NaNoWriMo?

[marylahree]

Oh, yeah. It stands to reason that the lead in needs to leave a reader wanting to know more. One of the fellows of NaNoWriMo did such a good job with his lead in, that I overlooked my lack of interest in chess to continue reading his story. I told him so, too.

I can understand editors tossing manuscripts that don't effectively get a reader involved. But what I had read of the most successful publishers, was that manuscripts are tossed without being opened, simply because publishers receive far too many; that it's basically useless to submit a manuscript to them without an agent.

[Steven Barnes]

There are magazine that read submissions w/out an agent, and those that don't. Most will tell you their submission requirements in the masthead. Or get "Writer's Market."

[aprilg]

On the topic of submitting to magazines. I buckled down and went through Duotrope yesterday. Here's what I sent out:

"When Alexander Died" - Chaos Theory: Tales Askew
"Todd Nathaniel's Last Case" - Quantum Kiss
"Objects of Desire" - Sniplits
"Problems of Communication" - Escape Pod
"Super Villains" - Pseudopod
"The Day It Escaped" - Cafe Irreal
"I'll Love Ya Forever, But..."- Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine
"Exile" - Terrible Beauty, Fearful Symmetry (anthology)

The cool thing is that Escape Pod and Pseudopod wants stuff that has ALREADY been published because it's doing audio rights. That's a whole new market that I never thought of for my stuff that has been published.

I have four more stories to find homes for, but I feel pretty good that after procrasting for so long I've sent out these stories.

And because the thread is Nanowrimo: I'm at 40,216 words. Less than 10,000 to go.

[temporus]

Mary,

If you submit to a publisher that specifies they don't accept unsolicited manuscripts, then of course they will turn away the package unopened. But its not the publisher's fault if authors don't take the time to go through the details and learn whether they do or do not accept unsolicited. It's a part of our job as writers to know these things. No, its not easy, and keeping up with that kind of information can be frustrating, which is why going through agents can take that burden off your back. It also opens up doors you might never have found, because some publishers prefer to have agents act as their slush reader; filtering out the worst, and only presenting manuscripts that they believe in.

They aren't so much turning away work unread because they are too swamped, but because they can get enough good manuscripts through agents that they are more than busy enough and are all ready turning away publishable work. The packets they send back unopened and unread aren't their fault, its the author's fault who didn't take the time to learn about how the business side of writing works before slapping a package in the mail.

Ed

[marylahree]

Thanks for the understandings, Ed. Other than a small article I published on the net, I've yet to finish anything to see published, so have not looked into the matter that much. I was merely repeating some things I had read recently that left me feeling discouraged.

Mary

[temporus]

The internet is full of free advice. But free advice is a mixed bag. Some of it, like what Steven and other pros like him graciously spend their time sharing with us, is invaluable. Other bits, much less usfeul. Even worse, there are those out there on the internet intentionally spreading bad advice. These are sometimes disappointed and bitter people looking to smear the industry because they never managed to be successful. Sometimes these are scamers, spreading vitriol and slander in order to drum up business for their schemes. Sometimes, they are well meaning but uninformed individuals trying to help others with what tidbits of knowledge they have thus far managed to learn. You can't always tell one from the other, which is why I cast my net wide, and concentrate on what people who are pro's share first and foremost. It's no guarantee, but I figure emulate the best, and then with experience I hope to adjust the plan to suit my particular skill set and talents. It's the only way I know how to learn.

Give it your best, and then, give it some more.

Ed

[Steven Barnes]

Great advice, Ed. Cast that net WIDE!

[temporus]

And a quick note on Topic of NaNoWriMo:

Met the official goal of 50K words. I have to put the rest of the story project on hold temporarily, as several other important tasks have now demanded to jump to the front of the queue. Not my preference, but the other tasks have a deadline for submission, and the NaNo project no longer has one. If I'm lucky, I can finish up a first draft January/February.

Good luck to evyerone still striving for the 50K mark. You can do it.

Regards,
Ed

[aprilg]

Congratulations, Ed!

I'm still 3,300 words away from the 50,000 mark. Unfortunately, I've completed the story, so I'll have to find someplace to stick in the extra words.

Oh, well, it could be worse.

[Steven Barnes]

Hey, you did great. Congrats!

[delilah]

I finished Nano too, at 50,001 on the last day. After Thanksgiving, I didn't think I was going to make it, but I really pulled it out that last week. :-)

I thought I'd finish up the novel in December, but I haven't written much this month. I've decided to put it on hold until January. I need some time to get excited again.

Delilah

[Steven Barnes]

nothing wrong with taking a break!

[temporus]

I tend to find December as a fallow month. This year, I've been fighting with that, because I'm trying to get two submissions in under the deadline of Dec 31st. (Short stories) Right now, it looks like I'm going to fail that goal, because I'm fighting an uphill battle. But most years after a strong push like NaNo, I tend to take Dec off, and read. I use it as a time to recharge, and worry about the family events that all pile up this time of year. Which for me is now three holidays. Hannukah, my son's birthday, and then Christmas.

Ed