisher to look at my work till I get an agent.
If I moan about it, people tell me to write something different - maybe I should consider erotica?
Only I don't 'do' something different. I write rhyming text ... (insert swear words of your choice)
Maybe my work is bad. Maybe it is mediocre. To be honest I haven't got a clue anymore.
I know I do the best I can and make it the best I can, although I never think it's perfect.
I know I believe that there is a place for rhyming text in the lives of children.
I know I believe that it can lead some children into reading that otherwise wouldn't necessarily want to go there.
Anyhow, I'm just having a moan because I'm at the point where I'm going to have to cut off my right hand in an effort to force me to put the pen down and just go out and get a proper job. And then I have the bigger problem of trying to switch my brain off and concentrate on things more important - cos at the minute it feels like everybody else thinks writing rhyming text for children is the least important thing in the world.
I have a sulky face - it looks like a smacked backside - I'll feel better tomorrow.
Thanks for listening.
