"Writers: Send us Your Novels". Finally, A Chance To Make It Big In The Publishing World!

Who knows, that first Publishing deal may not be that far off, after all. The recently launched Macmillan New Writer Scheme may be your best opportunity yet to make it big in the publishing world. Since the project was launched in February, Macmillan has been receiving 200 manuscripts a month. And in April next year, six novels will be published and one or two will be released each month. The Macmillan New Writing scheme, though, is not without its critics. A number of online content providers have blasted the scheme as a "scam". The Guardian newspaper's Arts Correspondent, Charlotte Higgans (www.guardian.co.uk) branded the scheme "the Ryanair of publishing; it's like having to pay for your own uniforms". Natasha Fairweather, an agent, calls it "an exercise in futility". In contrast, Michael Bernard, Macmillan executive director, describes the scheme as "a way of giving a voice to talented new authors".