What is the best way of getting opinions on my work?

Question

I have a 360 page with some examples on the blog, notably the latest entry- is there any way of this reaching a wider audience? Can I send it anywhere in particular? Thanks to those who have already commented!

By the way, what is the best resource for an aspiring writer? Some are saying the Writers Handbook, others the Writers and Artists Yearbook...so which one? And where can I get one from in the UK? WHat does the book actually cover (in your opinion, not what it says in the blurb!)

There's a lot here to answer, but I'd really appreciate emails regarding my blog.

Thanks a lot guys!

Answer 1

I am a professional editor.

I read the first extract. I'd say it's "okay". It's not awful (believe me, I've read awful) but it doesn't sparkle. I only had the vaguest feeling of "I want to know what happens next" -- but at least there was a hint of it :-)

However this really isn't ready by any means, and certainly not ready for professional editing, get it the best you possibly can first.

You're skilled enough that you don't need basic instruction on how to write so I would suggest an online critique group. You need to find one that's appropriate to your genre (I couldn't tell from the opening whether this was a thriller, post-apocalyptic, historical or ... whatever).

Critiquing other people's work is one of the best ways to learn your trade. Having your work critiqued is the best way to find out what needs improving.

If it's SF/Fantasy/Horror then there's no group better than Critters (http://www.critters.org/) otherwise I'm afraid you'll have to search (Google: online writing critique). I personally think online is better than face-to-face because in f-t-f you get to know people personally and then you don't want to criticise harshly. This doesn't happen in online.

Writers & Artists Yearbook is very good. Apart from listings of agents and publishers, it has articles on how to present yourself professionally -- and that is vital because, if you don't, you will only get rejections. The Writers Handbook has more listings and divides them by genre, but the articles aren't so good. Buy either or both from http://www.amazon.co.uk/

Not many questions at all really. The long post by Jojo contains some very bad advice, like mailing to multiple publishers, don't do that, multiple mailings to agents is okay, not publishers. Also her first Step 1 and Step 2 are the wrong way around. The stuff about "researching the editor" is rubbish. And you don't mail to publishing houses if you've got an agent! That's the agent's job!

Good luck.


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Answer 2

Both books are available in Waterstones, probably also WHSmith. They both cover the same areas in slightly different ways; mostly they are a resource giving addresses and so on for agents, publishers and so on, as well as a few articles on what not to do and so on.
As for getting opinions, please be patient. It takes a bit of time for people to find 360 sites and you've only been publicising your for a few days. You don't seem very confident of yourself; you don't truly need the opinions of others. Just have a bit of faith in yourself and patience.

Answer 3

The best resource for writers is life.

Answer 4

Simple... either do your worst or do your best...nobody has an opinion on the mediocre.

Answer 5

you can send your work to me [e-mail]

Answer 6

Conventional wisdom holds that you have only a couple minutes to convince an editor that your novel is worth buying. That makes every second critical to presenting your work in the best light. Even Michael Chabon and Barbara Kingsolver started out this way.

Instructions

STEP 1: Pay a professional editor to review your book and polish it. Editors can be a big help when it comes to identifying flaws in the plot or stilted dialog.
STEP 2: Make sure your manuscript is clean, free of mistakes and neatly bound. Although nonfiction books are generally bought based on a sample chapter, outline and proposal, fiction is only purchased after reading the entire manuscript.
STEP 3: Get an agent. Most publishing houses won't even look at a manuscript unless it comes via an agent.
STEP 4: Choose publishing houses who sell the genre of book you've written. If you think you're the next Danielle Steel, don't pitch your romance novel to a house that deals exclusively in history. Do send your material to as many houses that seem a reasonable fit.
STEP 5: Write a solid cover letter to accompany your manuscript. This is absolutely critical to getting an editor's attention. Start the letter with a "hook"--something unique or provocative about the book. This makes the editor want to read the novel itself. Also include:
STEP 6: Why you chose this particular editor. That shows you've done your homework.
STEP 7: Any information about prior publishing experience you have. If you have none, however, don't let on that you're a beginner.
STEP 8: A brief summary of the novel--no longer than three paragraphs-- with an estimated word count.
STEP 9: A description of the audience you think will read your novel, such as suspense fans, sci-fi junkies or teens.
STEP 10: Mail the manuscript to as many publishers as you think are potential buyers, unless your agent will market your work. Tell the publisher if you are submitting to other publishers or if they are the only one.
STEP 11: Wait. Depending on the size of the publishing house, it can take several months before you hear anything. Hold off e-mailing or phoning to ask about the status of the book. That's a sure way to turn off an editor.
STEP 12: Turn over any offers to your agent. He or she is more objective and will work to get you higher advance payments, which in turn means higher percentages for the agent.

What To Look For
An agent
Suitable publishing houses
Cover letter and summary
Patience

Overall Tips & Warnings

Check out Writer's Market (writersmarket.com), an excellent source of publishing house names and contacts.
Get a personal introduction to publishers. This will help you to stand out from the hordes of author wannabes.
Work your network. Even if the connection is personal ("His children and my children go to school together."), if it seems appropriate, use it.
Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in the overall package so that an editor can send back your manuscript.
Try not to get discouraged. Many great books have been through the rejection meat grinder before getting published.
If you exhaust all the possibilities at traditional houses, look at self-publishing



Many publishing houses won't even glance at a proposal unless it has come in through an agent. Agents with valuable connections can distribute your work and have the know-how and experience to negotiate the best deal. They can also be a generous font of guidance and advice. But it's essential to find a suitable match.

Instructions

STEP 1: Start your search by asking some writerly friends for references. Ask with whom they're working and if they're satisfied.
STEP 2: Find books similar to ones you want to write and make note of the name of the literary agent who represented the author (they usually get thanked in the acknowledgments).
STEP 3: Visit agency Web sites for information on genres they specialize in, clients they represent, preferred method of communication, and any guidelines for submissions. Check if you can send in a full manuscript. Most agents don't read unsolicited manuscripts and many won't read unsolicited proposals.
STEP 4: Consider both large and small agencies. The bigger ones may have greater resources; the smaller operations may give you more personalized service. If you're taken on by a larger firm, ask who will be your agent; the agency may have a marquee name, but a newcomer, junior associate or assistant may actually handle your account.
STEP 5: Have any agent outline exactly what he or she will do for you, and what the specialty is. Some agents will help you land magazine assignments--others will work only on book projects.
STEP 6: Find out how long the prospect has actually worked as an agent. If the person is relatively new to the field, ask what he or she did before, to gauge what publishing connections can be brought to the table. An agent's greatest asset is his or her relationships with editors.
STEP 7: Get a sense of how aggressive an agent might be. Some will go to the ends of the earth to sell your project. Some won't go any farther than the end of their desks. Ask to talk to past clients to find out which category this agent falls into.
STEP 8: Ask about commissions. Most agents charge a 15 percent commission on anything they sell on your behalf, and some charge for incidentals like photocopies and postage. And since agents only earn a fee when they have generated income for you, they have a strong incentive to work on your behalf.
STEP 9: Request a written contract that confirms everything you and your new agent have agreed to.

What To Look For
Client/agent matching services
Large versus small agencies
Type of clients
Aggressive personality
Commission

Overall Tips & Warnings

Get a personal referral wherever possible. Agents, like publishers, rarely look at unsolicited materials.
Anyone considering going the self-publishing route, such as using print-ondemand companies like XLibris, iUniverse, and Infinity Publishing, won't need an agent at the start. However, if the book does well, publishers may come calling, and you'll need an agent then to represent your interests.
Keep in mind that it's considered advantageous to have a New York City-based literary agent. That's not to say agents in other cities won't do a good job, just that the publishing decisions are generally made in Manhattan.
Never work with an agent who charges to read a book. That's nothing but an unadulterated rip-off.




Self-publishing can be a smart choice for writers. It's cost-effective, relatively fast, pays much better than standard royalty contracts, and lets you maintain control over the publishing process. But there are drawbacks to consider.

Instructions

STEP 1: Decide what your goal is. Some writers want to print out just enough copies of their prized project for colleagues and friends; others think they have a book that will sell to a larger audience.
STEP 2: Examine competing titles to make sure you're not covering the same ground. Find out what sales of those books have been to see if it's really worth your while to tackle a similar topic. Call book distributor Ingram at [phone] and punch in the ISBN of the book you want to check on; you'll hear a voice message containing the number of copies sold in the last year.
STEP 3: Determine what format you'd like to publish in: hardcover, softcover, or ebook, which is essentially an electronic file and requires no paper printing.
STEP 4: Check out print-on-demand publishers. If all you want to do is get a book published, these vanity presses will do the job for a price. Some vanity houses will print just a few copies for a few hundred dollars. Print-on-demand is ideal for very short runs (25 to 500 copies). Instead of printing on traditional, ink-based offset printing equipment, pages are reproduced using a highend copier. A digital file from a page layout program links directly to a high-speed copier and then is machine-bound. Some shops offer perfect binding so it looks just like a printed book. Look at sources like Trafford.com, Xlibris.com and Iuniverse.com.
STEP 5: Print your book directly from your completed files with a directto- press printer. Instead of producing a different piece of film for each color of each page, the files are transferred directly to the printing plate. You'll eliminate all the film costs, and save time too.
STEP 6: Shop aggressively if you really want your book to sell. If you're an established writer considering self-publishing, look around. You can either choose to have a print-on-demand company, such as those mentioned above, handle all the layout, printing and production activities, or go to a local offset printer and oversee each of those steps in the process personally.
STEP 7: Ask potential suppliers to send you samples of their recently printed books. Don't be shocked: The quality will vary considerably with regard to paper quality, cover design, layout, and whether it was run on a sheet-fed press or a web press. Ask questions about how individual pieces were produced.
STEP 8: View competitors' books to determine what size and format you'd like your book to take. Find out if there are standard sizes you should stay with to reduce costs, or whether a different format will help your book stand out. Format sizes can affect which print-on-demand publisher you can work with.
STEP 9: Familiarize yourself with printing costs. These will vary, but you can expect to spend more than $1 per book for a minimum print run of several thousand copies. You may also be charged extra for layout help, editing, design of a book cover, and for photos. Typical fees are $3 to $6 per page for editing, $3 to $5 for production, $500 to $5,000 and more for design, plus $3 per 300- page book for printing.
STEP 10: Hire a designer with book experience. He or she will design the type, flow the pages, and create a spectacular jacket as well. This is more expensive, in some cases considerably so, but the difference in creating a quality product is significant.
STEP 11: Tally up your costs, including printing, graphic design, artwork, photography, copy editing and other expenses. A traditional publishing house that buys your book would normally absorb these costs, but then again, you lose control.
STEP 12: Request an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), which is the standard code for identifying your book, at isbn.org. The cost for 10 ISBNs is $150, plus a minimum $75 processing fee.
STEP 13: Find out how and by whom your book will be distributed. Some print-on-demand companies handle it in-house. If you do it, you'll need to have the books shipped to you, to contact book chains about stocking your book, potentially visit each bookstore individually, and handle any mail orders on your own. Some bookstores will accept a limited number of your books on consignment, which means you leave them and if they sell, you get paid; if they don't, you pick them up in a couple of months. Some companies have extensive bookstore distribution; others focus more on online sales, which will have bearing on the types of activities you'll need to perform to be successful.
STEP 14: Be prepared to sell yourself. Any real marketing of the book will have to come from you. Self-publishing also means self-promotion, or hiring a publicist to do it for you.

What To Look For

An affordable publishing house
Good-quality work
Print run minimum
Print-on-demand option
Distribution capability
Decent royalty structure

Overall Tips & Warnings

In general, the more copies you print, the lower the unit cost. On the other hand, you don't want a garage packed to the rafters with your books.
Self-publishing has its risks but also its rewards. Most publishing companies pay authors a royalty between 8 and 10 percent of sales; self-publishers can increase that to 50 percent or more.
The largest segment of the 125,000 books that will be published this year is the novel, at 12 percent of the total.


Best of luck with all that you do, do. And try to start a writers group where other writers will come to read others works and to read yours and comment on it. This is the best way, because it will narrow your audience down to people who are actually interested and will give proper critiques (unlike on a blog - that was crap dude, or that totally moved me, I just love it) You need someone to tell you that the plot was week, or there was a character that needed more development because he/she was crucial to the story in the end but don't really know why....

Good luck.