Forum To Discuss This Authors Works
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| Author | Message / Information |
| Tessadragon Quote | Reply | | Gary, can i ask you a question? posted on: 9/12/2005 4:01:31 PM Before you got published, did you use the net to gain comments about whether your work was doing well enough, or a writing group? Or were you able to trust yourself that your writing skill's good enough to judge your own work? Helen |
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Gary Wassner
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/12/2005 4:57:28 PM by Gary Wassner |
Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/12/2005 4:55:24 PM Tessa, when I wrote my first book I was not even aware that message boards for fantasy existed. I finished the book and then I had no idea what to do next. I had always been an avid reader of fantasy and everything else I could get my hands on, but I had not thought at all about what you do with a manuscript once you finish it. My first draft was writen in all capital letters with no paragraph or chapter breaks. No one would even look at it that way. After I took care of that problem, I had an editor, who someone I knew recommended, read it and he liked it very much. I never went to the boards with it. I had a sense that the story was good, and I have always been able to write, since I have a master's degree in philosophy and I taught for a while years ago and I wrote in my profession always. but i learned the business of publishing along the road. I had always thought that the hard part would be to write the book! little did i know. |
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Tessadragon
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/15/2005 3:12:21 PM Thanks for answering that. Why is it always so different to work by meeting a single person and asking them to look through your work, than to sending a submission to a publisher? It sounds to me to have been better that you didn't know about fantasy boards. Sometimes I wish I hadn't tried becoming so involved with writing boards, it's hard to find truly trustworthy advice and not worry that the reader has other intents or is not giving false advice. Tessa |
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Gary Wassner
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/15/2005 4:37:39 PM I think you need to trust your own writing instincts sometimes. The test comes when you send your ms out to agents and you start to read the responses. You can send a query letter out to dozens of reputable agents, and a handful will actually give you a worthwhile response. But on the boards, it's often too easy to just beat someone up and not really critique a person's writing in a constructive way. When you are thinking about writing professionally, you should get professional opinions about your writing. After you are published, you will have plenty of time to be upset by the comments that readers make. 
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Tessadragon
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/26/2005 10:33:36 AM So when you say professional opinions, do you mean the critiquing companies? If so, are there any in particular that you'd recommend? I mean, I've thought once or twice about Golgonooza. Is it worth it? Helen |
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Gary Wassner
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/26/2005 1:40:37 PM I am not familiar with that website. What I was referring to is the opinion of an editor. If you frequent some of the boards like Nightshade's, many editors (Helen Datlow for example) have their own forums. You can ask questions and they will answer. If you want to ask them to critique your work, you would need to establish a relationship with one of them and perhaps they will in time. But, many wonderful editors are available on a free lance basis. I know a few myself whom I would recommend. |
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Tessadragon
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/27/2005 10:04:08 PM Intriguing is it okay for me to ask to know more about the editors?I know that one of my novels (Dream Walkers: London's Demons) is at the stage of being ready to be appraised by a professional. I feel confident enough in it. But would I need to find an editor who particularly deals in the genre / age group that I write for? Helen |
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Gary Wassner
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 9/27/2005 10:17:27 PM It helps to find an editor who knows your market of course, but frequently today editors shift around pretty often. So, what one specializes in today may not mean that they did that for their entire career. If you PM me, I will be happy to give you the email address of a freelance editor whom I know for quite a while now. Though we do not work together professionally, she is incredibly knowledgable about the market and very astute when it comes to literary criticism. |
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Tessadragon
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 10/1/2005 1:02:06 PM Wonderful, thank you Gary I've been inflicted with delay thanks to the internet provider refusing to let me online back at my dorm room (I'm on the uni computers at the moment) but I look forward to eventually getting to talk to you.Tessa |
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Gary Wassner
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 10/2/2005 8:04:14 PM anytime. really. |
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Tessadragon
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 10/12/2005 10:11:56 PM lol, I just tried to PM you, but it said your message limit is full, try again. Tessa |
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Gary Wassner
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Gary, can i ask you a question?
replied on: 10/13/2005 9:15:47 PM That's so odd. I only have five messages in there now. I will delete them. Try again or email me at gemquest1@hotmail.com |
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