What do publishers prefer?

[John Jarrold]

I entirely agree with Teresa...

[A.Sole]

So for next piece I should try to stay within a definitive genre? You know, try to be fresh and interesting but not that fresh and interesting that it'll freak the publisher out.

[John Jarrold]

Exactly - commercial publishing is just that: commercial. Publishers have to make comparisons with other recently-succcessful authors in the same genre when they present a new writer to the book chains, without whose support the author will fail. So if they see something like a lengthy prose poem, the answer is no. If they see a Fantasy novel that works within the genre as it stands in 2008 and also has its own voice - both clear and pacy - there is a chance they will look upon it positively. Taking all the usual caveats that have been mentioned many, many times on this forum into consideration.

[A.Sole]

Well yes, now thinking about it my works not of a typically commercial nature. I believe that it's fresh and has the potential for perhaps a 'cult' following. Now I've thought about it I just want it read by as many people as possible. I'm not the greatest capitalist in the world, I have to say and not one for writing something like what the jones have written (writings one of the few freedoms I have). So can you please suggest any sites that display complete works for free or any other ways i can achieve my goal- other than self publishing- for my lack of capitalist ambition tides me over but goes no further.

[John Jarrold]

I'll leave that for others to respond to, being very much a mass-market, commercial publisher and agent!

Best of luck!