I made my first submission before xmas and it was rejected soon after. It wasn't surprising and didn't bother me much but I had hoped getting over the first submission and rejection would encourage me to go on. That hasn't been the case. More and more I find myself wanting to go it alone. Submitting my book to publishers actually feels wrong. And the only time my gut has ever been wrong is when it's said yes to an oversized chocolate fudge cake!
I just keep thinking this series has a different destiny. This particular book isn't meant to join the same race everyone else and if anything the wording of my rejection said the same... although perhaps I'm seeing what I want to see.
Comments anyone?
Amazon Create Space offer a comprehensive service (based on a 60k work) for under USD5,000. Still a LOT of money, but far from 30k.
Perhaps worth a look?
At least you received a response to your submission, whereas I did not. I wasted two whole months waiting and not daring approaching anyone else because of special rights imposed and that was from a literary agent, not even a publisher.
I am lucky, I suppose, that I live in New Zealand, where you can approach the publishers direct bypassing a literary agent. I know it’s a small market, but we have avid readers here and noted branches of publishers like Random House, Harper Collins and even Penguin. My manuscript is now considered by three publishers. It does not mean they are interested in it, but at least they are reading the entire book and not only the first three chapters.
Given the choice, I would prefer my book be printed by publishers rather than self-publishing, which I consider a last resort if all else fails.
Don’t get disheartened Victoria and plod along with submissions until someone says yes. The most important is that you believe in your book and someone will say yes! You then can eat as much cake as you like.
That is such a well thought out response, Dor. Thank you for taking the time.
I would never consider a vanity publisher. The thirty mentioned is an estimate of how much it would cost me to produce my own paperbacks, website, advertising campaign, with the prices included for formatting, proofreading, typesetting, cover art etc. In other words, thirty grand buys you almost everything a trad publisher can offer, other than experience and connections.
Would I prefer a publishing deal? Hmm, the 64,000 dollar question. Watch this space...