Just rejected me - i don't mind too much, it was my old draft and they've had it ages!!

But thought you might be interested in what they said:

First and foremost we are looking for a great story that is told in such a way that we can't put the book down - we want it to grab us from beginning to end and we want to miss the characters when we do finally put the book down! However, we do also always look for something that has a clear target reader so that we can identify exactly where we are ging to market this book. We also need to be able to attach a good marketing angle to either your work or you as a author to give the book that little bit of an extra push in an already very competitive market.

Bad luck Casey.

Did you do the marketing thingy that they ask for with submissions? I've been putting off submitting to them because I'm not sure what to put. I mean, I know exactly which authors I'd like my work to sit next to on a shelf, but it seems a bit showy-offy to say so!

Though on the basis of the paragraph you've posted, I might just go for it and be really un-modest!

Caro

Ooh, that doesn't ring a bell, Caro, so i probably didn't... yeh, really go for it and best of luck with it.

Bad luck, Casey. Keep plugging away - it'll happen!

Caro, is that a thing where they ask you which author's market your book would be similar to? I used to always name authors like that in the covering letter, but was finding it a bit problematic. What if I named the star author of the agent I was submitting to? Should I put the most highly-regarded author in my field whose stuff I'm actually not that fond of, or the one I like best who probably isn't as widely known? Anyway, I stopped doing it.

I'd show off if I were you - aim high and good luck!
Clodagh

Yes, as well as the usual chapters/synopsis, Paperbooks' guidelines say:

a marketing brief which details who your target reader is, any authors you think might be similar in style to yourself and any previous publishing history that you feel may be relevant.

Seems a bit embarrassing to say "my work is a bit like Very Famous Author's" only to have them think "no it's not, cos yours is CRAP!"

But anyway, I suppose confidence is half the battle.

Caro

Oh bad luck, Casey! Do you think they might be interested in reading the new version?

Dee

I did email them about that, Dee, and they haven't responded!
Never mind, i'm not submitting ruthlessly yet, until i've heard from a specific agent in December (although i have just sent out 3 others.)
Then i'll work my way through the WAAYB

Hi Casey

I got the same letter a couple of days ago, we must have been in the same batch - I noticed the cunning way that they tell you in the first paragraph that this isn't a standard rejection letter (which it clearly is, it's just got more words on it), as if by simply saying it, Lo! it becomes true.

This must be the one they send out to the people who missed the bit about the marketing plan ;-)

Cheers

J

LOL, JMac!! I don't feel so bad now - although sorry for your rejection.

Still trying to think what my hook could be!

Message to self: *Must lead a more outrageous life*

I sometimes wonder if it'd be worth inventing a colourful past for yourself. They're not likely to check up on you, are they?

I'm working on the marketing plan for this today - I will report back on whether I get the same rejection (that would be really depressing after all that).

That's a good idea about the colourful past, Clodagh - perhaps I will put "The murder in Chapter X is largely based on my own experiences as a murderer, having recently completed several successful killings of publishers who did not think my work had a strong marketing angle."

Caro

I dunno - I always claim to have been abandoned at birth, set afloat in a folded copy of the Guardian to be adopted and raised by a pack of wild crustaceans, until one day I ran away to the circus where my prowess on the trapeze attracted the attention of the secret services, who persuaded me to spent three years as an undercover operative infiltrating wild and outrageous parties in the homes of Hollywood stars. It doesn't do any good, because when they ask what I do now, I have to say, 'I work in a bank.'

J

LOL JMac!

Maybe you should add " - Gringott's" at the end, J.

Hooray! I have now written a marketing brief! They will have to find some other reason to reject me!