Lots of authors hate publishers. And agents. Let’s face it, nobody likes rejection emails.
I admit, I’ve submitted to publishers a few times over the years, and been roundly rejected. Now my friends – who’ve read my latest book, Pandora’s Jar – say, ‘Send it to an agent, it’s fantastic, they’re sure to pick it up!’
Well, it is a pretty good book, one of my best. So I’m thinking about it. On the plus side, a Netflix deal, oodles of money and Pandora’s Jar in the front window of Dymocks.
On the minus side…agents are SO annoying! Agent A only accepts manuscripts in July, Agent B wants them submitted by snail mail, Agent C isn’t taking unsolicited manuscripts at all unless they’re from Jodie Picoult, and ALL of them want a monogamous relationship – only one agent at a time, even if that agent takes months to decide. Plus you have to write a ‘pitch’ which will amaze, captivate and intrigue the bastards. What! I put every creative ounce of flesh I had into writing the actual book, and now you want me to seduce you with a pitch?
So what if, against all the odds, they do pick Pandora? Well, then whoever they get to publish it can ask me to take bits out, put bits in, go through it with the proverbial fine tooth comb for anything that might offend…anyone really. And they can change my title! I don’t like people fiddling with my things.
I have readers (just not Netflix, yet). Why do I need a publisher? Do I need a publisher?
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