What about short stories...

[Marky Lazer]

I think something for John...

I'm working on a collection of stories that all relate to each other through the theme. If I wanted to publish this beast, how would I contact an agent/publisher in this way? Normally, you send the first few chapters of your novel, but how will you do this with short stories?

[I, Brian]

You may find this thread interesting:
http://www.chronicles-network.com/fo...t-stories.html

[Marky Lazer]

Thanks Brian, I read that before, but I have to agree on its interestingness.

[John Jarrold]

It's almost impossible to get a collection published, unless you are a strong-selling novelist with several publioshed novels under your belt. Even if they have all seen magazine publication, it's bloody difficult. If you really want my advice, I'd say: write a novel. Sorry...

[Marky Lazer]

Hmmm... what about a novella with short stories added to make the book look like worth buying in way of 'thickness'?

[John Jarrold]

Nope, you aren't going to sell a novella to a mainstream publisher. Even the novellas by bestsellers like China Mieville are coming from small presses. For any new writer, it's a novel. That's the market. 100,000 words on up, basically. Considerably longer, in some cases (Mieville, Alastair Reynolds, Steven Erikson, Iain M Banks...).

[Marky Lazer]

Hmm... It looks like I need to stay stubborn and proove you wrong, I guess...

I do, however, need to add that the stories I'm writing aren't in the SFF genre. I don't know if this influences any of your 'view on the case,' but I thought I mention it anyway.

[John Jarrold]

Well, it's an SFF forum, so I did assume that, of course!

But I can tell you that in the most recent publishing meetings I attended, in 2002, no collection of stories by a new mainstream writer of short fiction who hadn't had anything published would have been taken to the publishing meeting. It ain't going to happen! sorry.

[John Jarrold]

Just a general point on publishing in 2006. All editors have to work within commercial parameters. It's not simply a matter of saying 'This is a wonderful book, I want to publish it', and hasn't been for years. In many UK publishers, sales and marketing directors have the right of veto on any project they don't think they can sell to the major chains in big numbers. They have to read and approve every new writer, fiction and non-fiction, the company is considering seriously.

[Marky Lazer]

Well, I'm not doubting you, of course. I'm not part of that big and evil world, but unfortunately, it's the only thing I can...

[John Jarrold]

And the very best of luck! We need new authors...

[Joanne Mitchinson]

But what do you need new authors to write?
It seems that you are looking for something which will fit into a marketing package, most writers are flexible, so can't publishers make it more obvious what they are looking for at any one time?
'We have a gap on our shelves for a book which will sell to audience [x]' and so on.
I am beginning to see a bigger picture....

[John Jarrold]

The general reaction I'm getting from UK genre publishers is that they'll only take on one - or two at a stretch - new authors a year. But think widescreen, story-led, compelling characters and plotlines, wonderful settings. However, the thing that matters above all else is the standard of the writing. If an author's writing does not hook an editor they will not take you on. And another answer I get when asking what UK genre editors are looking for from new writers is: I'll know it when I see it. And I do undersrtand that, because I was in that situation for fifteen years. As I said on another thread here, I wasn't simply thinking, 'I really must publish a dragon fantasy'. It isn't that cut and dried...

[Robert M. Blevins]

I have to agree with John Jerrold on this one. Anthologies are the toughest sell in the publishing business, and the reason is sales. They are a tough sell. Here at Adventure Books of Seattle, we had to stop accepting them for publication...
Yes, write a novel. You'll increase your chances of being accepted by a hundredfold, at least.

[John Jarrold]

Thanks for that, Robert. Good to know some things are the same both sides of the Atlantic!

I grew up reading SF anthologies in the late 60s and early 70s, but markets change and this is one that has just died, commercially.