Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

maestrowork · May 19, 2005

I hate you, jLawrence.

Nangleator · May 19, 2005

Every time I make up my mind on which category to send my next query to (agents or publishers,) I read that I should be sending it to the other.

What's the currently preferred slush pile for an unpublished writer? An agent's or a publisher's?

And in order to get back on subject, how normal is it to look at your own characters, scenes, plots and ideas and see disturbing connections to other works? Does everyone else look at parts of their work and say, 'Damn. That's a little like such-and-such'?

My best beta reader is familiar with the book I'm most afraid of being compared with, and she doesn't feel I'm stepping on anyone's toes. Still, it's hard not to be afraid.

triceretops · May 19, 2005

Jlaurenceperry--Wow, you got the jump on us! You've seen SW #III, hey good for you!

You lil' bastid.

Tri

James D. Macdonald · May 19, 2005

Nangleator said:
What's the currently preferred slush pile for an unpublished writer? An agent's or a publisher's?

Why not both? Three and an outline (or whatever the guidelines say) in a pubisher's heap while you're querying the devil out of agents?

And in order to get back on subject, how normal is it to look at your own characters, scenes, plots and ideas and see disturbing connections to other works? Does everyone else look at parts of their work and say, 'Damn. That's a little like such-and-such'?

It's way normal.

jlawrenceperry · May 19, 2005

maestrowork said:
I hate you, jLawrence.

The hate is swelling in you now....

Roger J Carlson · May 19, 2005

jlawrenceperry said:
The hate is swelling in you now....

What a great line! You could use it in a story about a young man with great power who is seduced by evil forces...uh nevermind.

maestrowork · May 19, 2005

Nangleator said:
And in order to get back on subject, how normal is it to look at your own characters, scenes, plots and ideas and see disturbing connections to other works? Does everyone else look at parts of their work and say, 'Damn. That's a little like such-and-such'?

My best beta reader is familiar with the book I'm most afraid of being compared with, and she doesn't feel I'm stepping on anyone's toes. Still, it's hard not to be afraid.

Some of my betas mentioned things like, "Hey this scene reminds me of A Midsummer Night's Dream" or "Wow, this is kind of like Driving Miss Daisy." Then I asked them, "Is that a bad or a good thing." They say, "It's not a bad or good thing. It just is. And it's a good thing, in a way, that your writing reminds us some of the good stuff we've read or seen."

I guess as long as you're not plagiarizing or going for the obvious, it's normal that your work or parts of it remind people of other works.

Nangleator · May 19, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Why not both?

That's an answer I can sink my teeth into!

Learning how to sell a book has been getting more and more complicated the more answers I get, until I saw this.

So. Mass mailings of query letters to agents simultaneous with one-at-a-time submissions to publishers. I can dig it.

maestrowork · May 19, 2005

jlawrenceperry said:
The hate is swelling in you now....

Fear turns to anger. Anger turns to hate. Hate leads me to the dark side...

I'm almost there! Bwhahahahaha.

James D. Macdonald · May 19, 2005

Nangleator said:
So. Mass mailings of query letters to agents simultaneous with one-at-a-time submissions to publishers. I can dig it.

Even if the agents say they accept e-mail, go hard-copy. On nice paper. Signed with ink. In a good envelope. With an SASE.

Research and follow everyone's guidelines exactly, modifying your submission or query as necessary.

Remember the two rules:

Publishers worth submitting to have books you've seen with your own eyes on the shelves of bookstores.
Useful agents have sold books you've heard of.

It's wonderful to give a new fellow a chance, but why should they get their on-the-job training with your book?

James D. Macdonald · May 19, 2005

Off Topic

Guys, go get the following things (all freeware or shareware):

AVG Antivirus

Popfile Automatic Email Classification

ZoneAlarm Firewall

GRR! (Greyware Registry Rearguard)

AdAware SE adware removal

Spyware Blaster spyware blocker

Spybot S&D spyware removal

Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware (Beta)

Run 'em all, keep 'em updated. GRR! especially will help with viruses and trojans that haven't been around long enough to have profiles in the major anti-virus programs. It detects and prevents any unauthorized changes in your Registry files.

=============

Never, ever open or run an unexpected file attached to an email, even if it appears to come from someone you know.

James D. Macdonald · May 19, 2005

While we're talking Star Wars:

http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20050510

Roger J Carlson · May 19, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Guys, go get the following things (all freeware or shareware):

AVG Antivirus

Popfile Automatic Email Classification

ZoneAlarm Firewall

GRR! (Greyware Registry Rearguard)

AdAware SE adware removal

Spyware Blaster spyware blocker

Spybot S&D spyware removal

Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware (Beta)

Run 'em all, keep 'em updated. GRR! especially will help with viruses and trojans that haven't been around long enough to have profiles in the major anti-virus programs. It detects and prevents any unauthorized changes in your Registry files.

=============

Never, ever open or run an unexpected file attached to an email, even if it appears to come from someone you know.

Jim,
It would be great if you could post this in the Tech Help board. There's a thread there called "Free Stuff for the Semi-Geek" where it would fit. Or just start a new thread.

Thanks

Nangleator · May 19, 2005

I thank you, Uncle Jim.

Here's a funny for you.

It isn't Star Wars, but Star Trek and Alien in one spoof...

Kasey Mackenzie · May 19, 2005

Jim, that comic's hilarious! Speaking of SW III, husband scored free tickets to a showing on Saturday so we're eagerly anticipating seeing it. Of course, it involves getting up early to drive to a mall about 45 minutes away for the 8:30 a.m. showing...but hey it's free!

PattiTheWicked · May 19, 2005

Speaking of fun Star Wars related thingies... http://www.storewars.org/flash/

zizban · May 19, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Guys, go get the following things (all freeware or shareware):

AVG Antivirus

Popfile Automatic Email Classification

ZoneAlarm Firewall

GRR! (Greyware Registry Rearguard)

AdAware SE adware removal

Spyware Blaster spyware blocker

Spybot S&D spyware removal

Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware (Beta)

Run 'em all, keep 'em updated. GRR! especially will help with viruses and trojans that haven't been around long enough to have profiles in the major anti-virus programs. It detects and prevents any unauthorized changes in your Registry files.

=============

Never, ever open or run an unexpected file attached to an email, even if it appears to come from someone you know.

I use a Mac
:banana:

Unimportant · May 19, 2005

email vs snailmail queries

Uncle Jim said: "Even if the agents say they accept e-mail, go hard-copy. On nice paper. Signed with ink. In a good envelope. With an SASE."

In my most recent round of agent queries, three of ten queried by email sent a response, and three of four queried by snailmail sent a response. I prefer email for $$ reasons (I don't live in the US, so every one page query costs me $3; a synopsis+chapter query costs ~$20, and a full-ms submission costs ~$80) but snailmail seems more likely to elicit a response, even if it's just a form rejection.

YMMV.

reph · May 19, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Guys, go get the following things (all freeware or shareware)...

Or get a Mac. Don't worry. Be happy.

James D. Macdonald · May 19, 2005

Unimportant said:
I don't live in the US, so every one page query costs me $3; a synopsis+chapter query costs ~$20, and a full-ms submission costs ~$80.

Is there a publishing industry in the country where you live?

Unimportant · May 19, 2005

Jim: The publishing industry where I live is miniscule and very niche: most of what's published is of local interest only. Genre fiction publishing is nonexistent, AFAIK.

So I persevere, and I spend a lot of money on postage. There are worse ways to waste money!

Roger J Carlson · May 20, 2005

Unimportant said:
In my most recent round of agent queries, three of ten queried by email sent a response, and three of four queried by snailmail sent a response. I prefer email for $$ reasons (I don't live in the US, so every one page query costs me $3; a synopsis+chapter query costs ~$20, and a full-ms submission costs ~$80) but snailmail seems more likely to elicit a response, even if it's just a form rejection.

YMMV.

This has been my experience too. Less than half of email queries even get a "not for us", whereas all most all of my snail mail queries get at least a form rejection. I'm not sure why this is. You'd think that firing off an email reply would be even easier.

Now I only send email queries when the agent/publisher submission guidelines say email is preferred.

Roger J Carlson · May 20, 2005

PattiTheWicked said:
Speaking of fun Star Wars related thingies... http://www.storewars.org/flash/

This is WONDERFUL. Thanks for sharing it. I spread it around a few places myself. May the farm be with you!

Nangleator · May 20, 2005

One of my beta readers keeps changing my spelled-out numbers to numerals, while another doesn't.

Is there a standard? Or do I just stay consistent? Strunk and White says not to spell out dates and other serial numbers, except in quotes, but I'm not talking about serial numbers.

Ex: Midas was an under-populated city, with only seven hundred-sixty residents.

zizban · May 20, 2005

My aunt, the editor, says anything under 100 is spelled out, anything more, use numerals. There are stylistic reasons why that rule can be broken, much like starting sentences with 'and' and 'but'.

Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

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