Excellent interview! I can so relate to Melanie's experience with trying to sell historical fiction. I published a 4-book historical women's fiction/family saga and it's been like hitting my head against the wall to try and gain a readership. I also came to the realization last year that it wasn't about my writing or my story (though I could have definitely followed more family saga tropes). It's simply that the market is dominated by the trad publishing world and that's what readers expect and are looking for. I'm sure things will change in the future, but for now, it's just a really tough genre to gain a readership. That's partly why I'm shifting gears this year to cozy mysteries (still historical, though). More marketable and I'm having so much fun writing them.
HELP !!!! - After sending over 300 proposals to agents for my book "Rebel With A View, The Florentine Diaries Of Oscar Wright, 1997 - 2002", a got a note from a small publisher whoo said, "sounds interesting, please send me the full manuscript" which I did....however it has been 6 months with just one other exchange of emails and then silence....my question is, should I continue to wait or self publish ?
Excellent interview! I can so relate to Melanie's experience with trying to sell historical fiction. I published a 4-book historical women's fiction/family saga and it's been like hitting my head against the wall to try and gain a readership. I also came to the realization last year that it wasn't about my writing or my story (though I could have definitely followed more family saga tropes). It's simply that the market is dominated by the trad publishing world and that's what readers expect and are looking for. I'm sure things will change in the future, but for now, it's just a really tough genre to gain a readership. That's partly why I'm shifting gears this year to cozy mysteries (still historical, though). More marketable and I'm having so much fun writing them.
Velum tip! I export to RTF...then select all, paste into word and then you've got the docx file and can edit the font and send to the editor etc.
Good advice. Also, you should be able to select file -> "Save As" and save the RTF file as a docx file to save a step!!! :D
James and Melanie, such a terrific interview. Lots of gold to mine in here! Thanks.
I am watching on a Friday! Lol
HELP !!!! - After sending over 300 proposals to agents for my book "Rebel With A View, The Florentine Diaries Of Oscar Wright, 1997 - 2002", a got a note from a small publisher whoo said, "sounds interesting, please send me the full manuscript" which I did....however it has been 6 months with just one other exchange of emails and then silence....my question is, should I continue to wait or self publish ?
Self publish ! Cos they never got back to you and you haven’t signed anything yet
@@hjad2625 Thanks...will do
Have you found the song artist? (and NO! that's not my only takeaway from this show!)
Blatch you can't wear that shirt again. 💓