I met this author at the Society of Authors AGM last night, and thought her project is very interesting, so with her permission I'm posting it here:

Emma

SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT... AGAIN As a former publisher and now writer, I have written widely both on marketing in publishing and how to market yourself as a writer (Marketing your book an author’s guide is published by A&C Black). I am now writing a new book Do you have a book in you, which is scheduled for publication in 2006. This book will take a frank look at the writer’s life, at the vital need for strong motivation and personal support mechanisms, and at the practicalities of being a writer. The objective will be to encourage those who wish to write to do so, but also provide realistic advice for those who might be better directing their creative energy elsewhere. I want to pepper the book with quotations from writers who have made it into print. I would like all quotations to be from named individuals (it’s obviously up to you if you wish to write anonymously) and would like each to be linked either to a website/particular title or publishing house. That way if the comment resonates with the reader, they will know how to find out more about the writer in question. The following are questions to get you started, but I would be pleased to receive submissions (a sentence or two) on any aspect of the publishing process. Please send them to Alison Baverstock, c/o Society of Authors, 84 Drayton Gardens, London SW10 9SB or Alison.Baverstock@btopenworld.com How did it feel to see the first copy of your book, in print? Does it still feel as special? What was other people’s reaction to your first book? Is it any different now? How does it feel when you get a rejection letter? Any tips for dealing with rejection letters? Have you ever argued your case after receiving a rejection letter? What was the result? How do you feel about publishers?

Looks very interesting, Emma, many thanks! Alison is a lovely person, and her book is very good indeed.

LoL

A
xxx

Would a soon-to-be-published author qualify?? Probably not. But it does sound interesting. Thanks for posting.

You could always email her - she's very nice, and might well be interested in your experience of the Macmillan New Writers scheme. She would have heard Jonathan Lloyd and Ion Trewin being pretty rude about it at the Society of Authors' AGM on Wednesday, as I did. But I couldn't help having, 'Well, they would, wouldn't they' murmuring in the back of my head. Not that I think they're necessarily wrong, you understand - we've discussed this by email, I know - just that they're coming from a place that couldn't be described as neutral.

Emma

What annoys me about the way people are attacking Macmillan New Writing is that they are judging the books before they have read them. Surely the scheme must be judged by the quality of the books and it's simply too early to make that judgement. By all means, wait for the books to come out and then lay into them. I hope people will be open minded but I fear that they will come to them with an agenda.

Do the Society of Authors publish books? No. Then they really can't help me get my book into print, and into bookshops, and into the hands of readers.

I wonder what would have happened if Macmillan had kept it quiet that they were not paying advances but had merely offered such a contract to each author as and when the time came. I still would have accepted (after talking it over with my agent) and I think others would too - though I wouldn't have been in the humiliating position of everyone knowing my business.

As I said, they would, wouldn't they. But to be fair, the comments at the AGM were part of a much larger debate about whether and how agents, publishers and the BBC do or don't nurture authors. They were made in response to a question from the floor about what they thought of the MNW deal, so they were asked for their opinion in that context, and gave it. Mark LeFanu didn't offer an opinion, athough he has elsewhere. And of course there's nothing to stop you joining the Society and making your voice heard.

The real passion and excitement of the evening was bred by reports on the Society's submissions to the OFT about the Waterstone's takeover of Ottakers, about Amazon's search-inside-the book, and Google's ambitions.

Emma

<Added>

Sorry, I realise that reply came out sounding rather brisker than I meant it to. I do understand why you went for the deal, and I might well have in your place. I also think you were doing a great service with your blog, and it's a shame that it made sense to take it down. One of the nice things about the Society is that it's such a broad church, with everyone from very high-profile to self-publishers on all subjects. Fiction writers definitely seem to be in a minority, which makes a nice change.

Emma, I didn't read any unwarranted briskness in your response. Unlike the unwarranted tetchiness in mine! Sorry, I'm a bit sensitive on this 'let's all have a pop at Macmillan New Writing' bandwagon that seems to be rolling through literarydom.

No, I think your tetchiness may well be warranted! Seriously, have you considered joining the Society? Even if they disapprove of MNW contracts in principle, they'll still back you to the hilt once you're a member, and they have clout in the industry. And their social events are good fun.

Emma

Ah, well, you know, I'm reminded of the old Groucho Marx quote: 'I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member' - or whatever it was. It seems to have an added irony in this instance.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Thanks - I contacted her. Since I am no longer with HarerColins I feel free to speak my mind!