Comments on: INTERVIEW: Donald Maass, Part 1 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:24:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-45645 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:18:42 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-45645 Hi Cicily, The only time I've heard agents say it's okay to query based on a partial is when the writer's had previous works published. Because the author is a "proven commodity," the agent can submit to editors based on his/her past record. So I think you should finish your story, then query. My guess is that he'd be interested in the work six months from now, too. I hope that helps! Therese Hi Cicily,

The only time I’ve heard agents say it’s okay to query based on a partial is when the writer’s had previous works published. Because the author is a “proven commodity,” the agent can submit to editors based on his/her past record. So I think you should finish your story, then query. My guess is that he’d be interested in the work six months from now, too.

I hope that helps!

Therese

]]> by: Cicily http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-45570 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:02:55 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-45570 Therese, Thank you for your help. But here's my next question...If the novel isn't yet completed, would it be wise to still query him on it based on this interview while it is still a "hot" topic according to him? Just a thought. Thanks, Cicily Therese,

Thank you for your help. But here’s my next question…If the novel isn’t yet completed, would it be wise to still query him on it based on this interview while it is still a “hot” topic according to him?

Just a thought.

Thanks,

Cicily

]]> by: Linda Nightingale http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-44270 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:06:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-44270 Excellent and informative interview. I learned some do's and don'ts. Thanks. Excellent and informative interview. I learned some do’s and don’ts. Thanks.

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-44085 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:22:36 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-44085 Eric, how about Atonement, based on Ian McEwan's novel? That could be good if the early reviews are anything to go by. Cicily, I'd go right to Maass's website and look for submission info (after checking out his list, of course ;) ). His web addy is <a href="http://www.maassagency.com/index.html" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>. Good luck! Good luck to Gregory, too, and anyone submitting. Fingers crossed! I'm so glad people are enjoying the interview. Come on back Friday for part two. Eric, how about Atonement, based on Ian McEwan’s novel? That could be good if the early reviews are anything to go by.

Cicily, I’d go right to Maass’s website and look for submission info (after checking out his list, of course ;) ). His web addy is HERE. Good luck!

Good luck to Gregory, too, and anyone submitting. Fingers crossed!

I’m so glad people are enjoying the interview. Come on back Friday for part two.

]]> by: Gregory Kennedy http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-44082 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:13:41 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-44082 Thanks, Kathleen. My wheel spins for you, too, as we all strive to get our stories out! This is an amazing site you have here; I congratulate you on building a warm "community" for writers. I'm glad I found it. Thanks, Kathleen. My wheel spins for you, too, as we all strive to get our stories out! This is an amazing site you have here; I congratulate you on building a warm “community” for writers. I’m glad I found it.

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43909 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:11:27 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43909 Prayer wheels are spinning, Gregory! Prayer wheels are spinning, Gregory!

]]> by: Gregory Kennedy http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43773 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:20:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43773 Thanks for this great interview. I'm one of the fortunate few Mr. Maass has requested a full manuscript from after reading my initial query and five pages, and then my partial of 50 pages plus an outline for my novel, Evil Blue Devil Man Roams The Voodoo Jungle. Everything I've read indicates to me it would be a gift and a sweet jolt to the learning curve to be represented by him; I already feel I know him after reading his books, The Career Novelist and Writing The Breakout Novel. I'm sitting up here in Canada hoping for a positive outcome. Spin yer prayer wheels for me, fellow scribes! Thanks for this great interview. I’m one of the fortunate few Mr. Maass has requested a full manuscript from after reading my initial query and five pages, and then my partial of 50 pages plus an outline for my novel, Evil Blue Devil Man Roams The Voodoo Jungle. Everything I’ve read indicates to me it would be a gift and a sweet jolt to the learning curve to be represented by him; I already feel I know him after reading his books, The Career Novelist and Writing The Breakout Novel. I’m sitting up here in Canada hoping for a positive outcome. Spin yer prayer wheels for me, fellow scribes!

]]> by: P.I. Barrington http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43754 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:42:01 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43754 Wow, this is great. Maass has pretty much re-iterated what I already thought. He is a great interview! Thanks for bringing this to us! Looking forward to more of the same! Thanks again! Wow, this is great. Maass has pretty much re-iterated what I already thought. He is a great interview! Thanks for bringing this to us! Looking forward to more of the same!
Thanks again!

]]> by: Cicily http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43638 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:18:29 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43638 How do you contact Mr. Maass? One of the items on his wish list happens to be very similar to the novel I have almost completed. This was a fantastic interview, looking forward to more. Thanks, ~C How do you contact Mr. Maass? One of the items on his wish list happens to be very similar to the novel I have almost completed.

This was a fantastic interview, looking forward to more.

Thanks,

~C

]]> by: Jack Bludis http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43545 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 03:01:11 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43545 Donald Maass never fails to give good advice. Now following his advice, that't the trick. Jack Donald Maass never fails to give good advice. Now following his advice, that’t the trick.

Jack

]]> by: Mary Marvella http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43399 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:49:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43399 Hey, Therese, you did a fab job, as I knew you would. I'll be back for my second helping of the Maass man. Mary Marvella, who blogs at www.pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com, a newer group blog. Hey, Therese, you did a fab job, as I knew you would. I’ll be back for my second helping of the Maass man.

Mary Marvella, who blogs at www.pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com, a newer group blog.

]]> by: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43363 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:42:44 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43363 Therese, I'll catch it on DVD at some point. I'm more looking forward to I Am Legend. Therese, I’ll catch it on DVD at some point. I’m more looking forward to I Am Legend.

]]> by: Allison Brennan http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43350 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:55:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43350 Fabulous interview and very interesting. I didn't read Maass's BREAKOUT book until after I sold, but I found it fascinating and enlightening in many ways (and I'm not even a plotter!) Great job, Therese! Looking forward to next week. Fabulous interview and very interesting. I didn’t read Maass’s BREAKOUT book until after I sold, but I found it fascinating and enlightening in many ways (and I’m not even a plotter!) Great job, Therese! Looking forward to next week.

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43343 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:05:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43343 Thanks to all for comments. I'm glad everyone's enjoying the interview so far - and part 2 is full of great tidbits, too, so I hope you all come back for it. If you're new to the blog, welcome! We hope to see you again. Eric, you mean you're not just a little curious what's going to happen when Pullman's story hits the big screen? Daemons and Mrs. Coulter and bears, oh my! Thanks to all for comments. I’m glad everyone’s enjoying the interview so far - and part 2 is full of great tidbits, too, so I hope you all come back for it.

If you’re new to the blog, welcome! We hope to see you again.

Eric, you mean you’re not just a little curious what’s going to happen when Pullman’s story hits the big screen? Daemons and Mrs. Coulter and bears, oh my!

]]> by: June Shaw http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43340 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 14:09:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/11/30/interview-donald-maass-part-1/#comment-43340 What a terrific blog! Donald Maas's interview is great, of course. I'm so glad I found your blog. June What a terrific blog! Donald Maas’s interview is great, of course. I’m so glad I found your blog.

June

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