h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How do you know if something's good enough to be sent off? And how'd you go about it?

You don't know and you won't know. The publishers will generally be only interested in if it is good enough to make money after being published which is not the same thing as being worth reading.

Your first port of call should be a literary agent - publishers rarely take on unsolicited material.

There should be a catalogue of numbers, e-mails etc for reputable agents across the U.K. in the reference section of your local library.

Have you written something you want to get published? If you're happy with it, go for it!

First have some people read it who you don't know. People who won't tell you it is good just to not hurt you and all. Someone brutally honest and with a red pen.

Maybe the extra step suggested by Xanatic is not really neccessary.
Better to get any such help (if you think you really need it) from friends whom you know and can trust to be honest with you. Remember, they probably won't be any better at judging what is publishable either.
Just send it in to a publisher's place (via an agent if need be)
and don't get discouraged by any long wait you may have before a reply comes back. Keep writing more in the meantime.

Have you done a work of fiction or what?

Good luck.

Well, it can be hard for them to be brutally honest. Not to say that what you've written is bad or anything.

At the risk of sounding paranoid, before sending your manuscript anywhere, take a copy and have it stored in a safe place. Your bank may have safe deposit boxes or do secure storage. Have the date on which the manuscript was stored noted and witnessed. It's very rare, but there have been cases where some one has sent in a manuscript, had it rejected, and then seen 'their' book in print under some one else's name. The 'original author' then has the hassle of proving that they wrote the book.

Other than that, I suggest that you get hold of a copy of 'The Writer's Handbook', edited by Barry Turner. According to a certain book web-site, this book includes "updated listings of publishers, magazines, newspapers, Web sites, agencies, associations and organisations". Based on the reviews, this is a 'must-have' for aspiring writers. I'm just off to order my copy!

I would have thought that actually happened fairly often.

"The 'original author' then has the hassle of proving that they wrote the book."

Not just that - also, they must prove *when* they wrote the book. This is why I gather it is relatively common practice to mail *yourself* another copy of the manuscript at the same time as you send it off to the publisher.

As long as this envelope taht you sent to yourself remains unopened and post-dated, it is clear evidence that *you* wrote it and *when* you wrote it.

Or you could send a copy of your manuscript to yourself via Recorded Mail. This is probably one of the least expensive ways to gain copyright.

This doesn't just apply to books though. If you have anything that is your original idea - artwork, invention, design, etc you should do this before sending out your original.

Trust no-one!!!

I'm told that Yahoo! has some decent advice on their website, but I haven't had a look at it yet. If you find anything really good, let me know - one hopeful writer to another

I'm told that Yahoo! has some decent advice on their website, but I haven't had a look at it yet. If you find anything really good, let me know - one hopeful writer to another

The postmark copyright thing is a complete ruse, and doesn't work at all. I think the post office made it up to ensnare the feeble minded into buying more stamps. Are you tell me that if i mail an unsealed envelope to myself tomorrow, and then next year slip the lyrics of this summer's blockbuster single into it and seal it up, then it would stand up as proof that i had writen it. Don't be silly!.

The book every aspiring writer needs access to (buy, or view at library) is The Writers & Artists Yearbook published by A&C Black. Its updated every year and gives details of the appropriate characters in most UK publishers, and explains each publishers specialities.

If you write a book on corsets (as a random example!) there's no point sending it to a company that specialises in cookery or fine art(OK prove me wrong - diet books and the corset in Art).

Remember that only about one percent of books are published from the slush pile (sorry, I should say carefully looked after 'unsolicited material' files). Most books are commissioned.

But if you can get the words in front of the right person, and get your message across with concise bullet points then you stand a chance. Agents at least know who the right people are.

And remember that the Harry Potter manuscripts were rejected by at least three mainstream players before Bloomsbury saw the potential.

Final point, tens of thousands of new titles are published each year so some people get lucky (but probably not rich!).

Another final point, avoid 'vanity publishers' at all costs. They are the ones who charge you to publish your book.

Keep writing, its worth it just because its worth doing!

Useful. I tend to unsubscribe a thread when I think I can't contribute anything more to it, but I think I'll just hold on to this one...

Eh? "Don't be silly" flinch? It isn't a ruse at all about the postmark thing. It's only as "silly" as when you buy a book or a CD or a computer game, you don't actually buy it, you only buy the licence to read it/listen to it/play it. There are sillier things than copyrighting work by sending it to yourself, I assure you. For instance, millions of people bought Jefferey Archer's books - silly! Israel being in the Eurovision Song Contest - silly! Steps splitting up because of "creative differences" - silly!

*goes off to post a letter to himself so he can be silly at the same time*

spookybuz

But it's true. Anyone can open and reseal an envelope. I don't think any court would take it as a guarantee.

But it is at least a tangible bit of 'proof', and as such, it must be worth rather more than just someone's word.

And I daresay if one mailed a copy of one's script or whatever and then immediately gave it to a solicitor or put it in a safety deposit box, then it could be verified as being bona fide.

Well, in that case skip the mailing. Just hand to him and have him lock it up.