A foreginer barges in

[Liar]

A question, authors. How familiar are you fine ladies and gentlemen with the way book publishers in the UK and the US think and act?

The reason I'm asking is that I'd need to pick someone's brains on this, from my point of view. I'm looking into the possibility of translating a series of stageplays into English, and also to convert then (three linked pieces) into one novel. It's a story arch I'm really proud of, and I do believe that it would be great as a novel.

I want to write this in English, because I have discovered that I have a much easier time writing prose and narration in Enligsh than in Swedish, and I also thought that a bigger market might increase the chances of catching some publisher's eye. The climate on the Swedish book market is harsher than ever, and there are no signs of improvement in sight.

So what I'd like to get a first clue about is: Should I bother?

Will a script sent from one or two major bodies of water away by a bork borking, reindeer herding, IKEA table assembling Swede be granted the same opportunity as one from a local lad or lass, or will it be given the special express-lane-to-cylindric-archive treatment?

Short version: What chances does a foreigner have getting published in UK or in US?

Grateful for any and all info, since I'm pretty clueless about it.

#L

 

[Carl East]

Short version: What chances does a foreigner have getting published in UK or in US?

Grateful for any and all info, since I'm pretty clueless about it.

#L

I don't know the answer to this question, however I have had experience with British publishers. So here's what happened to me when I wanted our esteemed British publishers to take a look at my two books.

The first thing I did was check on the net for how best to proceed, and most of the advice I was seeing was telling me to construct a letter. This letter would have a brief outline of my stories (name of characters, category, age group the book was aimed for) etc.

So, this I did. I then looked very carefully for publishers that accepted fictional works. I then sent my letter to all fourteen of them and waited. Without fail, every single one replied with the same answer. They wouldn't accept unsolicited works of fiction.

For all they knew, I'd written the greatest book in the known universe but they didn't give a crap. They will not select unsolicited works, now could someone explain what the fuck unsolicited means.

Carl

ps I do have a pretty good idea as to what it means.

 

[Liar]

Re: Re: A foreginer barges in

I don't know the answer to this question, however I have had experience with British publishers. So here's what happened to me when I wanted our esteemed British publishers to take a look at my two books.

The first thing I did was check on the net for how best to proceed, and most of the advice I was seeing was telling me to construct a letter. This letter would have a brief outline of my stories (name of characters, category, age group the book was aimed for) etc.

So, this I did. I then looked very carefully for publishers that accepted fictional works. I then sent my letter to all fourteen of them and waited. Without fail, every single one replied with the same answer. They wouldn't accept unsolicited works of fiction.

For all they knew, I'd written the greatest book in the known universe but they didn't give a crap. They will not select unsolicited works, now could someone explain what the fuck unsolicited means.

Carl

ps I do have a pretty good idea as to what it means.

Ah yes, the same symptoms as here. I've worked in publishing and have sent those notes.

Here it meant that our schedule and capacity for publishing new novels was shot full with existing multible-volumes contracts with other authors. So an opening for considering a fresh new script is far away. Also, a known name, a published journalist or even non-worthy celebrities who could sell on their name alone, would often get into the VIP lane. But now and then we had an open slot, and started sifting through the pile of hopeful letters.

It's a tough business trying to get a book deal. Not saying that I'll ever succeed, especially not on a mainstream publishing house. But why not try, is what I way.

 

[Teenage Venus]

someone explain what the fuck unsolicited means.

It means they can employ resident 'hacks' to churn out their pulp for a relatively small salary, so don't accept material submitted to them adhoc.

If your work is good, get an agent to find the markets for you. Just sending to 'fiction' publishers is like trying to sell camel hair brushes to every shop owner: Like shops, they tend to specialise in a genre. They also usually have min/max word limits.

If you got a copy of "The Writer's Handbook" it's full of useful information on UK and other publishers/agents/outlets info etc.

If you play is worth publishing, you could do worse than go to the BBC.co.uk site, and pick up a free 'screen/TV play' and/or story format to attach to your wordpro. If you follow their guidelines your stuff will be correctly formatted for any UK, and most overseas editors. (Bonus is that if your material shows ANY promise, the BBC will send you more than a bare rejection note.)

Unless you are a Madonna, or Elvis Presley - in which case anyone will publish any of your crap - your color/race/creed/political views are irrelevent - It's work that will sell they are looking for. So if you are a one-legged troglodite of African descent, born in Bejing with leprosy, you stand as much chance as an Oxford?Harvard professor - if you produce the goods.

 

[Liar]

Unless you are a Madonna, or Elvis Presley - in which case anyone will publish any of your crap - your color/race/creed/political views are irrelevent - It's work that will sell they are looking for. So if you are a one-legged troglodite of African descent, born in Bejing with leprosy, you stand as much chance as an Oxford?Harvard professor - if you produce the goods.

Well that's nice. It was more the practical implications I was worried about though. Like how to deal with an author who can't just "drop by the office next week". I know we preferred local authors. But then again, we didn't deal in fiction and popular press.

And yep, agent, preseverance and shameless networking is part of the plan.

 

[Teenage Venus]

It was more the practical implications I was worried about though. Like how to deal with an author who can't just "drop by the office next week".

Most stuff is done by phone/email. If it comes to the 'personal touch', you can be sure it will pay, because you will be in line for a big 'advance payment'.

Get an Agent and they do the legwork for you. The commission percentage they claim is usually money well spent, as you get more results faster, and from larger publishers.

 

[oggbashan]

"The Writers Handbook 2004" has all the answers for the UK.

The message is simple. Very few publishers or agents want unsolicited works.

At best they want a synopsis and a sample chapter.

If you haven't got, or haven't read, that book you won't be taken seriously.

Og

 

[yui]

The Writer's Market is a book that has the answers in the US. This is a link to the website.

Best of luck,

Yui ^_^

 

[Liar]

Thanks for the input guys and dolls. I know my way around the Swedish market pretty well. It seems to me that the English speaking jungle is pretty much the same, only bigger.

And it seems that I'll be given the same, albeit lousy, opportunity and chance to get a foot in as any other poor unsolicited noname author out there.

That's all I really wanted to know. Will be picking up said literature and see where it takes me.

#L