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Ref 132. Meg: Thanks for the boost.
eagerness to get published blinded me to the part where they said 5000 words
max. I shall watch that in future. I have noted however that there apprease
to be a substancial weight given to the technical aspect of writing, such as
layout, format, heading etc. on the part of editors and reader (having had
submittals returned with such comment) rather than the actual story. Could
you explain this? (If the great American novel was hand written on brown paper
no editor would look at it) I can only assume that they (The editors) have an
overwhelming number of great stories flowing across their desks that they can
afford to ignor anything that doesn't exactly fit a given format. Again, thank
you for your time in answering my posts. Happy New year to you.
Ref 134. Meg: Just recieved a reply from ANALOG Sci/Fi magazine on a short story
I submitted. It reads "Thank you for the opportunity to examine the enclosed
material for publication in ANALOG. We regret that we cannot make use of it
at this time." Is there a translation for this into plane english? There
is no further explaination why the story was rejected. DSJ.
Ref 137. Response to Ref 132 Yes, you are probably right. If the great American novel was hand written on brown paper no editor would look at it. And I wouldn't blame him or her. I haven't heard numbers for a while, but I do know that publishing houses receive an enormous number of unsolicited, unagented manuscripts every day. Most can no longer afford to pay first readers to wade through what is called "the slush pile." Certainly they can't afford anyone willing to read stuff hand written on brown paper. I wrote my first four books longhand because I didn't think I could create on a typewriter. I did type each day's work before going on to the next, however. And often I couldn't read quite a chunk of what I'd written. So I learned to create on a typewriter, and then on a computer. In this day of computers and word processing programs manuscripts are getting much easier to read. I used to read and critique manuscripts--something I no longer do--and some of them would be typed with faint ribbons that were almost impossible to make out. There'd be crossings out or white out blotches, margins were almost nonexistent, spelling was dreadful. I heralded the arrival of word processing with great relief.
Think about this--the writer puts in a lot of work on a manuscript. Surely some of that work should include proper preparation. Pages should have the title or a key word from the title and the author's name and the pages should be numbered in sequence. If anything happens to the manuscript--it gets knocked to the floor for example--some guide is needed to put it back together again.
Editors do a lot of reading. Having done a considerable amount myself always, I sympathize with their wanting that reading to be as easy as possible. I pride myself on sending out a professional looking manuscript that I have checked for spelling. punctuation, grammar and presentation. I feel that's part of my job as a professional writer.
All the same, it is important to me and to the editor that the content is also worthwhile. I don't think any editor *prefers* appearance to content, it's just that without the good appearance s/he might not get to the content. Cheers, Meg
Ref 139. Response to Ref 134. Dear DSJ: As I've said above, most publishing houses don't have a lot of first readers nowadays. An editor will scan the first page or so of a manuscript and decide if it is in any way suitable for his or her magazine on that basis. Having judged a lot of manuscripts for contests I can attest to the fact that you can tell if a story's any good before going very far. Editors do not wish to get into any arguments with writers, nor can they afford the time to go into explanations or give critiques. If they just feel the story isn't right for them, that's what they say. It's tough on the writer, but that's the way it is. What you need to do is study the magazines you submit to very carefully, work on your stories until you are convinced they are as good as you can make them and that they fit the requirements of the magazine, then keep sending them out until you get accepted. Good luck! Meg
Ref 141. Hi Meg. I'm back and see that you are too! I hope the wedding was fantastic and you have great pictures. My girls are young and I wish I could stop time. I hear as they get older I'll be glad to have them out of the house. We'll see. Anyway, I've been reading all of the drawers for renewal of information. I've rewritten my query letter and will rewrite it again. It's really not that bad and I think that I have followed "everyone's guidelines" concerning writing of query letters. I have and am doing as you said. I am using the Writers Market. I am studying it. I don't understand it I guess. They all give you the categories that they are interested in publishing. For example, they list self help, how to, humor, educational etc in the list. My book falls into at least one of the categories. I submit my query letter. I get rejected because they publish textbooks. This is one example. Why don't they say that in the blurb? Only a few publishers are well defined in Writers Market. I study the blurbs, just not sure why I shouldn't start with the "a's" and send to everyone with the generic listing. Simon and Shuster says it's interesting but they only take agented material. At this point I really don't want to go through an agent. Again, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to do this for us. Thanks
Ref 142. I received a letter from the publisher of Discuss Press stating that my manuscript was interesting and with additional work could have commercial possibilities.
It said that the book trade today was very hard to crack and that they find it unprofitable to take on work in unedited form, but because of the potential
of my manuscript they would be willing to give it another look if I used a professional editor that they referred me to. I called the editor and he wants $1500, which
I do not have, to edit my work. This is the first time I have submitted anything. Was the publisher being sincere? Or was this a ploy to get me to use their editor?
Ref 143. Ref 142. I just did the same thing. Go back and read Megs answers to my same questions. I can tell you that Discus is no longer in the Writer's Digest. WD say that they only list publishers that have published books andthey have not published one since they started in 1995/6. Edit Ink has great references. They did a decent job and were honest when they had a delay. They are probably getting kickbacks from agents and publishers. I learned the hard way. I called local people and they wanted more than the 1,500 and this did not include the critique. They say that college students do the editing not the people putting out the brochure. I think with Discus you might have to put out $ from your pocket. I have not resubmitted and have listened to Meg's advice as well as Writer's Digest. I was thinking of resubmiting and seeing what they said but Idon't have the guts at the moment. Good luck.
Ref 144. Response to Ref 142: As the next person (Ref 143 says, we've had this discussion before. If you look in archive drawer #6, you'll find the discussion there. I have no personal knowledge of the Press you mention, but I would not pay anyone to edit my work with a "possibility" of publication. The publisher is supposed to pay the writer. And to pay an editor to make sure the work is ready for publication. This is the way a publishing house works. If you feel your work needs some critiquing or editing then you can possibly find someone to do that for you for a fee. If you feel your work is fit for publication, then just keep submitting it until you find an editor willing to publish your manuscript. Getting published is very difficult. It always has been, but new writers are coming out in print all the time. Persistence really pays. But the writer can become very discouraged and is then vulnerable to such suggestions as the one you mention. Please continue to submit to publishing houses and continue to work at improving your writing by yourself and through the study of books on writing--many of which are available free from the library. You will also find there The Writers Market and Literary Market Place, which will tell you a lot about the publishing business. It's also a good idea to attend writers conferences and workshops if you can find any near you. Sometimes such conferences have agents and editors in attendance and you can make appointments to talk to them about your book for fifteen minutes or so. That's how I found my first literary agent. Does it help if I tell you my first children's book was turned down by 25 publishers, but then was purchased and went into four printings? Good luck, Meg
Ref 145. Hi Meg. I'm back again. I guess I am looking for encouragement. I've checked out many books and read about query letters. I think I've written a professional letter and followed the many guidelines people had to offer. I am studying the market (writer's digest). The Literary Market Place is a listing of services. I am not sure how you mean it tells you about the publishing business, aside from listing the many businesses. Did I miss something or are you saying they are a good lead to services? Then is this right? They are like the Writer's Market, not everything listed in the book is legit. My query letter is one page (full length) and does not give anything away as they say. I've followed the guidelines. Is it all hit and miss, like a resume. This query letter gives the publisher an idea of what you have written and they know if they can use it, right? I had a publisher explain to me that most publishers will not pick up a nonfiction book like mine because they aren't sure where to put it. In the self help, parental guidance, psychology, educational. Yes, it can go in each of these places. It has a defined audience,but can fit into these categories. I am not sure what "they" mean when they say to include a sentence or two about how my book can be marketed. I haven't seen guidelines on that. I can guess, but who am I to tell any publisher this? I can also go ahead and arrange booksignings for myself and stuff like that but am not sure how or what they are looking for in these sentences. This is almost like getting a job, now when you write the resume you must also include a statement on your knowledge, skills and abilities. By doing all of this in the query letter it can become more than the one page that they suggest. Can you give a little help here? I have the persistence. I am just not sure I am getting the pertinent info across. Is there a place that helps you critique a query letter? Do I just go to people I know and ask them to read it and offer suggestions?
Thanks again. Have a good one.
Ref 146. Response to Ref #145: I'm not sure I can be a whole lot of help here. I'm here to answer questions on fiction writing, rather than non-fiction marketing, which is outside my area of expertise. I haven't looked at a recent Writers Market, but the last time I did there was a section on writing query letters and some hints on marketing. Remember that any book is almost out of date when it finally sees print! Unless you have some brilliant ideas on how to market your book, I would leave that up to the publisher. If you own a light aircraft and can provide a banner to tow, or you appear frequently as an expert on some TV show, or you are a psychologist with umpteen degrees and can talk about your topic on any talk show in the land--then I can see letting the publisher know you can do all these things for the book. But mostly publishers are the ones who do the marketing. I would try to describe your book as clearly and concisely as possible in your query letter and offer to send a more detailed synopsis or outline along with the first couple of chapters. Tell the publisher if you are an expert in the topic you are writing about. That's about the best you can do, in my opinion. You can show it to people whose judgment you respect and ask for opinions if you wish--that's up to you. I wouldn't rely on family or friends for honest appraisal, they usually don't want to hurt your feelings with criticism. I don't know of anywhere you can get a query letter critiqued professionally. Unfortunately, however well you write, however good your query leter, there are no quarantees that a publisher will show interest and you certainly can't force that interest. It is a tough, tough business and only the truly persistent survive. I don't know if any of this is helpful to you or not. I hope it is. Best wishes, Meg.
Ref 147. Hi Meg, Sometimes I do feel like I can get into an airplane and have a banner to tow. Anyway, you are helpful. I'd like to ask this of you. I know it's a tough business. I am so glad that you always end answering my questions with something positive, it helps. Anyway, I know a reject is a reject but...I've gotten form letter rejects. I've also gotten rejects with a handwritten "touching book". One said your book proprosal has good merit but we aren't focused on this subject at this time. Or another one says that we like the idea but we have obligations for many that we already have undercontract and cannot accept any manuscripts for awhile. then they steered me to the Writer's Market and told me not to give up pursuing publishing. Do I take these "rejects" in a positive light. It's just that I probably have a good idea but am not submitting to the right place? Or maybe to the right place but they are "booked up". I think I've written a good story/novel. I think the query letter is pretty good. I've rewritten a little and am not sure. I've started off with how many words etc. Then I explained about the story without giving it away (and I feel this was well written because this is what people respond to -touching, merit, etc.) Then I've explained who I am and ended it with would you like to see more (something on that line). Do I need to also include a few sentences on why I think readers would enjoy reading it? I think the intended audience is clear in the telling of the story in the beginning of my letter. This is what I was trying to ask you. DO I need to explain the intended audience and say where I think it can be marketed? I mean some people in the Writer's Market say tell us other than bookstores how we can market your book. This is what I was trying to ask you before. If so, I am not sure what to say. Do I say something like we believe that readers will enjoy this book because it gives them a place to escape from the hustle of the day for awhile. Therefore, you might want to place it in the self help, parental guidance sections of a store. Is this the kind of thing "they" are looking for OR may I just skip it completely? This is where I am stuck. I have been concise as you have suggested. I really think I've done a pretty good job. I'm just not sure what helps publishers to show an interest. I know I can't force the interest but there must be a "trick" to getting someone hooked? Maybe not but would be interested in knowing what you would have to say. I like getting the rejections, I mean they egg me on when I get the people that say have merit etc. Anyway, have a great one and thanks again. Awaiting to hear from you.
Ref 148. Response to ref 147: Yes, definitely take any "extra" response from an editor as positive. It means you are getting close. If someone says something positive and suggests anything you might do, pay close attention. Most editors are too busy to do anything but clip on a rejection slip unless something about the story strikes them in a positive way. I'm afraid though that if they feel it just isn't right for their publication, then it isn't right for their publication. I am a bit puzzled by your statement that you describe the story without giving it away. You need to tell exactly what your story is about or it will seem too vague for the editor to tell what it is. Nobody is going to steal it. Give as concise and accurate a description as you can. Be as specific as you can. As far as suggesting the market, unless you have soemthing specific in mind I wouldn't. I never did. As far as saying it will provide an escape for the reader, this is what most books do, so I don't think it's worth mentioning. If you have a brief section of the book that you think is particularly well-written, or a beginning paragraph that you think is an attention-grabber you might include that in your query letter. Might be worth a try. Yes, if editors say you have merit, then that should egg you on. I call those "rave rejections." They don't equal a sale, but they are encouraging. I'm afraid this is about all I can offer. Good luck, Meg
Ref 149. Hi Meg. Now what? I received a handwritten note on "Writer's Guidelines" saying "you're welcome to submit your ms if it meets these criteria. It says that they do not publish and will not consider fiction, poetry and personal accounts. I am not sure about the "personal accounts." My query letter says it's chronicles of letters between a person, me, and a teacher. They go onto say that they will consider books that take fresh slants on old subjects. I think this fits. I mean I did spell it all out in my query letter. This is the part where I am having trouble. They say to submit a proposal send a query letter. If I want to send more than a query letter than send the following: 1. Table of contents (I don't have one). 2. Two-three sample chapters (didn't you say to just do the first 100 pages) My book is not divided into chapters. It is different. Then 3 it says an annotated list of books in print on the subject, explaining how your book differs from the competition (I can do this-note the difference, books in print though that's available at the Library right? 4. A list of potential markets, inlcuding specific organizations, book clubs, and groups of individuals that will buy my book; 5. biographical note which I did and 6. Estimated length and completion date. THey say manuscripts should be typed and double spaced.
I can submit the whole thing which is what I think they gave me permission to do. They want you to do a lot of homework, which I don't mind, but me tell them the markets? Does this sound like a vanity press to you or how does it sound? Do I write something up to answer the questions and send it in? My inclination is just to send the whole manuscript in this time with my query letter which I can redo to spell out clearly using the words that this book differs from others because.... I can say markets like bookstores, schools but include specific organizations? I don't know. What is your take?
Thanks again.
Ref 150. Hey Meg!!!! I am so excited!!!!!! After I got the letter mentioned in the previous one to this, I got a request for Manuscript submission. I am so excited. It is not a publishing contract but it's a "solicited manuscript"!!!! I am so excited. They say allow 3-6 months for a reply. I going to keep sending out my manuscript besides the two I just heard from. I guess what do I "look for now". As long as they don't ask me for money I'm okay right? I guess if they offer me a contract then I should get an agent or attorney right? Ugh! It's exciting but it's also what the heck do you do next. I am jumping for joy just that someone will finally read my book. thanks for answering me. I wish you'd write already. Where are you? I am so excited. Thanks
Ref 151. Here I am. It's always exciting when you make a step forward. I wish you good luck. If they offer you a contract, try to get an agent to look at it first. You won't have a lot of say so on a first contract and if you can't get an agent to take a peek then you might have to just read it carefully yourself and be sure you know what you are signing. Most lawyers don't have much experience with publishing contracts, so might not be too helpful, and probably would be negative. I'm glad you are enjoying this experience. Don't go out an spend the money yet! Good luck, Meg
Ref 152. Response to Ref 149. The one above was response to Ref 150. I'm a little brain dead (can you be a little brain dead) after spending several days at Left Coast Crime Convention in Seattle. Great fun, but I haven't come down to earth yet, forgive me for messing up the order of replies here. I didn't see 149 before I answered 150. I'm not sure I understand all of this letter you received. I've never seen anything like it. It does seem a bit much to expect you to work out the market for them, but then you are writing non-fiction and the only non-fiction I know anything about is writing about writing! Apart from that, I've only written fiction for large publishing houses. So I'm at sea here, I'm afraid. Yes, you can check books in print at your library. I don't think bookstores would qualify as a "possible market" as that's sort of a simplification of the whole thing. I really don't know what to tell you. It's totally outside my area of expertise. Sorry. maybe you can find a book on non-fiction writing in your library? That might give you some clues. I'm clueless, I'm afraid. Best, Meg
Ref 153. hI mEG, I went to the library and the librarians said the same thing that you did. They thought that I was doing their work for them. They told me how to "get around" it etc. So, I mailed off the "solicited" request for my book. I will wait a month and send the one where I have to "work" on the markets etc. The one that I mailed off says to give them 3-6 months for them to review it and decide if theywant to publish it. Does this mean that i should keep mailing off my query letters to more publishers. I mean they haven't said they are giving me a contract...yet. (I have to try and be optimistic). It is so hard to wait sometimes. I am working on the next book, but, it just seems like the time drags on. Do you have more words of wisdom? I haven't spent any money yet. I'm just dreaming that they will pick it up and if they don't I just have to start all over again. It's like being nominated and just having the priviledge of someone reading my work is so exciting. Thanks again.
Ref 154. Response to Ref 153: I don't think I have any more words of wisdom to offer on this. Only you can decide if you want to wait until you hear from this publisher before sending query letters to anyone else. 3-6 months is not an unusual time to wait. I'm often kept waiting 3 months myself on a query, even from publishers I've previously worked with. If you send out a query and someone else wants to look at it for 3-6 months then you might get into a bit of a bind. personally, I'd get going on something else and wait. But that's not necessarily the best approach. It is always hard to wait, but writers spend a lot of their lives waiting for one thing or another. part of the job description. sorry, I can't offer anything more! Meg
Ref 155. Hi Meg. I'm back. My bubble is burst. I didn't even have to wait for a week to get a reply. They said it doesn't fit into their publishing plans at the present time, for their specific interests and real limits of their finances. Then they went on to say that they feel my work deserves further attention, and while we wish you every success in finding the right publisher, you may wish to publish myself. Then they said they'd be happy to give me an estimate for book production. Then they hand wrote a note saying thank you for the very (underlined) touching submission and we very much hope you find a publisher able to fund its production. We recently allocated the rest of our funding for 97, but can still help if I need a bid for self publishing. I bet that's what they intended in the first place. BUt they must have read it, maybe. I mean this is the second publisher to tell me that it is "very touching". Now what? I will send to the other publisher who I have to write a term paper for. I just don'ot understand what to look for. I don't know in this Writer's Market how to tell if they want my money-business as opposed to publishing me. I don't know if I am doing the right thing. Is it just "luck"? I really don't want to give up, not yet. I just don't know what I am not "doing right". Always a bridesmaid never a bride. I know you said it's tough to break through. I don't know, but would appreciate some encouragement from you, if you have it to give. Okay, I'll wait like you said and just keep sending out my query letter. Thanks for your ear.
Ref 159. Sorry I was gone for a couple of days. I'm afraid I don't know anything about reading services, so anything I said would be guesswork and not fair to anyone. I will only answer a question if I absolutely KNOW the answer, or enough about it to give a qualified answer. In this case, I know nothing. I can only state that I have never used a "reading service." I believe if you are going to be a professional writer, you need to take your lumps and learn to write and submit like a professional. There are many books you can buy or borrow from the library on how to write and market. Pick out the ones with the most recent copyright dates. The Writer INc. puts out a handbook every year and publishes how-to books regularly, including my own. The Writer magazine is a good one to read regularly. So is Writers Digest. Writers Digest publishes many books on writing and marketing. Check them out. If you can find a writing course in a local college, one that is not dealing only with great literature, that might be worth your while. Don't expect to publish immediately. If you picked up a violin you wouldn't expect to play the Intermezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana right away. Personally, I would not pay anyone to "read" or "edit" my work. However, I know people who have used such services and say they were helpful. But I cannot speak from my own experience. That's about all I have to offer on the subject. Meg
Ref 161. Meg, I am getting withdrawls. I am playing the waiting game with the second publisher. I'm not sure how long it will take and hopefully they will give me money as opposed to making me pay out of pocket. I have cruised other net writers. Some just really don't care or answer the "guy" way. I am singing your praises cuz if you don't know you say, also you always try to give a positive note. What do you think of the places that advertise that they are looking for writers to write children's books. You have to take an aptitude test. Then enroll in their school. I can't believe that they would tell anyone they had no potential. No business for them! Okay, I get the Violin player and not be expected to play BUT IT IS FRUSTRATING sometimes, to wait or get the "rave rejections" and not know what it is that they are looking for. Anyway, thanks for taking time out of your busy life to give us real answers and not blow us off.
Ref 162. Response to Ref161: I'm afraid waiting is the name of the game in the writing business. I've been waiting three months for a response to a proposal sent through my agent to a publisher and I've no word yet. Meanwhile I work on other projects. Every day, thousands of writers send manuscripts to publishers. Editors spend a lot of their time at work in various meetings, or on the telephone. Many of them do their reading of mss at home. Publishers have cut down on their staff. I'm afraid I have no comfort to offer on this topic, it just takes time to get a response. People who are looking for writers to write children's books and enroll them in a school, are actually looking for people to enroll in their school. Their curriculum may be valid, I don't know enough about individual schools to comment either way, but they cannot possibly, and usually don't, guarantee that you will then sell your work. It seems unlikely that they would turn down any applicant, but I can't swear to that. I did sign up for acorrespondence course when I started writing and I did learn a considerable amount from the instructors, but it was far too expensive and I would not do it again. Writers Digest runs several correspondence courses and I used to be one of their instructors in the short story and I certainly worked hard on the manuscripts that were sent to me and tried to give good value to the students. Individuals have to decide how much they can afford and whether it is worth it to them to take such courses. But don't be fooled by ads that say someone is looking for people to write any kind of books. I agree, it is terribly frustrating to wait or to get rave rejections, or any kind of rejections and not know why, but editors cannot enter into a correspondence with the huge number of people who submit manuscripts. Hence the ubiquitous rejection slip. All any of us can do is to keep writing the best we can, studying what is being published, and then we wait and hope. Meg
Ref 163. Hi Meg. Would publishers be angered if I sent out queries while waiting for an answer from them? I realize that our profession is one that's based on waiting, mostly, but the wait can be tedeously long sometimes. So dear Meg, what do you say? What's the wisest course of action?
Ref 164. Hey Ref 163. As Oprah says, get with the Program. Look at the previous correspondence, she's answered this question. If you still don't understand write her back. SHe's great at giving positive feedback, and if you don't understand she tries to explain, but read the previous letters first. Been there done that. Thanks Meg. I'm still waiting too, and heard you, that's the name of the game.
Ref 165. Response to ref 163: It depends. Nothing like a nice unequivocal answer, huh? If you sent the publisher a full manuscript at their request, don't send anything elsewhere until you hear from the publisher. If you sent the publisher a proposal consisting of synopsis and three sample chapters without a request from them, I would give them some time to respond before sending a query elsewhere. If, however, you sent only a query, you can certainly send query letters to other publishers. This cuts some of the waiting time. The only negative part of this is that you might get a bunch of rejections on the same day. Which can be hard on the ego. Hope this answers your question. If not, feel free to ask again. Good luck. Meg
Ref 166. Ms. Chittenden: I read #132 and find I have the opposite problem.
I have written a children's picture book (900+ words) and
a book for middle readers (10,000+ words). I have begun an adult
techno-thriller novel but doubt I can hold it together the way
I want to for much longer than 10,000 words. I seem more adept
at shorter works. I really want to write this book. My son in law
has written one and is working on a second at 65,000 words.
Are there some places that will accept and publish a short novel?
If so, how many words Minimum do you think is appropriate?
Willis T. Bird
Ref 167. Reply to Ref 166: I'm afraid 10,000 words wouldn't qualify as a novel, or even a novella,anywhere that I know about. It's more like a long short story, which is a bit of a contradiction in terms. I have an idea you just started writing without doing a synopsis and ended up with not enough story. A novel should be at least 65,000 words I would say. You probably need some more subplots--something going on outside the main plot but contributing to it. I used to write short-short stories for Good Housekeepin, about 1200 words, so when I wrote my first novel it ended up about 16,000 words. I tried expanding but that didn't work, then I started looking at the characters and giving them more depth and pretty soon they began talking to me and taking a more active part in the story. Look at each part of your plot and see if you cant add to the danger and difficulty. What you have is a substantial outline, you need to flesh it out with perhaps more people, more action, more story. That's about the best I can do for you. Try to open your mind to more possibilities as you read what you have. I"m pretty sure it's not saleable as is. Good luck, Meg
Ref 168. Hello. I began a romance and ran right into a wall. I believe I took too
much on too fast. I work as a promotional writer full-time, and it's part-time
when I can write. I had the best intentions, but I feel I'm not quite ready
to tackle such a huge task. How did you start initially in the novel-writing
business? (baby steps to big steps?)
Thanks for your help,
Jennifer
Ref 169. Hello. I tried to tackle a novel and wound up trashing the whole thing. It's my
belief I took on too much too soon. Should I begin by writing fiction stories
for magazines? How did you start? Did you just jump right in?
Ref 170. Hi Meg, I guess I'm back with a new set of questions. I like the way that I have written by manuscript. I "fix it up" re edit etc. and was wondering, if it needs work (already had it edited by the Edit Ink and they did do editing cuz I can see it, maybe by college students but it is an improvement-yes I kept stuff in that I didn't agree with.). Anyway, if it ever gets accepted by a publisher, do they also edit it or tell you how to fix it up? When I sent my manuscript to a publisher, in the Writer's market they were listed in the publisher (1996) section. the 1997 version of the book has them in the small press section. They have not sent it back with acceptance or rejection. I have rewritten my query and am a lot happier with it. I didn't know that I had it in me. Do I go ahead and reedit my manuscript again or just wait for a publisher to tell me? Now that I have rewritten my query completely different may I send it back to some of the big name houses that turned me down in the first place or just keep plugging away at the new ones? Thanks again and have a good one.
Ref 171. Response to Ref 168 and 169: Hi Jennifer--your problem is a fairly common one. Maybe that doesn't make you feel better, but it should. The main problem I think is that we all thing we can write. We've been writing something forever, letters, shopping lists, greeting cards... We've also usually been reading forever--most writers have been compulsive readers all their lives, and most of us have had the experience of reading a novel and thinking, Hey, I could do better than that. It's a shock when we find out we maybe can't.
I started out with articles, then wrote short stories for children and for women's magazines, then a children's book, for about four years before I tackled a novel. I learned a lot about writing before I got into novel writing, and I think it helped. On the other hand many many novelists can't write short stories or articles and/or don't want to try. So they just plunge in.
Remember now, there is never one answer to the questions that come up in writing. Writers have different methods. But consider this--some people would not expect to buy a violin, bring it home and play the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana right away. But we often expect to just sit down and write a novel.
If you prefer reading novels to reading anything else, and if you have read a lot of romance novels and enjoy them, then I wouldn't suggest you write short stories first, unless you have some short stories burning to be told. Here are my suggestions, which may or may not work for you.
Did you plan your novel first? (This is a rhetorical question.) If I were to start a novel without planning it first I'd run into a wall too. Some people can just start off and keepgoing, some can't. I can't. I write down all the ideas I have for my novel. Where it is set, what kind of novel it is, whatever I have in my mind about the characters and their occupations. Then I do a lot of research. Into the characters occupations, the setting--I usually go there--any specific knowledge I need for this particular novel. As I research, the storyline forms in my head and I write down whatever comes. I do not start writing yet however. Once I feel I've done enough research and the story is coming clear to me, I write about a fifty page synopsis, a summary of the story, sometimes thirty or forty pages--this is not a rigid amount by any means.
That synopsis then sits by my side as I write the novel. It keeps me on track with the story. I may not stick slavishly to it, but it prevents me from getting lost, or hitting a wall. As I write I rewrite--a lot, especially if something isn't working. When I get through I rewrite a lot more, going over and over the work until I feel it's the best I can do. It takes me 8 months or more to write a novel of around 80,000 words. I often feel like trashing it, but usually, with more work I can rescue it. I think if you go over your ideas for the story again and try the method I've described, it might help you. On my web site I have a writing tip of the month section that is archived every month when the new one is uploaded. You'll find advice there on writing the synopsis and on plotting. http://www.techline.com/~megc/
I hope some of this helps. Good luck, Meg
Ref 172. Response to Ref 170: I'm glad to hear you're happier with your query letter. I'm a great believer in rewriting. however, comes a time to stop and unless you have some brilliant ideas about changing your query letter, I'd leave it alone as well as the manuscript. By all means read the manuscript over and tinker with it if it seems to need it, but if it seems fine to you leave it alone.
You don't say how long the publisher has had your manuscript. It took three months for me to hear from the last proposal I sent out, and it went through my New York agent. So it could take longer for mss that are unagented. No, I would not suggest sending the rewritten query to the same houses you sent the last one too. If they turned down the manuscript, it didn't work for them and a new query letter would not necessarily change their minds. Plug away at new markets and in the meantime, work on something new.
I can't tell you if an editor will want you to rewrite. Usually editors have some ideas they want you to try out. I wouldn't make any major changes before a contract is offered unless you agree with the editor and can see the changes will make a great improvement in your work. Once you've signed a contract, you've usually agreed to make changes if the publisher wants them. Some editors get very involved in the rewrite, some don't. It depends on the publisher's policies and the state of the manuscript. Hope this helps, Meg
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