Welcome to Sharp & Shuler Press
Trying to get a book published can be the death of an author. Consider John Kennedy Toole, who wrote what he believed was a fine novel entitled A Confederacy of Dunces. After numerous publishers rejected his manuscript, he became so distraught that he committed suicide in 1969 at the age of 32.
After his death, his mother took up his quest with a vengeance and finally got his book published in 1980. The following year, Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Was his book any better in 1981 than it had been in 1969? No. But in the world of publishing, even great manuscripts face almost insurmountable odds. Only three manuscripts out of every ten thousand submitted will be published and only ten percent of those will actually earn enough money to cover the cost of publication.
Publishers are no longer searching for fine literature, but focus more on "celebrity authors" they feel will generate greater profits for them. For an unknown author, publishers impose narrow guidelines that can stifle creativity. Publishers insist that writing be tight and sparse, leaving no room for the beauty of words or the delightful journey through a masterfully constructed sentence or paragraph. The current demand is for more “white space”, so readers will not be intimidated by the written word. As shocking as it may sound, the average novel is written on the level of a seventh or eighth grade reader. It seems unlikely that Jane Austen would find a publisher today.
It is almost impossible to make a living as an author, even an author who fits into the box of the large publishing houses. As a result, many are choosing to abandon the rigors of wasted years chasing established publishers for the freedom of controlling their own manuscripts and having more time to devote to their art.
At Sharp & Shuler Press, we have chosen to join the digital publishing revolution and enjoy the process of connecting with discerning readers who welcome the challenge of new words and a complex sentence now and again. Our mission as a niche press is to offer a limited but varied selection of quality writings to uplift the spirit and honor God.
Thank you for visiting Sharp & Shuler Press. As you browse our selection, we hope you will find just the right book for you. Be sure to visit us often as our selection of reading materials continues to grow.
After his death, his mother took up his quest with a vengeance and finally got his book published in 1980. The following year, Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Was his book any better in 1981 than it had been in 1969? No. But in the world of publishing, even great manuscripts face almost insurmountable odds. Only three manuscripts out of every ten thousand submitted will be published and only ten percent of those will actually earn enough money to cover the cost of publication.
Publishers are no longer searching for fine literature, but focus more on "celebrity authors" they feel will generate greater profits for them. For an unknown author, publishers impose narrow guidelines that can stifle creativity. Publishers insist that writing be tight and sparse, leaving no room for the beauty of words or the delightful journey through a masterfully constructed sentence or paragraph. The current demand is for more “white space”, so readers will not be intimidated by the written word. As shocking as it may sound, the average novel is written on the level of a seventh or eighth grade reader. It seems unlikely that Jane Austen would find a publisher today.
It is almost impossible to make a living as an author, even an author who fits into the box of the large publishing houses. As a result, many are choosing to abandon the rigors of wasted years chasing established publishers for the freedom of controlling their own manuscripts and having more time to devote to their art.
At Sharp & Shuler Press, we have chosen to join the digital publishing revolution and enjoy the process of connecting with discerning readers who welcome the challenge of new words and a complex sentence now and again. Our mission as a niche press is to offer a limited but varied selection of quality writings to uplift the spirit and honor God.
Thank you for visiting Sharp & Shuler Press. As you browse our selection, we hope you will find just the right book for you. Be sure to visit us often as our selection of reading materials continues to grow.
