awww...

BunnyMaz · Mar 8, 2011

Y'know, when I was around 11 or 12, I'd written a 400-odd page book (in size 14 comic sans, 'natch) and was convinced I could get it published.

Hand on heart, looking back, what I wrote was complete dross. But you know what? Every publisher I wrote to was kind enough to reply, explaining that my idea was "really good" and that if I keep working on it they will look at it again in a few years, or they just weren't publishing fantasy novels at the moment, or even recommending writing courses. Based on the letters it was obvious they had all at least forced themselves through a few pages, too.

How do they manage it? From what I hear, publishers are generally swamped with queries as it is, and yet they still take the time to do something as sweet as letting a naive kid down gently. It was just really sweet, y'know?

Anyone else have similar experiences?

Cyia · Mar 8, 2011

I had the same experience as a kid, though with a much shorter book. I sent it off to publishers, no SASE or anything, and still got those lovely responses. I'm convinced that, when they can tell or are told, the person writing is a kid, they take the time and effort to be kind.

I was amazed, now that I'm older, when I compared them to form rejections and realized that what they sent were actual letters, not forms. (Add that to the fact that they actually put a stamp on their own envelop when they didn't have to, and it's beyond nice in publishing terms.)

Maybe the kids get shuffled to the same "nice" intern or something.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 8, 2011

If they know you're a kid, every good editor takes the time to reply.

shaldna · Mar 8, 2011

That's nice.

Renee Collins · Mar 8, 2011

You know, it never would have occurred to me to try and publish anything as a kid. I guess just assumed you had to be an adult. And as a teen, I hardly had my act together enough to submit anything.

I'm always so impressed with these kids and teenagers that can finish a product and go through the rigors of trying to get published.

BunnyMaz · Mar 8, 2011

Ehhh... for me it was less impressive. I was just too dumb and had wayyy too big an ego over my own intelligence and writing skills!

Susan Coffin · Mar 8, 2011

I think it's sweet that agents, editors and publishers reply to kids who send in manuscripts. You know, it's not that you didn't get that manuscript published, it's that you wrote a 400 pages book at 12 years old. What an excellent accomplishment!

By the way, anybody who has written at least one novel has accomplished something good.

IceCreamEmpress · Mar 8, 2011

It's such a nice break to get an unsolicited MS from an earnest young person, as opposed to unsolicited MSes from overly entitled adults who are all 'HERE IS MY BOOK NOW SEND ME MASSIVE SUMS OF MONEY.'

Susan Coffin · Mar 8, 2011

That's it, my next query is going to mention I am 12 years old!!

Sagana · Mar 8, 2011

"My name is Edith Ann..."

WriteMinded · Mar 9, 2011

Susan Littlefield said:
That's it, my next query is going to mention I am 12 years old!!

That was my first thought.

VP_Benni · Mar 9, 2011

I wrote a 136 page story when I was between ages... I think it was 10 and 12... It made almost no sense, and it's plot changed with each chapter, but I was determined to get it published then.
Then when I was 12, I started something new and liked it better.
Then when I was 13, I started something else new and liked it better.
Then when I was 15, I started something ELSE new and liked it even better.
And now I'm 16, and I'm still working on that one. I still have that first story though, both on my hard drive and a printed copy.

~Amber~

AllieKat · Mar 9, 2011

And then there are some young people who do get published....

http://www.shelly-li.com/

(Ms. Li is still in high school.)

Miriel · Mar 18, 2011

I read slush at a semi-pro mag, and sometimes we would get submissions from children. One was from a seventh grader whose teacher made them all write a short story and submit it somewhere! What a cool teacher. We wrote comments back to all submitters, but yes, I took the time to be extra-supportive with that one. Heck, I was impressed. He was twelve and wrote a story that was better than half the stuff we got in -- I wanted him to feel good about that! I tried to slip in a few bits of good writing advice, and some links to other places to learn about writing.

Anne Lyle · Mar 18, 2011

When I was 14, my best friend and I wrote a script for our favourite TV show (The Tomorrow People, a British YA SF show) and sent it to the TV channel who made the show. I've no idea how bad it was - this is many, many years ago - but I suspect it may even have been handwritten, not typed!

We got a very kind letter back, saying they already had a scriptwriting team working on the series and didn't need any more stories, and a set of signed photos of the cast. Best rejection ever

Eddyz Aquila · Mar 19, 2011

126 page book while I was 13, heavily edited as time went by.

Posted on a forum, 30.000 views since 2005. I didn't send it off to a publisher though

awww...

BunnyMaz

Ruining your porn since 1984

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Jamesaritchie

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Renee Collins

Plotting . . .

BunnyMaz

Ruining your porn since 1984

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Sagana

WriteMinded

Derailed

VP_Benni

likes a colorful font

AllieKat

just a writer, unbranded

Miriel

New kid, be gentle!

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian

Eddyz Aquila

Noob Writers United