Before publishers or agents takes on a novice author's work, they like to know that it will fit into a niche in the market and sit comfortably on bookshop shelves alongside published works of a similar ilk. People prefer to know what type of book they're buying as they resent wasting money, especially in a recession.
If the dust jacket of your unknown work has an endorsement on it from an established author, or a review comparing your writing style to that of someone famous, this acts as an added incentive for readers to take a punt on it.
When pitching your novel to a publisher or agent, don't be too shy or too humble to draw a comparison between yourself and a well-known author, especially if the comparison was made first by others whose judgement you respect. If you keep this bit of information to yourself, hoping a busy editor will come to the same conclusion without prompting, you will have left it too late. You must mention it in your initial proposal or covering letter to that editor.
Having recently emailed a submission without doing the above, I've decided from now on its imperative to practice what I preach. Therefore, to engender interest in my children's novel, I must draw a parallel between the imagery inherent in my Zyx-dimension and and the fantastical world portrayed by C.S. Lewis' in the Magician's Nephew (his pre-sequel to his Narnia series). And when selling my short-stories, I must mention that my dark humour has shades of Roald Dahl and Terry Pratchett.
In a highly competitive market there is no room for false modesty, unless you want your typescript consistently returned to you unread and to find yourself passed over by others who are less shy about selling their product. Whether you like it or not, a novel is a product and not a precious baby to wrap in cotton wool, preventing it from ever seeing the light of day.
(Look out for my next post which will detail how to make a study of your favourite authors and learn from their writing...)
