Publishing IS Tough - Quit Making Excuses

I posted on my FB site about the issue of authors who are just emailing everyone to get their writing published. One author wrote back saying that people have to try anything just to get someone to look at their writing. For authors like this, there is a belief that the publishing industry is just ignoring them. They believe that their writing is great but agents and editors don't care about their writing. They seem to believe that publishers and agents are only concerned about money and not about their writing. 

It is all a conspiracy and a bunch of hoops they seem they have to jump through.

But here is the reality.

This is a business. Yes, publishers, who "sell" books have to find products that will "sell". So what does this mean? They are looking at the following criteria:

• Is this quality writing?
• Is this a theme or plot that the market is currently interested in?
• Is this novel bringing something new to the table?
• Are there already novels out there doing this and would this be a repetition of what they already have?

Decisions are not made because they don't want to find good books. They are looking at your writing when anyone considers changes or new developments in their business. 

When writers then seem to think if they just send projects to anyone regardless of whether someone acquires that project, it will get that books sold, they are mistaken. This equals a rejection. Sorry, we don't acquire this.

When writers send writing to editors and agents that is not something that the market is interested in right now, it will not change things. This too will equal a rejection.

When writers send projects that are written 100% guided by passion, but they really have not taken the time to learn the craft, the odds are, this will also equal a rejection.

I want to let you know, I eagerly open my emails when submissions come in with the hope of finding something good. 

I want to let you know, when I say I am eager to come to conferences and talk to authors, find great authors and teach authors the business of writing, this is 100% an attempt to be there for you. And I am not the only person doing this.

Again, this business is tough. Readers are not buying books like they used to. Just check those quarterly reports from publishers and you will see what I mean. This business is tough because there are more writers than places on a bookshelf. Supply is exceeding demand.