How to do accounting when you have a backer?

by Roger McStravick
16th August 2015

Hi all,

I was fortunate to have a backer for my book. This finance covered print and production costs. The aim was to print in 2014-2015 but we ended up going to print in the next financial year. Does anyone possibly know who I put this into my accounts, so I don't get heavily taxed in 2014-15 for something that was used in full the following financial year? I've been told of something called averaging, where you can spread a profit over two years, but this is different.

Any pointers would be much appreciated.

Best,

Roger

Replies

Thank you so much Lorraine. I am thankful for the guidance. I have written to some literary agents. I have also posted the first chapter under shared work on this site and hope someone will have a look at it and give me some feedback.

Sam Bwaya

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Samson
Bwaya
270 points
Developing your craft
Samson Bwaya
22/08/2015

Samson, there's no guarantee any agent will look at any work sent to them. What you have to do is go through something like W&A's listing (available online, or in book form, but you have to buy it) and choose a selection of agents who deal in your kind of book. No point sending a Sci-fi novel to a historical romance specialist, after all. You should look online for agents in Uganda.

You check the websites of the agents concerned - partly to see if they are still in business, but also if they are open to unsolicited manuscripts; you can write to or email them and ask if that's the case. Take note of what they ask for: could be 3 chapters and a synopsis, and a covering letter (that's the important part), but may be different. Then you follow the instructions closely. You can send off to as many agents as you like - until one agrees to take you on, you have no obligation to limit yourself.

You may get no replies, not even the ones that say 'we received your manuscript'; or you may get some good feed-back. There is no promise that anyone will take your book on, but until you ask, you won't find out.

Lorraine

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Lorraine
Swoboda
1105 points
Practical publishing
Fiction
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Historical
Romance
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Food, Drink and Cookery
Lorraine Swoboda
18/08/2015

My name is Sam Bwaya. I am Ugandan. I have just completed my first book. How do I get agents to look at it?

Sam

Profile picture for user sambwaya_40854
Samson
Bwaya
270 points
Developing your craft
Samson Bwaya
18/08/2015