Novelists (Struggling or Not)

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Novelists - published or not - chatting about beginnings, muddy middles, dang endings, what to do with it all. Please don't shout (all caps, big images) or post links on the main wall except as part of the conversation. Please do include modestly sized covers in "Our Published Novels"!

Location: fiction
Members: 2007
Latest Activity: on Friday

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Our Monthly Virtual Water Cooler

Gather for a real-tiime chat on the first Wednesday of each month at 1 EST for topic-based discussions about writing and publishing novels. To join us, just log into She Writes and click on the "Main Room" at the bottom right of your page. It will pop up the "Main Room" box, with the ongoing chat and a place to speak up yourself. If no one is chatting when you arrive, do just say hello.

Meg

April 3 at 1 EST: Submission and Marketing Tips

Discussion Forum

Our Published Novels!

Started by Meg Waite Clayton. Last reply by Jaye Viner on Friday. 516 Replies 22 Likes

I've noticed quite a few names I recognize around here. If you've published a novel or have one coming soon, do tell us about it here. Please feel free to put up a cover, but do please try to keep it…Continue

Tags: novelist, publish, novels

Finding an Editor for WIP

Started by Leanne Sparks. Last reply by Yolanda Renee May 12. 22 Replies 0 Likes

So, everything I have read indicates that it is imperative to have your WIP looked over by a professional prior to submitting to agents/publishers. Any good advice on how to find a reputable editor?…Continue

My First Book

Started by Ashley LaMar. Last reply by Ashley LaMar May 9. 18 Replies 1 Like

Hello Everyone,My name is Ashley and I am considering writing my first novel. I run a book review website (Closed the Cover) and I have…Continue

Tags: New, Author, Block, Writer's, Book

Any writers want to participate in The Next Big Thing Blog hop and write about their novels or WIP?

Started by T. D. Hassett. Last reply by T. D. Hassett May 7. 18 Replies 0 Likes

The rules are very simple:Here are the rules:• You post on your own blog or as a guest blogger on someone else's, and then invite others to participate.• Respond to the ten questions below about…Continue

Tags: TD, Hassett, writing, authors, hop

Free downloads on Kindle -- Does it work?

Started by Paulita Kincer. Last reply by Kathleen Kern May 7. 52 Replies 0 Likes

So, following the advice I heard on a SheWrites webinar, I offered my novel, The Summer of France, free on Kindle this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Before the free offering, I was ranked an abyssmal…Continue

Tags: book, sales, increasing, giveaway, free

What do writer's (published and not) think about showcasing a WIP in a magazine before it's done?

Started by Maureen McGuirk. Last reply by Maureen McGuirk May 3. 4 Replies 0 Likes

I've noticed a few magazines that allow sections of novels to be published without having the rest of the book finished. I'm just wondering, if I do this, will it make it more difficult for an agent…Continue

Tags: novels, of, exerpts, publishing, WIP

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Comment by Catrina Barton on June 26, 2012 at 3:03pm: Laura, at the very least you'd have a stronger MS from an agent's POV from it.

Comment by Laura McHugh on June 26, 2012 at 3:01pm: Thank you all for your helpful advice and for sharing your experiences. I really appreciate it! Hopefully I'll end up with a better manuscript, whether the agent eventually signs me or not.

Jackie, you made me laugh. I know what you mean about letting advice sink in. It can take time!

Good luck to those of you querying!

Comment by Judith Marshall on June 26, 2012 at 2:42pm: Here's a great quote about reviews. "I don't care if a reader hates one of my stories, so long as he finishes the book."

Comment by Jackie Bouchard on June 26, 2012 at 2:36pm: Hi Laura - congrats on the response from the agent! Yes, I did revise my ms based on suggestions from the first agent I queried (I met her at a conference and she was the one I really wanted to work with), and I did (many months and a lot of revisions) later sign with her.

I didn't take every single one of her suggestions (she gave me really amazingly detailed feedback) but her input was mostly spot on, and helped me have a better book in the end. As Kate says, if the suggestions feel right I'd go for it. (And sometimes they don't feel right until after about the 2nd or 3rd time through... the first time through, at least for me, I was too busy going "But, you mean you didn't love it as is??" By the 3rd time reading them through, I realized how right she was!)

All the best!

Jackie

Comment by Petrea Burchard on June 26, 2012 at 11:53am: Laura, I think Kate has the right idea. If the feedback/changes feel right, go for it. That way, even if the agent decides not to represent your book, you haven't wasted time and you have a better manuscript.

I wonder if sometimes agents ask for revisions to see if you're easy to work with.

Comment by Kate Defrise on June 26, 2012 at 11:50am: Hi Laura. I'm in exactly the same position. The agent gave me feedback and asked me to resubmit. Here's the thing: the feedback feels right. The book will be better for it. So, I'm going for it. I'll let you know. And good luck!

Comment by Edith O Nuallain on June 26, 2012 at 11:37am: Congrats Laura!

Comment by Margo Rowder on June 26, 2012 at 11:36am: Hey She-Writers,

If you're in the midst of revision and need a helping voice (yes, you read that right), look no further:

Readers Aloud (http://bit.ly/ReadersAloud) is an open exchange that pairs willing voices with revising writers or others who need read-aloud versions of written work.

Author Kat Yeh and I co-founded the group to give writers a new way to amp up their manuscripts.

Come check out Readers Aloud – the group designed to give voice to your words and boost your WIP!

Happy writing :)

Margo

Comment by Kate McGuinness on June 26, 2012 at 11:30am: First of all, congratulations to Laura. That's a wonderful sign. I've been through that process only to have the agent leave to take up another profession. No one at the agency wanted to pick it up. However, I think that was a unique experience.

Judith and Melanie have good advice, but do be willing to listen to suggestions.

Comment by Melanie Conklin on June 26, 2012 at 11:24am: laura--I'm in the midst of querying, and I, too, have received this input. But I also have a few other agents who requested fulls, so I'm not focusing on revision quite yet. Sometimes, once a novel is "good enough" finding an agent becomes more about fitting your STYLE of writing than anything else. Some agents will read your work and love it as it is. Others will read it and see what they WISH it were. It's up to you to know what is your best opportunity. I fear chasing another person's vision for my work--it needs to be my vision to come out right. That said, editing and critique are necessary and wonderful. There just comes a point when you must also gauge whether you agree with the direction an agent would like to steer your work. Best of luck!

www.melanieconklin.com