Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

James D. Macdonald · Jun 27, 2005

What Publishing Is: http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006479.html#006479

alaskamatt17 · Jun 27, 2005

paritoshuttam said:
Never felt so stupid. I think I swapped the covering letters in my query to two agents. Found out about it when I got a sorry no luck, reply from Agent #1: "NB: Your letter was addressed to Agent #2, instead of Agent #1."

Has anybody here ever done anything like that?

- Paritosh

I once included the phrase "for your convenience, a SASE is enclosed" in an e-mail query.

aadams73 · Jun 27, 2005

alaskamatt17 said:
I once included the phrase "for your convenience, a SASE is enclosed" in an e-mail query.

I came |-| this close to doing that a couple of weeks ago.

arodriguez · Jun 28, 2005

Dear uncle Jim,

thank you for taking the time to create this thread; it is most exciting!

i was wondering about the synopsis. I have scanned through this thread and i can seem to find anything. just wanted to know one thing. i have a novel about 400 pages long. Will Tor want a one page synopsis with the first three chapters, or something more along the lines of 5-10? if you have answered this, please someone just link the page.

thank you,
arod

James D. Macdonald · Jun 28, 2005

If you can do it in one page, do it in one page. If it takes five to ten pages to write your synopsis, take them.

You aren't providing a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, just a description of your story, including the climax.

Nangleator · Jun 28, 2005

But the hard part of the synopsis is to make it an enjoyable read.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 28, 2005

Making the synopsis fun to read should be on your list, yes. It should read like a story, not a school assignment.

Meanwhile ----

I posted this down in the Bewares board, but not everyone reads there, so I'll put this here:

Ms. Schwartz [Mary Louise Schwartz of the Belfrey Literary Agency] was at Writers' Weekend, as was I. I attended one of her panels and spoke with her briefly afterward.

On the e-mail issue -- apparently when the word got out that she was accepting email subs, the response from writers crashed her ISP's server. So ... if you've been waiting for a while, you might re-submit.

Second, she told a funny story. She got a manuscript by email. She read it. She loved it. She called an editor she knew and described it. He said, "Send it right over!" Alas, the writer had not included his/her name or contact information on the manuscript, and it had gotten separated from the cover letter (perhaps lost in the server crash?)

So there she sits, with what she thinks is a sure sale on her hands, unable to do anything with it.

==========

If that's your manuscript that you forgot to put your name on ... well.

aadams73 · Jun 28, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Second, she told a funny story. She got a manuscript by email. She read it. She loved it. She called an editor she knew and described it. He said, "Send it right over!" Alas, the writer had not included his/her name or contact information on the manuscript, and it had gotten separated from the cover letter (perhaps lost in the server crash?)

So there she sits, with what she thinks is a sure sale on her hands, unable to do anything with it.

That's the kind of story that makes a writer want to weep!

James D. Macdonald · Jun 28, 2005

aadams73 said:
That's the kind of story that makes a writer want to weep!

That's the kind of story that makes editors and agents say "Remember that 'running head' thing we keep talking about? Ever wonder why?"

Guys, go to your manuscripts right now and put your name, address, email, and phone number on the first page. Put your name in the running head. It's okay -- I'll wait 'til you get back.

---------------

And if you are that author, or know that author ... Ms. Schwartz wants to hear from you with your name and address.

aadams73 · Jun 28, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Guys, go to your manuscripts right now and put your name, address, email, and phone number on the first page. Put your name in the running head. It's okay -- I'll wait 'til you get back.

Already done. Ha.

alanna · Jun 28, 2005

aadams73 said:
That's the kind of story that makes a writer want to weep!

:Smack:

aruna · Jun 28, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
Second, she told a funny story. She got a manuscript by email. She read it. She loved it. She called an editor she knew and described it. He said, "Send it right over!" Alas, the writer had not included his/her name or contact information on the manuscript, and it had gotten separated from the cover letter (perhaps lost in the server crash?)

So there she sits, with what she thinks is a sure sale on her hands, unable to do anything with it.

==========

If that's your manuscript that you forgot to put your name on ... well.

Oh my god! that's NOT funny! Can't she reply to the mail, or did she delete it?

James D. Macdonald · Jun 28, 2005

aruna said:
Oh my god! that's NOT funny! Can't she reply to the mail, or did she delete it?

The attachment was apparently saved separately from the mail (some email programs do this) and the cover letter (if there was one) got separated/lost. It happens with streetmail too. She seems to have lost a lot of mail to server issues (and doesn't strike me as being a computer power-user).

I suggested that she Google on the title of the book and her own name, to see if the author mentioned sending it, and Google on unique phrases from the first chapter to see if the author workshopped it somewhere, but those are both longshots.

aruna · Jun 28, 2005

OK.

Talking about slip-ups, this morning I had a mail in my inbox from the editor of an anthology I had applied to - rather, I had asked if it was too late for inclusion. He had written a note forwarding my mail to someone else, telling her about me, commenting that it was too late but if she could use me for their website... seems he pressed the reply button instead of forward; no evidence of it being a CC.
I had a chuckle and replied to the sender, explaining the slip up. Nothing serious, but I expect he'll have a red face!

James D. Macdonald · Jun 29, 2005

"Reply all" has done more damage than you might imagine.

-------------------

"Funny" doesn't always mean "humorous." It can also mean odd, queer, or unsettling.

Q. Why didn't the cannibal eat the clown?

A. He tasted funny.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 29, 2005

Researching the historical novel

Kate Nepveu · Jun 29, 2005

Lenora Rose said:
As to covers:

I pointedly went out and bought the new rerelease of a book I liked from an author I love specifically because the original release had the worst pastel unicorn shot you've ever seen.

Oh hey, is that Pamela Dean's Secret Country trilogy? I did the same thing.

(old cover of book 1; new cover of book 1.)

Firebird is doing good work getting stuff like that back in print.

arodriguez · Jun 29, 2005

hey thanks for the info!

knowing that really takes the pressure off. I was also wondering something else. Say for instance that my concept for the story spans longer than just the novel. Should i just write the synopsis for the one book, or should i send an overview of all the books, even though only one is written? Also, if the latter is true, then how do you transition the ending of one book to the next in the synopsis? Also, im assuming of course that the editor would not care if the synopsis is 12-15 pages if needed..?

appreciate all the help, thanks!

James D. Macdonald · Jun 29, 2005

Sell just the one book. That book needs to have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

If that first book doesn't sell it won't have any sequels.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 29, 2005

Story can be brief.

arodriguez · Jun 29, 2005

aye aye captain!

James D. Macdonald · Jun 29, 2005

For any novel you can assume that the world existed before the action of the book started, and the world continued after the climax of the book ended.

arodriguez · Jun 29, 2005

My problem is there is so much action before and after that i just wrote about the character with the most interesting POV. problem is, hes not the only main character, and not the only charcater i wanted to stay in as i told the story. I think i made it interesting because i wrapped up everyone's life in his, and they view him a little differently than he views himself.the point was, the events in his life that influence him are completely unknown to him, although he is wrapped in it living through the results. what is currently happing is the culmination of these events and he is the at the epicenter, just kind of bearing it, barely. (haha) so in the synopsis i had to kind of introduce some of the action in the back story in order to make the plot not confusing. I know the book is the ride, but the synopsis sells it..oh well. i hope i am doing the proper thing!

arodriguez · Jun 29, 2005

btw...in 10 pt courier its almost 800 pages.yikes! i nailed the action and plot in 6 pages with a line at the last implying the charcters next step would be another story.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 29, 2005

Presumably if you'd been able to tell the story in less than 800 pages you would have done so.

That being said, what you've told me about your synopsis may point to a problem area or two in the overall novel.

Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

Your Genial Uncle

A Work in Progress

Renegade

Your Genial Uncle

Rep Point Whore

Your Genial Uncle

A Work in Progress

Your Genial Uncle

A Work in Progress

On a wing and a prayer

Your Genial Uncle

On a wing and a prayer

Your Genial Uncle

Your Genial Uncle

Vacuumer of Cats

Renegade

Your Genial Uncle

Your Genial Uncle

Renegade

Your Genial Uncle

Renegade

Renegade

Your Genial Uncle