all my content is in someone else's context....

[lagilman]

I find myself offering career advice over at kateelliott's journal. If you're thinking about multiple-book pitches or wondering what it takes to get in as a baby author, it's an interesting discussion, and it start here.


(and neutronjockey? You may have been kidding but you hit a continual problem-spot, and so got turned into an Object Lesson. That'll teach ya [or, probably, not]).

Comments

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

BTW, I recently added you during a quest to find even more writers who write about writing, because heaven knows you can never have enough good advice. Heck, if I hadn't spent so much time over at matociquala's journal I might not have realized just how bad my work habits are. Or were. I'm now cognizant of the fact that if I want to have things to send out I have to, you know, actually write them.

[lagilman]

You're welcome! (in response to both parts of your post).

My writing-blather tends to be more on the business side than the technical breakdown of How I Done It, but hopefully it's useful...

[rhonawestbrook.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that link and all the info!

Of course I agree with you and Eric. In fact, when I wrote my second novel, I still hadn't heard back from some agents who had my first full manuscript. So,I wrote another book and sent it, asking them if I could please switch manuscripts under consideration because I felt my second effort was much better than the one they were considering at the time. I felt that would be the best way to show my dream agents that I am a serious author who willing and able to write more than one book and it worked! They've all been more than willing to look at the second book which is also the first of a series and...well...that in itself proves this advice to be true!

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Teach the Neut a lesson? Whateverfor? He is more entertaining the way he is! ;-)

[aitchellsee.livejournal.com]

Er, that should be kateelliott with a double tee or the link won't work.

[lagilman]

the link to the actual discussion works, but I've corrected the journal-link, thanks.

[ex-fashioni.livejournal.com]

I just went and stirred the anthill with respect to your first answer. :-)

[lagilman]

a good stirring, and I responded within my limited knowledge of that genre...

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Well I'm glad you did that, because it is worrisome that there are people out there thinking that having a series idea is bad! Of course, I would also caution unpublished writers to not go crazy and write three 150,000 word books in a series when they haven't even sold the first one yet, either....

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

That'll teach ya [or, probably, not]

I do try to behave. There is just so much to poke fun at. With so much information readily available (how to books, writers guides, blogs, blogs and more blogs, submissions guidelines etc) I can't see how there are so many FFIs (Failure to Follow Instrctions) out there.

I do IRL take publishing and writing (very) seriously. As I seem to recall I hired a Madame Editrix to tell me exactly what I needed to here a few years back: you are not ready for publication...and why I was not ready specifically.

We still loff Madame Editrix. We even have to pick up the second of her Retrievers series for our beloved lady sometime today.

Unfortunately, for those who have braved the slush piles it's not funny is it?

At least the slush room doesn't actually have built in transoms. Can you imagine being bombarded by a 350k full ms submission. Ouch!

[bigferret.livejournal.com]

There is some good stuff there.

I went to a signing for Matthew Reilly a few weeks ago and he was saying a lot of the same stuff. Publishers don't want someone with a single book, but some with several books.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your comments there (and here). I'm mostly a lurker, but I do appreciate the information you share.