Literary agents and publishers

[junewilliams7]

(Don't faint.... I'm posting twice in the same week. I must be feeling chatty while awaiting the last Potter book.)

A fellow member of my Jane Austen group pointed out this article from the Daily Mail.  (Longer Guardian article here.)The director of the Jane Austen Festival sent the first three chapters of "Pride and Prejudice" (with character

Comments

[daintress]

Well, that's really disappointing. :( I would really like to work as an editor for a publishing company, but perhaps I am over-qualified?

[junewilliams7]

you could always run your motorcycle over their pointy heads until they get smarter. (heh-heh!)

[zafania]

dont say things like that, i jusr got round to sending the first three chapters of caravossa away!

[junewilliams7]

you sent it to a publisher - wow! how many publishers?

[zafania]

i sent it to six litereary agents, rather than publishers, which is just the tip of the iceberg, there are pelanty more to try when they turn me down (even i'm not deluded enough to think i'll get accepted first goi)

[sunsetsylvia]

I guess (hope) most of them were not hooked enough by the accompanying (?) letter and never looked at the actual material. Maybe some did AND recognized it for what it was and didn't want to start something with a nuthead, thinking she is a reincarnation of Jane or whatever.
In any case, it's not a good thought, how many good manuscripts get overlooked and therfore never get to be published.

[junewilliams7]

It makes an argument for self-publishing. I do have respect for the one editor who recognized it and responded with an admonition against plagiarism.

[mmestrange]

When I was the editor at the Stiftung, I would get into fights with my boss over what articles we would publish in the journals... he wanted the staid arguments, I wanted the provocative ones... However, since he was the boss and held the paycheque over my head, you know how that turned out.

But back to the topic at hand... Now I know why my novels (I have 2 complete ones other than Busy Nothings) keep getting rejected. There is no accounting for the tastes of the people who only care about the money the book will bring and the quality of the books...

[junewilliams7]

True, true. I am just disappointed that so many publishers seem to be as money-grubbing as the movie industry. I thought there would be a few publishers who at least recognized good literature! Perhaps if you add more sex to your novels... (rolls eyes)