Why do so many authors rush to self publishing? And I do mean, RUSH? They are impatient when they hear that their first book is not picked up immediately by a publisher or they hear that it will take "forever" for their book to go through the process of getting to become the book we see on the book shelf. They just don't get it. "Come on people!" they scream! "I emailed this book to you, I can read this book in 3 hours and I can edit it myself in a day or two, why can't you get it on the shelf? Besides, you have all of this A.I. tech and all of these underling interns, it should be easy to get my book out there!"
But here is where the authors are forgetting A LOT of things. Did they write that book in 48 hours? For some of these people, it took months to write. Even they had numerous people (some good and some not so good helping them edit it). But when it gets to the editors and agents, our job kicks in and we are here to make it the best possible book out there so that you can have the BEST product out there for your readers. YOUR readers demand excellence.
Could we simply slap on some cheap A.I. generated cover made on Powerpoint or Google Slides and call it quits? Could we simply trust grammar checker and spell checker and hope for the best? Could we just sent it out to Officemax or some random printer down the street and say "print me a few copies?" Yep!
But is that what you want?
I don't think so.
As an agents, we get your book and take the time to make sure it is ready to go out to the editors in great shape so you "hopefully" don't get rejections for bad writing. Note I said for bad writing. Is there a chance we get a pass on your book? Sure. We just don't want it for bad writing. Maybe they have enough of that style at that time. Maybe they are having a hard time selling that genre "right now".
Remember also, there are A LOT of writers out there and a few of us. Let me just give you a small sample. Here at Greyhaus, there is just me reading all submissions coming in. I am also editing the manuscripts for all of my authors, providing "free" critiques to writing groups to help them out and sending out those manuscripts and following up on those proposals for my authors daily. When I read your submissions, it is "between all of that work". And yes, I am getting submissions directly to my agency AND through Query Manager. Editors, such as those at Harlequin, are often in charge of over 30+ authors, reading numerous submissions coming in from Submittable, submissions coming from agents, AND, there are often only 2-4 for each line. If they are lucky, they might have an intern.
If you want to know why things move slow, that would be it.
But at least you will get a good product.
Or you can rush it, do it on your own and see what happens. You will have to pay out of pocket, but...? Personally, I am someone who would be into "send it to me quickly, and I will get to it ASAP but at least I have a better chance at a better product!"
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