I need a friend! I've spent a lot of time and energy writing and now, with THE END typed in, I'm not sure of what I have. After working with the story, the characters, and all the rest, I can no longer tell if it works. I need help.
Help! I need someone who will read my 90,000-words and pinpoint problems, errors and then make suggestions on how to make the ms better.
I've had this story read by a couple of friends and even ran it past the local writers group. The friends responded by simply saying something like, “great story, Billy.” and the writers group, more interested in simply writing and reading each others work but not interested in getting published, said “great story, Billy.” Not much help in either case.
This isn't my first attempt at being a novelist, I have a dozen stories, westerns and crime fiction, in print. Published by a firm in London. No agent involved and little editing. Strictly published for the library trade. Most were then republished for large print, but again for the libraries within the Commonwealth. I am an American living in Australia. The 90,000-word crime novel I seek help with was submitted to my London publisher but rejected as not fitting their guidelines; their limit is for 80,000 words or less. Plus, and I don't like sharing this, but the comment that my story was too “sexist” was also made. I don't understand that at all.
So I do know how to craft a novel. However, at this point I don't know if I have a readable story; I'm too close to it. I've been working on this piece for a long damn time, and I am incredibly eager to find and then iron out any problems before I move on and start the search for an agent/publisher. I need someone who can see what I can't – another writer--to help me through this last stage.
Of course, I'm not asking that anyone dedicate any of their time to me for nothing in return. I am perfectly willing to reciprocate any writing help you feel you need. I suppose what I'm looking for is a writer friend. While I enjoy living where I do, and it's very close to being perfect, developing that kind of friendship has not been possible.
Don't get me wrong though. I'm willing to work with anyone, as long as they are interested in reading a story of murder and mayhem. Oh and like communicating via email (unless you live in Queensland).
As an inducement, here is a brief overview of my story: Murder, politics, drugs and the big city escort business are all part of this story. This thrilling crime story takes the reader from San Francisco’s back streets to the state capitol and north into the marijuana plantations of northern California.
San Francisco has long been a favorite place for murder and mayhem. From authors such as Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon) to Bill Pronzini's series of novels, the list of commercial crime thrillers set in the Baghdad-By-The-Bay is long. The protagonist in my story fits the genre; a former cop with failure in his background, caught up in a situation almost beyond his abilities... almost.
So, if anyone is interested, please drop me an email and let's talk about how we can help each other. (Seriously. Please. I need help.)
Oh, and thanks..........
Help! I need someone who will read my 90,000-words and pinpoint problems, errors and then make suggestions on how to make the ms better.
I've had this story read by a couple of friends and even ran it past the local writers group. The friends responded by simply saying something like, “great story, Billy.” and the writers group, more interested in simply writing and reading each others work but not interested in getting published, said “great story, Billy.” Not much help in either case.
This isn't my first attempt at being a novelist, I have a dozen stories, westerns and crime fiction, in print. Published by a firm in London. No agent involved and little editing. Strictly published for the library trade. Most were then republished for large print, but again for the libraries within the Commonwealth. I am an American living in Australia. The 90,000-word crime novel I seek help with was submitted to my London publisher but rejected as not fitting their guidelines; their limit is for 80,000 words or less. Plus, and I don't like sharing this, but the comment that my story was too “sexist” was also made. I don't understand that at all.
So I do know how to craft a novel. However, at this point I don't know if I have a readable story; I'm too close to it. I've been working on this piece for a long damn time, and I am incredibly eager to find and then iron out any problems before I move on and start the search for an agent/publisher. I need someone who can see what I can't – another writer--to help me through this last stage.
Of course, I'm not asking that anyone dedicate any of their time to me for nothing in return. I am perfectly willing to reciprocate any writing help you feel you need. I suppose what I'm looking for is a writer friend. While I enjoy living where I do, and it's very close to being perfect, developing that kind of friendship has not been possible.
Don't get me wrong though. I'm willing to work with anyone, as long as they are interested in reading a story of murder and mayhem. Oh and like communicating via email (unless you live in Queensland).
As an inducement, here is a brief overview of my story: Murder, politics, drugs and the big city escort business are all part of this story. This thrilling crime story takes the reader from San Francisco’s back streets to the state capitol and north into the marijuana plantations of northern California.
San Francisco has long been a favorite place for murder and mayhem. From authors such as Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon) to Bill Pronzini's series of novels, the list of commercial crime thrillers set in the Baghdad-By-The-Bay is long. The protagonist in my story fits the genre; a former cop with failure in his background, caught up in a situation almost beyond his abilities... almost.
So, if anyone is interested, please drop me an email and let's talk about how we can help each other. (Seriously. Please. I need help.)
Oh, and thanks..........
