But I’ve just sent a book I wrote to a publisher.
I wrote it almost a year ago and the only printed (laser printer) copy of it has sat on my desk since then.
A couple of people who don’t know me have read it and the feedback was positive but I was paralysed with fear of rejection so never sent it anywhere.
Until tonight. Saw an Instagram reel of a publisher saying if you have an idea write it, but if you write it, send it out.
So I did.
It’s going to be rejected by them because it’s not their genre but that’s the first step taken. I sent it out.
Now to send it to others who do work with the genre.
And to hell with the fear of rejection, not everyone likes pasta. 😁
EDIT: Wow this blew up overnight.
Thank you all. Today’s task is researching publishers who actually work in the genre (total fluff holiday poolside novel), and getting it out to them. Just needed to take the first step.
That’s amazing. So what if you get rejected, just keep trying, polish it up and keep going- didn’t JK Rowling get rejected 12 times?
Well done for you being brave! Who was the publisher if you don’t mind me asking.
UK publisher specialising in fantasy.
Thank you
Best of luck with it. Research some uk and Irish agents too. Maybe see if there’s any writing competitions accepting entries. Much easier to get a publisher or agent if you can say jn your query letter that you’ve won/been placed in a competition as your letter will stand out more. Jericho Writers have some free webinars on the steps to follow.
Appreciate that
If it's shit and no one likes it then so be it, because no matter what, you've created a piece of art and creating "shit" art is better than creating nothing.
Thank you.
https://preview.redd.it/370kr4fy28cg1.jpeg?width=688&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c31127ae51e328c3ab545c6b07bd029f64644f51
Well done, you have done something most people will never accomplish! You should be proud!
Thank you
Hi, I have just finished my first book. It is part one of a trilogy. I am going to start looking for an agent. Keep in touch and let me know how you get on.
How do I “tag” you to follow you? I’d love to read your books.
Ok I figured it out!
Thank you & best of luck.
Well done you fucking legend!
Thank you
That’s brilliant! But wouldn’t you try a literary agent like Cecilia Ahearne used? But your book might be a different genre altogether.
But fair play to you! For the many many people I knew who talked endlessly about the book they’d write/film they’d make, only two actually did write a book/screenplay AND got it published/made.
Thank you.
Finishing a book is a huge achievement. I would encourage you to speak to people who have published one to get a better idea of that part of the process.
From what I know, if you want a publisher to read anything, it will not come directly from the author, it will come through an editor the publisher routinely works with.
That means it is formatted a certain way, it is reviewed to a certain standard and it has been proof-read. This is the minimum requirement for it to get looked at. Everything else goes straight to the bottom of the pile.
Don't be discouraged if your first replies aren't positive. Get an editor in and keep at it, you'll only learn more about the process. Best of luck with it!
That’s great advice. Thank you
Well done, I have a book out next August (it’s a boring tech/business book, I am Incapable of writing fiction), and it’s very cathartic to have all the ‘stuff’ with the publisher done…just waiting for the proofs now. Even for an academic text, it’s nice to see the cover with your name on it!
How awesome. Congratulations and Thank you
Send a link to us, we will read it, some will probably be positive
Thank you, if and it’s a massive if, it gets published I’ll be only to happy to post it
Congratulations on finishing your first book and sending it out. :)
I'm a self-published author and I've also done work-for-hire writing in the roleplaying game industry.
While I mainly self-publish (through Amazon and Draft2Digital), I can give you some advice.
When you send your manuscript out to others, I'd check into their submission requirements first. Most probably require a digital file formatted in a certain way. Not many would accept paper copies these days. Many only accept submissions from agents. Be careful who you submit it to (some companies aren't above board and could steal your work), so make sure they're genuine.
I'd definitely research the possibility of self-publishing your own work, but it's an approach that requires being a master of different trades, so to speak.
Appreciate the info. Thank you. Can I drop you a DM?
Sure. :) That's good with me.
Well done OP I’m so happy and proud for you!! Writing a book is a huge feat in itself so congrats! As an artist myself I know how hard it is to get over the fear of rejection when trying to get your craft out there. My go to mantra now is that it’s better to have tried and have the possibility to succeed, than not to try at all and never know.
I once had a convo about fear of rejection with a therapist and she said “If you avoid doing something for fear of negative responses and rejection, you are just as equally denying yourself the opportunity for positive responses and new happy experiences.” There are so many positive experiences waiting out there for you now you’ve made the first leap of faith :)
The toughest part is putting yourself out there for the first time. You’ve gotten over this battle, I know you can continue to do it! Keep pushing yourself, allow yourself to have opportunity for positive things to happen, and celebrate your amazing achievements so far. I hope someday soon you will share a link to where we can acquire your book so we can celebrate your achievements :) please keep us updated!
Thank you
Oh that's class, well done!!! People have been quoted as saying it can take years to become an overnight success but you have already made a number of steps in that direction, very best of luck to you.
Proud of you ❤️
Thank you
You wrote a book, that’s brilliant!! Congratulations! I really hope it gets published and is hugely successful. But even if it isn’t, the big achievement was finishing it.
Also, please keep us updated!
I will. Thank you
Congrats! Writing a book is a feat in itself! The only way you'll know if it's print worthy is to keep posting and not give up on first rejection. Fortune favors the brave!
Thank you
Fair play!! Well done on both counts, for writing it and for sending it!! If I had a cap I'd tip it in your direction!
Thank you
You must come back and tell us. Well done.
I will. Thank you
You should be so proud of yourself, congratulations on that step!
Thank you
Wow, cool! What genre is it?
Poolside fluff. Not gonna change the world in any way
That’s so cool, fair play to you. I always admire those who have the courage to write a book, I wouldn’t have the imagination or patience🥴
You’d be surprised. It’s been in my head for years. I had the beginning, the end and a couple of key scenes floating around for at least five years, so I started with them and then had to connect the dots
Go you!! Creating a book is a massive thing to do, how brilliant. Well done. I'm an avid reader, hopefully I'll read it some day.
What genre is it?
Just a bubblegum poolside novel. Nothing too taxing or going to change the world. Thank you
Nothing "just" about it. Poolside novels are as legitimate as any other book.. in my head, I would definite them as instantly fun, interesting, engaging, enjoyable to read, and something you'd be quick to recommend to someone else!
Not every reading experience needs to be deep and meaningful... x
Appreciate you saying that
Phenomenal job putting yourself out there. If you learn anything over the next few months about the process it would be great to get an update on how you found the whole experience and what worked and what didn’t!
Absolutely. Will do. Thank you.
It doesn't matter a flying fuck whether you have written a novel for the ages or wasted paper. You, my Internet friend, are an author.
Congratulations
Thank you
Can't remember which author said this, but he received 100s of rejections and pinned each of them to a board above his type writer / word processor until finally one was accepted.
We're going back some time, maybe 30 years here, but it's still valid.
Fair play, well done, it takes a lot to put something you've worked on out there.
And good luck with it.
Stephen King I think
Thank you
Wow well done!! An accomplishment alone writing it nevermind sending it off to a publisher, you’ve the hard part done! huge congrats & good luck
Thank you
Congratulations for all you’ve already achieved, I wish you all the best :)
Thank you
In fairness a lot of it is luck which you can minimise by persistence. There's some sheer shite that gets published so logically if it's not shite it already has a better than average chance of making it through the slush pile
Very true. Thank you
Ooh, go you! Best of luck with the publishers! Even if it gets rejected, you are to be commended for being brave enough to step out of your comfort zone and take a chance. I hope it all goes well!
Thank you
Well done you!!
Thank you
Best of luck with it.
Would you mind sharing what the books about ?
It’s a poolside novel. Total fluff. The kind of thing you read by the poolside while relaxing and then leave there for someone else when it’s time to go home. 😁
Cool, please let us know if it gets picked up and published 🙏
Of course.
Good on you! That's a huge step. You should be proud and excited. All authors get rejected plenty of times before they get a provisional yes so just keep sending it and sending it.
Thank you
Don't fear rejection, use it as fuel.
Congrats on taking the next step (let alone writing a whole book - what an achievement).
Thank you
Well done! its a very competive world so dont give up! Write for yourself and enjoy the procrss and how it feeds you and then beinh published is the iving on the cake! Best of luck on the journey
That’s exactly what I did. The idea was in my head for about five years. I had the beginning, end and a couple of key scenes I wanted to integrate so I did them first then joined the dots.
Listen Im proud of you for finishing it but there just isnt a big market for holocaust revisionism these days.
😁
Good luck
Thank you
Congratulations! You didn’t just think about it- you did it!!!
Thank you
Well done on writing a book!! And even more well done for putting yourself out there by sending it off!! 👏👏👏
Best of luck for when you send it to the genre-specific publishers.
Thank you
That's great. Well done.
Any advice on how to get started? I've a story I think needs to be told or a least written about as a form of release.
Congratulations. I think that's amazing and even if your book doesn't get published now, writing and submitting a book is an incredible achievement and you should be very proud.
I'd love to submit my book but poetry gets published nowhere and I absolutely do not want self publish.
I would love to write a zombie book but as a person with dyslexia I don't think it will ever happen. Best of luck , it takes a lot of courage and dedication
Thank you.
A zombie book where the main characters are dyslexic sounds interesting. “Why do they keep asking for 'Brians'? Honestly, let's just give them Brian. He’s been complaining about his ankle for the last three miles and is just going to slow use down anyway.”
Fair play, that'll be me one day hopefully. You're an inspiration, in other words!
Best of luck to you!
Congratulations and good luck. And keep us informed! I'm curious now and I'll totally read it!
The very best of luck
Fair play
Lovely to hear a bit of good news, Best of luck with it,
Good on ya! That took courage. Wishing you and your book every success
Thank you
That's awesome!!! Honestly fair play.
Thank you
Good for you!
Thank you
The first step. I hope it leads to great things for you
Thank you
FairPlay for taking a punt on yourself, life is too short a journey not to take risks. Imagine two versions of you many years from now in a hospital bed, one tells a story of the time when you took some risks and got some knock backs but you never gave up and you made it to the best sellers list and the other story is you had potentially best seller and didn’t take the opportunity to do anything about it. Which story do you want to tell…?
Sliding doors moment right there. Thank you
I just said I need to get myself a new book. What's it about? I'd happily give it a read and feedback.
It’s total fluff. They type of thing you’d read by the poolside on holiday and then leave there when finished
Sounds ideal
This is brilliant!
Thank you
Amazing, well done you. That’s a really big step and you should be so proud of yourself. I hope you get it published really soon. Best of luck.
Thank you
Op you are inspirational!!
Hardly, but thank you.
Well done to you 👏
Thank you
Well done. Be proud!