As you can imagine, I failed to sell the book I've written 2 years ago, that made me pop the question - Am I doing the right thing by writing? I mean what reason do I have to think myself picked the right profession? just because I enjoy my time alone at the desk; or just because my mind's eye has seen something so beautiful that I can't wait to show the world, or may even because I helped my classmates to cheat at school and they all got good marks at composition? You can laugh at me on this, but it WAS how I made friends.

And I wonder at what stage will a writer throw away a manuscript, with full awareness that the idea is simply unworkable, am I that lousy myself? Have the publishers put my name and my book on a 'blacklist' already? 
Sorry t o waste your time, but I found myself at an intersection now, and obviously don't know where to go.


These are questions writers ask themselves often- and most writers never get to publication stage, which is sort of the Olympic Games for creative people.

There is no easy answer. I can say: two years is not enough time to create a masterpiece. I can say: we must write for our own pleasure, and not see publication as the ultimate goal. I can say: the market is getting tougher and tougher to break into. I can say: there does seem to be a core of writers who attend sessions at Varuna, get mentored by someone important, and get a break, while those without resources or connections struggle to be noticed. All of these things are true - up to a point. And there is a point at which many talented writers find that, even though they have something fresh and interesting to say even through they write beautifully, even though professional assessors praise their work, they still cannot find a publisher willing to take them on.

Every agent carries some writers who deserve to be published, but are not. Every agent learns from these which sorts of writing are likely to become published, and to knock back the talented deserving ones who will not appeal to a publisher despite their ability. 

What is the answer? If you are looking to make a career and a living out of writing, then in all honesty the answer to anyone is, don't bother. Very few make it to that stage. But if you burn to write, if you cannot see a day through without needing to note a mannerism, an idea, a cameo scene that holds truth and beauty in its frame, then write anyway. 

Because the bottom line is this: if you keep on writing, then some day- maybe just some day- you may find a publisher. But if you stop writing, then you never will.

I have been scouring the net without success,trying to find an example of an e query for a romance novel. Can you help me?


When making an e-query for a romance novel. first check that the publisher accepts submissions by e-mail. Generally this information is given on the web site, along with what should be included.

In general, most publishers want the following things:

A brief synopsis of the romantic plot of the story (one page if possible)

A sample of your writing (the first few chapters)

A resume of your writing qualifications

A brief covering letter.

The letter should be in the e-mail, and the rest sent as Word attachments.

Many publishers still prefer to work with hard copies, not electronic copies. Check carefully that the publishers you are e-mailing are happy to get work that way.

I have a question, which I hope you may be able to provide an answer to. Should the author be over eighteen years of age, before their work can be seen by an agent or publisher?
Thank you for your time.

Anyone of any age may submit a book to a publisher. I wouldn't bother mentioning age (or sex or religion or nationality) as it has no real bearing on the quality of a work.

topI am writing to see if you can answer a question that a few friends and I have sometimes pondered when writing. Is there a particular range of lengths that are most suitable for publishable novels? Also, is it true that a first novel is more likely to be published if it is shorter?

You just have to look at the thickness of J K Rowling's books to see that she started small and is now producing longer works because the publishers know that they will sell. Many publishers prefer first novels to be around the 80,000 word range. They don't want to invest editing and printing and distribution costs in a work that has no known market.

Of course, sometimes new authors do have long books published. There is no hard rule; but generally it is better to offer a short work first and save the thousand-page monster until you have a dedicated readership who will pay the extra money.

I have receceived an offer from an American Literary Agent. Their fee to defray submission costs to at least 25 publishers is $200 and they have assured me there are no ongoing fees. I think I will try this with one manuscript, although I realize it will be double with the exchange rate.
I really am not sure what to do Could you advise me?

The American literary agents who are offering to send your book to 25 publishers for $US200 are not agents. True agents do not ask for any fees up front, and get their money when the book is placed. To send good money to agents who then will just forward your manuscript without caring whether it is accepted or not is a very bad idea, and we advise you very strongly to have nothing to do with such a scheme. You have no way of knowing whether your book is good enough to be published, or whether the publishers they send it to are even remotely interested in the sort of thing you have written. Some agents like this don't even send the manuscript to genuine publishers. How would you check to see if they had?

Scammers are found in any country. Be very careful where you sign your name or send your money.

I need help in finding a publisher that is willing to look at my poetry without me going through a manuscript company that will charge me 600 bucks a pop for 3 pages.
I'm a teenage guy that writes about expierences

It is very difficult to get poetry published unless you have a history of poems published in magazines, or winning competitions, and the like. There are many sites on the web where you can publish, and you might like to consider adding a site to a poetry web ring and avoiding the traditional forms of publication. However, if you are really keen on having your work presented as a book you can hold in your hand, there are two ways to go. One is to take it all to a local printer and pay to have it published (the more copies you get, the cheaper the price per book) or you can offer it to a literary agency. A reputable agency will not charge you anything, but will take an agreed percentage of your royalties once they have found you a publisher. However, unless you are already published, no agency will take you on, because no publisher will be interested.

I have drafted a book of my 5 years travelling mainly to third world countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Albania and Burkina Faso. The recommendation from the publisher was to find a ghost writer.Would you be able to refer me to someone who may be able to assist, preferably on commission?

Yes; we do have ghost writers who can work for you. Depending on the state of your manuscript, they will be able to rewrite it for a cost around $15,000. This includes a specified time span, and one revision. What it does not include is a guarantee that the work will be accepted for publication.

Please think carefully about this. Is your book different from every other travel book on the market? Will strangers be interested in reading your account of other countries? Unless your work has an interesting new approach to the subject, the chances of its being accepted for publication are small. If you simply want a well-written account of your trip, we can arrange that for you.

Ghost writers do not work on commission. Most require half in advance, and the other half on completion.

I have completed two books in a four book series (fantasy genre) and an aquaintence of mine (a published author) has recommended that I get the first MS assessed before I go much further. A good idea I think... until I discover that the length of my MS is much larger than the largest word count I have found on pricing lists for a couple of places that provide assessment (yours included). Basically, the highest word count I have found is 120,000 words. My MS is approx. 500,000 (just under). What would be your recommendation about this??

We think your friend is right, and you should get an evaluation of your work before you go any further. We can tell you for free that a first novel of the length you state has virtually no chance of being looked at by a traditional publishing house. Most first books are on the shorter side of 80,000 words, and then, once the writer is established and has proven that there is a market, longer works will be considered.

Our evaluations are based on word count, and the more words you write the more it will cost you to have them assessed. A lot of assessment time is spent just reading the manuscript. That will cost you hundreds just in reading time. An alternative is to send us a section of about 20,000 words from the work and we will assess that, on the theory that it is a representative sample of the entire work. This will not help much with developmental aspects (how characters grow, how the plot works itself out) but otherwise covers the same ground as a full evaluation. This costs $200. What we need is the section from the work, a plot outline, a SSAE, a brief note telling what we are to do for you, and the money.

The only other advice we can give is to tell you to cut your work heavily. Sooner or later you will need to have it assessed, then edited, and editing takes even longer than assessing. Becoming a published author does cost money, unfortunately.

I've been searching websites for agents/assessors, and I have noticed most assessors require a complete manuscript. I am only halfway through chapter five of my novel, but would like the first three chapters assessed.Would you accept three chapters only, and what would be your fee?

Yes, we do assess partial manuscripts. We ask for three chapters (or about 20,000 words), a synopsis of the full work, and $200. We provide a written report on the style, subject, characterisation, originality, plot, development, and so on, with practical suggestions for you to consider. Obviously we cannot fully comment on some things such as character development or how well the plot works out, but we can certainly help in letting you know if your work is on track, and how it may be improved (or why it is perfect) before you've spent too much time and love on it.

I have a manuscript I would like to publish. It is a fantasy genre story and I have 24 chapters ready for what I hope to be the first book. However these chapters amount to just over 50000 words and I am not sure this is enough. I have more I can prepare if more is needed.

50,000 words is about the size of a paperback romance novel like Mills and Boon/ Harlequin, to give you an idea of how it will look when published. It is the average length of a children's novel, and quite respectable as an adult novel which generally averages 80,000 words. But don't add anything just to get the count right!

Would it be best to have both a manuscript assessment as well as proof reading/editing done? Or one before the other?

We never recommend assessment and proofreading together. The assessment should give you ideas for improving and rewriting, and editing should only be done at the very end when you have polished your work as much as possible. It's cheaper together, but more expensive in the long run because you just have to get the editing done all over again later.

Don't send anything anywhere until you have had your work assessed and have revised it thoroughly. If you offer your manuscript before it is in a publishable state, it will just be rejected, and that company won't be interested in looking at it again. One of the biggest mistakes that new authors make is sending off work before it is ready, and without getting an assessment done. Yes, it costs; but in the long run it is a worthwhile investment.

I am endeavouring to obtain information in relation to publishing a paperback style western I have written. So far I have had little success in finding a publisher interested in my work, the main reason being the book is set in old west USA and has nothing to do with Australia. I have spent the past nine months, while on night shift at work, writing and re-writing it and am completely satisfied it is equal to, if not better than, the thousands of similar style books I have read. It is the first in a planned series of four books titled Dead Man's Colt, with the stories revolving around a Colt '45 as it passes from owner to owner. I'm afraid I have zero knowledge of the publishing world and what is involved so, any information/help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

You have identified your main problem, which is that non-Australian material is very difficult to publish here. My best suggestion would be to write to the companies which publish westerns in the States, and send them the first three chapters and a synopsis. You may find that some of these companies have a full stable of writers and are not looking for anyone else; or you may strike pay-dirt.

Another option is to offer it to a publisher such as Protea, who will absorb the up-front costs and work out a deal with you for the rest of the profits. Or you could try finding a website that specialises in publishing e-books in your field.

I have a book in progress. I wish to send it in to a publishing company. Every company I have tried refuses unsolicited material. How do I get solicitation?

We're not sure if you mean unsolicitated or unagented. A solicited work is one that an editor has asked to see. An agented work is one that an agent has agreed to offer to publishers on your behalf.

The way to get solicitation is to write to publishers, explaining about your work and including a fair sample of it. If anyone asks to see the rest of your manuscript, it has become 'solicited.' Send it clearly marked 'solicited material' so it doesn't end up in the slush pile. Check The Australian Writer's Marketplace for publishers who work in your field; and try big companies and small companies.

If you mean 'unagented,' the publishers are saying that they only want works that have already passed the test of worthiness. The time and money spent reading unsolicited manuscripts has forced many publishers to use agents as unofficial screeners. You need to find an agent who is willing to promote your book for you. You will probably have a better chance at this once your book is finished. Look through the latest Australian Writer's Marketplaceto find a likely agent, and send off a letter, plot summary, and a sample from your book. Remember that it is your job to persuade the agent how wonderful your work is, so he or she will want to represent you to publishers.

I am 21 and am extremely interested in persuing a career in writing poetry. I am currently in the process of developing a folio consisting all of my work.I am inexperieced in this field, so I am unsure of what exactly to do. My main goal is to publish a book of my poetry, though I am needing guidance in reaching this dream

The best way to get publishers interested in your poetry is to have it published before you approach them. As you will notice by looking round book stores, poetry makes up a very small section, especially contemporary poetry. You have to be pretty famous before anyone will want to collect your works and publish them. Otherwise no-one will buy them, and poetry is a pretty poor seller at the best of times.

The best places to try publishing your poetry are in newspapers and magazines. Some magazines will print poetry for free. This gives you the chance to say that you have been published, and makes you a more favourable prospect for magazines and papers which pay for poems.

Depending on what sort of poetry you write, you might want to consider one of the literary magazines which don't advertise much, or perhaps a university paper or a magazine specialising in whatever. Even sailing and golfing magazines will consider poetry if it suits their style and subject. You have to get out and have a look, at libraries and book stores, to see where you can send things. Check the local Writer's Market book, depending on what country you are in.

You really have to do some work on this. No one is going to come around hammering on your door and begging to publish your poems. In a better world, it would be different; but alas, reality rules, OK or not.

Hi, I have been to your site, and after browsing through it, I think it would be quite useful for a lot of people who are also thinking of getting into writing. I have just finished year 12, and I would like to get into writing just as a hobbie. Although I don't see myself making a living out of it, I am quite keen to publish some of my work. I have a couple of novels planned and I am going to be starting on them very soon. If I decide to publish them, how do I go about it? I've read from various sources that many publishers will not accept unsolicited work, and that I would require an agent. It all seems like a very complicated process. Could you please, if you have the time, explain the process to me? Also, if you could, a feel contacts would be extremely helpful. I thank you for your time, and am grateful for your help. Bye!

If you have a book you want published, there are two ways to go: (a) publish it yourself, which means putting up the money and doing all the work of finding a printer and then finding shops to stock it, or (b) have it published, which means letting a publishing house do all the work and take a share of your profits in return.

If you want a publishing house to consider your manuscript, there are two ways to go: (a) send it direct to the publisher, or (b) get an agent to represent you. These are explained below.

(a) Send it direct to the publisher. Find out what publishers actually publish your sort of work. Most publishers now have web sites which tell you what they are looking for, if they accept unsolicited manuscripts, what they require in the way of synopsis and sample, and to whom you should address your inquiry letter. As a general rule, you should send

A one-page synopsis which tells the story and makes it sound so fascinating that the publisher just has to read the book.

A sample chapter or chapters, about 10,000 words, so the publisher can get a good idea of your style and ability.

A stamped, self-addressed envelope so the editor can return your sample and you can recycle it to another publisher.

A very brief letter explaining why you are sending all this stuff.

A stamped, self-addressed postcard already written that lets you know the publisher has received (and opened) your package.

Then you wait three or four months, and get on with your next work in the meantime.

(b) Get an agent. If a publisher insists on agented work, then you must find an agent to represent you. An agent will agree to represent you with publishers, and will want you to sign a contract that lets you know your rights, the agent's rights, the agreed fees and so on. Generally, an agent will not require any money up front from you, and gets paid only when the book is published. Some publishers prefer agented work as it means they are not swamped with manuscripts, and they know that what they receive has already passed someone's test of suitability. This can be a plus for a writer, although of course it also means less money at the end, as agents usually take a percent of all money earned. But most publishers still accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you can probably manage without an agent if you want.

As for giving you some contacts: Go to our connections pages and see if there is anything there that interests you. We have listed every publisher, agent, editor, and so on that we have found, and are adding more all the time. We also have a list of alternative ways of getting published.

Good luck with the writing.

Do you believe an agent is a good investment?

You have to work this one out for yourself. An agent won't cost you any money until you are published, so the 'investment' is not a difficult one. The rule of thumb is, if an agent won't take your work on, probably it is not ready to be sent to a publisher anyway.

Sometimes agents seem to take forever to place your work; but it is getting quite difficult to make publishers take you seriously if you don't have one. However, most publishers in Australia will still look at manuscripts submitted directly by writers.

I would really appreciate some advice on how to get my work my work read, and if it's good enough published.

There are three ways to get your book read. One is to send it to an agent, one is to send it to a publisher, and the third is to join a writing group where writers critique each other's manuscripts.

You need to do some research to find suitable companies to send it to; you will find lists on our web pages of publishers and agents. If the publisher or agent likes it, she will offer you an contract. If not, she will say no and usually give a mild reason, such as 'not what we are looking for at the moment.'

Writers'' groups can give valuabelle feedback for an author, but expect the same amount of care in return Sometimes they will not always tell ou the full truth for fear of hurting your feelings. Sometimes they just don't have the time to read a full manuscript.

If you want someone to read every word you have written, pay an assessor. Editors and agents usually tell very quickly if something is right for them or not, and can't spend a lot of time on every submission. An assessor will read the whole work, and offer useful advice for improvement as well.

I have written and printed my biography. All legal requirements are in place. I require expert guidance on how to promote my book. If it is at all possible I would much appreciate any advice or suggestions you are able to offer.

Promoting self-published work is perhaps the most difficult part of the entire publishing process. It is very difficult to find a distributor or a publicist to help. There is a small list of distributors listed on our web site that you might try. Another idea is to offer to speak at clubs and groups, and take books along to sell. You can also send copies to the local newspapers along with a review, and they might print it, especially if they don’t have to do any hard work. Also try sending copies and reviews to magazines such as Good Reading, and to the newspapers in the place where you grew up, where people might be interested in the story of a local boy.

Have a look at out section for self-publishers. There may be some ideas there that you can use.