Funny how little the traditional publishing industry has changed on its face. Behind those shaky, fraying hoops we poodles are asked to jump through, there is the reality of all the writer does now that publishers once did: you create, edit, find competent comments, blurbs & reviews, and you make the audience (you did not mention the big selling point all publishers & booksellers want to see: a writer with a following; a celebrity or influencer or widely cited academic or journalist... Then, post publication, you will have to promote it often with your own cash). One reason self-publishing has become so popular (besides that it is now easy and cheap) is writers know they will do all the work anyway. Publishers bring less to the table than ever and are more petty, political, and boorish than ever.
(BTW, since Claire Lehman hired Iona Italia, Quillette seems more like others. They stood alone when it was hard. Now... I'm less impressed.)
(BTW BTW Black cats swing from chandes in shootouts with communist cops are not too close to reality. I think the most literary fiction... Feels no need to mirror the world. We may have to disagree.)
This part isn't about writing, it's about selling. Sorry if that sounds crass, but after all you are trying to get paid here. If it makes you feel any better, Rembrandt didn't really feel like painting fat merchants all the time, and Shakespeare made sure he told English history the way his audience wanted. Fitzgerald blew out his talent for clever Saturday Evening Post quickies.
So, like all selling, it's about understanding your market (agents) and their needs (books that they can sell to publishers.) Typically you frame it that way, citing how this meets the needs, the respective benefits, and the ease of use. Writing is something you did to get a product in front of them. And maybe for love, but very few people who aren't your relatives will buy over that.
“All work and no play makes Liza a very productive writer”
Funny how little the traditional publishing industry has changed on its face. Behind those shaky, fraying hoops we poodles are asked to jump through, there is the reality of all the writer does now that publishers once did: you create, edit, find competent comments, blurbs & reviews, and you make the audience (you did not mention the big selling point all publishers & booksellers want to see: a writer with a following; a celebrity or influencer or widely cited academic or journalist... Then, post publication, you will have to promote it often with your own cash). One reason self-publishing has become so popular (besides that it is now easy and cheap) is writers know they will do all the work anyway. Publishers bring less to the table than ever and are more petty, political, and boorish than ever.
(BTW, since Claire Lehman hired Iona Italia, Quillette seems more like others. They stood alone when it was hard. Now... I'm less impressed.)
(BTW BTW Black cats swing from chandes in shootouts with communist cops are not too close to reality. I think the most literary fiction... Feels no need to mirror the world. We may have to disagree.)
*chandeliers. Also, I love Claire Lehman so...
This part isn't about writing, it's about selling. Sorry if that sounds crass, but after all you are trying to get paid here. If it makes you feel any better, Rembrandt didn't really feel like painting fat merchants all the time, and Shakespeare made sure he told English history the way his audience wanted. Fitzgerald blew out his talent for clever Saturday Evening Post quickies.
So, like all selling, it's about understanding your market (agents) and their needs (books that they can sell to publishers.) Typically you frame it that way, citing how this meets the needs, the respective benefits, and the ease of use. Writing is something you did to get a product in front of them. And maybe for love, but very few people who aren't your relatives will buy over that.