Say guys I've recently finished a novel, (two years in the making) not my first try at this but this one I'm quite satisfied with. But where do I go from here? Do any of you know of a trustworthy, qualified person or business of this trade that would be willing to review it? My first one was sent to some publisher that replied saying, "We liked you book. Please send us a check for $11,000 and we'll print 100 copies in hard back for you."

Thanks in advance, Valky

Congrats on the novel Valky!

If you want it published by the trade (meaning other than by the vanity route) you have no choice but to send it with a cover letter to every publisher in the business that is known handle the sort of book you wrote.

Be prepared for a LOT of rejection. Less than 1% of first novels ever get accepted. 95% never get read past the first couple of pages.

Further, be prepared for endless re-writes if an editor thinks he sees a glimmer of wheat amongst the chaff. (Be overjoyed if that's the case---those guys don't waste their time.)

Advice: If you get that far, do NOT argue with what they say. Put your ego aside completely. It is their business, and they know both what they are talking about and what they want. Do your best to embrace all criticism and make the improvements asked for.

My advice: "Listen to LL". I recommend him on all matters involving the entertainment industry.

He's my number one go-to guy.

Agent, agent, agent. I don't know a soul who still reads unsolicited work and it's been that way for at least 3 decades. This (and it doesn't matter that it comes from a genre site) is useful--maybe essential--reading.

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/

I'll wait for the movie.

If you aren't coming into the business with any connections, the "traditional" way in is to build a reputation publishing short work in reputable places--it is not glamorous nor high-paying, but your chances with a slush (unsolicited) submission are much better with short work, and if you have promise even rejections may help you build professional rapport. Publishing is an incestuous business, and the more people who see anything of yours, the better your chances for a foot in the door one way or another.

But if you're just selling a novel from a dead stop, I'd say borrow the latest Writer's Market from the library and ship it off anywhere that's a good fit that takes unsolicited work. (Unless it's specific genre fiction, in which case you *might* have slightly better odds cold-submitting to an agency that specializes in same.) Either way, long odds, but as good as the odds get in this case.

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm worn out already just thinking about it. I now think I have a better chance at becoming a pretty, young movie actress in Hollywood!

I reckon I've really just written them for my own enjoyment. I need to get this stuff out of my head or it haunts me. Seeing as I know nothing about the business I thought I'd ask. Oh well maybe my kids will read them when they get old and grey.

Brother Valky, do you think you might consider publishing your own e-book? Just curious.

Robert