There are many reasons that agents and publishers reject
manuscripts. These reasons fall into two categories: variables controlled by
them and variables controlled by you. Anything from budgets and a full list could
fall into the first category, to something as trivial as an agent looking at
your sample after an argument with his/her husband/wife and barely reading it.
That’s publishing for you – it was never meant to be easy!
Thick skin and persistence are obviously key here. Even the
spotty, awkward, greasy teenager gets a date if he asks every single girl in
the whole school. Every ‘no’ brings him closer to a ‘yes’, and it’s the same
principle with finding a home for your book. Knock on enough doors and you
eventually find an agent or publisher. Right? Well, partly, but, sticking with
the metaphor, wouldn’t it be better to have a wash, reach for the Clearasil and
get some dating advice?
This is where the second set of variables become important.
What can you do to attract attention and impress potential backers? More
importantly, what might you be doing to ruin your chances of finding
representation?
Not researching the
agent or publisher thoroughly
It’s tempting to send samples out in all directions to see
what sticks, but wouldn’t it be better to take the time to find the best match
for your work? No poetry, children’s book, sci-fi, etc. means just that. No
publisher ever is going to be so dazzled by your work that they will change
their ethos to work around you. Don’t waste their time. Instead, show them
respect and tell them why you have chosen them specifically in your cover
letter. If you can’t think of a reason, they might not be the agent or
publisher for you.
Not presenting your
work to their specifications
Agents and publishers each have their own specifications
governing submissions. Read them! Some things are generally similar – 12pt
font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, one side of A4 – however, there are
variables in their content requirements – email/snail mail, long/short
synopsis, one/three chapters/whole manuscript. They may ask for a reading fee,
a reference, a CV. The only way to find out is to check their website or The Artists’ and Writers’ Yearbook.
Not Presenting your
work professionally
Are your sample chapters, cover letter and synopsis printed
on good quality paper, well-aligned, free from thumbprints? Have you put them
in an A4 envelope and neither stapled nor folded them? Are you proud to send
this first impression to the people that hold your future in their hands? If
not, bypass the postbox and head straight to the bin.
Not checking for
errors
When you have solved cosmetic problems, the next step is
confronting the text. Is your manuscript full of errors? This is an interesting
and difficult question; if your manuscript is full of error, you have made them
and might not be aware of them. A better question would be to ask if you are
the best person to judge if there are errors in your sample. I suggest getting
as many eyes on deck as possible. A
professional proofread
is never a waste of money.
Not reworking your
manuscript sufficiently
I’m sure there is no need for me to say this, but you
shouldn’t be sending anyone your first draft. The first draft is merely the
clay that you can then rework into your masterpiece. It is a springboard to
greater work. There are no hard and fast rules about how many times you need to
edit a book, but the more work you put in, the better the result, so allow
yourself to be driven by your own high standards. Again, get as many people to
read it as possible. A professional
manuscript assessment
is a great way of looking at the novel with fresh eyes and discovering
strengths and weaknesses in both the project and your writing skills.
Underestimating the
role of a writer
It takes hard work, determination, practise, sacrifice and
devotion to be a writer. Many authors fail to find representation until they
have written a number of books, developing skills with each project. Others
find success later in life, again building and honing their skills over time.
If you have chosen writing because of £million book deals and overnight success
stories, you may be approaching this from the wrong angle. There are no
shortcuts and no replacement for a lifetime of development. Take a course, join
a writing group, get as many people to read you as possible so you can gain a
sense of where you are in terms of your abilities. Seeking publication is
applying for the Olympics. Are you ready for that?
Underestimating the
additional role of a writer
Agents and publishers are primarily looking for great,
well-written books. They are also concerned with who is writing them. In the 21st
century ‘who you are’ in this context means ‘who you are online’. Do you have a
blog? Have you been published online or in magazines? Have you self-published?
What do your Facebook and Twitter accounts look like? Are you presenting
yourself as someone who is capable of building hype and publicising your own
book? Do you have any significant contacts that you can share in your cover
letter?
Finally, sadly, flogging
a dead horse
Your book just might not be good enough. It’s blunt, I know,
but this is a reality that we all have to face at some point in our careers. We
have devoted six months or a year or fifteen years to a book, we have put our
souls into it, and we’ve accidentally produced a stinker. You can try to mend
it, seek advice, edit hard, but some books were never meant to be. I have seen
writers crushed beneath the weight of their magnum opuses for decades,
unwilling to let them go because they have devoted themselves to them for so long.
This is no way to live. Sometimes, it’s okay to simply let go, take what you
have learned to your next project and keep moving forwards.
Hayley Sherman has been helping writers move towards
publication for ten years.
Don't forget to share and follow @whooshEditing