&^%$# middlemen
 

This country is so damn stupid, you can't deal with anyone unless there is some damn middleman in there with his or her hand in your wallet.

So I finished the novel 26 chapters and over 248,000 words but the only chance it might ever be published is if I hire an Agent (read $$$$$).

Screw it, it was fun writing it anyway.:)

Have you looked at self publishing Rob? I'd buy a copy (fine print: if it was less than $50 :p).

Pete

What he said.:)

In some instances the middle men are really necessary and earn their money.

You mean like the mortgage finders who caused the housing bust.

I have found two Canadian publishers who accept direct submissions and since I have dual citizenship they accept direct submissions. A good part of the story does take place in Canada anyway.:)

Thoose people are leeches, I downloaded a paper from one of them and a week later I get emails and then phone calls. So I sent the lady some random chapters. Next phone call she tells me how great the novel is, but she can't tell me specifically which passages really impressed her. I mean that I know it is not all of a piece, some bits are more attention getting than others. So as a half price special they would print me six copies for a mere $695. Have you ever seen a modern offset printer? Hit start then hit stop and you have at least 100 prints admittedly not bound.

Go that route, if you can. Screw these American shyster businessmen. They'd probably just rip you off and tell you it's for your own good anyways.

Dave

I'm pining for a copy with dedication and signature. Don't give up Rob.

There are jillions of manuscripts, and only 24 hours in a day. Most publishers don't even look at unsolicited, unrepresented manuscripts. If you find one that does, your ms. will go into a 'slushpile,' it will be months and months and months before an intern-type looks at it, and it's then very hit-or-miss as to whether they will recognize the true worth of your effort.

So if you want to be published by a commercial house, have the book marketed, and thus having the potential to find an audience, you most likely need an agent. A real one, not a scammer. Real ones don't advertise, and they don't ask for $ up front.

So, how do you get one? It's a process, of course. Agents, after all, have the same problem as publishers--lots and lots of writers seeking publication. Here's a helpful online article. It's from the Science Fiction Writers of America, an author's organization. The info is perfectly good for non-SF authors.

http://www.sfwa.org/real/

Personal contacts and networking are largely how publishing works, I think. If you know anyone, or anyone who might know anyone, see if they can help. Info on who to send query letters to would be good stuff.

Beyond that, 'help,' would be the person has an actual ongoing talking relationship with someone, and is willing to talk about you. Names you can drop, even with permission, count for nothing.

Well put!

That is the way of the world.

Wow, I had no idea!

Pete

Seemingly the way of American publishers in any case, whatever the novel was a labor of love and as such was not really laborious.

In less than a month I will be 84 and really doubt that I will be hanging around waiting to be "recognized". Whether I am that good with words has yet to be seen in any case.

I got what I wanted out of writing it and that is what really counts. Although it was Divine Providence that put us together when it did. Perhaps IT might be interested in my idea of what would have happened had we met when she was 16 and I 20. ;)

Scam. Nothing to do with legitimate publishing. Just a way to separate would-be published authors from their money.

Capitalism, in other words. http://politicalchat.org/offroad/ima...ies/tongue.gif

Getting a Agent might not be as bad as you think. They have contacts and been through the BS before. Know who to market it to.

Just like selling your home. Do it yourself sure, but an agent makes it easy and will get you more money on average.

If you want the book published and shared by the world and agent makes sense to me. Just get one you want, not the first to see you.

BTW the only publishers I heard will take unsolicited novels are the Romance genre.


Barney

You might look into electronic publishing. Lots of exposure and, if what I've heard is accurate, much less expensive.

Barbara I was told yesterday that in excess of 248,000 words is much too long for a first book. So I will just back it out onto a CD and put it away, suddenly I feel just too tired to start editing and revising down to half its size. Maybe our granddaughters will come across it and get a laugh out of it. :)

All you have to do is create an 'ending' to go in the middle, and divide it into two books.

DQ suddenly I find that I am tired, so very tired. Tired enough that I just want to put it away and not worry about it any more.

It feels finished. But it's just the end of a phase.

But do take a rest, of course.

Who wouldn't feel tired after 248,000 words? It must have been quite an emotional exercise too.

I'll bet your grand-daughters will treasure it when they are older.

It was and for a lot of reasons that I can't/won't go into.

I respect that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGmERAWVdWM

My SO has been writing her memoirs after a fashion, I think I understand, at least partially. I hope you feel better rested soon.

Pete