Old Ask Nathan Thread

[Nathan Bransford]

A follow up then - would you prefer the client call you or email you with the one liners/paragraphs? Thx.

I personally prefer e-mail.

[atpf14]

Hi Nathan:
I'm enjoying your blog -- a new discovery of mine. A couple of questions:

1) In deciding whether to represent an author, do you sometimes get a second opinion on the manscript, e.g ask a colleague to read it, too?
2) Do you include authors in the process of choosing to whom and how you're going to submit their manuscript? Do you submit the ms to a large number of editors simultaneously, or do it by stages?

Thanks so much.
A.T. Pfeffer

[Adam Heine]

This isn't strictly about publishing, but I'd appreciate any advice you can give. I've got a novel written in two timelines: one present, one past. Some of the same characters are present in both timelines, and I've been having difficulty writing the synopsis in a way that's not confusing.

So, question the first: for synopsis paragraphs that summarize the past timeline, should they still be written in present tense? That's the way I have it now, but some readers are confused. Yet when I write them in past tense, it reads like an unnecessary infodump rather than part of the story.

Question the second: I know synopses are normally not supposed to speak of the story in a meta sense, but is it okay to lead off with something like "THE NOVEL is told in two timelines: Character A's present and B's past," to allay confusion?

Of course, if you have a better suggestion, I'm all ears. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[shadow]

Hello again,

I have another question. Will posting an opening paragraph for critique at like Absolute write damage the chances of being accepted by an agent?

thanks!

[Nathan Bransford]

Hi Nathan:
I'm enjoying your blog -- a new discovery of mine. A couple of questions:

1) In deciding whether to represent an author, do you sometimes get a second opinion on the manscript, e.g ask a colleague to read it, too?
2) Do you include authors in the process of choosing to whom and how you're going to submit their manuscript? Do you submit the ms to a large number of editors simultaneously, or do it by stages?

Thanks so much.
A.T. Pfeffer

1. No, I usually make my own decision.
2. Yes, I definitely keep authors apprised. How I go about the submission process in terms of number of editors varies from project to project, but overall I tend to be a patient/cautious submitter.

[Nathan Bransford]

This isn't strictly about publishing, but I'd appreciate any advice you can give. I've got a novel written in two timelines: one present, one past. Some of the same characters are present in both timelines, and I've been having difficulty writing the synopsis in a way that's not confusing.

So, question the first: for synopsis paragraphs that summarize the past timeline, should they still be written in present tense? That's the way I have it now, but some readers are confused. Yet when I write them in past tense, it reads like an unnecessary infodump rather than part of the story.

Question the second: I know synopses are normally not supposed to speak of the story in a meta sense, but is it okay to lead off with something like "THE NOVEL is told in two timelines: Character A's present and B's past," to allay confusion?

Of course, if you have a better suggestion, I'm all ears. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

1. I would try to make it all in one tense, even if the sections refer to different times in the story. Depending on
2. It's tough to make recommendations without knowing how the different stories fit together. But in general, I think it's okay to say something along the lines of "THE NOVEL is the story of X and Y, which intersect and come together to make Y." Then try either alternating paragraphs between the two stories or just synthesize things into one overarching story. It's more important for it to read well and make sense than to perfectly replicate the feel of the novel.

[Nathan Bransford]

Hello again,

I have another question. Will posting an opening paragraph for critique at like Absolute write damage the chances of being accepted by an agent?

thanks!

No

[KateK]

Hi Nathan,

Quick question/grovel.

I made a rookie mistake and queried too early; you passed on my partial in July. I took your notes to heart, and eight drafts, two writer's workshops, and three critique partners later, I have a MUCH stronger book. Any chance I can re-query you, or am I out of luck?

- Kate

[Nathan Bransford]

Hi Nathan,

Quick question/grovel.

I made a rookie mistake and queried too early; you passed on my partial in July. I took your notes to heart, and eight drafts, two writer's workshops, and three critique partners later, I have a MUCH stronger book. Any chance I can re-query you, or am I out of luck?

- Kate

Unless I offered specific revision suggestions I'm afraid my response is my response.

That said, if you really truly believe that the manuscript is better and different then you can query again, but please be up front about this. I may still decide my response is my response, but I'll still consider.

[atpf14]

I've just finished a YA novel that both my UCLA writing teacher and a free-lance editor with 20 years of children's publishing experience tell me is very good and ready to send out for queries.

The problem: I'm a female author with a male protagonist in my story. I was told recently that even though the male voice in the book sounds authentic, the mere fact that I'm a woman makes this book hard to sell.

I've dealt with it by: 1) positioning it as a girls' book, which it is, with a romantic, appealing male hero that girls will fall in love with, 2) renaming the book with an attention-getting title that says "girl book" all the way, and 3) using my initials, so as to leave at least some mystery about my gender.

Do you think I have a shot at it, or I am doomed from the start because I wrote a story about a boy?

[denverbennett]

Nathan,

I am writing my current project with a 1st person POV from the standpoint of the protag. There is a lot going on with the antagonist, too. I'm thinking of writing those parts of the book in 3rd person. Do you see many successful projects where the writer mixes the POV?

Thanks,

RW

[Nathan Bransford]

I've just finished a YA novel that both my UCLA writing teacher and a free-lance editor with 20 years of children's publishing experience tell me is very good and ready to send out for queries.

The problem: I'm a female author with a male protagonist in my story. I was told recently that even though the male voice in the book sounds authentic, the mere fact that I'm a woman makes this book hard to sell.

I've dealt with it by: 1) positioning it as a girls' book, which it is, with a romantic, appealing male hero that girls will fall in love with, 2) renaming the book with an attention-getting title that says "girl book" all the way, and 3) using my initials, so as to leave at least some mystery about my gender.

Do you think I have a shot at it, or I am doomed from the start because I wrote a story about a boy?

Don't believe it will hurt your chances for a second. If it's good it's good. Jennifer Hubbard's THE SECRET YEAR features a male protagonist and it's sensational and Viking loves it. In some instances publishers will want an author to use a pen name or a different title, but that can be decided down the line once you've gotten way past the query stage. Agents certainly aren't going to bat an eye at female authors with male protagonists.

[Nathan Bransford]

Nathan,

I am writing my current project with a 1st person POV from the standpoint of the protag. There is a lot going on with the antagonist, too. I'm thinking of writing those parts of the book in 3rd person. Do you see many successful projects where the writer mixes the POV?

Thanks,

RW

I see this occasionally. In suspense novels especially. If you feel it's the best way to tell it, go for it.

[Eternal Hope]

I don't know why I keep trying to follow your blog, except it's the best one I've found. I call myself Eterna Hope, because that's what I seem to be------eternaly hopeful--------not sucessful..

My question is about Ebooks. You've written a lot abuut them, but I'm still confused abut the copywrite side of it. How are the number of copies controlled? Can they be copied to another reader? If they can't now, do you realy think someone isn't going to come out with a gadget that with break the encription. I know someone who claims he can copy anything. Is that a possible problem in the future?

Another thing. Since these boks won't be printed on presses, how will they be printed and are the old, established publishing companies going to invest in this new procedure? Which formal wil they use and wil they have to pay a royalty to the company that deveoped the system that's finally decided upon?

Gene

[danielguiteras]

Nathan,

Thanks so much for adding the forums! (DG from your blog comments here) Anyway... With all the discussion on you blog last week about e-books and e-book publishing it got me thinking: Do you expect to see a rise in the number of authors who don't self publish in the usual way, POD or the 1,500 up-front purchase sell-from-your-car method, but instead offer their book for sale from their own website in pdf or other e-book format? In other words they invest little to no up-front cash, and potentially make significantly more than they would from a POD model. Do you see this as similar to an up and coming garage band, who records their music using the latest digital equipment, and then bypass the record companies by offering their music as a download from the band's website?