The dreaded slush pile. No one ever wants their manuscript to be tossed into this pile. All their hard work given up to chance that maybe someone just might pull your manuscript out and read it thinking it was the next Nicholas Sparks or Nora Roberts best-selling novel. Unfortunately, for most of us, we will either end up in this slush pile or, quite frankly, no pile at all.
I’ll be honest. As most of you know, I’ve never been published so I’m, as they say, relatively green behind the ears when it comes to the publishing industry. Even with all that, I’m constantly learning what I need to do as a writer to hopefully avoid the slush pile. I know you need a good query letter, a synopsis that sings, a proposal that knocks either an agent and/or editor’s socks off, and ultimately a novel that wins the hearts of those who read it.
I guess the best thing you can do to avoid this slush pile in the end is to constantly and consistently grow your craft of writing. In the end, the chances of it all paying off are huge.
Another way to avoid the slush pile is to self-publish. Oh, “S” is for Self-publish!!! I’ve authored and published four novels. It’s not that I didn’t think about or research traditional publishing, and I wasn’t afraid of rejection, but I didn’t begin writing until I ended my full-time job. At such an advanced age(!), I wanted to write, edit, perfect, and get those books out there.
Good post, Kristen!
Martha, I can completely understand that. I’m not old, but I’m not exactly young anymore either. I still plan to try to go the traditional route. However, I know more and more people are self-publishing and it’s an absolutely viable choice to make.