Marketing - Acceptance

26 October 2011, Marketing - Acceptance
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  If you finally do connect with a publisher, how do you know it's the real thing?  I think you know what I mean.  Even if you apply to a large publishing house, and they accept your work, you should expect something more than a letter and a check.  That's right.  What you will receive is an acceptance letter or email.  You will be able to tell it is a "real" acceptance letter because the publisher will tell you why they like your work and usually, they will give you some things they suggest you amend.  I won't use the "change" word because that is too strong.  In general, the acceptance of your work is contingent on your book meeting the requirements of their press.  That might be their editorial policies or their content policies.  For example, my publisher, OakTara, will not publish obscene language.  That's their policy.  If you can't accept your publisher's editorial or content policies, you need to find another publisher. 

A content policy is just like my example above, it is something simple in the content like the language or some other specific issue.  On the other hand, an editorial policy is the overall focus of the publisher.  For example, a publisher might be young adult only.  If they like your novel, they might ask you to change the main character to a young adult.  A publisher could be Kansas only and ask you to change the location of your story to Kansas.  Usually, you won't get past step one and an acceptance letter if you aren't in the editorial policy sweet spot of the publisher, but sometimes these things happen.

Tomorrow, more on acceptance and contracts.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.