Tips on how to get your manuscript published…
Posted by: Jared Henry
12 December 2008
A lot of readers have dreams of writing their own novel some day. Writing a book is one thing, but getting a manuscript published is a whole new ball game. On many occiassions I have been asked “How did you get published?”, so I thought I’d put some thoughts into this blog…
Unless you’re a famous footballer or disgraced cricketer, or unless you’ve sailed solo around the world in a rubber boat, you will need something other than a great manuscript to attract the major publishers to you…. While every published writer has their own story about that illustrious “first time”, for me – a complete nobody – there were four critical steps that helped get the attention of publishers…
First, I studied the craft of fiction – not via formal courses, but by reading dozens of similar style novels. I learnt the conventions and the rules, and I obeyed them.
Second, I had my manuscript assessed – several times. It cost more than I’ve made back in royalties thus far, but I was never in it for the money. I knew there was a brilliant story in me, and I was prepared to do whatever it took to dig it out.
Third, I did my research and learnt everything I could about the mountain into which I was trying to dig. Most publishers don’t like to see the same manuscript more than once, so I made sure each approach was thoroughly planned. But of course, this isn’t what did it. I still got rejections - lots of them - and I finally realised that in the age of Big Brother and Australian Idol, there was only one other way… And no, it didn’t involve having sex on camera or belting out a tune!
In 2004 I entered my manuscript in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and was lucky enough to be short listed. From there Thompson-Walker contacted me and asked if I was interested in singing up. We then spent twelve months developing Head Shot into what it is today.
And you know what, I’m glad it took so long because if at any time during those five years somebody offered to publish my manuscript, I would have signed up. Like most emerging writers, I was desperate to be published. Sure, my book might have been in print much sooner, but the final product would have been sloppy. In the end, going through what seemed like endless revision, and spending my hard earned cash on manuscript assessments, achieved far more than I would have on my own.
With Blood Sunset it was a similar story. I put the manuscript through three rounds of professional assessment and revision, then entered it in the Australian/Vogel Awards, and was lucky enough to achieve a short listing. That put me in touch with Allen & Unwin, who said they were interested in the book, but only if I reworked it further… Remember, this was after it had already received a short list. At this stage there was no committment, no contract… But i was as close as I’d ever been, so I reworked the story, then went back to them with a very polished manuscript….
And the rest, as they say, is history…. Good luck everyone!
To help keep Blood Sunset on the shelves, and if you want to see more of Detective Rubens McCauley, please SMS “BLOOD” to 13 46 88.
May 11, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Hey thanks for that tip. I hope one day I get my book published.. CHEERS..
December 13, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hi Amanda
I hope you enjoy Blood Sunset. I have worked hard to make St Kilda (and Melbourne in general) a major character in the book. To me this is very important. The setting should always be strong and vivid.
Enjoy!
JH
December 13, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hi Lisa
Yeah it is odd that I still have MS agencies on the payroll… I guess I just want to make sure my work is as good as it can be before I send it straight to my publisher.
I know my editor loves me for it!
Cheers
JH
December 13, 2008 at 8:47 am
Hi Jarad. I find it really interesting that although you have two books out you’re still using assessment agencies. I guess I always thought that on the back of the success of a few books, you could pick up a contract with your publisher and they would have a role in the development of your manuscript from quite an early stage. This is how it has worked for me, although I write non-fiction, which is admittedly a much different beast. It really seems like there are as many paths to publication as there are writers!
December 12, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Jared, thanks for the insight into the process of being published. You must have an immense amount of patience and not too precious about your work. I don’t usually read crime books but have Blood Sunset on must read list, given it is set in Melbourne I’m sure I’ll love it.
December 12, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hi Katie
Glad you enjoyed the book! There was a fair amount of work to do… I changed Blood Sunset from third person to first, deleted a few characters, sharpened the plot, and deleted the entire villain’s perspective (ie, part of the story was told though the villain’s eyes).
There were also lots of little changes, like name alterations, as well as a title change. it was initially called Spider Web.
So all in all, it was lots of work.
With my next book, Pink Tide, I will put it through an assessment agency before it goes to A&U for consideration. No resting on my laurels!
December 12, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Hi Sadie
I put a lot of my work experience into my writing, although everything I write is ‘in the public domain’. I don’t give away any trade secrets or write about specific cases or people.
Instead I take real life incidents, people and places, and throw them all into a blender with all the cultural, emotional and legal realities that I see in my day to day life.
I’ll try to wirte something about this in my next blog.
Cheers
Jarad
December 12, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Glad I could help, mark. good luck with your writing!
December 12, 2008 at 11:34 am
Jared -
I am a big fan of your work and am thrilled that you are blogging. I’m interested to know how much you had to revise Blood Sunset for Allen & Unwin, did you have to change anything drastic in the plot? And were there any things you really wished you had been able to keep in the book which you had to cut?
You obviously spend a great amount of time perfecting your novels, do you think you would ever consider submitting a book before putting it through professional assessment?
Either way, your system obviously works for you - I look forward to many more engrossing Rubens McCauley novels!
Katie
December 12, 2008 at 11:20 am
As an aspiring writer this was a very useful post to read - thank-you!
December 12, 2008 at 11:19 am
Hi Jared,
Really interesting post. I was wondering how much you draw on your past experience working in the criminal justice system for your novels?