(publishing) Do’s and Don’ts

Categorized | Advice

(publishing) Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on 01 February 2009 by Freya North

I wanted to write the type of book I wanted to read but couldn’t seem to find in the shops (back in 1990!!) and though I started my second novel (Chloe) once I’d finished my first (Sally), and though I didn’t have an agent, let alone a deal – publication was of course my ultimate goal.

I made a lot of careless mistakes when I first started submitting my manuscript – here’s my advice to help you bypass them!

You don’t need to have written the entire book when you tout it around – but you must feel confident that there is a whole book in you, not just a killer opening chapter!

* Don’t approach a publisher directly. Yes, it worked for Roddy Doyle – but he was lucky. If you send your work direct to a publisher, it’ll be plonked on the slush pile. If a publisher is sent your work with an agent’s seal of approval, they sit up and take notice.
* Do seek out a copy of The Writers & Artists Yearbook as this lists all literary agents. Choose an agency who represents authors you like. Find out which agents there represent which authors and then approach them with your synopsis and three chapters.
* When you submit material, either enclose an SAE, or make it known you don’t need your submission returned.
* Keep your synopsis to one side of A4
* Send in your three best chapters (they needn’t necessarily be chaps1-3). The idea is to have the agent gagging for more…
* SPELL CHECK SPELL CHECK SPELL CHECK
* Use line spacing of 1.5.

Finally, good luck! If it could happen to me it CAN happen for you – and I look forward to sharing shelf-space in the bookshops with you anon!

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3 Comments For This Post

Virginia Mason Says:
June 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Hi Freya,
Have just been reading your helpful hints and I now feel a but cheerier than before, so thank you.
So far I have received 15 rejection slips (each one a stab to the heart obviously) from literary agents re my debut novel – almost enough to paper the downstairs loo.
After many years as a journalist I want to cast off the shackles of the newsroom and write novels. People think I am mad and deluded (especially my other half) because things like that just don’t happen (and the reject slips only confirm this to him) but my problem is I cannot give up on the dream of seeing “my” book in print, on a shelf (next to yours) or in someone’s hands as they sit next to me on the bus, devouring every page.
It is something which has been buzzing around my head for a while and I have to get it down (sometimes in the middle of the night, I grope for my notebook and jot down things about my characters – what they would say, do, wear, how they would act etc – and then as soon as I get a free moment I am at my keyboard.)
You have now convinced me that I must not give up (there’s just the small matter of convincing a literary agent likewise.)
So thank you once again.
all good wishes to you,
Virginia.
PS you will have heard this many times but this is genuine:I am a huge fan. I truly love your books, with Pip my absolute all-time favourite.
james jones Says:
November 17th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Hello Freya
Great advice, thank you. I proof-read (and distribute) Excelle magazine, and got your website address from their interview with yourself. Betsy Powell, their editor, actually gave me the Writers and Artists book last Christman, when I had just started writing my novel. It’s now at 69,000 words. Not a lot for a full-time writer, but pretty good going for a bloke who works six days a week delivering mags and leaflets, and whose granddaughter collars the laptop every other Sunday. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge with us unpublished hopefuls. I’ve thought quite a lot about the synopsis. I don’t think I’d be wrong in saying that it could well be harder to get right than the actual book, it playing such a crucial role in trying to get the agent’s attention. Really would never have thought of the “best three chapters” thing. Thanks again!
Freya North Says:
April 15th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Hey James – I’m really pleased you found the section so useful. How many words are you at now? Or have you finished? Wishing you the best of luck – remember, if it could happen for me, it CAN happen for you! All the best – keep us posted! Freya

Virginia Mason Says:
June 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Hi Freya,
Have just been reading your helpful hints and I now feel a but cheerier than before, so thank you.
So far I have received 15 rejection slips (each one a stab to the heart obviously) from literary agents re my debut novel – almost enough to paper the downstairs loo.
After many years as a journalist I want to cast off the shackles of the newsroom and write novels. People think I am mad and deluded (especially my other half) because things like that just don’t happen (and the reject slips only confirm this to him) but my problem is I cannot give up on the dream of seeing “my” book in print, on a shelf (next to yours) or in someone’s hands as they sit next to me on the bus, devouring every page.
It is something which has been buzzing around my head for a while and I have to get it down (sometimes in the middle of the night, I grope for my notebook and jot down things about my characters – what they would say, do, wear, how they would act etc – and then as soon as I get a free moment I am at my keyboard.)
You have now convinced me that I must not give up (there’s just the small matter of convincing a literary agent likewise.)
So thank you once again.
all good wishes to you,
Virginia.
PS you will have heard this many times but this is genuine:I am a huge fan. I truly love your books, with Pip my absolute all-time favourite.

james jones Says:
November 17th, 2011 at 10:31 pm

Hello Freya
Great advice, thank you. I proof-read (and distribute) Excelle magazine, and got your website address from their interview with yourself. Betsy Powell, their editor, actually gave me the Writers and Artists book last Christman, when I had just started writing my novel. It’s now at 69,000 words. Not a lot for a full-time writer, but pretty good going for a bloke who works six days a week delivering mags and leaflets, and whose granddaughter collars the laptop every other Sunday. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge with us unpublished hopefuls. I’ve thought quite a lot about the synopsis. I don’t think I’d be wrong in saying that it could well be harder to get right than the actual book, it playing such a crucial role in trying to get the agent’s attention. Really would never have thought of the “best three chapters” thing. Thanks again!

Freya North Says:
April 15th, 2012 at 9:48 pm

Hey James – I’m really pleased you found the section so useful. How many words are you at now? Or have you finished? Wishing you the best of luck – remember, if it could happen for me, it CAN happen for you! All the best – keep us posted! Freya