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.

Another question OP, (you've been so helpful I have to ask another!) picking up on previous posters queries, do you want minority/WC writers to write issue based novels? Would it still be ok for a BAME author to write something that was say, a fantasy novel, with no mention of race? Would publishers still view that positively?

I write as someone who was once told by a Radio 4 producer that as an Asian writer, he was disappointed my first play was not about race or arranged marriages as they had "quotas to fill".

Hellomatey001 - write what you want is the answer to that... doesn't have to be 'issue' based, does have to be good. I mentioned My sister the Serial Killer before - set in Lagos, absolutely not an issue based novel

If I can't be as good as, say, Joyce Carol Oates is there any point?

Ha! I'm sure every author thinks this at some point, when they're only half way through the first draft and they go into their local bookshop and see the thousands of books on the shelves, some by world renowned writers.

But even the greatest writers started somewhere, and there are many amazing writers who quite frankly bore me to death... so go and write a story that you would want to read yourself and see where it gets you.

Thanks so much for your time unicorn.

This is one of my favourite threads ever on MN!

Love this thread too.

As a children’s bookseller - my biggest gripe is the YA section. There are some superb and I mean genuinely superb stories in the 9-12 section but YA is soooo issue driven. And very girl heavy. I want books which are a ripping good read but don’t HAVE to involve - self harming, dead parents, coming out - always in such a negative way
(!) dead friends, suicide, drugs etc etc. Those books need to be written but in the subsection of YA, they are over represented IMO.

I’m the parent of teens myself. I think their worlds are full of anxiety and fear and unrealistic expectations - bloody social media. It would be great for them to have access to some pure escapism and distraction in teen books rather than more angst and issues.

Any thoughts on YA OP? What’s the feeling about it in the publishing world. We always mention this problem to our reps when they come in and they agree but nothing changes in the books we are being shown!

And yes, the pay in bookshops is still dire If I could hack the commute into London I think I would look into trying to move into publishing - such an exciting world!

Thank you so much for this thread, OP, it's very illuminating.

I had my first book published this year (non fiction) and it's doing well in its market but my passion is to get my fiction stuff published. My question is about whether markets get too soaked - for example, is YA dystopian done and dusted now? I had good feedback from agents on my MS - was told it was well written, intriguing etc - but then told there was just too much out there in this particular genre. This was a year or two back now and I've not done anything much with the MS since, apart from half-heartedly researched self-publishing it, which I could do but friends have been self-published and their books have all but disappeared sadly, good books too.

It's so reassuring to read your words about authors who aren't necessarily the ideal package. My heart sinks whenever I read advice about marketing and publicity because it's always get out there, go to conferences, meet people, be known - I'm chronically ill and housebound a lot of the time, and have very little energy the rest of the time, so this kind of 'out there' marketing isn't something I am able to do. However, I've built up a bit of a platform with this book online - it's a lot of work though and still small numbers relatively.

When do you think an author should give up a certain project and move on?

Thank you so much for all your insights :)

Ooh, good questions re YA ThatUsedToBe - I'd be interested too. I often think my YA isn't angsty enough and that might be why it's not been taken up - it's possibly a bit too adventure-story. It covers issues and is quite political but the characters are not endlessly navel-gazing - partly to do with the fact that the society they live in has changed so much so they don't know how to!

I also am so grateful for this. I'm going to book myself onto a beginner writing course online and see where that takes me!

How very encouraging!
I am a gay woman with a (what I think) wonderfully twisted gay novel inside my head. I was thinking of not writing it as there would be very limited number of people interested in the story. But the more I learn about gay women, books and life in general - the more I think there would be lots of people who would find my story relatable and interesting.
I have been carrying the idea for over a year - maybe I should try to finally write it. :)