tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post1517130694983770013..comments2024-03-29T07:43:01.003+00:00Comments on Help! I Need a Publisher!: THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTESTNicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-7071555936741639912009-10-02T14:38:58.066+01:002009-10-02T14:38:58.066+01:00The survival of the fittest it is -The first rule ...The survival of the fittest it is -The first rule of fitness is to work out every day.<br />Second: study the competition<br />Third: Understand the rules of engagement (that's where you come in Nicola)<br />Then I guess it's jump in and see how you get on. <br />One thing is for sure, if you never submit you never will be published.Jo Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11863749932391225653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-16999484848725567752009-10-02T14:22:46.924+01:002009-10-02T14:22:46.924+01:00Thanks for all your comments. While I was away I w...Thanks for all your comments. While I was away I was reading them but it's hard to post comments when away and between appointments etc. Am now confronted by a desk full of tasks, but I'm going to pick some of your comments up in later posts. All good stuff and great to see different reactions! <br /><br />I also think it's actually a positive message, because competition improves us Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-57886359455016034952009-10-02T11:53:30.607+01:002009-10-02T11:53:30.607+01:00I suppose we should also factor in the likelihood ...I suppose we should also factor in the likelihood that of those forty books the average reader will read in a year, maybe half of them won't be <i>purchased</i> at all but will be borrowed from the library.Paul Lambhttp://www.paullamb.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-55483406503638142762009-10-01T22:24:56.283+01:002009-10-01T22:24:56.283+01:00My fur is standing on end!My fur is standing on end!catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-12766322562775917512009-10-01T22:05:58.908+01:002009-10-01T22:05:58.908+01:00I wallpaper my study with all the rejection letter...I wallpaper my study with all the rejection letters from agents/publishers. That keeps me determined, to prove them wrong.<br /><br />If ever I feel a block coming on, all I have to do is lift my head from the monitor and turn to stare at my wall... <br /><br />Some of them are very discoloured with age it has to be saidSulci Collectivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293833259808943096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-91830726518045970232009-10-01T21:51:27.054+01:002009-10-01T21:51:27.054+01:00I agree, Pippa. It makes me feel more determined!I agree, Pippa. It makes me feel more determined!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909176210194176373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-54322867046192174182009-10-01T18:18:06.324+01:002009-10-01T18:18:06.324+01:00I'm not sure if I'm depressed by this. I t...I'm not sure if I'm depressed by this. I think I'm in denial and feeling more determined.<br /><br />Now you've got me alliterating :)Pippahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980981759062009668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-27174170714103619702009-10-01T18:16:48.484+01:002009-10-01T18:16:48.484+01:00Scary.
And of the published books, how many reade...Scary.<br /><br />And of the published books, how many readers will each have on average, I wonder?<br /><br />I used to work as a production editor on scientific and medical journals. When we were rushing for deadlines, an often-quoted statistic in the office was that the full text of each article was read on average by only eight people – the copy editor, the author's mother, and six JaneFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03920957855661479676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-46508170939569857682009-10-01T18:07:04.412+01:002009-10-01T18:07:04.412+01:00Okay, okay ;). Not everyone is being published, s...Okay, okay ;). Not everyone is being published, sticking with it, etc. I stand corrected!Rebecca Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-70624212481548023472009-10-01T17:59:54.024+01:002009-10-01T17:59:54.024+01:00I will add only:
Once you know who your ideal read...I will add only:<br />Once you know who your ideal reader is, and have built a really good picture of that person AND why that person wants a book, it becomes easier to pick out the reasons that person might want your book instead of the others on the shelves. <br /><br />Not only that, but knowing your ideal reader then also makes helping that reader find your book (aka marketing) a more viable Marion Gropenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05469212301023650460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-54393656119595230782009-10-01T17:39:02.659+01:002009-10-01T17:39:02.659+01:00Ha ha ha, go online to some of the writing communi...Ha ha ha, go online to some of the writing communities. everyone is doing it! With variable results it has to be saidSulci Collectivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293833259808943096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-70348148529571669452009-10-01T17:37:35.771+01:002009-10-01T17:37:35.771+01:00Weird thing is, this post actually gave me a littl...Weird thing is, this post actually gave me a little shiver of excitement. <br /><br />I'm an eternal optimist, so I immediately saw the flip side: When we ARE picked up, that means that we were good enough to not only be one of the few books people read in a year, but to have them spend their time and money to have the priviledge.<br /><br />This is a very exciting thought :). One day, Rebecca Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-83907160198222263252009-10-01T16:25:40.835+01:002009-10-01T16:25:40.835+01:00However accurate or inaccurate your estimates re A...However accurate or inaccurate your estimates re Average Reader, the real problem is that 90% of the public seldom if ever reads books. <br />If everyone read even 2 books/month, we (and publishers) would be living high on the hog.steeleweedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02077739629921574784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-80232369632618533582009-10-01T16:17:50.892+01:002009-10-01T16:17:50.892+01:00that would make me unusual then...
I think 40 is ...that would make me unusual then...<br /><br />I think 40 is not unreasonable - especially if you don't commute to work by car.Sulci Collectivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293833259808943096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-52267409004254804072009-10-01T16:15:02.893+01:002009-10-01T16:15:02.893+01:00Good post, good kick up the pants.
I'd say yo...Good post, good kick up the pants.<br /><br />I'd say your figure of 40 books is high. I heard that 8-10 was the number cited by the industry for a 'keen' reader. 40 would be unusual.Jenzarinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152293618233525536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-65710318498653649612009-10-01T15:08:49.931+01:002009-10-01T15:08:49.931+01:00Personally, I'll soldier on, until "self-...Personally, I'll soldier on, until "self-belief" reveals itself to actually be "self-delusion". I guess that point in time is different for everyone.David John Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01524610087056533062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-53030405692821037592009-10-01T14:58:55.625+01:002009-10-01T14:58:55.625+01:00Hello! In the past I have been guilty of sending o...Hello! In the past I have been guilty of sending out an under-cooked and rare MS, one that bled when the would-be agent turned the first page, and although I got nice rejections back (positive negatives, if you will), it's a lesson I never forgot. <br /><br />Now it works the other way, I spend my hours around full-time work furiously redrafting, and keep postponing the date I will send it Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11309191526500602452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-53783276358290116942009-10-01T14:12:11.430+01:002009-10-01T14:12:11.430+01:00Oh God, oh God, oh God!
Firstly, I read a book ev...Oh God, oh God, oh God!<br /><br />Firstly, I read a book every two days, not counting the ones I speed read before passing to my children. My Amazon habit is a killer that we really cannot afford, but my husband indulges me because a lot of what I read is then read by our kids, meaning that we at least get value for money from my obsession.<br /><br />The school think I'm loopy. Every so Catherine Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17540552933192453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-8182252636222426462009-10-01T13:54:09.159+01:002009-10-01T13:54:09.159+01:00Tough love Mother Crabbit.
One can only bang one&...Tough love Mother Crabbit.<br /><br />One can only bang one's head against a brick wall before reeling away concussed. That sums up my submissions history.<br /><br />So my response is to grab the bull by the horns and do it myself. If I may quote you from this post:<br /><br />"Now tell me why you think that your Work in Progress is so compelling that a total stranger should pick it to Sulci Collectivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293833259808943096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-84852622976362916052009-10-01T13:14:10.161+01:002009-10-01T13:14:10.161+01:00Oh gawd. That kind of depressing post is just the ...Oh gawd. That kind of depressing post is just the thing my greedy procrastination needs to fill itself. :S<br /><br />I will keep writing. I will keep writing. I will keep writing. I willkeepwritingwritingwritingwriting... preferably my ms and not this comment. :PAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01140446303276064209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-86858992503694113522009-10-01T12:27:18.634+01:002009-10-01T12:27:18.634+01:00Grim. And, yes, the Muses have to visit and allow ...Grim. And, yes, the Muses have to visit and allow very good, wonderful writing to happen. Also, the stars have to align properly, the witches have to brew the correct potions, and one bored reader in the slush pile room has to say, "Eureka!"<br /><br />Sweat, blood, tears, luck AND chocolate?<br /><br />Sounds like a plan ;-)<br /><br />Thanks for the post (and to Darwin who started it Marisa Birnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56946864763691031882009-10-01T11:57:01.127+01:002009-10-01T11:57:01.127+01:00I got my A$$ kicked by an editor yesterday, so thi...I got my A$$ kicked by an editor yesterday, so this was particularly painful to read...BUT, back in the saddle I go.Mamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853842158606222286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-75228039203352855842009-10-01T11:46:20.155+01:002009-10-01T11:46:20.155+01:00I find these figures strangely encouraging. I thin...I find these figures strangely encouraging. I think it's easy for some writers - I include myself in this - to get discouraged and start thinking they're just no good when they don't get picked up. Of course, that might well be the case, but they might also be very good - just not quite good enough. Yet.Simon Kewinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11537163555998763769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-77494927019908995402009-10-01T10:59:04.888+01:002009-10-01T10:59:04.888+01:00I can think of only 2 reasons why I should have de...I can think of only 2 reasons why I should have decided to submit my MS:<br /><br />1. It's good<br />2. I'm delusional<br /><br />On the basis that it has been picked up by an agent and is being submitted to publishers, I'm hoping that (1) applies.Marshall Buckleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362417446783286392noreply@blogger.com