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: 2011
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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.
Started by Meg Waite Clayton. Last reply by Julia L. Uhlman 9 hours ago. 2041 Replies 15 Likes
Do tell us what you're writing about - i.e. your current work in progress. If you have a finished book and a cover to share, please do that on the…Continue
Tags: novel
Started by T. D. Hassett. Last reply by T. D. Hassett 10 hours ago. 2 Replies 0 Likes
I recently had my first novel published and must admit that while there isn't anything artistically wrong with the cover I just don't feel like it properly sells the story. The cover is for an…Continue
Tags: covers
Started by Meg Waite Clayton. Last reply by Majanka Verstraete yesterday. 519 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
Started by Karen A. Wyle. Last reply by Petrea Burchard on Thursday. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Ta-da! It's release day for Reach: a Twin-Bred novel, the sequel to Twin-Bred. Twin-Bred addressed the question: can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb? Reach, set on the planet Tofarn and…Continue
Tags: holes, worm, travel, space, spaceships
Started by E.C. Diskin. Last reply by Laura Brennan on Wednesday. 9 Replies 2 Likes
Fellow writers, I just wanted to share a little joy and shout out a thank you to everyone in this group because though I've not been a frequent poster, I've been following discussions for more than a…Continue
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
Comment
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!
Wow, Laura, from my experience it's very unusual for an agent to offer feedback. You have nothing to lose by agreeing to revise and resubmit, however, make sure there's no charge for the feedback. Also, keep submitting the original manuscript to other agents.
Comment by Laura McHugh on June 26, 2012 at 11:13am Question...have any of you ever revised a manuscript based on an agent's input and then gone on to be signed by that agent? I recently began querying for my first novel, and one agent has offered to give me feedback so that I can revise and resubmit. I am thrilled to get this chance, but also wondering how often such resubmissions are successful. My anxiety level is spiking!
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