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Writing

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

20. I was in a writing workshop about two decades ago, and a

Reply to mainer (Reply #19)

Sat Jul 14, 2012, 09:16 PM

Jul 2012

well-known author-editor of the genre (the genre was science fiction, the author editor Fred Pohl) who was also looking over our work, told one of us quite bluntly that if the story we were looking at had been submitted to him for publication, he would not have read past the first page. Here, in this workshop, he was going to read the entire thing and offer his suggestions, but his bluntness about the fact that the professional editors are not going to be as forgiving as one's friends and family, was important.

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So I wrote the manuscript, the query and the synopsis. [View all] Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 OP

Marketing: Self published and Pubishing Houses PATRICK Jul 2012 #1

Thanks. One way or another, my manuscript will be published Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #2

I disagree. For a first novel, legacy publishing makes you stand out. mainer Jul 2012 #3

I am going to make the attempt to get the agent. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #4

A few no-nos on queries mainer Jul 2012 #5

That's spot on. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #6

About queries: focus on the main character and his/her primary crisis mainer Jul 2012 #7

Hopefully I have accomplished that. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #8

Multiply published (legacy publisher) in fiction. mainer Jul 2012 #9

Congratulations on your success! Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #10

If you have any specific questions, post them. mainer Jul 2012 #11

Well, the question that I hesitated asking because I thought it was rude... Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #12

"Legacy publishing" is a new-ish term, to distinguish it from self-publishing mainer Jul 2012 #13

Thank you so much mainer! Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #14

It has been my experience that there is a very good reason SheilaT Jul 2012 #15

Which is why readers will eventually move back to traditionally published books. mainer Jul 2012 #16

Yep. SheilaT Jul 2012 #17

Yes PATRICK Jul 2012 #18

Agents DO read queries. mainer Jul 2012 #19

I was in a writing workshop about two decades ago, and a SheilaT Jul 2012 #20

In answer to your question about proposals... sybylla Jul 2012 #21

Thanks sybylla: Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #22

If you are planning to send this to an agent, I wouldn't send a first draft. pnwmom Aug 2012 #23

I've been writing manuscripts for so long that I edit as I go along. Baitball Blogger Aug 2012 #24

Fiction Proposal Electrominuette Aug 2012 #25