User blog comment:PlantyThePottedPlant/Random Topic Blogging II: Electric Blogaloo/@comment-3006892-20120122060009

(Me decides to google the odds of an author getting a book published)

Google: "Statistically speaking, the odds of being published are only 1-2%."

Me: "Well, there goes my hopes and dreams..."

Google: "However, the majority of manuscripts received by agents and publishers are absolutely appalling. 95-99% of manuscripts range from the author being functionally illiterate, through authors working through their psychological problems in the manuscript, to the high end of books that are merely derivative and unoriginal."

Me: Oh, well that's good. I don't think I'm any of those things...

Google: The remaining manuscripts will be considered, 5% of the total. Of these, 1% will be published by that publisher.

Me: Well, that just...wait...

Google: If you do the math, you will find that a serious author will have a one in five chance of being published. And the ones that remained are likely to find a home with another publisher.

Me: ...*Kermit yay*