tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post3802998231237004961..comments2021-05-31T21:22:48.406-05:00Comments on word-crafting: a writer's blog: The Long Road to Getting PublishedDeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-49058703379481015742013-03-26T22:45:02.947-05:002013-03-26T22:45:02.947-05:00Dear Perpetua, thanks so much for sharing that the...Dear Perpetua, thanks so much for sharing that the pitch captured your attention. I do think it works. I have decided to begin the manuscript with a more immediate chapter. As I explained in an earlier response to a comment, a frieind who has authored two historical novels and had them published by HarperCollins is now reading the ms and her suggestions will, I'm sure, help me greatly.<br /><br />I'm going to let go of this manuscript for the next few weeks and just give that friend a chance to read and respond. I'll send out no new queries. Instead I'll concentrate on the Bronze-Age Greece novel. <br /><br />Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, Perpetua. I value them. Peace.<br /><br />Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-76396174922030032142013-03-26T17:47:26.482-05:002013-03-26T17:47:26.482-05:00Dee, I find your pitch catches my interest and enc...Dee, I find your pitch catches my interest and encapsulates your novel's themes very well. But I think you should trust your writer's instincts. If you feel the opening chapter limps, it sounds like you may want to look at it yet again. In the meantime, from what Kathy and others have said it sounds like it's far too early to despair at not having heard back. <br /><br />Be strong, dear Dee, we're all here supporting you and willing you to succeed.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-2304963847267143182013-03-26T13:39:40.046-05:002013-03-26T13:39:40.046-05:00Dear Inger, I'm so looking forward to hearing ...Dear Inger, I'm so looking forward to hearing back from the friend/published historical author to whom I sent the manuscript yesterday. Now that I've worked on it and started it with an action chapter, I hope that it works better. I'm going to wait to hear back from her before sending out any more e-queries. Thanks for your continued support. You are such a good friend. Peace. Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-37880989199063884412013-03-26T13:10:00.556-05:002013-03-26T13:10:00.556-05:00This is not an easy process, is it? I know the boo...This is not an easy process, is it? I know the book must be very good, because I know now how you write. I really want to read it, so I hope someone will come to their senses and pick it up. Maybe you are on to something about that first chapter.Ingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02924736131382149056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-17564875464009033562013-03-26T13:08:06.345-05:002013-03-26T13:08:06.345-05:00Dear Murr, so glad to hear from you and to learn a...Dear Murr, so glad to hear from you and to learn about others out there in the far-flung galaxy of writing who are experiencing the same pangs and woes! Let's support one another in this effort. That's all part of the Oneness of All Creation of which you and your two novels and I and the two I'm working on are a part. <br /><br />And yes, like you I gladly welcome even the rejection letters because those are words and not the void! Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-44278372228052072182013-03-26T12:52:14.432-05:002013-03-26T12:52:14.432-05:00Oh yes. I didn't query many agents for my firs...Oh yes. I didn't query many agents for my first novel, because I got an idea for a second novel and that seemed more fun to write. But I always had that nagging suspicion that the first pages wouldn't snare the reader. I knew I was in trouble when an agent asked for "the first (x) pages" and I wanted to put in: "you really need to get past page 50 for this to kick into high gear." Not the best. But I love that novel.<br /><br />Now I'm in the same fix as you, querying agents with my second novel, which theoretically should be an easier sell. I would agree that you should not assume you are not getting a response in such a short period of time. Although I've gotten to the point that I'm happy just to GET a rejection letter because it's so much more preferable than...nothing.Murr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-64062910017322277132013-03-25T21:20:26.194-05:002013-03-25T21:20:26.194-05:00Dear EC, your "heartfelt good wishes" ar...Dear EC, your "heartfelt good wishes" are all I ask. I trust that he Universe will bring about what's best for me and for my writing. Just as I trust that you are taking care of yourself. Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-38918952886133021502013-03-25T21:19:24.804-05:002013-03-25T21:19:24.804-05:00Dear Shelly, Kathy's sharing of her own experi...Dear Shelly, Kathy's sharing of her own experience really does give me hope. A friend is reading the ms and I hope she'll be finished by mid-April. If so, that's when I'll start sending out queries again. And maybe.....just maybe....I'll get a positive response from one of the four whom I've already queried. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm. Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-67692276036206305342013-03-25T21:17:32.967-05:002013-03-25T21:17:32.967-05:00Dear Kathy, thanks for your sharing your thoughts ...Dear Kathy, thanks for your sharing your thoughts on how long agents may take to respond. I've printed the ms. and sent it to a friend who's had two historical novels published. I look forward to her thoughts on whether the plot works and the suspense draws the reader forward. <br /><br />I'm so pleased that the query letter has prompted you to say that the novel "sounds wonderful"!!!!! That makes my day. Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-78913391479679382702013-03-25T21:15:52.491-05:002013-03-25T21:15:52.491-05:00Dear Janie, I did work on the manuscript yesterday...Dear Janie, I did work on the manuscript yesterday and today (Monday) and began it at a different place. I'm hoping that the scene at the Jordan will capture the reader's interest. Thanks for saying that you liked the query. Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-43276431053272946412013-03-25T21:14:50.668-05:002013-03-25T21:14:50.668-05:00Dear Elisa, a friend, who's had two historical...Dear Elisa, a friend, who's had two historical novels published, is going to read the manuscript and share her thoughts with me. I'm going to wait to send out any additional e-queries until I hear back from her. Thanks for all your support! Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-69520000119927945142013-03-25T02:21:54.007-05:002013-03-25T02:21:54.007-05:00In addition to admiring (so much) your writing ski...In addition to admiring (so much) your writing skills, I am also in awe of your determination. You are way outside any area where I can claim expertise so all I can do is send heartfelt good wishes your way.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-39439516700779705342013-03-24T22:15:33.761-05:002013-03-24T22:15:33.761-05:00Although I have very little knowledge of this proc...Although I have very little knowledge of this process, I do feel like Dr. Kathy that they move very slowly. I wouldn't count out the ones you've already sent. <br /><br />I do hope this will bring a fruitful harvest. I can't wait to read those new books!Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930262815304757150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-2979355284139588502013-03-24T20:47:54.394-05:002013-03-24T20:47:54.394-05:00Agents and editors can be glacier-ally slow in get...Agents and editors can be glacier-ally slow in getting back to you, Dee. When I was freelancing full-time years ago, it would sometimes take weeks or even a month or two to hear good news or bad. You would think that in this era of email and electronic submissions, things would speed up, but it seems not to be the case. <br /><br />Even my agent -- who encouraged me to write a proposal on therapy cats -- took several weeks to get back to me, saying then how much he liked it and was going to send it out right away. He said that many of his clients were following New Year's resolutions and inundating him with proposals, thus the delay.<br /><br />So the lack of an immediate response doesn't necessarily mean rejection or lack of interest. The same is true with editors these days, too, of course with leaner staff at publishing houses. And before they make any buying decisions, there are meetings with marketing and sales departments, etc. So it's never as quick a process as any of us would like. <br /><br />Please don't get discouraged! I think your novel sounds wonderful!Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-72802922129316293362013-03-24T20:13:18.761-05:002013-03-24T20:13:18.761-05:00I don't know what to tell you. Your query seem...I don't know what to tell you. Your query seems excellent to me, but I'm not an agent. Perhaps I have better taste than they do. But if you have nagging doubts about your first chapter, then you're probably right that you need to make changes. Do you have any methods that help you form ideas? For me, ideas usually pop up when I'm not thinking about what to write. <br /><br />Love,<br />JanieJanie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314412371410706361.post-35154072661050227922013-03-24T19:14:43.097-05:002013-03-24T19:14:43.097-05:00I hope queries will go well with the remaining age...I hope queries will go well with the remaining agents. I so admire you for all of your perseverance and strength. You're such a gifted writer and amazing woman!Crazy Life of a Writing Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064939499412649850noreply@blogger.com