Many folk are taking the self-publishing route. In other words, they sign up with iUniverse, AuthorHouse, Lulu, PublishAmerica, etc and get the book PRINTED. Notice that I said PRINTED and not PUBLISHED. These outfits print your book, give you your 10 free copies and send you on your way. They do not market your book. In fact, they do not even truly edit your book unless you pay an extra fee.
I'm starting a newsletter that addresses these and other issues. Don't worry, it is free. Just send me your email address and I'll put you on the list.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Why Writers Hire Me To Evaluate Novels and Proposals
It has never been a literary agent's job (nor do they have the time) to give writers a page-by-page analysis of what is working or not working in a manuscript or book proposal. So, they send out various forms of rejection letters. These letters (while necessary) do not give you any idea what the real reasons are for the rejection or how to fix it.
Book publishers operate in the same manner. When I was acquiring projects as a Random House Senior Editor, I received at least 60 packages per day. First, I sorted them. The unagented manuscripts went to my assistant for a first reading. I never saw most of them again because they were simply not publishable. I read enough of the agented submissions to decide whether I wanted to see more of the writer's work or not.
Because of the recession, agents and publishers are buying fewer projects. They are also uninterested in taking on projects that require a great deal of work......unless the writer is a celebrity.
Book publishers operate in the same manner. When I was acquiring projects as a Random House Senior Editor, I received at least 60 packages per day. First, I sorted them. The unagented manuscripts went to my assistant for a first reading. I never saw most of them again because they were simply not publishable. I read enough of the agented submissions to decide whether I wanted to see more of the writer's work or not.
Because of the recession, agents and publishers are buying fewer projects. They are also uninterested in taking on projects that require a great deal of work......unless the writer is a celebrity.
Link
Dear Writers:
Someone pointed out that my website (www.diggseditorialservices.com) should have a link to this blog.
I'll contact my techie guy and get it done.
Thanks for the feedback!
Someone pointed out that my website (www.diggseditorialservices.com) should have a link to this blog.
I'll contact my techie guy and get it done.
Thanks for the feedback!
Note from The Prodigal Sun
The Prodigal Gun has left a new comment on your post "Spelling":
Unacceptable? I am so fed up with agents, It is my belief that the writers of the world would be better off without them. Let me see you write a book. Have you ever thought that maybe that woman will be the next Anne Rice or Stephanie Mayer? That would be tuff luck, I am sorry, "tough" luck on your part. :)
Hi Prodigal:
Yes, I have written several books. A Mighty Love, A Meeting in the Ladies Room and The Other Side of the Game. All were published by Kensington Books.
Yes, that woman might be the next Anne Rice or Stephanie Mayer. Unfortunately, the world may never know because many agents and publishers will never get past the query letter.
Unacceptable? I am so fed up with agents, It is my belief that the writers of the world would be better off without them. Let me see you write a book. Have you ever thought that maybe that woman will be the next Anne Rice or Stephanie Mayer? That would be tuff luck, I am sorry, "tough" luck on your part. :)
Hi Prodigal:
Yes, I have written several books. A Mighty Love, A Meeting in the Ladies Room and The Other Side of the Game. All were published by Kensington Books.
Yes, that woman might be the next Anne Rice or Stephanie Mayer. Unfortunately, the world may never know because many agents and publishers will never get past the query letter.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
BUT IT REALLY HAPPENED!
Do Not Use These Four Words
The novelist is often inspired by an event that has occurred in real life or by a person who really exists. His job is to take that event or personality and rework it to create a fictional world that SEEMS real. However, many novelists do not use the creative license that would make the story come alive for the reader. When the manuscript is rejected because the plot or characterization does not work, the amateur novelist screams the four words that will forever stop him from landing a book contract...BUT IT REALLY HAPPENED! Let's say (for example) that your Aunt Betty was married 18 times, had six children, adopted ten more, survived 12 house fires, nine sexual assaults and seventeen serious muggings. Instead of crowding all of this into a 300-page manuscript and asking an agent to take it on, why not use your imagination and creative license? Maybe you could tell the story of a woman who married twice, sustained a serious injury in ONE mugging and still raised five successful children despite a terrible physical disability? Get it? It does not matter what REALLY HAPPENED in real life. The only thing which matters is whether your story is believable or not.
The novelist is often inspired by an event that has occurred in real life or by a person who really exists. His job is to take that event or personality and rework it to create a fictional world that SEEMS real. However, many novelists do not use the creative license that would make the story come alive for the reader. When the manuscript is rejected because the plot or characterization does not work, the amateur novelist screams the four words that will forever stop him from landing a book contract...BUT IT REALLY HAPPENED! Let's say (for example) that your Aunt Betty was married 18 times, had six children, adopted ten more, survived 12 house fires, nine sexual assaults and seventeen serious muggings. Instead of crowding all of this into a 300-page manuscript and asking an agent to take it on, why not use your imagination and creative license? Maybe you could tell the story of a woman who married twice, sustained a serious injury in ONE mugging and still raised five successful children despite a terrible physical disability? Get it? It does not matter what REALLY HAPPENED in real life. The only thing which matters is whether your story is believable or not.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Spelling
Dear Writers:
I received a query letter last week from an aspiring novelist who does not know how to spell. She wrote "summit" when she meant "submit." She wrote "habbit" when she really meant "habit."
This is really unacceptable. How can she possibly get an agent?
Please buy and use the following books:
1. Elements of Style by Strunk and White
2. A Dictionary
3. A Thesaurus
I received a query letter last week from an aspiring novelist who does not know how to spell. She wrote "summit" when she meant "submit." She wrote "habbit" when she really meant "habit."
This is really unacceptable. How can she possibly get an agent?
Please buy and use the following books:
1. Elements of Style by Strunk and White
2. A Dictionary
3. A Thesaurus
Friday, January 30, 2009
PLOT
Dear Writers:
Last night I reached Page 50 of a manuscript and still did not know what the heck it was about. When I called the author, I was told that he was setting the stage for the action to come. What? Is this what they're teaching in creative writing classes now? I gently guided my writer off the road called Self Indulgence and back on to Hope To Stand a Chance of Getting Published Street. But I'm worried. I'm seeing a lot of this and the source (a book? an instructor?) must be tracked down and corrected.
Last night I reached Page 50 of a manuscript and still did not know what the heck it was about. When I called the author, I was told that he was setting the stage for the action to come. What? Is this what they're teaching in creative writing classes now? I gently guided my writer off the road called Self Indulgence and back on to Hope To Stand a Chance of Getting Published Street. But I'm worried. I'm seeing a lot of this and the source (a book? an instructor?) must be tracked down and corrected.
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