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Good friends out there, this is a request for advice. I know some on my flist are professional writers and teachers of writing, and I don't expect you to give out advice for free online--I know that's your profession! This is directly to others who are more closely in my own situation, but maybe know more than I.
I've written my first novel and had some readers who've encouraged me to try publishing. I'm feeling hestitant about the best way to do that. I've gone to the online sites (Mystery Writers of America, etc.) and I've bought and read Writer's Market and Guide to Publishers and Agents, but still feeling a bit unclear.
I read and hear that you should look for agents, but then others say, nah, go straight to the publisher. I read and hear not to send any chapters, etc., with the query letter unless the agent/publisher says that's the way to start, but others say send a few chapters, it won't hurt. I've started my second novel (these would be a series)--is it better to market one or two?
Anybody know anything about this? (and if anyone out there is in a reading mood... but be warn, this is cozy mystery with regional setting, not fantasy...I'd be most grateful)
ETA: Been forgetting to post my version of this:
Hardback or Paperback? Paperback if I have to buy, but prefer hardback. I like that nice weight, and they’re easier to keep open.
Highlight or Underline? Neither. Not in school anymore!
Lewis or Tolkien? Tolkien. Lewis is ok, but he doesn’t have the magic that Tolkien does. Or the languages.
E.B. White or A.A. Milne White, hands down. Milne is fun to read to kids, but I read White to myself. Pooh’s never as complex as Charlotte, though I wouldn’t have missed him. My real answer is both.
T.S. Eliot or e.e. cummings? Sigh. Been thinking about this for 40 years. I admire Eliot, but love cummings.
Stephen King or Dean Koontz? Neither.
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Neither.
Waldenbooks or B. Dalton? Neither. I like little used-book stores with cats that prowl around while you dig in the messy stacks and the owner plays chess.
Fantasy or Science Fiction? Both, if good. Lots of both are not, but when they’re good, they’re great.
Horror or Suspense? Maybe suspense, but not crazy about either. Prefer psychological mysteries.
Bookmark or Dogear? Dogear, unless a very nice book that I own.
Hemingway or Faulkner?. Faulkner. Both are poseurs, I think, but I prefer Faulkner’s pose, and like complicated structures of his novels.
Fitzgerald or Steinbeck? Fitzgerald, though I like Steinbeck’s politics better.
Homer or Plato? Homer. The beauty of the language, the story—I’m not really abstract enough in my thinking to love philosophy. And it probably wouldn’t be Plato if I did.
Geoffrey Chaucer or Edmund Spenser? Oh, Chaucer, no question. What a master of language! And variety, and psychology.
Pen or Pencil? Pencil for crosswords and grocery lists, pen for everything else.
Looseleaf or Notepad? Notepad. Loose leaf gets lost immediately. Actually, computer when at all possible.
Alphabetize: By Author or By Title? Huh? By author, but not my bookshelves. Mine are by subject.
Dustjacket: Leave it On or Take it Off? Keep it on, even when it gets ragged.
Novella or Epic? Epic! With sequels!
John Grisham or Scott Turow? Turow. Forget Grisham. He plots well, but his style and characterizations are cliched.
J.K. Rowling or Lemony Snicket? Should read Snicket, but haven’t yet, so can’t answer.
John Irving or John Updike? OK, has to be Updike, though I get tired of the upper middle class angst. I like Irving’s people and ideas, but Updike is just an excellent writer, no doubt about it.
Fiction or Non-fiction? Fiction. Sucker for a story every time.
Historical Biography or Historical Romance? Romance, but really neither.
A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter? Whatever I have time for, usually before I go to bed or early in the morning.
Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay? Short story.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? Both have their charms…
Buy or Borrow? Borrow if possible, buy if not. From the library, that is. I could never afford to buy at the rate I read.
Book Reviews or Word of Mouth? Both. I read things no one I know would like, so have to use reviews, but if someone (like a lot of you folks) tells me a book is good, I go right for it. I trust Alan Cheuse on NPR but sometimes he lets me down, as does Katani. Nevertheless, have to feed the habit continuously, so any source is good.
I've written my first novel and had some readers who've encouraged me to try publishing. I'm feeling hestitant about the best way to do that. I've gone to the online sites (Mystery Writers of America, etc.) and I've bought and read Writer's Market and Guide to Publishers and Agents, but still feeling a bit unclear.
I read and hear that you should look for agents, but then others say, nah, go straight to the publisher. I read and hear not to send any chapters, etc., with the query letter unless the agent/publisher says that's the way to start, but others say send a few chapters, it won't hurt. I've started my second novel (these would be a series)--is it better to market one or two?
Anybody know anything about this? (and if anyone out there is in a reading mood... but be warn, this is cozy mystery with regional setting, not fantasy...I'd be most grateful)
ETA: Been forgetting to post my version of this:
Hardback or Paperback? Paperback if I have to buy, but prefer hardback. I like that nice weight, and they’re easier to keep open.
Highlight or Underline? Neither. Not in school anymore!
Lewis or Tolkien? Tolkien. Lewis is ok, but he doesn’t have the magic that Tolkien does. Or the languages.
E.B. White or A.A. Milne White, hands down. Milne is fun to read to kids, but I read White to myself. Pooh’s never as complex as Charlotte, though I wouldn’t have missed him. My real answer is both.
T.S. Eliot or e.e. cummings? Sigh. Been thinking about this for 40 years. I admire Eliot, but love cummings.
Stephen King or Dean Koontz? Neither.
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Neither.
Waldenbooks or B. Dalton? Neither. I like little used-book stores with cats that prowl around while you dig in the messy stacks and the owner plays chess.
Fantasy or Science Fiction? Both, if good. Lots of both are not, but when they’re good, they’re great.
Horror or Suspense? Maybe suspense, but not crazy about either. Prefer psychological mysteries.
Bookmark or Dogear? Dogear, unless a very nice book that I own.
Hemingway or Faulkner?. Faulkner. Both are poseurs, I think, but I prefer Faulkner’s pose, and like complicated structures of his novels.
Fitzgerald or Steinbeck? Fitzgerald, though I like Steinbeck’s politics better.
Homer or Plato? Homer. The beauty of the language, the story—I’m not really abstract enough in my thinking to love philosophy. And it probably wouldn’t be Plato if I did.
Geoffrey Chaucer or Edmund Spenser? Oh, Chaucer, no question. What a master of language! And variety, and psychology.
Pen or Pencil? Pencil for crosswords and grocery lists, pen for everything else.
Looseleaf or Notepad? Notepad. Loose leaf gets lost immediately. Actually, computer when at all possible.
Alphabetize: By Author or By Title? Huh? By author, but not my bookshelves. Mine are by subject.
Dustjacket: Leave it On or Take it Off? Keep it on, even when it gets ragged.
Novella or Epic? Epic! With sequels!
John Grisham or Scott Turow? Turow. Forget Grisham. He plots well, but his style and characterizations are cliched.
J.K. Rowling or Lemony Snicket? Should read Snicket, but haven’t yet, so can’t answer.
John Irving or John Updike? OK, has to be Updike, though I get tired of the upper middle class angst. I like Irving’s people and ideas, but Updike is just an excellent writer, no doubt about it.
Fiction or Non-fiction? Fiction. Sucker for a story every time.
Historical Biography or Historical Romance? Romance, but really neither.
A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter? Whatever I have time for, usually before I go to bed or early in the morning.
Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay? Short story.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? Both have their charms…
Buy or Borrow? Borrow if possible, buy if not. From the library, that is. I could never afford to buy at the rate I read.
Book Reviews or Word of Mouth? Both. I read things no one I know would like, so have to use reviews, but if someone (like a lot of you folks) tells me a book is good, I go right for it. I trust Alan Cheuse on NPR but sometimes he lets me down, as does Katani. Nevertheless, have to feed the habit continuously, so any source is good.
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