| Author |
Message |
    
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 517
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 02:35 pm: | 
|
Check out this interesting post by Maurice Broaddus on Blogging in Black:
http://blogginginblack.com/?p=729#comment-25828
My reply is in the comments section. |
Sisg
Veteran Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 303
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 03:21 pm: |
|
Hi Emanuel,
I read the article and it was good, but of course i have to disagree somewhat and also would make comparisons to those who have traditional publishing contracts and are making pennies on the dollar. A lot of people, authors included tend to think that getting that magical contract with the "Traditional Publisher" will set them up to be Eric Jerome Dickey, or Zane...and it just doesn't happen. There are some extremely talented authors out there with 3 or 4 traditionally published books under their belt, trying to hold down two jobs, and can't get another contract, some who have had their contracts revoked...it's not all gravy folks and it's not because they don't write good books...it's because it's a competitive market no matter who's publishing, and it's all about the Benjamins. I just don't see a stigma with being a self-published author anymore, at least you're making up to 40% of the profit on your sales, sure you got to hustle, but no more than the "traditional Published author"...cuz they got to hustle too! As far as distribution goes, he was right the Ingrams of the Distribution World along with a few others won't even look at you if you don't have 10 or more titles...this year i will have a total of 8, so i'm getting there, but you know what was nice. I attended the BEA this year and sat next to an elderly white man who told me why he was there, and how he had been attending for over a decade. I didn't know him from squat, but he told me he was a publisher, started off with as little as 2-3 titles, and grew his title list to 10 by the 2nd year...he said at that time the Distributors sought him out...he encouraged me to stay on task, don't give up...he now has over 400 titles. WE all have to start somewhere. Oh, and my authors book are in bookstores, and shelfs, and one author's book has been selected as "Pick of the Month" at Barnes and Noble in Chicago, ILL. So, for me this is working out, the returns are slow, i've spent more than i received, i don't write as much, and yet...i love it! So from Self-publisher, to Publisher, and yep, i will still submit my novels to agents and traditional publishers...right now, i'm doing it all.
|
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11707
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 06:52 pm: |
|
Writing is like the NBA. Guys got playground skilz, can ball handle and have developed a good jump shot. They're on the varsity team at their local highschool, get a scholarship to college, make all-conference, play on an NCAA team that advances to the Sweet-16, - all the while hoping they will get drafted by the Pros, score a million dollar deal and become a superstar. And fizzzzzz. So much for signing with the Chicago Bulls.  Only the elite make the cut. Just being good ain't good enough. The writer of this blog is in denial. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee.If he self-publishes he can at least have a token to represent the fruits of his labor and a balm to soothe the pain of his rejections, and - he will be in control of his own destiny.
Furthermore, in the publishing business, it could be concluded that unless you become a best-selling author, you're just a worker at a book factory. 
|
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 518
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 09:21 pm: |
|
I wouldn't say he's in denial because his post reads:
"The editor bought the manuscript, however, the line editor revealed just how riddled with errors it had been."
So Maurice has at least sold a manuscript to an editor (which is more than I can say for myself), which helped him reach his goal of getting a traditional deal.
Non-traditional publishing is a sticky situation. You really need to know what you're getting yourself into and how the book business works before investing your own money to have books printed. As I mentioned in my comments, there are times when a writer should choose non-traditional publishing but for the most part it should be a last resort. This is especially true of publishing fiction. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11708
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 09:57 pm: |
|
Was it a book manuscript? Amazing that an editor would buy something riddled with errors. Whatever. Don't pay me any mind, Emanuel. You know I'm just living up to my reputation as a cynic. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11711
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 12:17 pm: |
|
BTW, check out my excursion into the book reviewing territory. http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_lazarus_parable.htm |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2720
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 - 10:26 am: |
|
Nice review, Cynique! I want to take partial credit as one (of many) of the posters on this board who was always telling you that your mini-review posts should be actual full length reviews.  |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11720
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 - 12:11 pm: |
|
Thanks, Yvette. I suspect that you could deliver a good book review, yourself! |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 520
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 01:29 pm: |
|
Thanks Sisg for the comments. You're clearly making non-traditional publishing work for you and even turned it into a profitable venture by publishing other authors. That's definitely a page from the Zane handbook of success. What's interesting is that you're one of those former traditionally-published authors who turned to self-publishing because of the problems you had with a publisher.
I think if more authors who decide to self publish go in with the mindset that all self-published authors are not going to become rich and famous, far less will be disappointed with the process. Also, if self-publishers think more like traditional publishers and realize it takes money to edit and market a book, they may see greater success. Far too many blow their money on the actual production of books and have nothing left to market. What do they do? Spam you, post a million "commercials" on messageboards, and beg for you to buy a book to support them when they should have just saved and budgeted for true, results-oriented marketing.
I believe non-traditional publishing is ideal for non-fiction writers whose goal is not to sell thousands of books but to use the book to secure other financial opportunities (i.e. a contract with a business, speaking engagements, or even as a way to negotiate a higher salary at a job). I don't think subsidy publishing makes a whole lot of sense when you have places like LuLu and Lightning Source that allow you to do it yourself and not split the profits. If I'm going to pay someone to publish my book, I don't want the company's name blazed on the book (an extra turnoff for libraries, bookstores,and buying customers) and I certainly don't want them to make the majority of the money.
Cynique, I love the comment about the book factory worker. That is so true. Like Sisg said, there are several traditionally-published authors with three or more titles out there holding down one or two day jobs. That's a very enlightening fact for the person who may think a traditionally-published book is fast way to fortune. I can't tell you the number of unproven authors I've run into who believe a six-figure deal is just around the corner.
|
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2162
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 03:47 pm: |
|
Sisg,
Very interesting post. You know I agree with you that no matter which route a writer decides to go, you can't sit back and wait for someone to hand success to you. You really have to try to create your own. Yes traditionally published authors have to work just as hard as self published authors to promote and market their books, but the main differencea as I see them are:
the doors that will open for you with a big publshing house name behind your book,
the fact that the big houses have a set list of marketing venues for your genre that is probably much larger than yours,
you are most likely not going to have to spend money out of pocket on storing, shipping, moving your own books, and other business end type things.
And any promotional/marketing expenses you incur can be largely mitigated by the advance paid to you by your publisher.
So while I don't necessarily believe that one road leads to success any quicker or easier than the other, I do believe that having a major publisher backing you probably gives you a head start and has it's advantages. Otherwise, you wouldn't see so many writers who start out as self-publishers taking contracts from the major publishing houses when it's offered to them. IMO |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 521
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 04:50 pm: |
|
I agree 100% a_womon. I even believe there is a hierarchy in publishing that goes like this:
1. Traditional large publishing house
2. Traditional small press
3. True self publishing
4. Subsidy publishing
All writers who know anything about the business want to be at the top of the food chain because of all of the things you mentioned and including distribution. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2163
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 05:27 pm: |
|
Thanks Emanuel,
I forgot to mention that I also agree that there are some very talented writers out there that fail to be picked up by traditional publishers. No one knows for sure why one writer gets picked up and another who may be more skilled in the craft, and a great storyteller, doesn't. Maybe the more skilled writer gave up too quickly. Maybe they didn't think that their work needed revisions that may have been suggested. Maybe it's none of the above, and just a matter of timing, or divine intervention, or maybe a little bit of both--who knows? But one thing is for sure, I live by the advice that a very well known author gave me:
NEVER GIVE UP! No matter what. Maybe those who gave up would have made it if they had been patient and perservered just a little while longer...
(Great newsletter by the way!) |
Sisg
Veteran Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 304
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 07:58 pm: |
|
To A_womon and Emanuel
I have not given up on traditional publishing, not by a longshot...but i refuse to sit back and wait on someone to say my work is worthy of publishing...i am in a sense "thinking outside of the box"...creating new ways to expose myself, my work, my brand to the world...keeping my name out there until that blessed day comes. Working by faith...that faith of a mustard seed, that faith that keeps me going and opens up doors everyday...and yes Emmanuel following the works of Zane and others who have forged ahead, not knowing the outcome but knowing that we do indeed have something worthy to share. Trad publishing would be my 1st choice, but until then i will forge ahead and try to get my work out there, fishing until something catches. And like A_womon says...I promise to NEVER GIVE UP! |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2166
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 09:19 pm: |
|
Sisg,
Go 'head on witcha bad self! I hear you! I am so looking forward to meeting you this August at the National Book Club Convention!
And remember, if I can do ANYTHING to help you, just let me know! Keep the faith, lady! |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 522
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 11:13 pm: |
|
Maybe the more skilled writer gave up too quickly. Maybe they didn't think that their work needed revisions that may have been suggested. Maybe it's none of the above, and just a matter of timing, or divine intervention, or maybe a little bit of both.
I've pondered this very same subject for years. Many writers simply fear rejection and do not want to empower someone like a literary agent or an editor to deem them worthy of publishing. It amazes me how so many authors believe you're supposed to pay someone to publish your book instead of it being the other way around. Many have no idea what a query letter is.
Let's keep in mind that some editors have rejected gems (Remember that story about the editors rejected classic bestselling novels?)and some traditionally-published authors have been burned by publishers who have no paid them their royalties. No wonder some writers do not trust the big bad machine of publishing.
Getting traditionally published does take skill, tenacity, bravery but I imagine there is a certain amount of luck or divine intervention involved that would cause a writer to be at the right place at the right time or to send a manuscript to the right editor in the right mood.
One writer told me she simply got tired of spending all that money on postage, mailing query letters and chapters to manuscripts, only to get rejection after rejection. She felt the money she spent on postage could have easily been spent on self publishing. (Perhaps that money could have been spent on developing her craft as well.) At some point a writer must say this has gone on too long; I either need to shelf this project or find alternate ways of getting it published.
As for me, I will shelf any new fiction projects that are not picked up traditionally (including small presses and non-subsidy upstarts) because distribution, mainstream acceptance, some help with marketing, and not being the publisher/shipper is important. I'll workshop it, ask for critique in a writers group, and hire a professional editor to straighten it out. And if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11753
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 01:02 am: |
|
What is the goal of the driven writer who will "never give up"? Is it fame and fortune? Validation? Admiration? A need to have what you write, read? At what point does a wish for success become a craving?
Of course, people in all fields want to make it big. Why? Because mere self-fullfilment is apparently not enough. Self-esteem is more demanding. Oh yeah, being rich is better than being poor.
Everybody who chases a dream is on an ego trip. But some people's egos are bigger than others. Ya think?
|
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2169
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 06:28 am: |
|
I'll workshop it, ask for critique in a writers group, and hire a professional editor to straighten it out. And if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.
Workshops are a good idea, Emanuel. And many of the big book conventions have publishers and editors attending that you can reserve personal time with to pitch your manuscript. Some will even critique it for you, even if they don't request your manuscript, which can be an invaluable tool, as well. I imagine that some writers grow weary of all the rejections and it can be a dream inflator. But as you mentioned it all depends on how much you want it. The guys that wrote "Chicken Soup For The Soul" were initially rejected over 100 times before they were finally picked up!" |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2172
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 07:36 am: |
|
and it can be a dream inflator
I meant "dream deflator |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 113
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 09:30 am: |
|
The guys that wrote "Chicken Soup For The Soul" were initially rejected over 100 times before they were finally picked up!
I've always been encouraged by pieces like the one The Missouri Review ran years ago with famous rejections (rejections of books that went on to become classics). They had the actual in-house notes from a particular publisher (I forget which), picking apart books by James Baldwin and others that someone else later thought would be publishing gold.
In a similar vein, in order to drive home this point about the fickleness of publishing, several writers have sent in copies of their own already successfully published mss and/or typed up mss of already published classics--sent these in to publishing houses and had them rejected! It just goes to show...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_page_id=1770&in _article_id=469342
And sometimes it's about fickleness, and sometimes it's about fit. It's important to find a publisher (or in the case of articles or short fiction, finding a magazine or journal), that is a good fit for what you've written. |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 527
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 10:28 am: |
|
Cynique,
I imagine making it big in book writing has its challenges. The deadlines. The hectic travel schedule. The pyscho fans and the "I'm a writer too" folks looking to get a hookup. I look at writers like Eric Jerome Dickey crank out two or three full-length novels a year a wonder how the heck they do it when I can barely see myself writing one novel every two years. I imagine it's required to live 100% off of book writing though.
Not every writer has the same goals; that's for sure. I went above and beyond my goals in regards to my self-published business book because the goal was to show expertise and get clients for my business not sell books. It worked too.
Examining what you want to accomplish is very important and will determine what means you use to get published. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2173
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 12:48 pm: |
|
... and sometimes it's about fit. It's important to find a publisher (or in the case of articles or short fiction, finding a magazine or journal), that is a good fit for what you've written.
Ferociouskitty,
This is so very true! I would say that this is one of the top five reasons writers get rejection slips---not finding an agent/editor that is the right fit for you and your manuscript.
Getting your manuscript or article into the right hands greatly increases the odds of being picked up by a major publishing house or magazine.
Some writers don't realize that just because an agent/editor on the internet says they are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts doesn't necessarily mean they are accepting manuscripts in your particular genre. So soliciting a street lit manuscript to an agent/editor who only represents/ accepts mysteries, or historical fiction is going to get you nothing but a rejection letter.
|
Enchanted
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Enchanted
Post Number: 1227
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 01:57 pm: |
|
QUOTE EMANUEL: I look at writers like Eric Jerome Dickey crank out two or three full-length novels a year a wonder how the heck they do it when I can barely see myself writing one novel every two years.
tru writers Emanuel hav usully completed full novels back in high shool
by the time they get signed they alreddy had
6 manuscrps
they simply RE-tool the manuscrp an
update it
they might take 2 mansucps an combine
whats good in each ot make 1 good book
Eric Dickey is one of these
been writng whole books since him was 14
got tons of stuf
AND
the man is actully a very strong storytellr
he writes total pop fiction but his skill
is mutch bettr than averj
Go to Wikipeida and look up Joyce Carol Oates
Bibliography
be prpared to choke on 5 books a year!
AND
she won National Book Award other prizes
its becaus she said she had written 12 books
becore she was ever publshed
writers who love to write hav a headstart |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 116
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 02:02 pm: |
|
Some writers don't realize that just because an agent/editor on the internet says they are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts doesn't necessarily mean they are accepting manuscripts in your particular genre.
Hello!
I have a friend who is a lit agent, and when I point people in his direction I always do so with the caveat..."and he may not be interested in your genre/topic, but he might be able to point you in the direction of someone might be." |
Wrath_white
First Time Poster
Username: Wrath_white
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 12:42 am: |
|
Earlier in the thread someone questioned Maurice's success as a writer. Well, success is relative. If you count success as having sold stories at pro-rate to some of the industry's top paying magazines then Maurice is a success. If you count it as having a bestselling novel then less than one percent of all working authors are successful.
Maurice is actually a pretty successful writer by many standards though he's definitely more of an up and comer (like myself) than an established author. He takes his time and gets his stories placed in the right magazines, the top-selling, top-paying magazines, rather than selling to the lower paying markets. These lower-paying markets may have seen him get more sales, more quickly, but they definitely would have been less prestigious ones with less exposure and done much less for his reputation as an author. As such, he has developed a great reputation as a true professional. I say all of that to say this: his reputation as a true professional who has paid his dues and come up through the publishing ranks the hard way has earned him a great deal of respect in the publishing world amongst writers and editors alike. Self-publishing, right or wrong, has the opposite effect. It is one way to almost guarantee that you will not be taken seriously as a writer. Editors, publishers, reviewers, and other writers look down on it as the lazy man's way to cheat his way into publication without paying his dues. I'm not saying that such a point of view is accurate or fair. I'm sure we could all name some very talented well-respected writers who have gone the self-publishing route. John Grisham comes to mind, but remember he was a lawyer who spent $60,000 of his own money to promote his book. Still, fair or not, that is what you would be up against if you were to self-publish. As Maurice said, if you are just a hobbyist who just wants a trinket or token of his efforts or if you have a built in audience or some other reason for self-publishing other than making a name for yourself in the publishing industry and becoming a respected author, than self-publishing may be for you. If you are truly trying to break into this industry, I would advise against it.
Some background on myself. I didn't go Maurice's route and only publish in the most respected magazines. I sold stories to anyone who would pay me for it and many that didn't. I got my name out there, which was my goal but I also gave away a lot of material that I will never again be able to sell for first rights. In other words, I gave money away. I was lucky enough that my writing style is so extreme that people took notice of it even in the crappy little magazines that I was getting published in. Eventually, I even managed to sell to one or two of the top magazines and even sold novels and novella's to some reputable small press publishers, slowly built my name up, and was able to start a bit of a buzz. Now, at long last, I finally did get that major mass-market book deal.
I can tell you that even though I wasn't self-publishing, the fact that I was publishing material in these fly-by-night magazines did jade a lot of people toward my work. I changed tactics in midstream and started aiming higher which, I do believe, saved my ass. If I had continued selling myself short, everyone else probably would have as well. And Maurice was one of the ones who always criticized me for giving my stuff away.
Oh, and editors do pick up writers even though their work may be riddled with errors. As long as you have some grasp of grammar no one expects you to be perfect. That's why they higher copy-editors. I'm sure everything I have published has had three times the errors of anything Maurice has published but somehow the editors still like me. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11756
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 01:58 am: |
|
First thing I was told when I decided to write a book was to forget about submitting "over-the-transom" manuscripts, and that perusing the pages of Writers Digest, trying to find a fit with a publisher was an exercise in futility. So I never wasted my time repeatedly sending out the manuscripts that would generate rejection slips. Others also advised me to get an agent, and I did explore this route via the agent listings in Writers Digest, but I never received any replies.
Before this, back in the 70s, after having a couple of essays I submitted to the OpEd pages in one of Chicago's newspapers accepted, I inquired about writing a regular column on the black experience, and much to my surprise they agreed, giving me a bi-monthly by-line, probably because my having written so many provocative letters-to-the-editor, made my name a familiar one to readers of the paper. This was a tailor-made gig for me, because I had a word limit, and I am not a verbose writer.
During the 60s was when I produced my first book, pounding it out on a manual typewriter, struggling with messy carbon paper and ink erasers, totally discouraged by the tedious process. And naive person that I was, I sent the finished product off to a literary agency that charged money to evaluate manuscripts, promising to shape them up and get them published. The fee for this was 35 dollars. Well, in about 3-weeks time, I received a letter from one of the agents. He told me that my writing had great potential and that he liked the characters I had drawn, which was why he wanted to forego the usual pitch and tell me that books about black people stood very little chance of getting published. He said that this was a sad but true fact of life, but that maybe one day this would change and for me to hold on to my dream or - to try my hand at writing a book with white characters. Needess to say this wasn't an option since I knew that the cardinal rule for beginning writers was to write about what you knew. Plus, I had a full-time job and a bunch of kids so I just put my book-writing aspirations on hold.
Years later when I retired, I dug out this old manuscript and, encouraged by what a facilitator a word processor was, I re-vamped it and made self-publication a project. I subequently did 3 more books in this manner, because these self-indulgent little endeavors were great receptacles for my creative juices. I know from some reader feed-back that my novels could benefit from being lengthened and better-developed but - what the f u c k, re-writing them would be too much trouble.  I'm done. At least until I make up my mind about resurrecting a novel I have lying-in-state on my word-processor.
So, we do all have different writing histories and experiences.
|
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11760
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 03:03 am: |
|
So how long will Maurice wait for his book(?) to be picked up by a traditional publisher? Why hasn't his reputation as a respected writer garnered him some clout and connections in the publishing world? Just askin. |
Wrath_white
Newbie Poster
Username: Wrath_white
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 01:21 pm: |
|
Well, it has garnered him connections in the publishing world. He is "out of the slush pile" so to speak. You know, that to-be-read pile that all editors have where they stick authors they have never heard of to read when and if they ever get around to it. One editor told me that at the publishing house he works at they average three hundred manuscript submissions per editor per month. I would imagine that slush pile is sometimes hundreds of manuscripts high with assistant editors giving the manuscripts the first three pages test and then sending the large majority of them back without an editor ever seeing them. Not being in that pile and getting an editor to actually read the first page is an accomplishment. Maurice has now gotten to the point where an editor would read his book and give him feedback on it which is just one step away from an acceptance. How long will he wait for that acceptance? As long as it takes I would imagine. Rejection is part of the process if you are a writer and so is perseverance. I waited seven years to get my mass-market deal. My manuscript sat on an editor's desk for two years before he even acknowledged it but at least it wasn't in the slush pile. Then I had to do a rewrite before it was finally accepted six months later. This mind-numblingly slow pace is the life of a writer.
|
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11765
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 01:32 pm: |
|
Mind-numbing is right. Sounds like the lesson here is to write a book that won't be out of date if and when it gets published. |
Latimer
Regular Poster
Username: Latimer
Post Number: 17
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 11:38 am: |
|
Ferociousskitty.
Please write properly. Your sentence should read: The guys (who) wrote....... instead of(the guys (that) wrote |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 125
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 12:01 pm: |
|
Grammar Police aka Latimer:
Please read properly. I was quoting A_womon. That's what the italics means, since you apparently need a primer.
But keep looking. I'm sure you'll find examples of my improper writing elsewhere. Enjoy. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11778
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 12:55 pm: |
|
Latimer! That's a chalk on the blackboard screecher for me, too, when people use the wrong pronoun and refer to a person as a that instead of a who. Or when they go even further and say, for instance: It's a girl that I know, instead of there's a girl who I know.
|
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2174
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 05:48 pm: |
|
Blah blah blah, there isn't a person on this entire board who hasn't made a grammatical error of some type at one time or another. SO. WHAT? Are the grammar police paying posters by the word or by the paragraph? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11793
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 05:52 pm: |
|
But we like to think that people who write for a living know better. Or if it makes you more comfortable, people "that" write for a living... |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 127
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 06:17 pm: |
|
We might know better, but to err is human... ;-)
I constantly misuse "that", "who", and "which." Thank God for copy editors! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11794
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 06:43 pm: |
|
Good thing you're not a baseball player!  |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2175
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 11:38 pm: |
|
We might know better, but to err is human... ;-)
I constantly misuse "that", "who", and "which." Thank God for copy editors!
Amen! Thank God for women like you that understand this truth. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11798
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 12:22 am: |
|
There's no excuse for professionals to constantly make the same mistake. I think FK, our Yale grad, is just poking fun at herself. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2176
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 06:23 am: |
|
No one here that needs to make an excuse. This isn't a scholarly institute--it is a message board. Most people who post to a forum such as this usually are posting their thoughts and most don't have as much time, nor the inclination to proof and re-proof a simple post. We are here to express our thoughts not prove to anyone how grammatically perfect we can be.
Anyone with a mind to could dissect all the split infinitives, the non-agreement of nouns, verbs and adverbs in sentences, as well as the use of double negatives,etc.that float around on this board. But who has time to do all of that? And furthermore, WHO.CARES? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11801
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 10:58 am: |
|
I'm sure "enchanted" would agree with you, a-womon. But practice makes perfect, and it's to everybody's advantage to get into the habit of using correct grammar - if they want to be taken seriously.
If you don't care, then act like it. No long excuse is necesssary to explain why you don't have to make excuses. |
|
Email This Page