Vivian Beck has started her own agency (www.vivianbeck.com) and has requested my full manuscript.
Anyone heard anything about her recently?
Anyone heard anything about her recently?
rugcat said:I got a similar response via email on my urban fantasy. Note the different book she suggested. I wasn't bothered by the book suggestions; I think it's a bit silly but I'm sure she means well.
Thank you for sending (ms) for my consideration. Your work has much to recommend it, but unfortunately, I am not prepared to offer you representation. This was a hard decision for me, but your project does not meet my acquisitions needs at this time.
Books I’d recommend to help you along your path to publication:
WRITING THE BLOCKBUSTER NOVEL, by Al Zuckerman
WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, by Donald Maass
clara bow said:To qualify, however, the story does not have the typical HEA ending, and I'm pretty sure that was a significant factor in the rejection.
Atomic Bear said:What does HEA mean? And what would a HEA ending be?
According to this essay by Teresa Nielsen Hayden, being better than 90% of what's out there doesn't mean what you've written is publishable. From the stats she gives (only approximate, sure), you'd need to be better than 99.9% of what's out there, which is a significant difference.rugcat said:For the rest of us, we can have a ms that's better than 90% of the stuff out there and still not be able to find an agent or publisher.
I agree; you can't intentionally craft a blockbuster best-seller. But what you can do is craft a book that's more likely to sell and/or become a best-seller.What bothers me about these books in particular, though, is that it implies that one can intentionally craft a breakout/blockbuster novel.
No, it is not possible to get published. I recommend you stop trying and take up another passtime, like needlepoint.LindsayP said:I guess it isn't possible to get published when I can't even write... what I meant to say above was Is it possible to get published?
LindsayP said:Is it possible to get published?