Like many people, having a novel published had always been a dream for me but in the past I’d always stumbled after the first few thousand words at most. Then, early in 2006, I decided to persevere. As a barrister, I’d figured on doing a legal thriller, John Grisham style. But as I started writing, I discovered for the first time characters and voices which were more comedy than conspiracy and found that rather than drying up the writing was actually gathering momentum. I wrote it as a blog and once I’d hit a few thousand words I put it online and back-dated the posts to make it seem like the blog had been going for months. With the story flowing and the characters taking form, I’d overcome the first obstacle. But this immediately brought to the fore an even bigger one: finding a publisher.
The only message I got from the big publishers’ websites was that they didn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. ‘Go get a literary agent and don’t even waste our time’ was the message. But before I went down that very long road, I decided to persevere with the idea of going direct, at least with a few smaller publishers. After this I was given an email for one or two larger publishers and a few google searches brought up the email addresses for many others. So I took a deep breath and spammed a bunch of them with an email entitled ‘Book by a barrister’ and quoting The Lawyer magazine which had said that if my blog was fiction, it was, er, ‘genius’. To my surprise, rather than getting snotty replies, or worse still, silence, I started receiving very polite responses wanting to know more. One of these came from Bloomsbury and eventually led to the book deal I’d been seeking.
Now don’t get me wrong, I know full well that this was a rare bit of luck and that the usual advice of getting an agent still holds true. But what it does show is that publishers are very much awake to the need to be flexible in their approach and above all are always on the look out for new opportunities. Two things at least, which might give heart to other writers facing that same brick wall.
In the next post I’ll cover the question as to why I decided to take on a literary agent even after I’d hooked a big fish and how we eventually came to close the deal.
Tim
Tim Kevan’s second novel, ‘Law and Disorder’ is published on 3rd May by Bloomsbury and is availably at www.amazon.co.uk
Hello Tim
This is a fantastic story and inspiring for new writers trying to get their foot in the door of publishing. In New Zealand, publishing is a very hard industry to permeate. While I travel the road of seeking a publisher for my book 'Cherished Memory' I continue to write short stories and had a novel work in progress.
'Cherished Memory' eventuated when several years ago our family found ourselves facing this life changing experience - our eight year old daughter was diagnosed with cancer - an experience no one asks to endure. A couple of weeks after her passing I had a dream about her. Despite the difficult subject matter, I found myself drawn to writing the experience down. Why, I had no idea. I had never written more than letters, newsletters or minutes of meetings before this, but the story unfolded on to the page.
Before long, the story took shape into a book and I added quotes at the beginning of each chapter that resonated with me and/or our daughter and circumstances that followed. Before long I had a picture in my mind as to how I needed to complete this project. With the help of my niece I added photographs to share with the reader the experience our daughter endured.
This story is the personal journey of honesty and openness with our daughters during our younger daughter’s fight with cancer. It takes the reader from diagnosis through the trials and tribulations during treatment, subsequent major hurdles at the end of treatment and what choice we were left with in our continual fight of the disease; that being a bone marrow transplant.
Please keep writing and blogging inspiring new writers with the tricks of the trade towards publication. I have your books on order and look forward to devouring them together the pile that have a permanent place next to my bed.
Good luck for 2012.
Cheers
Brenda Segedin
Wes, If you don't ask, you don't get. Sometimes if you ask, you still don't get, but not asking is something that will haunt you.
Someone will like your work!
it is encouraging to hear that I am not the only aspiring rookie novelist who is struggling to even find an agent. Mind you, I live on a small island and must rely on email to correspond with potential agents. I have just completed a psychological fiction - my third novel, the first one too stupid to send to anyone, the second one less stupid, but still dumb - within a society long marked by racial tensions. I've had it read by a few neutral and honest people and they are the ones encouraging me to publish it. (Mind you, I would like to be a full-time novelist too!) I've got two questions which I am hoping the more experienced writers can answer:
1. I was told to try Indian publishers
2. Self-publish. Anyone ever tried it? Is it even worth it?
Thanks for taking the time to read and reply if possible.