But I was hoping attracting the interest of a publisher or agent wouldn’t be quite this hard either. After the Write Here discussion late last year, and learning that agents consider it a black mark if they learn writers have already approached two or three publishers, I’ve shelved plans to submit to any more. Highly probable my submission wasn’t read anyway, which I’m advised is the soul-destroying reality. Along with the cliché about the size of publishers’ slush piles, and that unsolicited submissions are unlikely to be given anything more than a cursory glance. But one always lives in hope.
So my focus is now on researching possible agents. This is proving equally challenging, not least because most are either closed to submissions from new writers, have a tiny window when they’re open to receiving submissions, or only accept work that’s been referred to them by an agent. Talk about a Catch-22 scenario. Even so, preparing submissions is proving a useful exercise since all agents have slightly different requirements and the one-size-fits-all approach definitely isn’t one that can be adopted.
Although I’ve received three out of three ‘thanks but no thanks’ so far from the agents I’ve approached thus far, my Write Here group have also said receiving a personal note along with the rejection should be taken as a plus. Nonetheless, a rejection is still a rejection even if it comes with a nicely worded and encouraging email.
Nothing for it but to keep plugging away, and also taking advantage of some other opportunities out there - thanks Queensland Writers Centre - as the clock ticks down to the Australian Society of Authors’ Pitch Perfect sessions, starting next month, designed to assist writers to refine their manuscripts before the chance to book an online pitch before both publishers and agents in July.
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