Trad Publishing for Non-Native English Speakers

[ps102]

I just had something dawn on me. Say that a non-native English speaker like myself attempts to traditionally publish (either a short story or novel) does my first language/nationality make a difference? Would others reject me just for that?

I've not attempted to publish anything yet. I always assumed that I'd have a chance as equal to everyone else, especially because I am in the UK, but that's just an assumption. And I know that the publishing industry has a reputation for gatekeeping.

Also, I don't imagine that I will stay in the UK forever. I'll probably return to Greece permanently in the near future. What happens then? Do I loose opportunities or does geographical location somehow not matter?

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Publishers publish and people read books written by non-native English speakers all the time, some in translation and some written in English to begin with.

 

[Set2Stun]

From the many hundreds of submissions pages I've gone over, I'd say that this is far more of a benefit than a liability. Plenty of agents and publishers drool over well-written works by immigrants or by people who don't live in Canada/US/UK.

I've only seen a handful of agencies and publishers who only accept submissions from authors residing in the same country as them. It's most common in Canada, where we're deeply protective of our own culture against the relentless pressures from US culture.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

...where we're deeply protective of our own culture against the relentless pressures from US culture.

Despite rumors to the contrary, no one wants to replace poutine with green chili fries, or Margaret Atwood with anybody.

Full disclosure: we'd have stolen Gordon Lightfoot in a heartbeat. Happily, he came over the border regularly, so pillage wasn't necessary.

 

[Set2Stun]

There'd be some outliers for sure, but without our "Canadian content quotas," TV, radio, music, etc. would've ended up being 90%+ American content decades ago, I'm sure of it. I could go on about it for a bit but that's probably enough of a digression

 

[Naomasa298]

Copyright depend on the jurisdiction under which the copyright is obtained, not your physical location, or residential status. Or even whether you're alive or not.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

I just had something dawn on me. Say that a non-native English speaker like myself attempts to traditionally publish (either a short story or novel) does my first language/nationality make a difference? Would others reject me just for that?

I've not attempted to publish anything yet. I always assumed that I'd have a chance as equal to everyone else, especially because I am in the UK, but that's just an assumption. And I know that the publishing industry has a reputation for gatekeeping.

Also, I don't imagine that I will stay in the UK forever. I'll probably return to Greece permanently in the near future. What happens then? Do I loose opportunities or does geographical location somehow not matter?

English as second language has never been asked, as far as I recall, by any publication to which I've submitted and I'd suggest they'll only know if you choose to tell them. That's a decision you can make yourself, see whether it emerges as a theme whenever you get feedback. There may be situations where it might be to your advantage, though, again, not something I recall ever having to specify on any submissions. English as second language is not some that jumps at me from anything of yours I've read, with very occasional lapses that any of us could make. On the second point, it can be hard to know what turns the editors on, but I don't think nationality/location comes into it.

 

[Set2Stun]

Oh yeah, that's a good point to make. You write like English is your first language.

 

[ps102]

English as second language has never been asked, as far as I recall, by any publication to which I've submitted and I'd suggest they'll only know if you choose to tell them.

Plenty of agents and publishers drool over well-written works by immigrants or by people who don't live in Canada/US/UK.

That's good to hear! Though I am not sure how to feel over being potentially favored. I think I would feel better in a world where we all have an equal chance.

That's a decision you can make yourself, see whether it emerges as a theme whenever you get feedback.

That's a really interesting suggestion that I will try if I ever decide to do this. It's kind of like A/B testing in UX.

English as second language is not some that jumps at me from anything of yours I've read

Oh yeah, that's a good point to make. You write like English is your first language.

Thanks very much! It's nice to hear that actual first-language speakers think so.

Publishers publish and people read books written by non-native English speakers all the time

Then I suppose I won't have many problems based on what you and the others said. Now I actually need to begin submitting at some point. I began writing fiction six years ago and lately, I have been thinking that it might be time to start gathering lots of rejections myself. I doubt anyone would ever accept anything of mine, but I realized at some point that not even trying means a guarantee of failure.

So, my courage and time permitting, you might see me in the rejection thread sooner or later.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

You go, kiddo.