How has the publishing industry changed in recent years?

Ten years ago you just had to send your synopsis and the first three chapters, now you have to send the whole novel to agents. Publishers are buying less because of the recession. They are still buying first-time novels, but far fewer. For that reason, submissions must be as polished as possible.

Who are the best publishers for first time writers?

Will Atkins at Macmillan New Writing accepts submissions from novelists without an agent. He’s spoken at the London Writers’ Club and he’s really keen – he wants to see new stuff of any genre.

To Hell With Publishing are great. They take new writers’ first books and have a whole department dedicated to new writing.

How do you get an agent?

Get the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook, and find out what each agent’s submission process is. Do your homework; if someone specialises in commercial women’s literature, don’t send your science fiction in.

Be discovered by being visible on Twitter, blogging and other social media. If you are successful online, then there’s a good chance you’ll be successful in print. I recently discovered a writer on Twitter, a young historian called Lucy Inglis. She writes a blog on Georgian London which gets 70,000 hits a month. Her blogs are short and interesting, with a clear voice and idea. I called up and we went for a coffee and I suggested she write a book; Penguin bought her book a few weeks ago.

What other things can you do to get noticed?

Hang out at literary festivals and meet other writers. The London Writers’ Club is a good way to meet publishers and agents. It’s possible to bypass the whole submission process by meeting people face to face. We get about 20 submissions a day, so it’s amazing to be able to find the back-door route.

Be canny – if you know anyone in publishing, follow it up and get a name. A lot of agents find authors, not the other way round, so word-of-mouth is important.  Don’t always go for the boss. Look for someone who’s got a new list. My boss has over 100 authors and he’s not really looking for anyone else, but I only have about 20 authors, so if someone comes along that I like, I have the time to nurture them.

What publications are useful?

As well as The Writers and Artists’ Yearbook, The Bookseller is invaluable. They have regular updates on movements in the publishing world.

What kind of writers do you love?

I’m really interested in Young Adult Literature. I represent Marcus Sedgwick – he’s a brilliant writer. I enjoy the demands of the teenage audience and I like stories with an emphasis on plot, not endless pages of metaphor. I also enjoy social history.

What are the common mistakes new writers make?

When people start writing they often think they have to write about themselves, because that’s what they know. I disagree. Do your research, leave your comfort zone and be bold. Readers often want to be transported – you don’t have to live something to write about it.

The danger of retelling your own experiences is getting bogged down in the minutiae of reality. Creating a new environment gives perspective and helps focus on a comprehensive, fast-paced plot.

Another mistake is rushing. Sit on it, don’t even tell people about the idea. Marie Phillips, who wrote Gods Behaving Badly, says that her ideas have to be sticky, which means other ideas will stick to it. Before she starts writing, she’s got a whole world worked out.

Read more How to articles.

Image courtesy of eclectic librarian on Flickr.