Publishable - Sarah Sasson

In 2020 I entered my fiction manuscript into Queensland Writers Centre’s 4th year in the new incarnation of the Publishable Manuscript Development Program. At the time of submission, I was at a crossroads with my novel. I had begun querying literary agents and small publishers as well as entering it into unpublished manuscript competitions. No doors had opened. I was seriously considering taking the frequently handed out advice: that the best thing to do might be to move on to write another manuscript. I contemplated leaving my completed work in the proverbial bottom draw. Possibly forever.

Then two things happened: the first was that I re-read my manuscript from start to finish with my coldest and most critical eye and still felt compelled to tell its story. The second thing was I was longlisted for  Queensland Writers Centre’s Publishable program. I was chuffed to be longlisted but this grew into elation when I was invited along with the other longlisted writers to participate in a large swathe of the offerings.

I was included in online workshops with Kim Wilkins, Belinda Pollard and Nick Earls. We discussed everything from drafting and editing, to taking care of our backs and shoulders. We were given industry insights into matching manuscripts to publishers and the querying and marketing of books. Because Publishable was open to writers who had a maximum of one book traditionally published, I was excited to spot some high-profile emerging writer types also logged in to the sessions and this had the strange effect of making me feel a bit less like an imposter and a bit more like a “real” writer.

One of the most valuable aspects of the program was a personal one-on-one feedback session with Queensland Writers Centre’s CEO Lori-Jay Ellis. After reading my submission, Lori-Jay offered not only encouragement that provided me with the motivation and strength to keep going but also critical advice on the need to quicken the pace of the opening scenes. The program also put longlisted writers in touch  so we could act as beta-readers for each other.

The most pivotal piece of advice came towards the end of my feedback session, when Lori-Jay suggested that my literary novel may not be the best fit for a “Big 5” publisher, but instead suggested by name some well-established independent publishers. It was this information that replayed in my head in the second half of 2021 when I signed up for the Australian Society of Authors Literary Speed Dating event. I pitched to Martin Hughes from Affirm Press in October and he requested the full manuscript shortly after. I signed my first ever publishing contract in early 2022 and my debut literary fiction novel Some Things Beautiful (working title) will be out with Affirm Press in 2023.

There’s a saying amongst writers in regard to competitions: any list is a good list (to be on). This may be true, but I think the Publishable listing is particularly good, because of the generous package of development workshops included in addition to specific and personalised feedback on the submission.

To all you emerging writers out there with a completed unpublished manuscript: seize this opportunity, be brave and submit your work. It may be the very thing that helps you to open a door to a traditional publishing house (or at least show you how to knock on it loudly).

I’d like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Lori-Jay Ellis and the whole Publishable team for their ongoing and significant support of new and emerging writers in this country.