[Writing/Help wanted][Mute?] Does anyone on my TL know about publishing original works? I'm having issues finding an editor and submitting to publishing companies.

Sadly things like that might have worked in the past seemingly have been cut off, or I'm just not looking in the right places.

Any publishing house I've found as of now is stating 'no unsolicited stories/manuscripts' or similar, meaning that if you don't already have an in, you aren't getting looked at.

It looks like Writer's Market, which was always the go to book when I was doing it, has a website that might be helpful.

I mean, self publishing is an option, but I don't know enough about contracts, self promotion and the like to really make that viable atm.

Writer's Digest, who publishes it, is a pretty good resource in general and might have info on editors as well.

Yeah, I did look there... sadly it seems rather lacking for someone who lives in Canada. Which is the problem I keep running into.

Everything is US based, and even the Canadian sites toss everything to US publishers... which isn't bad, if you can afford cross border travel/shipping/calling.

I'm just... frustrated I suppose. We have a writers guild, but... it's only good if you've already published? I'm being run in circles and it's just... /sigh

Besides, the 'guild' reads more like 'abide by our rules or get booted' kind of thing. Nooottt what I'm looking for... I need help figuring out contracts, not going to agree to what amounts to production control without knowing what I'm agreeing to...

I mean... 1 and 2 sounds um... Like I can't write anything without a contract? and that I can't write something with the intention of sale? And they can say no if they don't like who I want to sell to? Ummm...

I want to write books, my books, not screen plays or films. I mean, yeah, sure, I know publishers and editors will want changes and stuff as it is a business, but...

/sigh

I don't write on demand, I don't do scripts and I sure as heck don't want to pay dues to something I get nothing out of. Everyone tells me to 'use the guild' in Canada, but... it's not what I need?

The Write Stuff : Thanks for the try though. I'll at least fire the Writers Digest people an e-mail and ask if they can point me to a Canadian counterpart.

I guess this turned into more of a minor rant than anything, since I want publishing help, yet everyone in Canada keeps pointing me to what amounts to a union... X/