tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post1481039481482247751..comments2024-01-11T19:59:33.291-08:00Comments on Author-in-the-trenches: How not to get published...Holly Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336717023482533615noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-60332402743212047532008-06-28T09:16:00.000-07:002008-06-28T09:16:00.000-07:00It never ceases to amaze me how many people can't ...It never ceases to amaze me how many people can't take critiques about their writing. These are the people who say "Yes, but... " to any constructive criticism. I saw this all the time in screenwriting workshops (including Maui - wonder if we were there at the same time?) <BR/><BR/>I went through 113 agent rejections before landing mine. I'm very grateful to the ones who offered suggestions (although sometimes they conflicted with each other!) and always gave the advice a lot of thought. Over those 2 years, I honed my proposal and sample chapters based on this feedback, so that when agent Mollie Glick actually said yes (!) she didn't want any changes and neither did the editor who bought it on pre-empt. <BR/><BR/>We have to be able to take criticism in this business and view it solely as fresh eyes helping our work.Doreen Orionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12026294659806001562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-37078012853554388702008-06-21T18:51:00.000-07:002008-06-21T18:51:00.000-07:00I received the best rejection a few weeks ago. My ...I received the best rejection a few weeks ago. <BR/>My ms has been read by a variety of agents, and just now starting to query a few publishers. All the letters have said positive things (creative, strong voice, etc) but not why they chose not to take on my project.<BR/>Well, one publisher took the time to give me three reasons why she passed, and asked to see my other work.<BR/>I'm going to incorporate her three suggestions, and query on. I loved that she took the time to give me that advice. I wish someone had done it sooner....<BR/>:-)Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794946908789120139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-34393299623838709232008-06-20T13:06:00.000-07:002008-06-20T13:06:00.000-07:00Brilliant advice, Holly. And I'm proud to say I ow...Brilliant advice, Holly. And I'm proud to say I own all those books. :-)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-11120174197151766412008-06-18T11:49:00.000-07:002008-06-18T11:49:00.000-07:00What we don't know when we're in the "aspiring" st...What we don't know when we're in the "aspiring" stage...<BR/><BR/>Ego has so little place in the professional author's life! Every published novel is a collaborative effort, from story-shaping to cover art/cover copy to marketing to publicity to...<BR/><BR/>We have to be selectively stubborn.<BR/><BR/>You gave her excellent advice.Theresehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915740239016736614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-85237264026466842792008-06-18T07:58:00.000-07:002008-06-18T07:58:00.000-07:00that she received constructive feedback from agent...that she received constructive feedback from agents is like finding gold in the street. what i would give...Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716215892504806470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-75173835702228887912008-06-17T17:32:00.000-07:002008-06-17T17:32:00.000-07:00I haven't read The First Five Pages but I have hea...I haven't read The First Five Pages but I have heard from others that it's an amazing book.<BR/>I'll add it to my list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-10929216330209067962008-06-17T08:48:00.000-07:002008-06-17T08:48:00.000-07:00AMEN!It's one of the hardest parts of this job, ta...AMEN!<BR/><BR/>It's one of the hardest parts of this job, taking feedback that isn't of the, "Omigosh this is the best thing I've ever read!" variety and making real changes from those suggestions. <BR/><BR/>Wow, are the results worth it, though!<BR/><BR/>I'm off to get "THE FIRST FIVE PAGES" :)Trish Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038324441006141430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-73539250487385435182008-06-17T06:12:00.000-07:002008-06-17T06:12:00.000-07:00I haven't read any of those either, but I have a f...I haven't read any of those either, but I have a few valuable ones on my shelf. <BR/><BR/>On Writing by Stephen King (my favourite of his ever!)<BR/><BR/>The Elements of Style, Strunk & White<BR/><BR/>76 Reasons Why Your Novel Hasn't Been Published and 15 Why it Just Might by Pat Walsh<BR/><BR/><BR/>It's hard at this point for a writer to accept that all the work poured into a novel means there's more work. But hey... that's what it's going to take.Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-267686569759223742008-06-16T13:04:00.000-07:002008-06-16T13:04:00.000-07:00Them English teachers, huh?!! lolGive 'em a degree...Them English teachers, huh?!! lol<BR/><BR/>Give 'em a degree and they think they can teach the rest of the world a thing or two. <BR/>Just goes to show.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12950887776664590271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-43632261683647124652008-06-16T13:01:00.000-07:002008-06-16T13:01:00.000-07:00This is so interesting!I did not know agents would...This is so interesting!<BR/><BR/>I did not know agents would offer to represent a writer and then suggest changes to the manuscript. Makes sense, but I think it'd take some getting used to to accept anyone wanting to gut or rearrange a book I'd already written.Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10834351169052043677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-658841528152510772008-06-16T11:22:00.000-07:002008-06-16T11:22:00.000-07:00Sad life lesson for your friend; great advice for ...Sad life lesson for your friend; great advice for the rest of us. I hope to take it since, though I have my first YA novel out now, I'm just beginning to hunt for an agent. I've already read three of those four titles so I'm on the right track.<BR/><BR/>(And hello from one Albertan to another.)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198531867578157602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-36069149660629419362008-06-16T10:42:00.000-07:002008-06-16T10:42:00.000-07:00oh yes oh yes oh yes!!!By the way people. FYII met...oh yes oh yes oh yes!!!<BR/>By the way people. FYI<BR/>I met Holly at my first Maui Writers Retreat and Conference several years ago --I had just completed my first atrocious novel.<BR/>She took me by the hand and told me what for...<BR/>The only difference between me that the other writer is that I LISTENED...<BR/>nuff said.<BR/>oh word verification?<BR/>"gesus"ORIONhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01534064935115027523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-36382669100935395102008-06-16T09:46:00.000-07:002008-06-16T09:46:00.000-07:00Great recommendations. I've read 3 of the four. I'...Great recommendations. I've read 3 of the four. I'm about to finish novel #4 and as I prepare to query, I'm feeling upbeat that this will be the one where I take that next step.Travis Erwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09420879160702098979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-62554640841818727912008-06-16T07:19:00.000-07:002008-06-16T07:19:00.000-07:00Sheesh! No offense intended but she sounds like sh...Sheesh! No offense intended but she sounds like she really does have to crank down her ego a few notches. <BR/><BR/>Just cuz a person's an English teacher doesn't mean he/she has what it takes to get published.<BR/><BR/>P.S. I heart The First Five Pages!!!!! One of my favs!Nadinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302600271456035635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-56838796330585763352008-06-16T07:17:00.000-07:002008-06-16T07:17:00.000-07:00A friend of mine who lives in Texas "almost" lande...A friend of mine who lives in Texas "almost" landed himself one of the industry's top agents (the guy had offered him verbal representation) but then my friend argued with him so much about the changes he wanted to make to his manuscript over the next 30 days that the agent retracted his offer and said, "Buddy I don't need this. I can work with 10 other authors who actually appreciate what I'm trying to do for them. You're on your own."<BR/><BR/>NOW he kicks himself in the butt and wishes he could go back and change it. Too late.<BR/>Sad crap, huh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-40246727018370771462008-06-16T07:14:00.000-07:002008-06-16T07:14:00.000-07:00Direct and frank, but not unkind.That's the best k...Direct and frank, but not unkind.<BR/>That's the best kind of advice you can give an aspiring writer.<BR/><BR/>And she'll either take it or end up packing it in.Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02316522480649709204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583814589851254780.post-76125779888637557802008-06-16T05:32:00.000-07:002008-06-16T05:32:00.000-07:00could not agree more with your advice, holly :)to ...could not agree more with your advice, holly :)<BR/><BR/>to improve overall mss: art of dramatic writing, by lajos egrilaughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.com