What is the best route when looking for a publisher; use an agent or approach publishers directly?
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If you can find a publisher who takes direct submissions (and actually reads them) go for it. Most of them rely on agents to wade through the slush piles for them now. Only small independent publishers still take submissions directly and may still give some feedback. The trouble with them is their much reduced distribution capability. A lot of them only look for literary work which they can enter into prizes. Then if it wins anything they can use the prize as publicity.
So it depends what you are writing. If it's literary fiction it might be worth your while checking out the smaller publishers. If you or your book inhabit Wales in any way, Parthian are supposed to be very good. If it's mainstream you will definitely need an agent first.
If you can find a publisher who takes direct submissions (and actually reads them) go for it. Most of them rely on agents to wade through the slush piles for them now. Only small independent publishers still take submissions directly and may still give some feedback. The trouble with them is their much reduced distribution capability. A lot of them only look for literary work which they can enter into prizes. Then if it wins anything they can use the prize as publicity.
So it depends what you are writing. If it's literary fiction it might be worth your while checking out the smaller publishers. If you or your book inhabit Wales in any way, Parthian are supposed to be very good. If it's mainstream you will definitely need an agent first.