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Old 04-11-2012, 09:26 PM   #5051
triceretops
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Very quiet on my end. Just sent out two nudges.

I've signed a contract with what I consider a book packager, but it's different in that it pays royalty only on cover price, with no upfront flat fee. Jesus, I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. I'll just have to peruse the assignment when it comes in. These are small e-books, ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 words total. Payday is every month. This could be a nice gig or a total bust. Problem is, I'll have to do one and see how well their so called expert marketing ends up.

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Old 04-11-2012, 11:40 PM   #5052
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I had a brainwave about that angry agents suggestions and *gasp* I think she's right. I worked all morning on the revisions and just sent them off. Here's hoping she's equally as fast as last time (a few hours). Fingers crossed people.

Also, I wrote the other rejecting agent (the one that loved everything and still said no) and told her about the revisions. I'm hoping she'll take a look at the new version, too.
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Old 04-12-2012, 12:01 AM   #5053
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Yeah, I've decided to give myself a day or two to let suggestions steep in my brain. It's embarassing to reject something and then change your mind. Particularly when a spouse is involved...

I'll keep my fingers crossed, even if it affects my keyboard skills. (Right now, I'm fixing -- I hope -- the cursed formatting of my NF bete noire. This doesn't mean it won't spontaneously do something weird. Can you hear my cursing on the other side of the continent?)
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Old 04-12-2012, 12:14 AM   #5054
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Wink
Oh my aching ears!
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Old 04-12-2012, 12:23 AM   #5055
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I'm also watching a baseball game, which doesn't help
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Old 04-12-2012, 12:32 AM   #5056
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That'll be me when the hockey game comes on tonight. ^^
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Old 04-12-2012, 01:13 AM   #5057
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carleree View Post
That'll be me when the hockey game comes on tonight. ^^
Yeah, our game is tomorrow. I plan to watch yours, at least some of it. First up will be Penguins/Flyers -- I won't have a fav there. I hope both teams will hit each other silly and get worn out.

Oh nooooo... We have a four-run lead, bottom of the ninth. But we're putting in Rodriguez, our 100-mph, sometimes-in-the-strike-zone reliever. He makes it interesting, always.
Last edited by Hathor; 04-12-2012 at 02:44 AM.
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Old 04-12-2012, 02:31 AM   #5058
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Sunday is my big day for rejections. Isn't that sacrelig?
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Old 04-12-2012, 03:58 AM   #5059
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drachen Jager View Post
Ever want to bury yourself in a deep hole for a week, just so you'd be sure to have some e-mail next time you checked?
Doesnt' work.. not a peep in 7 days. I mean, wtf, you know?
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Old 04-12-2012, 04:02 AM   #5060
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Originally Posted by Matty C. View Post
I just received 4 r's in the last hour.
you lucky, lucky b'stard


(from The Life of Brian, honest)
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Old 04-12-2012, 04:28 AM   #5061
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Sunday is my big day for rejections. Isn't that sacrelig?
It should be
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Old 04-12-2012, 06:03 AM   #5062
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Drachen Jager - thanks for the advice, I've been creeping around this site for a year and a half, wish I had joined sooner. Please don't laugh too hard when I ask this but what is a beta partner?

Quickbread - thanks for the advice, I've had a couple professors read it and done my own version of market analysis by having a small, diverse group (not friends or family) read it and give me feedback which was very helpful. However, it's coming from a reader's/instructor's viewpoint and not from a writer's or agent's viewpoint. I felt the feedback was constructive but I obviously need more LOL!! 7% sucks, no other way to say it.

Thanks so much for the input guys, I need all the help I can get!!
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Old 04-12-2012, 06:37 AM   #5063
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Well, 7% doesn't actually suck too terribly, but I think aiming for 10-15% is about right. This business is so subjective that you can't expect much higher than that for most manuscripts, I think. 7% sounds like your idea has some strength but might not be coming through fully in either the query or the sample pages.

After I graduated from my MFA program, I was shocked by how much harsher agents and editors read work than my peers and professors had, even professors who have rockstar agents and books themselves. It's a really different thing to have industry folks reading your writing than other audiences who are focused on supporting and encouraging you with feedback.

A beta reader is someone with whom you exchange work and offer critiques and advice.

We're all in this together!
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Old 04-13-2012, 02:16 AM   #5064
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Not even an FR - not even a FEvening@after5PM,R!

I dunno.

I just dunno.
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Old 04-13-2012, 02:41 AM   #5065
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I had a form R. What do I win?
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Old 04-13-2012, 02:56 AM   #5066
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I had a request last night.

Don't hit me.

Nightingale, as QB said, a beta partner will swap reads with you. It's good to find someone who works for you, so most beta partnerships start with a single chaper, then if both are happy you go from there. I find only about 1 in 4 or 5 go beyond that one chapter swap.

7% is not great, but I had an agent, went through a massive re-write with a good editor's feedback, and I'm only at 14%, though I made some changes to improve the first few pages and that seems to have helped. The query letter is important, but the first five pages are critical. Many agents will read sample pages even if they're just so-so on the query, but they don't get past page 1 or 2 if you don't impress them.

Agent Ann Colette shares some insight into why she rejects or makes requests on query letters most days. It's worth having a look so you can avoid some of the pitfalls.
https://twitter.com/#!/Ann_Collette
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Old 04-13-2012, 02:56 AM   #5067
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carleree View Post
I had a form R. What do I win?
a sense of existence in the world.


though if it's an FR, it's only an 80% hit. (SRs are 90%)

edit, will check that out twitter link DR. might be useful


really enjoying the link. she gives 12 sample reasons for rejection every few weeks or so, just scroll down. worth reading.
Last edited by Paul; 04-13-2012 at 04:02 AM.
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Old 04-13-2012, 04:26 AM   #5068
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Form rejection from a form submission. And it's the second one from this publisher for two YAs in the past three weeks. These two YAs are copping about a 75% request rate, so this second rejection comes as a bit of a surprise. The form allowed for the pasting of 10 pages, and those were very strong for both YA titles.

So, dunno about this pub house and what they're exactly looking for. Both premises have been tagged unique and very desirable. So, I'm counting this as a double whammy.
Guh.

Tri
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Old 04-13-2012, 04:53 AM   #5069
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i forgot, today is THURSDAY, or it was. Now it's Friday the 13th!!!1

dum, dum dum....


em,still reading that agent DR gave (eta, finished, very good read, goes back to mid dec 2011), she linked to the link below, not bad



http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012...ld-stop-doing/
Last edited by Paul; 04-13-2012 at 05:02 AM.
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Old 04-13-2012, 05:25 AM   #5070
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I wrote today. I received no correspondence. I mopped floors and went for a run. Now I must make dinner for my kids. My husband is in Whistler.


I need a vacation.
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Old 04-13-2012, 06:03 AM   #5071
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I got nothing today too.

Are all the agents just getting ready for London or what? It's been dead quiet for a week now.
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Old 04-13-2012, 06:16 AM   #5072
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I just four rejections today. That just made my day. (Okay, made it not so great, but still made it something.)
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Old 04-13-2012, 07:08 AM   #5073
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I have no particular reason to post here as I'm not currently querying anything (still editing), but I feel like posting anyway...

So I guess this is the perfect time for one of these:
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Old 04-13-2012, 07:47 AM   #5074
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Holy crap, mid-April came fast. I didn't realize the London Book Fair was so close. I haven't heard anything since that full rejection last week.

Ah, beautiful, dreamy Whistler. How I love that mountain.

Today, I worked. Am still adjusting to full-time work life. I'm not schedule oriented at all, especially after five years of working from home. Trying to get to an office at 8:30 am every day is weird. I take a lot of cabs because I end up without enough time to ride the train. Still and all, as far as gigs go, it's pretty swell.
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Old 04-13-2012, 08:14 AM   #5075
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Talking
I love Ann Collette. Not sure why she's following me on twitter, though. She doesn't rep YA. Maybe that's why. I can't be a potential client
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