Publication... why is it so difficult?

So you want to get published? It's not exactly rocket science but why don't you operate the way the agents operate? Would it shock you if I told you the agents NEVER EVER send a manuscript to a publisher, nor do they send the first three chapters. If you haven't got an agent then you have to start acting like one. A met an agent at this years London book fair and over a few beers he spilled the beans. Send a manuscript he laughed, "yeah that's one way of making it to the rubbish bin." He continued. "The publishers don't have time to read books these days... they want a book proposal and a treatment." I was stunned. "What's a treatment? What's a proposal," I asked. I bought him another beer and he explained.