Opening Night
It's dead in here, huh?
Free shots for everybody. Just make sure to tell your friends about this place, OK? The pool table and dartboard are coming next week. The jukebox only plays disco at the moment, but I'm working on it. Here's a dollar. Please play "I Will Survive" four times in a row. I really think I could use the audio encouragement.
In any event, welcome to my blog. As with most things in life, I'm only about fifteen years behind the curve on this thing. I didn't own a cell phone until I was twenty-eight years old. I didn't get an iPod until last year. I didn't watch "Lost" until it went off the air, at which time I dedicated a good portion of my life to catching up on Netflix.
I still have a few questions about that show...
Most notably, why was Jack always breathing so darn hard? From my vantage point on the living-room couch, he needed Shannon's inhaler a heck of a lot more than she did.
Anyway - to get back to the point - with my blog, I'd like to take a two-pronged approach. Not only would I like it to become a place for lovers of crime fiction to discuss their favorite books (including mine, of course), I'd also like to help aspiring writers with any questions they may have about the publishing process.
When I first decided to try my hand at novel-writing way back in 2001, I had about a gazillion questions that I could never seem to find the answers to, no matter how hard I looked. And I looked high and low. And far and wide.
And I found very few answers that matched up with reality.
I checked out all the "Get Published Now!" books from the library, I joined every online writers' group I could find and I pestered everyone I knew to re-read the first 200 pages of my first manuscript if on page 152 I took the bold step of contracting "will not" to "won't".
Sound familiar? If so, then this may be the place for you. I'll do my best to cut through the hazy gray smoke of the publishing world and provide you with clear answers to your questions. In this joint, we don't water down the drinks - we only serve them up straight.
So ask away, and please don't be shy!
"At first I was afraid, I was petrified..."
And I PROMISE I'll work on the music selection. For now, though, here's another dollar.
Let's hear "Stayin' Alive".
Free shots for everybody. Just make sure to tell your friends about this place, OK? The pool table and dartboard are coming next week. The jukebox only plays disco at the moment, but I'm working on it. Here's a dollar. Please play "I Will Survive" four times in a row. I really think I could use the audio encouragement.
In any event, welcome to my blog. As with most things in life, I'm only about fifteen years behind the curve on this thing. I didn't own a cell phone until I was twenty-eight years old. I didn't get an iPod until last year. I didn't watch "Lost" until it went off the air, at which time I dedicated a good portion of my life to catching up on Netflix.
I still have a few questions about that show...
Most notably, why was Jack always breathing so darn hard? From my vantage point on the living-room couch, he needed Shannon's inhaler a heck of a lot more than she did.
Anyway - to get back to the point - with my blog, I'd like to take a two-pronged approach. Not only would I like it to become a place for lovers of crime fiction to discuss their favorite books (including mine, of course), I'd also like to help aspiring writers with any questions they may have about the publishing process.
When I first decided to try my hand at novel-writing way back in 2001, I had about a gazillion questions that I could never seem to find the answers to, no matter how hard I looked. And I looked high and low. And far and wide.
And I found very few answers that matched up with reality.
I checked out all the "Get Published Now!" books from the library, I joined every online writers' group I could find and I pestered everyone I knew to re-read the first 200 pages of my first manuscript if on page 152 I took the bold step of contracting "will not" to "won't".
Sound familiar? If so, then this may be the place for you. I'll do my best to cut through the hazy gray smoke of the publishing world and provide you with clear answers to your questions. In this joint, we don't water down the drinks - we only serve them up straight.
So ask away, and please don't be shy!
"At first I was afraid, I was petrified..."
And I PROMISE I'll work on the music selection. For now, though, here's another dollar.
Let's hear "Stayin' Alive".
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Elizabeth
(new)
Mar 26, 2012 04:50PM
Do you have any advice for the mother of a school-aged child who may have written a half-way decent children's novel? Do you think any agent or publisher would take her work seriously? If you have any ideas for first steps, they would be much appreciated.
reply
|
flag
Good question, Beth. In this day and age, it's pointless to send your work directly to a large publisher. From what I understand, they don't even read the 'slush pile' anymore (unsolicited manuscripts). Your best bet is to polish your work to the best of your ability and then write an irresistible query letter to agents who represent what you write. Good writing trumps all - even a lack of experience.
How does one find a reputable agent?
If an agent is a member of the Association of Authors' Representatives, you can be sure they're reputable. You can find a list of them at aaronline.org.
Just My Type
A cyber dive bar for friendly, informal discussions regarding the publishing process, hosted by bartender Jon Osborne, author of KILL ME ONCE (2011) and the forthcoming A GAME OF CHANCE (2012), which
...more
- Jon Osborne's profile
- 34 followers
