And yes, I know it's March, I just wanted to give everyone a heads up. Having spent the last few weeks clearing my desk, I am delighted to announce that our books will be open again from 1st April.

However, before you send anything in, please read the guidelines given below and please adhere to them. That way I won't waste your time and it'll be easier for me to get back to people as quickly as possible.

The Time Limit
To try and keep things manageable, open house is for the month of April only. After 30th April I cannot guarantee a review of your work or a reasonably quick response. I get sent between 60 and 100 submissions a month, even with the books closed (quite a lot for one person to read!). We're a small company and I have other responsibilities aside from the slush pile.

The Format
Please include a covering letter, a synopsis, and the first three chapters of your book, with a stamped addressed envelope or an email address. Submissions must be in hard copy (preferably typed, double spaced, single sided A4). Please label the envelope 'WriteWords'. Any other aspects of the format are up to you.

What I'm Looking For
We do NOT accept children's fiction, self-help or erotic fiction.
I'm not really interested in science fiction/fantasy, crime or thrillers as I already have new writers in these genres.
Otherwise I'm open minded and particularly interested in literary fiction, historical fiction (or non-fiction), and writing (factual and fiction) that addresses or responds to current world events in some way. Biography is also a possibility.
If you're not sure, feel free to contact me and ask.

What You Can Expect
It may take a few weeks but I will endeavor to get back to authors as quickly as possible. Realistically, I'll only be able to take on one new writer (two at a push) and only if I find something appropriate. Please bear this in mind if I return your work. It's only one person's opinion and I'm limited by our capacity for new clients as well as our current list of writers and their work.
What I can guarantee though, is feedback on your writing. This will be constructive but also honest, and if you'd rather I didn't comment, please say so in your introductory letter. (And of course, we do not charge any kind of reading fee).

So, you've got a couple of weeks to find a nice envelope for the opening to your masterpiece, and I look forward to reading some fantastic work!

Katie

<Added>

Just to say that even if you're not a member of WriteWords, but you submit your work to our office as a result of this post, could you please mark the envelope 'WriteWords'. Thanks.

<Added>

Thank you to everyone who sent their work in. I'll get back to you asap (I'm running a month behind). Please note that our books are now closed to further submissions.

Good grief, Katie! I'm writing children's stuff so no good for you but you're opening the floodgates here! Here's hoping you won't be totally overwhelmed with paper and that you find something exciting in there somewhere. At least the standard set by our lovely WW writers is very high!
Good luck both to you and to the hopefuls! If you take on children's writers let me know...
Sue

Hello Elspeth, you've said you're open minded, but what you haven't said is that you are looking for novels that 'hit the moment', although I think you might have said this before. But what you write suggests that those of us who have 'eccentric' novels would not be necessarily excluded, (only by your not mentioning of it). But this can't be true can it? And I am recognising that publishing houses need to be canny, in my writing this.
Becca.

Katie,

Do you only want people with fully written manuscripts? If so you'll have to wait before banging on my door to sign me onto your books

Seriously though I'd love to know cos if not I'll get cracking with a knock em dead synopsis for you.

I'll admit I know bugger all of your company apart from what I've gleaned from your posts but what really attracts me is your obvious love of words. I know many agents are in the job because they love it, but I think you've really sold yourself on this site. I guess it's now up to us to sell ourselves to you!

And as this will shortly become one of the most read threads this year I'd like to wish you all the best of luck (for what it's worth).

Geoff

I'd be interested to know the answer to the fully written manuscripts questions also. There is one agency that gives an interesting reply to a question and I quote:

Do you like to see the whole manuscript at first? "No, actually I'd prefer not to. In my view, it's absolutely unnecessary for an author to finish a work before sending it in for consideration. Others will take a different view on this, but I do feel strongly that any agent worth their salt can form a judgment from a good synopsis and some sample writing. This benefits the author, because s/he only has to do about fifteen per cent of the work involved in producing a finished manuscript, and it also allows us to guide the book's development, if necessary. With a finished manuscript, that's always much more difficult."

N.B. - Should I indicate which website I got this from - is that proper internet etiquette? Will I be sued??

;-) Nahed




The

Nahed, I seem to be chasing you around tonight! Forget about netiquette, where is it from, I am very intrigued (and still here...)

<Added>

Don't worry, I just Googled it, but don't recognise the name of the agency. I really am going now. Adieu.

<Added>

Katie, by the way, now that I've woken up and remembered my manners - good luck!

I'm sorry we don't do children's fiction Sue! I know I'm opening the floodgates, but that's why I've been quite strict about the genres I can look at. And you'd be surprised - last time I did this we got very busy, but not insanely so.

Becca - hmm. Yes, I'm interested in work that 'hits the moment' as that's what publishers seem to be looking for. But at the same time I'm all for the good writing, so I meant it about being open minded. I don't mind if something's eccentric - I'd rather see something a bit different than an identikit book.

Ah, the finished manuscript question. Nahed's quote makes a good point, but then someone else on the site pointed out that you wouldn't sell a half finished painting, or a piece of music, so why a book? As for me, I'm going to say no; the manuscript does not need to be complete - but you must have the synopsis and the first three chapters.

Any other questions, just ask!

Katie

Thanks Katie for answering the incomplete manuscript question.

Now...what about maltesers?

Hi Katie, it's James. You recently read my manuscript 'Unrequited' and gave me an interesting and encouraging reply, even if the book was'nt exactly tailored to your particular agency.

I just wanted to let you know that I have made some of the changes you suggested, and spent a little time editing it further. Three US publishers have now requested the full manuscript, so thanks again for the pointers!

That's great news James. I hope one of them takes it on.
Katie

Hi Katie,
Just read your thread. Would your agency be interested in humour? I've been writing a comic novel about the lives of a group of people who meet at a weekly writing class. Let me know in case I need to get moving on the redrafting!
Best regards,
Susan.

Hi Watson - I'll definitely take a look at it, if you'd like me to.

K

I'll start the redrafting A.S.A.P. !
many thanks,
Susan.

Well, we're into the first week, and so far I've got a grand total of six submissions.

Those of you who were concerned I was insane for doing this post, thinking I'd be inundated - now you know why I wasn't too worried.
Having said that, the other twenty or so envelopes could be from people taking a look round the website who've seeing the post, but who aren't members. (By the way, if that's you, could you still mark the envelope 'WriteWords'? It'd be very helpful- thanks)

So come on people, three weeks to go!

If any of you are fretting about genres etc, the only things I'm pretty much ruling out are children's books, thrillers and science fiction/fantasy. [u]Anything[/u] else is a possibility. And remember I'm interested in non-fiction too.

Right, I'm off to get reading...

K

Katie,

Mine should be wending it's way to you at this very moment.

Geoff