Any blondes with experience in publishing?

[TightEnd]

If so, could they contact me please?

Especially if they have knowledge on self publishing.

A friend of mine ( ) is completing his first novel and seeks advice and guidance on how to proceed beyond merely sending the script and a synopsis to 50 publishing houses and getting 50 rejection letters!

Ta

[RED-DOG]

Your "friend" has to do the rejection slip thing first Tighty. I know a man who wall-papered his bedroom with them before he got published.

It's character building.

[TightEnd]

LOL ok then

No short cuts then, apart from paying to self publish?

[RED-DOG]

LOL ok then

No short cuts then, apart from paying to self publish?

Sending it to a few dozen publishers won't cost much, and it won't make the book any better or worse.

Much to gain, little to lose.

[AndrewT]

I would suggest publishing the first chapter on the internet (blog or similar). Maybe there's somewhere publishing people hang out on the internet where they might have their attention drawn to it. If it's any good it might build up a head of steam.

Has this friend sought critical appraisal from other friends as to the quality of the novel?

[Colchester Kev]

I got a letter published in Razzle once .... does that qualify me as being a published author ??

[TightEnd]

Has this friend sought critical appraisal from other friends as to the quality of the novel?

yes he has, feedback was good. Couselling services in the local area were flooded with calls for days afterwards.

[Tonji]

Don't forget to try Literary Agents Tighty (friend of Tighty!!)

[Gryff]

Self publishing is a very very dodgy route.
You have to publicise yourself etc etc, 99% of self published authors lose money

[Graham C]

Not meaning to sound obvious, but copyright it before you stick it on the net or send it out to people - just to be sure.

[TightEnd]

Self publishing is a very very dodgy route.
You have to publicise yourself etc etc, 99% of self published authors lose money

it depends on the author's motivations. If its a "labour of love" eg "Canal Tunnels on the Grand Union Canal 1873-1924" and there's no wider market for it, then the personal reward of, ahem, sharing this with a wider audience might outweigh financial considerations.

Yes though, self publishing is not the answer for many

[Jon MW]

50 publishing houses?

 

I'd advise him to buy the "Writers Handbook" - http://www.whsmith.co.uk/WHS/Go.asp?isbn=0844253758&DB=220&Menu=Books - this contains pretty much all publishers contact details, it also gives guidance (where they've provided it) on what kind of thing they publish (it's not worth sending a war manuscript to a publisher of romance novels) and what kind of format they want it in (it's not worth sending the whole manuscript if they only want to see a sample chapter).

I'd then approach every single publisher who fits in (it'll be quite a few more than 50), if he's got the time and money then he could do this all in one go (good if more than one publisher expresses an interest), or he could do them consecutively (takes a lot more time, but a lot easier on the pocket).

(Why am I using so many brackets?)

[TightEnd]

(thank you)

[thetank]

Don't worry Jon, (some publishing houses look for parenthesis.)

[Tonji]

I'm intrigued whats the title?