finished Novel

Brothers of Briar

Help Support Brothers of Briar:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Falconer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
844
Reaction score
0
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." :x

Thanks in advance, 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.
 
beaupipe":5xweytf8 said:
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.
Getting unsolicited stuff read is indeed the problem, but not impossible. You are looking (in effect) for someone who is starting out in their business, and willing to do some panning for gold. It's the publishing biz equivalent of cold calling.

Agents have even LESS interested in unpublished writers than editors, if that's possible. After you start racking up some significant scores, they will find you. Before that point in time you don't exist.
 
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.
 
Doc Manhattan":94n6p5a9 said:
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.
Yes to all this ^^^^

An unknown writer trying to publish a first novel is the publishing world's equivalent of a pretty girl moving to Hollywood to become a movie star. Very nearly a total myth. A handful succeed for every million who try.

Every working/successful novelist I know spent 10-15 years writing whatever they could, got published by any means they could, and used as many names as necessary to cover the spectrum of genres that entailed. Outdoor articles, travel articles, short stories, children's stories, formula romance, even porn, etc. etc. Whatever paid that someone, somewhere was willing to assign them or take on spec. Only after they had an impressive track record of such material---and a history of delivering what they promised---was anyone willing to go to bat for them for a novel.

Sorry if all that makes for a downer, but that's simply how it is.
 
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! :lol!:

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

Robert
 
beebiz":sywi3vz6 said:
Brother Valky, do you think you might consider publishing your own e-book? Just curious.

Robert
Richard, :tongue: I don't think I have e-nuff gumption for that. maybe when I retire?
 
Falconer":z7h5fogz said:
beebiz":z7h5fogz said:
Brother Valky, do you think you might consider publishing your own e-book? Just curious.

Robert
Richard, :tongue: I don't think I have e-nuff gumption for that. maybe when I retire?
Alright, Bird! :tongue: But, when's that going to be... three days after Hell freezes over????? :shock: Nope... can't do it then... that's when you're going to start drawing the old steam engines in your state! I guess the novel will have to wait until the fourth day, right??? :roll:

Robert
 
beebiz":qkq74b77 said:
Falconer":qkq74b77 said:
beebiz":qkq74b77 said:
Brother Valky, do you think you might consider publishing your own e-book? Just curious.

Robert
Richard, :tongue: I don't think I have e-nuff gumption for that. maybe when I retire?
Alright, Bird! :tongue: But, when's that going to be... three days after Hell freezes over????? :shock: Nope... can't do it then... that's when you're going to start drawing the old steam engines in your state! I guess the novel will have to wait until the fourth day, right??? :roll:

Robert
Only a busy Bee like yourself would work out a planned schedule on his retirement. I'll do what ever tickles my butt once I retire, no certain plans no have to do's, no...what's that dear? Yes I'm listening, yeah I plan to get the oil changed in your car tomorrow. Yes, alright, as you say. Broom, I'll have to get back to you on this.
 
Falconer":pdf54laq said:
beebiz":pdf54laq said:
Falconer":pdf54laq said:
beebiz":pdf54laq said:
Brother Valky, do you think you might consider publishing your own e-book? Just curious.

Robert
Richard, :tongue: I don't think I have e-nuff gumption for that. maybe when I retire?
Alright, Bird! :tongue: But, when's that going to be... three days after Hell freezes over????? :shock: Nope... can't do it then... that's when you're going to start drawing the old steam engines in your state! I guess the novel will have to wait until the fourth day, right??? :roll:

Robert
Only a busy Bee like yourself would work out a planned schedule on his retirement. I'll do what ever tickles my butt once I retire, no certain plans no have to do's, no...what's that dear? Yes I'm listening, yeah I plan to get the oil changed in your car tomorrow. Yes, alright, as you say. Broom, I'll have to get back to you on this.
:lol!: :lol!: :lol!:
 
Falconer":lzxu83yb said:
Only a busy Bee like yourself ...
Instant nickname, there. PB is sometimes PeeB, Puff Daddy is Puffy or The Puffster, and so on. (most of my nicknames are unfit to print :lol: )

So: Robert, a.k.a. Beebiz, is now Busybee.

Thanks, Falconer. :D
 
LL":azv6cb5h said:
Falconer":azv6cb5h said:
Only a busy Bee like yourself ...
Instant nickname, there. PB is sometimes PeeB, Puff Daddy is Puffy or The Puffster, and so on. (most of my nicknames are unfit to print :lol: )

So: Robert, a.k.a. Beebiz, is now Busybee.

Thanks, Falconer. :D
Careful LL... you'll have me thinking you and Valky are birds of a feather!!! :shock: :lol:

Robert
 
LL":s33wx2gj said:
Falconer":s33wx2gj said:
Only a busy Bee like yourself ...
Instant nickname, there. PB is sometimes PeeB, Puff Daddy is Puffy or The Puffster, and so on. (most of my nicknames are unfit to print :lol: )

So: Robert, a.k.a. Beebiz, is now Busybee.

Thanks, Falconer. :D
No Problem Double Hockey Sticks 8) I am to please but Broom Face really chaps his hide so I'll stick with that.

 
Falconer":pmr7xjla said:
LL":pmr7xjla said:
Falconer":pmr7xjla said:
Only a busy Bee like yourself ...
Instant nickname, there. PB is sometimes PeeB, Puff Daddy is Puffy or The Puffster, and so on. (most of my nicknames are unfit to print :lol: )

So: Robert, a.k.a. Beebiz, is now Busybee.

Thanks, Falconer. :D
No Problem Double Hockey Sticks 8) I am to please but Broom Face really chaps his hide so I'll stick with that.
Broom Face... Broom Boy none of the bother me at all, Bird! Linda and I both view them as kind of cute... in a childish way! And, when you consider the source......... :lol: :lol:

Robert
 
beebiz":4l745cs4 said:
Falconer":4l745cs4 said:
LL":4l745cs4 said:
Falconer":4l745cs4 said:
Only a busy Bee like yourself ...
Instant nickname, there. PB is sometimes PeeB, Puff Daddy is Puffy or The Puffster, and so on. (most of my nicknames are unfit to print :lol: )

So: Robert, a.k.a. Beebiz, is now Busybee.

Thanks, Falconer. :D
No Problem Double Hockey Sticks 8) I am to please but Broom Face really chaps his hide so I'll stick with that.
Broom Face... Broom Boy none of the bother me at all, Bird! Linda and I both view them as kind of cute... in a childish way! And, when you consider the source......... :lol: :lol:

Robert
Remember when I sent you the prints of the steam engines and gave you the bird too? :lol!:
 
Top