(no subject)

[hafoc]

Writing angst, so maybe you should skip this. :)

I know I bore people about my writing, but it really is THAT important to me. I consider it my purpose, my calling, my excuse for continuing to inflict my miserable existance upon this overcrowded world.

A certain publisher-- I won't name names, since I'm sure he wouldn't want to be deluged by thousands of manuscripts from people as desperate as I-- looked at my Book 1. He thought it was well-enough written, although not the sort of thing his audience would like. Too somber. Well, I guess I can't argue with that TOO much.

He was, though, good enough to suggest another publisher who prints stuff like mine. So I looked up their web site. They are "not currently accepting submissions." BASTARDS!

I have one more place to try. It's one of those publish-on-demand places nobody's ever heard of, because they sell maybe one hundred books a year. So if they sold twenty of mine, that would make me their biggest success. Whee.

When they reject me, as I expect they will, I suppose I'll be looking at self-publishing. That is really listening to the counsel of desperation. I would rather sell stuff to strangers than, say, perform do-it-yourself root canal work without anaesthesia, but it really does rate just about that far down on my list.

So if I do that, I can see maybe twenty copies of my books getting out. Half of which would be ones I had made myself so I could give them to relatives.

You know, I'm really sorry I ever started this project.

Comments

[darkkdragon.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't be sorry at all; you have an incredible gift for writing and story telling. Your book is very well written; you just need to keep trying for the right publisher. Don't give up!

[starlights.livejournal.com]

I think that all writers go through this at first. No one is ever willing to publish.. It's like they think there are too many writers or something. Or the people who head up the business simply don't even know what makes a good book (which is probably more likely).

I remember hearing that Stephen King had trouble at first. They thought that "Carrie" was stupid and silly and no one would want to read it. It took him quite some time to find someone willing to publish it. Look at him now. ^_^

So don't give up! They are always tough at the beginning, but if you're just able to get yourself to be well known over the course of a few years time, they will eventually start clamouring for you. It just doesn't happen right away. Sometimes it takes a long while. But if you see yourself writing and this is your thing, then you shouldn't let anything stop you from doing it!

That's what I think anyway. ^^

I see my job needs doing again....

[tephra]

Consider this your long distance The Look. :)

Get Harvey out of the folders and into envelopes for Analog, Asimov's, and (though I hate the current editor, as you know) even send the one with Harv's mom to F&SF. Back when I was reading Aboriginal they would have liked "The Language of Emotion" so see if they're still out there and see what they're into now. Write up the assorted mis-adventures of Penny and Alice and send those out to cat fancier magazines, Reader's Digest, hell, the local newspaper. Expand Beauty into a proper story and start sending that out. You have a LOT of material other than Flanker, smaller things with less time invested but still wonderful things. Get some of those published and then use the publishing credits to open doors for the longer things.

And I still like the idea of Flanker Manga. :)

Now, after kicking your butt I shall go practice kicking my own. ;>