My wife wants to get a book published

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Try and find a writers forum or something. I wouldn't trust ATOT to critique my wife's grocery list.

I would trust ATOT more than a bunch of wannabe writers having a circle-jerk. We are readers, we know what we like to read.

The only problem with ATOT is that we'll be TOO brutal as txrandom implied.

no, the problem will not be being too brutal but just plain being jackasses. people bash stuff just for the hell of it.

The OP's wife is a writer, she can read the criticism she receives and decide if she thinks its applicable.

It can't hurt to throw out ideas from the (asshole) reader's perspective.

Well, it might hurt her feelings, but I'm sure the OP will warn her that we're all terrible, juvenile people here.

Speak for yourself, you HULK-wife looking wannabe.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Harry Potter books

In 1995, Rowling completed her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on an old manual typewriter.Upon the enthusiastic response of Bryony Evans, a reader who had been asked to review the book's first three chapters, the Fulham-based Christopher Little Literary Agents agreed to represent Rowling in her quest for a publisher. The book was handed to twelve publishing houses, all of which rejected it.

Now maybe you can stop her being so unhappy/shaken by being rejected.
It's what happens in the publishing world, it doesn't mean she can't become a success.

You think that's something? Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was rejected by 121, and then went on to be a bestseller. I know I would have given up after the first couple dozen rejections...

That said, there's a LOT of really good unpublished work out there, and there's even more published crap. Of course, both of those are overshadowed by the steaming mountain of unpublished fan fiction, which is the ultimate embodiment of crap

 

[mflacy]

Fiction or Non-fiction? IMO, It's much tougher to get fiction published than non-fiction and her approach should be specific to the type of work it is.

 

[Kinslayer777]

You really can't send something in to publishers, send it to agents, publishers can't do anything they have mountains of books...If an agent accepts it then for a fee they'll bring it up so that the publishers actually look at it. But they also get loads of submissions.

 

[WW]

sell it on amazon

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000668.php

search around kk.org, he does a lot of self publishing articles

I think being published by a big company is like getting a record deal...it's not impossible, but very few people reach that level

good luck to her

 

[kranky]

There are techniques you must follow to get published. If she's not "playing the game" the right way, she's going to find it nearly impossible.

Pick up "Getting Your Book Published For Dummies" (yeah, they have one for everything).

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: Kaido
You have to develop a tough skin with writing. I am starting my own publishing company in order to get my book published. The way the system works is like this: you send your book off, if the editor likes it, it takes ~2 years to get published. If it's a hot book like Harry Potter, it gets bumped up to 6 months. The editor is swamped with book submissions. You can't call yourself a writer if you don't get at least a few rejections

And kaido, you STILL have not sent me anything on when it will be published.

ygpm

 

[gotsmack]

http://www.lulu.com/

 

[Zach]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys.

Turns out she says it actually a horrer book.

She's still not hot on the idea of joining and asking for feedback directly. I'd like to thank the constructive feedback so far. I've received two PM's offering to read her book, which is encouraging. I haven't responded pending some sort of decision about her sharing with you all.

Especially nice is the self-publishing links. I think she'll investigate those.

Overall, please give her some encouragement to join. We need a(nother?) TigerLily on these forums, right?

 

[Zach]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Try and find a writers forum or something. I wouldn't trust ATOT to critique my wife's grocery list.

I would trust ATOT more than a bunch of wannabe writers having a circle-jerk. We are readers, we know what we like to read.

The only problem with ATOT is that we'll be TOO brutal as txrandom implied.

no, the problem will not be being too brutal but just plain being jackasses. people bash stuff just for the hell of it.

The OP's wife is a writer, she can read the criticism she receives and decide if she thinks its applicable.

It can't hurt to throw out ideas from the (asshole) reader's perspective.

Well, it might hurt her feelings, but I'm sure the OP will warn her that we're all terrible, juvenile people here.

Speak for yourself, you HULK-wife looking wannabe.

You both hit the nail on the head...

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

its not very active anymore, but i used to visit http://www.writers-bbs.com

 

[libs0n]

Originally posted by: Zach

She's sent it to multiple places and got no call backs. Think this would be a good place to get feedback if she posts an excerpt? Her confidence is shaken. I'm completely illiterate and unable to help her.

Always remember that most people are morons, including the professionals. Believe in yourself, and your work, because you're the only one who will, and progress in achieving your goal will rest upon you. Besides, the odds of getting a unsolicited manuscript read by an editor are lottery equivalent; as someone said the market is oversaturated, chances are whoever she sent them to are flooded with the same and it wasn't even read.

I suggest reading a book or two on the very subject, on getting a book published. Chances are your local library is flooded with them, after all, it's not like books have sex and make new books, new ones are created somehow and someone somewhere is dying to have you read all about it. In my younger days I've toyed with literary aspirations of my own, but I've put those dreams aside for the moment as I lack the patience and sometimes the frame of mind to compose anything. During those flights of fancy I've cracked open and perused the knowledge of the very subject I''m recommending to you now, but long since forgotton are the titles and that's why I don't have anything specific to offer. Getting an agent who specializes in your particular genre, and a smack of the cold hard reality of the book business was a common theme.

Give a dog a bone, and let us read a paragraph or two, pretty please. At the very least we'll be able to tell you if its absolute dreck and recommend books on how to write books instead; just keep in mind the 'we're all idiots and don't necessarily value our judgements' thing I started off with.

 

[AreaCode707]

I worked as a literary agent for a short time. I wasn't particularly successful (I suck at sales) but I did work under a very successful agent and she taught me a lot.

Fiction is VERY VERY VERY hard to sell, if you're a new author. The book essential has to be pristine and ready to go to the publisher, needing no editing, on top of being good and saleable.

The best advice I could give is for your wife to start making a name for herself. Publish some short stories, write some articles, do some book tours. Publishers are looking for an author who already has an audience, somebody who does their own publicity, somebody ready to go, when they look to buy fiction. It's more important than having a quality book, sadly.