Mr Nobody's long road to publishing

Writing is the easiest part of the job. At least, for the unknown writer. Then, you must look for a publisher. That is when the hard part begins.

I began by sending my manuscript to a number of publishers. Most of them kept it for eight to ten months, then sent a note saying that they had "read the text carefully", but that it "did not fit in their editorial plan", or that they "did not think it would be able to meet its audience through their collection"... But, just as many writers are, I was convinced I could write well. So, I insisted and investigated further. I went to see them in person, pushed closed doors, asked questions... and I found a fascinating world of hypocrisy.

A big national publisher finally confessed that despite what he had written, he had not read my manuscript. According to him, they receive so many of them that they can only process about 20% of what they are sent. Therefore, the first test you must pass is to be drawn from the lot... But if at least they had said openly that they had not read my manuscript for want of time, I could have had a trifle of respect for them.

Other publishers enlightened me further. In another house, more prestigious even than the latter, they clearly explained why I was not published. My manuscript convinced the board, but they said: "now, we are going to conduct a market survey on your name. You are not famous". That is pure meanness. But at least, it is said. I do not think that publisher is worse than the others. On the contrary: he dared uncover the state of things. In France, they do not sell books. They sell the author's name. Unless you are the friend, brother or driver of someone famous...

To prove that, I'd like to tell about the third house, who offered to publish my text, but not under my name. They have a pool of "people" who wish to prentend they can write, and who are looking for novels on which to put their name, to appropriate a credit they should not have. In this instance, the "people" they suggested I should ghost-write for was a nitwit from reality television, whose idiocy I have had many opportunities to witness. Granted, I would have made money. But as long as I am going to sell my soul to the Devil, I am asking for a handsome price...

Only after my next experience did I understand. My next encouter told me, in those words: "in publishing, you do not exist until you have sold 20,000 copies". Of course, I replied that in order to sell these 20,000 copies, you must be published. The argument did not seem to carry.

I therefore resorted to publishing In Memoriam with société des écrivains. It is a small business that publishes just about anything and everything, provided you pay them. But without circulation, without a marketing plan, without any media coverage of any kind, it is hard to come through. I soon realised that not only were they incompetent, they are dishonest. In the Book Fairs to which I managed to be invited in the next six months, I signed 105 copies. Now, according to their recording, they only sold 52 books. Beside the preposterously insignificant number, it seems that out of the 105 copies I signed, 53 had been stolen or not paid for... I had a two-year contract with them, to which I put an end on the first opportunity.

Meanwhile, Le Bandeau was on the way, and éditions Blanche helped me regain some confidence. I met a publishing house that was about to begin business, éditions du tremplin, and I made a little way with them. Unfortunately, they fell victims to their own generosity (or naivety?). They were so busy caring for their authors and taking the time to read the manuscripts they received that they forgot the most mercantile and sordid aspect of the job (the one the great houses satisfy themselves with doing). We are living in the real world, and good intentions do not deliver. They went out of business. I am once more looking for a publisher for In Memoriam. But this time, I have the sales figures of Le Bandeau behind me, and a contract for publication of The Covery and Then in the USA...

My American publisher taught me a lot. After some clashes and gnashes of teeth, but anyway. They explained everything an author should do once the work on the text is finished. It is not something a novelist enjoys doing, but one has to go through these stages in order to make a name for himself... And the first step is to create a website. Which is what I am doing right now...