I work for a publisher. Ask me anything.

[isthatapugunicorn]

I’m a senior sales bod at a global publisher... involved in everything from proposal thru to promo.

[NormaJeanne]

Thanks so much isthatapug! Two more questions:

We often find authors for topics that we know we want a book on.

How do you find them, if not via agents?

Our commissioning Editors WILL look at unsolicited proposals.

How would I research which editors are most likely to be interested in my proposal?

[ChangedNameForToday]

Great thread!

I've got two questions if you have brain space for more...

1. How much money would a really successful commercial author, e.g. David Nicholls, make? And how much would a less successful published author make?

1. Which book would be more easy to sell - crime novel where a creepy man steals people's memories OR uplit novel that's a modern day shirley valentine but she discovers she's bisexual?

[sadauthor]

Average author earnings are £10,500 pa @ChangedNameForToday

www.thebookseller.com/blogs/alcs-820696

[ChangedNameForToday]

Thanks sadauthor.

I'm keen to know the top and bottom of the scale as the average doesn't tell me much! I'll look at your link later.

[theunrivalledjoysofparenting]

What about 'vanity' publishers, who charge fees to publish? Is this a way in for authors who maybe aren't getting anywhere the traditional route

@doesjonsnowneedadirewolf -
I'm not the OP, but I don't advise this. Self publishing is MUCH better - that way, the author is in control.

Vanity presses cost an absolute fortune and are no guarantee of a quality product.

[Apolloanddaphne]

My DD1 works for a publishers too. She is in the sales team and goes round her area visiting independent bookshops and going over the list of new books and putting through their orders. She also does book signings and mini author tours with authors bringing out new books as well as a myriad of other things. She is also about to take over a major supermarket account. She adores her job as she loves books and reading. Her flat is full of books by the publisher as she gets boxes full delivered to her every week. We all benefit from loads of free reading material. I think she would like to work up to your job OP!

[MrsMozartMkII]

I'm not a writer but still finding this thread quite fascinating, thank you OP.

[PeachBlack]

I'm LOVING this thread (yes, thank you OP) and have joined to ask a question:

I published six contemporary crime novels with a major publisher, the last one in 2006 (!). They didn't set the world alight, but they did okay. 'Life' intervened and, long story short, I've now written (and rewritten) a historical crime novel and have plans for more. I love writing, but hate the thought of pitching agents (had two, who both turned out to be duds despite my doing all the checking).

Would a publisher/agent be interested in anyone who'd been published before, albeit so long ago, or would they dismiss me as a has been? Should I pretend to be an ingenue?! And are there good publishers in the UK who accept unagented submissions?

[Verily1]

Op this thread is great thanks!

I’ve been reading books about writing/ publishing for a decade but the advice here is so much more precise.

I have a story I’ve been working on for a long time- I’ve written it in memoir form as it is a story from my own experience but my question is should I submit it as a memoir or fictionalise it and market it as a novel? Which version is more sellable? I think I’d prefer to stick to memoir but the content is so personal that’s it puts me off putting it ‘out there’ as I’d be afraid of personal attacks/ twitter trolls and feel like I’d never have privacy again. I’ve considered anonymising it but then how would I promote it? I do public speaking in my main job so I’m willing and able to do the publicity needed to boost sales. So then I go back to fictionalising it!

I’m stuck, help!

[OhioOhioOhio]

This is a real eye opener of a thread. Thank you.

[FrenchtoEnglish]

I have a question! I hope you're still around! I translate novels (genre fiction). I fell into the job. I translated a novel for an author (through LinkedIn) - then she sold it to a publisher. They have since used me reguarly. I have 8 published novels now (translated - I get paid a flat rate, plus a little commission). So, I know what I'm doing in terms of translating, but I have little idea about where else I can look for work other than waiting for the publisher to invite me to bid on another of their books. Where can I go next? I feel inexperienced, even though I know I can make a good job on anything that lands on my desk. I don't know whether to continue to pursue this as a career or to go back to teaching. I dare not ask anyone at the publishing house for fear of looking like a bellend. Thanks!

[BloomedAgain]

I'm not in the industry but could you approach other publishers with your portfolio of work?

[Helmetbymidnight]

Peach, I can't answer for the op, and hopefully she'll be back, but what I think is ...

Would a publisher/agent be interested in anyone who'd been published before, albeit so long ago, or would they dismiss me as a has been?
They WOULD definitely be interested if your current material is good - and you wouldn't be dismissed.

Should I pretend to be an ingenue?! I wouldn't lie - Publishers are often relaunching writers - my author friends talk about BAD's - Born Again Debut's - change a name, possible change of genre - and you're off like brand new...

And are there good publishers in the UK who accept unagented submissions?
Yes, I don't know which, but I know the digital publishing companies do - they're easy to dismiss, BUT the money is often better than in trad publishing.

[isthatapugunicorn]

But Canongate doesn't accept unagented submissions...?

Not official, no. Unofficially? yes. I know a couple of peeps who work/ed there.

Hotpink - in your shoes, I would wait to see if you can get interest from the bigger players but if not, yes I probably would go with the smaller one, so long as you're sure they'll put the time and energy into breaking into this new genre for you.

Cheesy Chips - I did what most publishing do - I fell into it! I got a job in a bookshop post graduation while I looked for a 'proper' job and LOVED it. Book people are smart, weird, interesting and I had a blast. I ended up as a buyer for the store, doing events etc. and eventually had to leave as the pay is still awful in bookshops and moved to sales for a publisher. Qualifications - be curious, be enthusiastic, a degree helps but as with many professions some work experience will do...

Hollowtalk - looks like you're getting value for money from your agent, well done!

Howwudufeel - agreed on agents, I'm WC and lived in penury in my early years as a bookseller. Maybe that's why we publish so much from un-agented authors. There are may routes into books though...
and the lack of diversity does mean some publishers are looking for BAME/LGBTQ etc. authors direct - no agent needed. Like the WriteNow programme or Kitt de Waal's WC project.

[isthatapugunicorn]

1. How much money would a really successful commercial author, e.g. David Nicholls, make? And how much would a less successful published author make?

DN = 100'000s - get your book made into a TV series or a film and you're laughing!

Less successful - I have authors who make £30-50k a year from their books and would consider that successful! The industry average though is around £10-£15k probably.

1. Which book would be more easy to sell - crime novel where a creepy man steals people's memories OR uplit novel that's a modern day shirley valentine but she discovers she's bisexual?

Whichever was better written! You might find it harder to get the crime book noticed, there's a lot out there but it's a huge market.
Uplit with a twist though, also attractive. My advice would be to write the one YOU would want to read first...

Apolloand daphne - she has my first publishing job AND I LOVED it, absolutely loved it. I'm glad shops still see reps... I have a house full of beautiful books, have meet loads of interesting people and if you asked my now which bit of my career I enjoyed the most - it was being a bookshop rep. Even when I moved up to HQ/Retail selling it wasn't as much fun.

Would a publisher/agent be interested in anyone who'd been published before, albeit so long ago, or would they dismiss me as a has been? Should I pretend to be an ingenue?! And are there good publishers in the UK who accept unagented submissions?

There's no such thing as a has-been in books, with age comes maturity and experience! Don't pretend to be someone you're not, it won;t go down well if you're found out. And you have a track record of being published = good. Do you have any old contacts you can use? Someone who can recommend you or give you a name or two at a publisher?

[isthatapugunicorn]

Verily1

That's a tricky one, it really does depend on the subject matter etc. If it's so personal then there's a good chance that fictionalising it won't really make a difference ( a bit like Fleabag ) because people will recognise themselves, or the experiences are too authentic to be fiction. But with fiction you can imagine WHAT IF? and really make the narrative sail - Fleabag again, PWB took her own family but imagined the worst, WHAT IF my stepmother was awful, WHAT IF my dad was a hopeless father, What if my best friend died - what would that look like, how would I feel.This has to be your call I'm afraid.
The version that will sell will be the version that's the best. Plotting out the fiction story might help. With memoir authenticity is what works, so you will be putting yourself out there.

[isthatapugunicorn]

What about 'vanity' publishers, who charge fees to publish? Is this a way in for authors who maybe aren't getting anywhere the traditional route

Do you have money to burn??? I would avoid them, you could go online and have someone design and typeset your book and then get a printing done yourself cheaper. If you need/want a book to give to family or friends or to use as a business calling card I would just do that.
Many big non-fiction publishers will give you a contract if you commit to purchasing a certain amount of books yourself - you then sell these copies to clients ( if you're a consultant or training firm for e.g.) or use them as marketing. Sounds like 'vanity' publishing, right? BUT the crucial difference is that your book will be sold and promoted on the open market - into bookstores, on Amazon, taken to buyers at wholesalers. You don't get that with vanity publishers.

[Thesuzle]

Hi
Global shipping agent here.. if you need any help to shift stock. PM me..

[tisonlymeagain]

Celebrities, bloggers, influencers who have books published....are these people approached by the publisher directly or does it come from another source? Do they actually write the books themselves?

[isthatapugunicorn]

FrenchtoEnglish - Good translators with experience are like gold dust! I would get your CV polished, get some copies of the books you've worked on and start your own little marketing campaign. LinkedIn messages are a good place to start - but you'll need to know who to contact. Get on publishers websites and start looking for contacts, get names and CALL them. Get the Writers and Artists Yearbook too.
You'll only need one or two more publishers to have regular work. Can your current publisher recommend you?
I'd also get a little website going - Use Godaddy, or similar, and use your name as the .com/co.uk if you can. it doesn't have to be fancy just enough info for people to see who you are and what you do.
And if you fancied writing a blog, or adding some blogging to your website page and linking to Twitter, that wouldn't hurt either.

[PeachBlack]

Helmetbymidnight and OP, thank you so much for your advice. It helps me a lot. xxx

[isthatapugunicorn]

Celebrities, bloggers, influencers who have books published....are these people approached by the publisher directly or does it come from another source? Do they actually write the books themselves?

Usually they're approached by a publisher or the Celebs 'people', their PR whatever make it known that they want to do a book or are open to it. It's a whole other world! Many of the books end up as remainders but it's a mutually beneficial thing, sometimes everyone makes money, sometimes everyone just gets the kudos/publicity.

They are NEVER written by the celeb, with the rare exception, even the bios usually have a ghost writer. If the celeb is a writer or journo or similar they'll write the book prob. but with lots of editorial involved.

[PackingSoapAndWater]

This thread is great.

I've a friend who has been working on a "project" for fifteen years. Turns out it is an epic that currently runs to three books, but she won't submit any of them to a publisher because she can't figure out how to pitch the genre.

Having read the first book in manuscript, I can kinda see her problem. It's fantasy but without any of the traditional tropes (magic, orcs, fairies etc). It's historical and some of the characters were real, but others are fictional. It's like something else entirely: a historical, speculative, fantasy kitchen sink drama type thing.

What would you advise in this instance?

[HippyTrails]

great thread - I have just purchased My Sister the Serial Killer on the discovery from your thread

[Hellomatey001]

Thread is really informative.

I am from BAME background. Should I explicitly say so in my cover letter/email to agents ? I wasn't even thinking of mentioning it but should I if there is a dearth of such writers?