I sent my novel to a self-publishing house that looked like it had a “good package” - not one of those featured on WriteWords site I must add. I sent an email attachment to them and received an email immediately from a guy saying he’d look at my manuscript and get back to me the day after. Three days went by and I heard nothing, so sent a polite email to ask if he’d had a chance to look over my manuscript. He emailed straight back again saying sorry but something domestic came up and he would take my manuscript home that evening and get back to me the following day. That was 7 days ago and nothing.

I know that authors wait for weeks and months to hear form conventional publishers - but self publishing seems to be a different process in this respect, as my contact said on two occasions that he would get back to me within a day yet didn’t. Is this normal?

Frankly I don’t feel like chasing him up again.

I am now considering sending my manuscript to another company. Am I panicking for no reason?

Did you check them out on Preditors and Editors?

It might be a good idea, and then ask for it back if they are dodgy.

Dont like the sound of it being taken 'home'.

Katerina

It could be a one-man operation. Sometimes websites give us the impression there's a whole company at work, when that's not the case. If he is working alone, that doesn't by any means suggest the final product will be of lower quality (in fact, it might go in your favour if it is a small company), but it does run the risk of personal matters getting in the way of professional deadlines. Give him a ring.

Lots of (possibley most) agents and publishers read new manuscripts at home. (It's like teachers and marking.) They have other work to do in the office

Naomi

<Added>

typo sorry - 'possibly' has no e

I think Colin's right that taking it home isn't a worry, but taking so much longer than he said he would might perhaps be, a little.

But Michael, what exactly is the self-publishing house doing for you? If it's just production, they ought to be able to give you a quote very quickly, at least in outline. It shouldn't take days if it's only a printing job. Or are they in some way performing some of the functions of publisher? In that case you need to be very, very careful what you're paying for and how much, and that they can do what they've promised. Marketing and distribution/sales are where they usually can't. As Katerina say, Preditors and Editors should be able to tell you, and possible the Society of Authors.

Sorry to be wary - maybe you've checked it all out and its fine. But there are some nasty firms out there, and some very suspicious practices.

Emma

I only found out about "Preditors and Editors" a short time ago. The self-publishing company I contacted were not mentioned. The “package” of this company involved a bit of marketing, so it was not a case of just printing.

But actually, reading and researching the POD & self-publishing pitfalls over the last week or so, I’ve been having second thoughts about self-publishing my novel straight away.

So while I research my options I thought I’d approach some conventional agents listed in WW. It won’t do any harm; then in a couple of months if I draw blanks I can turn to self-publishing again, more focussed.

The only problem is the dreaded synopsis and covering letter! I’ve not been focussing on these, so I now need to get up to speed with them ASAP.

Michael

Sounds like a good plan. You could join the synopsis group, if you want consistent feedback. Good luck with it, anyway.

Emma

If you're interested in publishing, then doing the lot yourself can be loads of fun, but if you think your book has a wider appeal it's probably worth the effort of trying agents.

I'm sure that's true, Colin. The self-publishers who make a success of it are the ones who actually find they enjoy the process.

Emma

I always look at it like those people at craft fairs who make things on spinning wheels and wicker - the craft is more important than the product.

Michael, I am more than a little concerned about the fact that you are sending a hard copy of your manuscript to a self-publishing house. Usually they will expect the novel as a pdf file, proof-read and ready to print. If you are expecting editorial advice and someone to type the manuscript into Word for you, it could well end up costing the other arm and a leg.
Make sure they give you a quote up front for the work, before you agree to any of it. Including cover art, book formating, ISBN...
Probably simpler if I just PM you a link for more advice.
Also worth contacting HollyB who went the POD route.

- Naomi
(self-publisher)

the craft is more important than the product.

Think of it as selling cartons of milk. Is your rustic, full-fat, organic, corn-fed, product going to be able to compete against the cheap, own-brand, supermarket clones? You cannot hope to be on the top shelf alongside the award-winning, super-breed... - now I was going to say 'cows' but someone might take offence, and this is just meant as a tongue-in-cheek analogy, so I'll end it here.

Michael, I am more than a little concerned about the fact that you are sending a hard copy of your manuscript to a self-publishing house.

Hi Naomi. I emailed the manuscript as an attachement (too expensive otherwise). I won't pursue this for my novel at the moment. Thanks for the self-publishing info though - I am planning some non-fiction projects and self-publishing will be just the job.

Michael

Yes, I was once asked to send a MS to an agent at home. I obliged, and he returned a rather snotty (and somewhat prejudiced-between-the-lines) rejection. How we laughed later in the pub when someone reminded me 'Hey, at least you know where he lives'.

Cue ordering about a thousand pizzas to his address, dialing up a multitude of taxi firms in the area and sending them over to his place, arranging for a veritable mountain of leaflets to be sent, not to mention a platoon of salesmen, flogging everything from stairlifts to Jehova. Eventually, we kidnapped the agent and his wife, tortured them for a while with a chainsaw and a clawhammer, and then, after pouring petrol over the both of them, we left them to burn in the middle of a rubbish dump.

Of course, this is completely untrue. I accepted the rejection and moved on, but oh, what it is to dream, eh?

JB

Oh, JB that did make me laugh!!