So, this is actually for my partner, who doesn't use social media at all, but she's written a book, and is working on more, but is really struggling getting anything at all from publishing companies. Rare to even get a 'no' response, mostly just ghosting.

Not sure if anyone has any kind of advice; she did set up a website, and has some of the first few chapters posted, and is perhaps considering giving the webserial format a try. But in general, struggling with mental health of having accomplished a cool thing, and now doing the 'business' side of it, and realizing how soulcrushing it all is.

A loooot of the authors we've seen talk about getting their start either knew a publisher already, or had a family connection, and its pretty hard to not feel cynical, even if the authors are genuinely good writers.

FWIW, genre is basically YA fantasy, but gayer.

  • Abraxiel
    ·
    3 years ago

    She needs an agent. It will be difficult to get one, but publishers have the luxury of basically ignoring everyone without.

    • Eris235 [undecided]
      hexagon
      ·
      edit-2
      3 years ago

      Yeah, she's trying. Sorry, the way I wrote that was unclear (especially since I don't understand the whole process that well), but she's been reaching out to agents more than publishers.

      A single agent gave any real response, saying they prefer works a professional editor has edited, but we've also seen stuff online saying many agents/publishers will want it ran through their own editors. Not to mention hiring an editor on your own is like $3,000 minimum (or so we've seen, with up to $10,000 not being unlikely). And while we could budget for that, its a big cost, not even being sure its an expense that will help.