The Boy Jonno
On Thursday I finally handed two copies of my novel to my agent and they're being sent out to publishers next week. This novel has been redrafted and edited multiple times at this point, but I still had to fight the urge to grab the manuscripts back and tell the agent I needed to do some more work on it.
Anyway, once I gave him the manuscript and we discussed which publishers would be most likely to take the novel on, the agent told me I needed to write up a brief bio to send to publishers which should include the names of anyone I know that would appeal to/impress them. I was all 'emm, excuse me?' and he said 'it's a terrible thing, but marketing people in publishing houses have a lot of power, and if you know or are related to a 'media' person you've a better chance of being published, no matter how good or bad your novel is.' I pointed out to him that I come from a family of musicians and academics, and don't really know any 'media' people but apparently my older brother has a high enough profile to be included in my bio. I also have to mention Jarlath Gregory, the young writer I did a novel-writing course with a couple of years ago and who I've remained friendly with. So yet again - who you know, is what gets you on in this world - and that is just so wrong.
So the novel is finally gone off and I now feel physically and mentally drained. Within a couple of hours of leaving the agents office, I developed a sore throat, swollen glands and a low level ear infection. I suppose I've been fecking around with this novel for so long now, it's to be expected that this final release of pressure would have an effect. So instead of spending the week-end at the Festival of World Cultures as planned, I shall be sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket watching crap on TV. Great way to celebrate finishing my novel, eh?
And I have to mention that my agent was practically rubbing his hands together with glee at the fact that 'homelessness' is a hot topic here at the moment because of some new Government Strategy - lots of newspaper and TV coverage. According to the agent, this really improves my novel's chance of getting picked up, although it actually makes me feel like I'm somehow exploiting homeless people.
ETA My novel is the story of a homeless 16 year old boy - hence my guilt.
Anyway, once I gave him the manuscript and we discussed which publishers would be most likely to take the novel on, the agent told me I needed to write up a brief bio to send to publishers which should include the names of anyone I know that would appeal to/impress them. I was all 'emm, excuse me?' and he said 'it's a terrible thing, but marketing people in publishing houses have a lot of power, and if you know or are related to a 'media' person you've a better chance of being published, no matter how good or bad your novel is.' I pointed out to him that I come from a family of musicians and academics, and don't really know any 'media' people but apparently my older brother has a high enough profile to be included in my bio. I also have to mention Jarlath Gregory, the young writer I did a novel-writing course with a couple of years ago and who I've remained friendly with. So yet again - who you know, is what gets you on in this world - and that is just so wrong.
So the novel is finally gone off and I now feel physically and mentally drained. Within a couple of hours of leaving the agents office, I developed a sore throat, swollen glands and a low level ear infection. I suppose I've been fecking around with this novel for so long now, it's to be expected that this final release of pressure would have an effect. So instead of spending the week-end at the Festival of World Cultures as planned, I shall be sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket watching crap on TV. Great way to celebrate finishing my novel, eh?
And I have to mention that my agent was practically rubbing his hands together with glee at the fact that 'homelessness' is a hot topic here at the moment because of some new Government Strategy - lots of newspaper and TV coverage. According to the agent, this really improves my novel's chance of getting picked up, although it actually makes me feel like I'm somehow exploiting homeless people.
ETA My novel is the story of a homeless 16 year old boy - hence my guilt.