What is a publishing consultancy?
Ideally, a publishing consultancy should cover all services to authors from writing classes and assessments through to editing and marketing your work to publishers. We take authors at all stages of their development allowing writers to choose which service they require at a particular time. For example, a writer may want an assessment from the publishing consultancy but prefers to market their own work to publishers. Another writer may want their work edited but not assessed. Another may request marketing only. While it is preferable that an author go through all the stages of development on their script for the best results, publishing consultancies should work with authors according to their needs. So find out what the publishing consultancy offers and ask the same kinds of questions as indicated earlier in this text.
Some publishing consultancies offer advice on funding. This may range from arts council funding to awards and scholarships. Ask for a list of their services so you know in advance what is covered by them. It’s fine to work with agencies that offer only partial services but you will save money and valuable time by working with one offering all the services described earlier.
Check whether the publishing consultancy works locally or nationally or internationally. Ideally you want a publishing consultancy with international agencies and representation at the Frankfurt Bookfair if you want all options covered. Often getting published is a stepping stone process where you will be published in your own country first and work towards international publication so be willing to work towards your goals gradually. Those who are willing to craft their work and have patience are the ones who make it through whereas those who are impatient and want it all at once often fall flat on their faces.
Ideally you want an agency that has the ability to work in several foreign languages if you want foreign language rights sold. There is nothing more sad than seeing representatives from publishing houses or agents who only speak English at an international bookfair like Frankfurt. You realise how limited the options are by this.
When you are considering a publisher, also check that they sell foreign language rights as well as overseas rights in English or you may find yourself selling only a few books in the home country without any chance of progressing your work any further. Publishers and agencies working mainly in English can hire foreign language agents to represent them at bookfairs.
Do not always assume that the largest multinational publisher will serve your interests the best. Some smaller publishing houses deliver quality service to their authors and if they hire foreign language agents then they can sell their texts anywhere. The Broomsbury Writers deliberately chose to work with smaller, quality publishers who work in academic, literary and multicultural fields with a good track record of selling foreign language rights and the results have been superb. None of these authors want to be just another royalty payment number as can happen with some of the larger multinationals unless you are the author of the moment and in high demand. So with publishing consultancies and publishers, do your research well. Read their brochures or catalogues and find out where they are represented before you make a decision to work with them.