I thought this article about one man's experience of getting his book published very interesting. He produced a work he was nearly danged sure wasn't among the 95% of 'hopelessly bad' submissions which one agent told him formed the majority of the work he received.

I expect the 16,500 bicycle ride that formed the journey described in his book seemed like the easy part after the struggles for publication which followed....

For Aspiring Writers

Yes, that's a pretty typical story, I would guess, particularly about the difficulty of getting over the last and highest mountain of all, the 'this is great in every way but I still can't sell it' one. Celebrity is only one way to get over that last mountain, though; unknowns do get published.

Emma

Thanks for posting this Merry. I'm in a very similar position myself in that I'm trying to find an agent for a travel book, I've had plenty of good critical feedback and think the book is worth putting on the shelves in comparison to what's there already.

Equally I know that travel books are among the hardest genre to gain success in, especially as the Bill Bryson boom days have petered out.

As ever it's a matter of keeping going and hoping to create a lucky break.

I really hope you do, Sibelius. Is it about Finland by any chance?

Seriously, I always enjoy a good travel book, so I hope yours makes the light of day.

Emma, agree that unknowns are in there with a fighting chance, but I'm wondering if I should turn to Plan B - get famous for something else first! Howzat for a masterplan? I can't sing and I can't act but that didn't stop Gene Kelly.

Now it becomes clear...

I should use my fame as a dead Scandinavian composer to persuade agents that my trip round the globe will be snapped up by all those go-getting sorts who like late Romantic nationalist musicians and budget travel.

Dammit, why didn't I think of that before?