This post is a repost from Filles Vertes Publishing, posted with permission here. This post was originally written by me and posted on their platform.
A Small Press May Not be Right for You Ifβ¦
Perhaps you are considering submitting to a small press publisher. You can find a lot of information out there about the differences between small press publishers and the Big 5 Publishers. You can read our submission guidelines and this post about the 6 Publishing Myths You Probably Believe. And if youβve done that and youβre still wondering if a small press publisher is right for you, this post is for you.
A small press may not be right for you ifβ¦
Youβre the Exception to the Rule.
This should go without saying, but if you arenβt willing to read the submission guidelines for a publisher, you arenβt ready to submit to that publisher.
We could stand on the rooftops and scream βREAD SUBMISSION GUIDELINESβ and without fail someone would submit their bilingual childrenβs picture book to us with 45 custom illustrations (we donβt accept picture books at this time).
We know that it can be frustrating to submit to a dozen publishers that all have specific submission guidelines, but itβs important that you take the time to read that bolded paragraph on their website. If you arenβt willing to take the time to read that paragraph, why should the publisher take the time to read your 100,000+ word manuscript?
Youβve Been Rejected by Many other Agents and Publishers.
If you have been submitting your work for a while and you that dreaded rejection keeps landing in your inbox, it might be time to make some changes to your manuscript. Donβt just submit to small press publishers and assume they wonβt notice the issues with it.
Despite what some might believe, small press publishers donβt have lower standards than the big guys. In fact, most small presses publish less than ten books per year. They must be extremely selective because they canβt afford to lose money those titles. Donβt waste your time and theirs by submitting low quality work.
Your Novel is Already Perfect.
Or you think it is.
If you are under the impression that your book is already as perfect as it could be, and you arenβt willing to make any changes to it, youβre not going to get signed by a publisher. There isnβt a work of fiction out there that couldnβt be improved by working with an editor or making some small changes.
To follow up on that last point, if you are getting rejections from dozens of publishers or agents and you submit to a small press with the belief that they should just be glad to receive it in the first place, youβre going to be disappointed. Rejections are usually a sign that your book is just not there yet. The story might need a lot of work or it has very little market value.
If you believe your book is already perfect, self-publishing might be a more appropriate avenue for you. Publishers can and do make changes to their titles and you need to be prepared for that. At FVP, the author gets a lot of input about their work. But being completely inflexible in the process isnβt going to get you anywhere.
Youβve Published Your Book Before.
Yes, it does sometimes happen that publishers will find self-published works and publish them. However, unless your book has been selling thousands of copies and is wildly popular, publishers are unlikely to take on your book. If your book is very popular and youβre selling thousands of copies, youβve probably already made more money self-publishing than you would have otherwise. So, it probably isnβt that smart of a decision for you either.
Most small publishers are not going to turn your book into a show or a movie, because they just donβt have the budget or the team to do it. So, if youβre hoping for a movie deal, you should be targeting agents and not small press editors.
The more likely scenario is that your book is not well reviewed or has only sold one copy in the three years itβs been listed. That isnβt a good sign for publishers that it will be worth it to take on the project.
Itβs also not wise to try and sneak one past the editor by not mentioning that your book has been published before. If you submit it, even under a different name, and we see a listing that has the exact same description as your query letter, it is still going to get rejected. Publishers will look into it and they wonβt appreciate it if it appears youβve tried to pull the wool over their eyes.
You Expect a Six-Figure Marketing Budget.
When you publish with a small press, you must remember that youβre working with a small business. Itβs highly unlikely that they will be running outrageous ad campaigns for your book.
One of the benefits of working with a small press is that you will work hands-on with a team of experts. Everyone in the company will know your name and will have read your book. Small press authors still have advertisements campaigns, attend events and signings, and spend time doing author interviews and promotions.
Some small presses donβt offer any marketing for authors at all and most wonβt pay for your flight and hotel for a national press tour. A lot of the marketing will also be up to you to build your own social media platform or mailing list.
Working with a small press is an intimate experience, which can be a positive thing or a negative thing depending on your expectations.
When should you submit to a publisher?
In reverse, small press publishers are perfect for authors that want a team that can lead them through the publishing process to help perfect their book and build up a following.
If they are willing to read submission guidelines and take the time to send the book to the editor that is most appropriate for them, they have a much higher chance of being accepted.
If an author is willing to work through the extensive publishing process with the publisher and is willing to put in the time to make their book amazing, they will do great working with a small press.
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