Welcome… I’m New Here! Publisher praise and rejection

[A T Grant]

Hi, I have had (via my agent) excellent feedback about my latest novel from several major UK publishers. However, in each case the praise is followed by rejection (doesn't fit my current portfolio etc.) Any ideas as to how to proceed in these circumstances?

 

[Serra K]

This is a good question to bring to a Saturday Huddle. If you scroll down the list in the forum you will find the joining details there. @AgentPete has a wealth of knowledge and generously shares it in these informal meetings.

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Hi A T.
I'm no expert on this, but judging by what I've heard Pete, and other Litopians, say, this is not unusual. Covid-lockdowns have meant that agents and publishers are currently flooded with manuscripts, and can afford to be very picky. Ergo they have often decided what type of novel they are looking for, and can afford to reject anything that doesn't fit that.
I've no idea how you would proceed other than to keep being persistent. It worked for Rowling, so, fingers' crossed, it works for you too.

 

[RK Wallis]

Welcome @A T Grant

@Serra K makes a great suggestion about Huddles, although it's only available for full members.

As @Vagabond Heart said, this is not unusual, and Covid has doubled the amount of authors querying, and I imagine there's a knock on effect as you get closer to publishers.

Your situation is exactly what happened to me pre-Covid. Multiple editors loved my book (at least that's what my agent at the time told me) but when it went to the 'financing committee,' they said no. My book was too niche to make them money. After a year, my agent advised that I self publish, which is what I did.

Now I'm here, writing yet another book after writing a practice novel about 7 times over. I know of at least one other author (a big publisher has taken on her 6th trad published book) whose book (not the first book she'd written) was picked up by an agent but then not sold. She wrote her next, and that sold. Your agent probably has a better idea of what to do, but my gut would say, if it were me, move on. Pete's a big advocate for keep moving.

Good luck with it!

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

Where does your novel fit, marketing-wise? You mention you've gone for major UK publishers. Have you tried any of the smaller presses (not hybrids. Ones that don't take any of your money and do pay an advance/royalties) or perhaps looked at the American market?

 

[AgentPete]

Hi, I have had (via my agent) excellent feedback about my latest novel from several major UK publishers. However, in each case the praise is followed by rejection (doesn't fit my current portfolio etc.) Any ideas as to how to proceed in these circumstances?

It depends. There may be valuable feedback hidden in their, er, feedback. IE it might reveal the fatal flaw in your sub. Alternatively, they may just be being polite. But yes, as @Serra K says, this is exactly the sort of thing we’re good at analysing (confidentially) in Huddles. p.

 

[E G Logan]

Seems to me (for what that's worth!) if you've already got an agent you're further ahead than most of us.
What's her/his view on this? There must be one.

 

[RK Wallis]

Seems to me (for what that's worth!) if you've already got an agent you're further ahead than most of us.
What's her/his view on this? There must be one.

Very true. Your agent's voice is the first one to listen to

 

[Eva Ulian]

Agents normally give their clients feedback as to which publishers they have sent your book and which publishers they intend sending your book. It is from that analysis that you can see what to do next.

 

[A T Grant]

Thank you for the helpful comments. I'm waiting for one more publisher to respond before deciding what to do next. My novel (The Melon Seed) is set around the events of Tiananmen Square (I taught over there) so may be too political for some. I will probably self-publish, if all else fails, as I do believe that reporting in both East and West failed to capture what really went on. Good luck to all.

 

[Vagabond Heart]

I hope that last publisher comes good for you. Fingers crossed.
And am going to make a suggestion - before you start the process of self-publishing, why not pop your first chapter up in the Writing Workshop for critique? You'll get a wide variety of responses, and unlike publishers, they'll give you details feedback.
Also do the same with any blurb you're intending to write for your book. Pete has an excellent seminar on Blurbs that you can do a pay-per-view on, and is worth every penny.
Wishing you luck. xx

 

[Pamela Jo]

Thank you for the helpful comments. I'm waiting for one more publisher to respond before deciding what to do next. My novel (The Melon Seed) is set around the events of Tiananmen Square (I taught over there) so may be too political for some. I will probably self-publish, if all else fails, as I do believe that reporting in both East and West failed to capture what really went on. Good luck to all.

Sounds interesting. But yeah not the best time to make money on a book that's going to piss off the Chinese government. Can you twist it to make it another setting? SF? Chinese SF is going to be more market worthy. Or just memoir? Though they are trickier to write than novels in many ways if you're not famous. Do you have some great wisdom and insight to offer the situation today?

 

[gbhunt]

Hi @A T Grant , very nice to meet you. The fact that you are getting any feedback is an accolade in this day and age. Looking forward to interacting with you