This is topic Calling all Writers in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by beleaguered (Member # 11983) on :
 
I just finished my first rough draft of a novel I've been writing for the last few months, and would like to tap into your expertise. I wondered if the fantabulous writers of Hatrack have come across any particularly useful websites for submitting manuscripts, and if so, could you please share with the rest of the class?
 

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Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
 
You should really head over to the writer's side of the forum for this one. First of all, you need a polished draft before you can even think about submitting it to anyone. Second, you need to decide what type of publisher you are interested in. If you are looking for a big publishing house, you'll want to query agents. If you're interested in smaller to medium size houses, you can query directly. Each person you query (agent or publisher) will have different guidelines. They may just ask for a letter or they may ask for a query package which may include: a cover letter, a synopsis (1-5 pages, depending upon who's asking), a chapter by chapter outline, and/or the first x pages of the manuscript.

This is a long and difficult process. If you haven't had a thorough critique done of your novel, I recommend finding someone to read it for you before you even begin. The writer's side of the forum has resources for hooking up with other writers. I met my favorite 2 writing buddies there. You may also want some help getting your query package ready.

When you say "a site for submitting manuscripts" I'm not really sure what you're looking for, or I'd try to give you some more help with that.
 

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Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
Most of the writer's guides I've read also suggest working to get some short fiction published first. If you get some name recognition its easier to get publishers (and/or agents) to look at your novels. It might not be easy to get short fiction published - at least not for pay - but it is easier to get a foot in the door with a short story than it is with a novel.

It's also supposed to be really good practice.

It might also be easier to obtain feedback and learn from your mistakes with a short piece. With a novel, someone might read a few pages and hand you a list of problems (if you're lucky, and they don't just say "I couldn't really get into it."). "But you didn't even read the good parts!" With a short piece they can finish it without a major commitment and hopefully explain what worked and what didn't.

All of this from an unpublished writer. And Stephanie Meyer proves you don't need to do any of that.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 

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All of this from an unpublished writer. And Stephanie Meyer proves you don't need to do any of that

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Or, you know, even have a decent story.

Head to the library and get a Writer's Guide and start trying to find the contact info for agents that represent the genre you have written. But, before you submit...your draft needs to be polished. First drafts rarely are. First drafts are usually...well, like first drafts.

Revise, edit, polish. Now is the point where I insert the old adage "writing is re-writing."

This from a writer who has had some short stuff published, but no novels. So take it for what it's worth - probably not a whole lot.

Good luck and congrats on finishing a novel first draft - that is an accomplishment!
 

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Posted by beleaguered (Member # 11983) on :
 
Thanks folks for the advice. I certainly will do a rewrite, or several, and will have someone critique the novel before submitting it anywhere. This information will help me get going. I'll see if I can't get some of my shorter works published first. Either way, I'll check out the writer's side of the forum for more help.

Thanks again!
 

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Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
 
For the record, while I did get a handful of crappy short stories published in small magazines before getting my novel published, I didn't find short story writing to be either useful or fulfilling. It just took time away from what I wanted to be doing. Write short stories if you like writing short stories. If you don't, there are other ways to get published. (If you do enjoy writing short stories, then it is a decent way to get started.)
 

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Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
Now that I think about it, it seems like the surest way to get published and sell some books is to write a writer's guide.
 

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Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
 

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Originally posted by scifibum:
Now that I think about it, it seems like the surest way to get published and sell some books is to write a writer's guide.

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quote:

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Originally posted by beleaguered:
Why don't I write a book about how to get rich quick with writing?

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Too far-fetched.
 

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