How many publishers should I approach in total?

How many publishers should I approach in total?

Alexandra Pringle (Editor in Chief) gives expert video advice on: Can I send an unsolicited manuscript?; How many publishers can I approach at the same time? and more...

You should approach every single publisher there is. I think that you just have to keep going. If your book's good enough, in the end somebody will find it. It could take a long time to get that publishing editor who's going to like it, but I can't stress enough that you need a literary agent to do it. They will do it. You'll have some who will go the long course and keep going for two years, and some that will give up after one submission.