Search found 25 matches

by izanobu
June 22nd, 2010, 7:54 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Prizes
Replies: 7
Views: 3245

Re: Prizes

I think she also makes the same mistake that a lot of us make sometimes, ie believing that because we hated something, it therefore must suck. I try to look at best-selling books I don't like as just books I don't like. Clearly even if I think a book is terrible but it is selling tons of copies and ...
by izanobu
June 21st, 2010, 11:30 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Rookie Mistakes?
Replies: 66
Views: 21657

Re: Rookie Mistakes?

I didn't mean it in a personal way, geez. I meant that it is generally helpful to listen to the advice of people who are where you want to be, rather than people who aren't. I guess you can substitute "beginning or aspiring professional" for "newbie", if that helps clarify what I...
by izanobu
June 21st, 2010, 2:09 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Rookie Mistakes?
Replies: 66
Views: 21657

Re: Rookie Mistakes?

My biggest rookie mistake that I made for years was getting (and taking) writing/publishing advice from other newbs instead of seeking out established professionals and people who were ahead of me on the path I wanted to be on. So I'd say: don't listen to people who are where you are, listen to peop...
by izanobu
June 18th, 2010, 4:32 am
Forum: Ask Nathan
Topic: Old Ask Nathan Thread
Replies: 793
Views: 404527

Re: Ask Nathan

Hey Nathan, I'm curious about your listing on Publisher's Marketplace. I was doing agent and editor research and found only 5 deals listed for you in the last 5 years. Do you have clients and deals that don't get reported to PM? I'm guessing yes, since 15% of five deals can't be enough to keep anyon...
by izanobu
June 13th, 2010, 8:05 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: When the first draft is done - what next?
Replies: 12
Views: 4966

Re: When the first draft is done - what next?

I start the next project.
by izanobu
June 12th, 2010, 12:01 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: I Did Something Stupid- need advice
Replies: 6
Views: 3386

Re: I Did Something Stupid- need advice

I'd give it another month or so, then send the email query if you haven't heard anything. Seriously, agents and editors get so many submissions that they won't remember the wrong ones unless you do something truly stupid like call them a jerk or threaten them or something like that.
by izanobu
June 11th, 2010, 8:17 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Another curious question - how many novels have you trunked?
Replies: 14
Views: 7716

Re: Another curious question - how many novels have you trunked?

Technically, one. But it isn't really trunked, since I am re-drafting it. The first attempt was my first novel ever, and it taught me valuable things about writing a novel. I love the characters and basic plot idea, so I've yoinked them from the original work and am writing the whole thing over from...
by izanobu
June 7th, 2010, 5:27 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Procrastination vs. Writer's Block
Replies: 12
Views: 7357

Re: Procrastination vs. Writer's Block

I find also that having a goal in mind when I start writing a story or novel helps. I pick out the things I want to work on, such as dialogue or setting or character voice, and focus on those as I write. Knowing that I'm working on a skill helps me finish things, because even if that particular stor...
by izanobu
May 28th, 2010, 9:55 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Okay, be honest…how crappy is your first draft?
Replies: 41
Views: 21891

Re: Okay, be honest…how crappy is your first draft?

Depends on what the first draft is. The first draft of the first novel I ever wrote was utterly crap. I scrapped the whole thing other than the idea and intend to do a full redraft of it. The first draft of my second novel was much less of a mess. That's what years of practice and working will get y...
by izanobu
May 28th, 2010, 8:58 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Long Abandoned Projects Suddenly Seem Interesting?
Replies: 4
Views: 2283

Re: Long Abandoned Projects Suddenly Seem Interesting?

I found a short story in a notebook from about ten years ago, tore the end off it and rewrote that part, then mailed it out. It sold to the second market I sent it to :) That's why I keep everything, including notebooks full of scribbled down lines and ideas. You never know when you might find somet...
by izanobu
May 27th, 2010, 11:25 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?
Replies: 52
Views: 18362

Re: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?

There are no rules, only whatever works to tell the story. If you ignore grammar and spelling all the time, of course, the story probably will have a harder time getting across. But story is king, everything else in writing should be in service to it :) If you have to break a rule, do it. If it work...
by izanobu
May 27th, 2010, 8:40 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: The first chapter of a novel
Replies: 9
Views: 4038

Re: The first chapter of a novel

Neither? I prefer a fast beginning and a fast middle. Why let up the pace? :)
by izanobu
May 27th, 2010, 1:53 am
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Rejection Stats
Replies: 227
Views: 148996

Re: Rejection Stats

mmcdonald64- are you getting rejected based off query? or based on full requests? If off the query maybe all you need is a query rewrite. If off the fulls, I'm going to make what will likely be a very risque suggestion considering this is an agent's message board. If the agents are all turning down ...
by izanobu
May 25th, 2010, 3:57 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: First & third person in the same novel?
Replies: 7
Views: 4841

Re: First & third person in the same novel?

Both Michael Connelly and James Patterson have used this technique in their novels, and they sell tons of books, so really, it can work just fine when done well, just like any other story-telling technique.
by izanobu
May 23rd, 2010, 7:11 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Book title inspiration!
Replies: 20
Views: 13498

Re: Book title inspiration!

I also like A Million Miles Away. I don't think it has sci/fi connotations (it could, sure...), it sounds quite figurative, not literal to me. Titles can be tough, but the good side is that a working title is rarely the title a book keeps when sold :)