Just a hypothetical

jwb

[jwb0581]

If I were to compose a work of fiction with conservative themes, are there conservative publishers that would give my book consideration, as opposed to mainstream publishers who would discard it because it wasn't written by a liberal?

Thanks.

[squarebarb]

Most conservative publishers, like Regnery, publish non-fiction. You are talking about fiction.

You can't go right to a publisher. You have to have an agent.


I am assuming that your fiction does not lean heavily on characters experiencing racism and prejudice against their sexual orientation, main characters who are passive victims. These tend to be the themes of literary fiction and Pulitzer winners, but you need an agent before you start worrying about publishers.

'Conservative' themes in fiction generally mean genuine heroes, adventure, quests, little or no graphic sexual scenes, and good people trying to do the best they can under trying circumstances.

'Conservative' themed fiction also does not spend a lot of time exploring dead-end issues of psychological makeup of the character.

All this puts you more or less into the categories of romance, detective fiction, etc. These are called 'genre' fiction.

So think of it that way.

Agents specialize. There are agents who specialize in women's sob-story fiction, in 'literary' fiction, in westerns and war stories. Find out via the Internet the name of an agent who most nearly matches what you are writing.

Then go to New York and pester the agent until you can get him or her to go to lunch with you and beg them to consider your manuscript.

[bruin66]

Can you imagine a world without hypothetical questions?

[Mordacious]

While it's never a good idea to totally ignore the market, I personally believe that you need to write the book that's in you, the one that you wake up excited to write every day. If it's good, it'll eventually find a home.

Start plotting :)

[jwb0581]

<<>> My intention exactly! :)

[Mordacious]

Question: are book agents pricey?

Only the crooked ones. If an "agent" asks you for money or wants to refer you to an editorial service who'll help you "improve" your manuscript, run.

PS - If you haven't written your novel yet, you don't need to waste any energy thinking about agents. First things first :)

[macamadamia]

My 2 cents (nobody ever takes it though):

Before you approach an agent or publisher, make sure your manuscript is the best damned thing you've ever written. Edit your manuscript like a madman. The ability to slash and burn your own writing is IMO the best tool you will ever have. After exhaustive editing, put the manuscript away for at least a year. A year from now, you'll pull the manuscript out and read it again. I promise you, you will WANT to edit it again. And you'll thank God you waited.

[JoeFromSidney]

LS's book SEPTEMBER DAY was rejected by several major publishing houses because of it's patriotic theme. However, he did find a publisher. YOu might want to get more info from him.

My book, THE JUSTICE COOPERATIVE, was rejected by not only major publishing houses but several agents because of its pro-gun theme. I ended up with a small press, ELDERBERRY PRESS, because I didn't want to go the whole way of self-publishing.

What it amounts to is there are ways to get your book out, but you will have to figure on doing a lot of the promotion yourself.

[Bigg Red]

Give us all a heads up just before appearing...put a thread up or I can put one up for you just before you appear.

**
Please ping me to that thread.

[shield]

Give us all a heads up just before appearing...put a thread up or I can put one up for you just before you appear.

**
Please ping me to that thread.

Will do...

[kitkat]

***Well, thanks. BTW, just a heads up, I think I'll be on "Fox and Friends" on May 24 touting the new book.***

COOL! I might even actually turn the TV on to watch, and I only do that for VERY special occasions.