Today, after more than three months, I finally got the 'breaking news' from the publisher I had sent my manuscript to. She wrote the following:
'I have read your book with pleasure. It reads quickly and easily. I think it is a thrilling story. Especially the passages that are set in 1963 are lively and well written. As we do more literary works, it does not fit within the fund of our publishing house, but I am sure that you will have no trouble finding another publisher keen to publish it.'
Needless to say that I am on cloud 9! It means that I am on the right track, my whole new 'project' is viable and the manuscript has the potential to become a good book. A big encouragement, not only to continue writing, but also to improve myself as a writer again. She was kind enough to also give me some tips on style plus names within other publishing houses, offering to use her name as a reference (something that is crucial in this world). But back to earth again, as there is still lots of work to be done, apart from writing the other 2/3rd of the book!
Last weekend I pushed myself to think about the 'urgency' of my manuscript again. Why would people want to read my book? Why does it need to be published? What distinguishes this story from others? To give you a 'sneak preview': one of the story lines is the life in a tiny village, where everyone is like one big happy family. As long as everyone gets along fine... That specific atmosphere needs to be more anguished, more grim, more alarming then it is now, I decided. Something the publisher pointed out as well. Anyway, as you can imagine, enough great, challenging goals to be met this coming period! Love, M.
Showing posts with label publisher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publisher. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Publishers and Latin Lovers
Three things get pretty clear when you visit the websites of publishers:
1. Don't be impatient: your manuscript will end up on the bottom of a pile of hundreds of other manuscripts and it can take months and months before an editor even takes the time and effort to read it
2. Don't get your hopes up too high: presuming that the publisher likes your manuscript, it still has to fit into one of the funds
3. Don't show any assertiveness: don't call us, we'll call you!
Not very encouraging for a novice writer... Last week I got the name of an editor within a reputable publishing house through the sister of a colleague of a friend of mine. Are you still with me...? As I was in a bold mood, I decided to give her a call right away. To my surprise I had a great, very relaxed conversation with this editor. After listening patiently to my story, she immediately requested me to send her everything I had written so far, including the extra scenes! Within 3-4 weeks I will have her feedback by email, she promised me. Even though she still has to read it (and, most of all: like it!), she had made my day already! What a great start!
Because of the DSK-affair, there is a lively discussion going on within the French media at the moment: do they need to report about the private lives of public figures or not? So far, no one did. In a 'Latin Lover' country like France, flirtatious behavior of powerful men has always been generally - not to mention proudly - accepted. A Latin man is made to seduce women, period. However, where does the 'art of seduction' end and does harassment start? There is a thin line, between innocent flirting and touching and obtrusiveness...
The above shows a big similarity with a phenomenon I have described in my book. When a married Italian man has a mistress, no one - apart from the wife - will probably blink an eye. There is an almost silent, general acceptance, like men can't help themselves being born in a culture of machismo. Even though the younger generation seems to deal with this a bit differently, having an 'amante' is still very common in Italy. For me it is just one of the many factors that makes the Italian culture intriguing, for numerous Italian wives it is a pain in the neck... Love, M.
1. Don't be impatient: your manuscript will end up on the bottom of a pile of hundreds of other manuscripts and it can take months and months before an editor even takes the time and effort to read it
2. Don't get your hopes up too high: presuming that the publisher likes your manuscript, it still has to fit into one of the funds
3. Don't show any assertiveness: don't call us, we'll call you!
Not very encouraging for a novice writer... Last week I got the name of an editor within a reputable publishing house through the sister of a colleague of a friend of mine. Are you still with me...? As I was in a bold mood, I decided to give her a call right away. To my surprise I had a great, very relaxed conversation with this editor. After listening patiently to my story, she immediately requested me to send her everything I had written so far, including the extra scenes! Within 3-4 weeks I will have her feedback by email, she promised me. Even though she still has to read it (and, most of all: like it!), she had made my day already! What a great start!
Because of the DSK-affair, there is a lively discussion going on within the French media at the moment: do they need to report about the private lives of public figures or not? So far, no one did. In a 'Latin Lover' country like France, flirtatious behavior of powerful men has always been generally - not to mention proudly - accepted. A Latin man is made to seduce women, period. However, where does the 'art of seduction' end and does harassment start? There is a thin line, between innocent flirting and touching and obtrusiveness...
The above shows a big similarity with a phenomenon I have described in my book. When a married Italian man has a mistress, no one - apart from the wife - will probably blink an eye. There is an almost silent, general acceptance, like men can't help themselves being born in a culture of machismo. Even though the younger generation seems to deal with this a bit differently, having an 'amante' is still very common in Italy. For me it is just one of the many factors that makes the Italian culture intriguing, for numerous Italian wives it is a pain in the neck... Love, M.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A Push, Comment & Boost
Every writer has his/her own speed and structure to work. Some are very disciplined; they write a steady number of hours or words each day. I also intended to do that, but unfortunately, that kind of structure and discipline just isn't me. Sometimes I am writing several hours a day, other days I do not put one word in writing. Go with the flow, that's typically me. The good thing is that I am not bound to any deadlines yet, so I can take it easy. But easy is usually no good for me, I know from experience. When deadlines appear in sight, that's when my mind works full speed. That is when I am most creative and productive!
Last week a friend of mine asked me how much I had written so far. Good question, because, as I am writing on more than one storyline and chapter 'at the same time', it looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than a book at the moment! Was I interested in letting a publisher have a look at it and give some specialized feedback, was his next question. Ok, now he had my full attention! What is more interesting than to have an expert give feedback on your work? What a wonderful opportunity! So when would I be ready, he kept on pushing. I hesitated a little more to give a hard commitment at once; I had to think carefully about what would be doable. Few minutes later we agreed that I will hand him 150 pages by May 1st and he will take it to the publisher. This was exactly the push I needed!
I found out last week that it is pretty scary to let someone read your work! I have given the first two chapters to few of my best friends to read. Friends that I trust to read it in a critical way and to give me serious feedback, not to spare my feelings. My objective is to make a great book, not to be flattered. As writing is something you very much do in your own small world, you simply don't see things anymore at one point. I got back some very valid and valuable tips that I will definitely process! Luckily the general description on what they had read so far was 'very cinematic', 'written in an attractive way' and 'I would like to read more'. This is what friends are for: a push, a comment and a boost at the right time! Tnx, my dearests! Love, M.
Last week a friend of mine asked me how much I had written so far. Good question, because, as I am writing on more than one storyline and chapter 'at the same time', it looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than a book at the moment! Was I interested in letting a publisher have a look at it and give some specialized feedback, was his next question. Ok, now he had my full attention! What is more interesting than to have an expert give feedback on your work? What a wonderful opportunity! So when would I be ready, he kept on pushing. I hesitated a little more to give a hard commitment at once; I had to think carefully about what would be doable. Few minutes later we agreed that I will hand him 150 pages by May 1st and he will take it to the publisher. This was exactly the push I needed!
I found out last week that it is pretty scary to let someone read your work! I have given the first two chapters to few of my best friends to read. Friends that I trust to read it in a critical way and to give me serious feedback, not to spare my feelings. My objective is to make a great book, not to be flattered. As writing is something you very much do in your own small world, you simply don't see things anymore at one point. I got back some very valid and valuable tips that I will definitely process! Luckily the general description on what they had read so far was 'very cinematic', 'written in an attractive way' and 'I would like to read more'. This is what friends are for: a push, a comment and a boost at the right time! Tnx, my dearests! Love, M.
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