How long should I wait for responses from agents/publishers before I go ahead and self-publish my book?
I have joined Facebook and Twitter and due to the help of Buzzfeed my story has gone viral.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/this-gay-man-was-given-repeated-electric-shocks-by-british?utm_term=.jeJaEKgwB#.dfqP6AEq0
This article lead directly to this:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/uk-psychiatrists-have-issued-an-historic-admission-of-the?utm_term=.jtyZONLLl#.mf1o2MXXb
Which lead to me doing a live interview with Victoria Derbyshire on her tuesday morning programme.
I have had numerous requests for my book, so should I go ahead and self publish it, meaning I can probably get it out there in a couple of months (It has been edited and proof read)
Or wait (seemingly endlessly) for an agent or publisher to respond?
Hi Jeremy. I think if I were you I would be tempted to hang on and see who comes back. From what you have said in an earlier post, you have already had some fantastic feedback with possibilities. And after a TV interview I would have thought someone somewhere is already discussing approaching you. Would it hurt to hang on a few more weeks, because with the interest already generated could self publishing now, possibly put a traditional publishing house off.
I do hope you make the right decision and you get a great publishing deal one way or another.
Best of luck Jeremy regards Paul G
A small house publisher will generally responder sooner compared to one of the big house publishers (penguin etc.). I’ve read that 7 months can be standard... you can submit your MS simultaneously to as many publishers as you like - although is write this in your query letter.
Did you write a query? Sypnosis? Include a SASE? Was it mailed or emailed? Did you send a full, edited and prodded MD? Did you send MS after request? Go through a publisher or literary agent? These things make a difference when awaiting interest...
Why not self publish for you can always get a publisher deal as well later, keep all your options open, it feels like your story needs to be shared now.