Comments on: Out with the old: Lessons from an almost-author http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:08:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97197 Therese Walsh Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:20:54 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97197 Thank you, Barbara and Gay! <em>I guess investing in a new writer is very expensive and a big risk.</em> It's true, ClaudiaV, I think no matter the country, but "breaking out" happens everyday. You mentioned contests. When you've finished polishing your story, maybe you should enter a few? Having a contest win noted on your query letter can be enough to intrigue an agent or editor to ask for more of your work. Stick with it. You know we're rooting for you! Merry Christmas! :-) Thank you, Barbara and Gay!

I guess investing in a new writer is very expensive and a big risk.

It’s true, ClaudiaV, I think no matter the country, but “breaking out” happens everyday. You mentioned contests. When you’ve finished polishing your story, maybe you should enter a few? Having a contest win noted on your query letter can be enough to intrigue an agent or editor to ask for more of your work. Stick with it. You know we’re rooting for you!

Merry Christmas! :-)

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]]> By: ClaudiaV http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97194 ClaudiaV Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:54:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97194 This is indeed a great post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really wish you a wonderful holidays and I hope you get the best for 2009. I’m sure it will be a great year for you since you worked so hard for it. And I hope to read your book in the future. What are my goals for 2009? I wish I had more discipline to work in my stories. Of course it’s not easy cause I get up everyday at 6 AM to work and just arrive home at 7 PM. But I know that when I get my mind in to something, I’ll do it. I just asked a friend (that is quite good in Portuguese language correction) to take a look at my first book. She uses a pink pen :) but she uses it often… However I don’t see it as a bad thing, I really appreciate that she takes a little of her time to help me. In the end, I just hope she likes the story (it’s all that matters to me). So, after that I might send the story for some publishers, most of then ask for the manuscript to be on paper and send by mail (so that have costs to me… why do I had to wrote a story with more than 300 pages… Why!? :) ). And the Portuguese book marked is very hard (I least is what I think). Publishers prefer to invest in writers to had success outside, I guess investing in a new writer is very expensive and a big risk. Everytime I see a novel book on the shelves, which is from a Portuguese writer, he or she is: 1 - A public figure (politicians, actors, journalists…) 2 - Someone who won a contest 3 - Someone who knew someone in the publisher industry (“cunha”- Portuguese word that translates that entire phrase) I guess I’m writing a lot today. But I’m at home today, relaxing on the sofa, watching the presents under the Christmas tree that I have to deliver in the evening. Merry Christmas! This is indeed a great post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really wish you a wonderful holidays and I hope you get the best for 2009. I’m sure it will be a great year for you since you worked so hard for it. And I hope to read your book in the future.

What are my goals for 2009? I wish I had more discipline to work in my stories. Of course it’s not easy cause I get up everyday at 6 AM to work and just arrive home at 7 PM. But I know that when I get my mind in to something, I’ll do it. I just asked a friend (that is quite good in Portuguese language correction) to take a look at my first book. She uses a pink pen :) but she uses it often… However I don’t see it as a bad thing, I really appreciate that she takes a little of her time to help me. In the end, I just hope she likes the story (it’s all that matters to me).

So, after that I might send the story for some publishers, most of then ask for the manuscript to be on paper and send by mail (so that have costs to me… why do I had to wrote a story with more than 300 pages… Why!? :) ). And the Portuguese book marked is very hard (I least is what I think). Publishers prefer to invest in writers to had success outside, I guess investing in a new writer is very expensive and a big risk. Everytime I see a novel book on the shelves, which is from a Portuguese writer, he or she is:

1 – A public figure (politicians, actors, journalists…)
2 – Someone who won a contest
3 – Someone who knew someone in the publisher industry (“cunha”- Portuguese word that translates that entire phrase)

I guess I’m writing a lot today. But I’m at home today, relaxing on the sofa, watching the presents under the Christmas tree that I have to deliver in the evening. Merry Christmas!

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]]> By: Gay Walker http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97166 Gay Walker Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:42:55 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97166 Thanks for sharing. Hope I'm in your shoes before long (don't get them too scuffed, please). Thanks for sharing. Hope I’m in your shoes before long (don’t get them too scuffed, please).

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]]> By: Barbara Samuel http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97153 Barbara Samuel Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:53:57 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97153 Love the idea of releasing balloons! Love the idea of releasing balloons!

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97130 Therese Walsh Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:59:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97130 Thanks, Melissa, Kristan and Annie. Kristan, good tip on the balloons. Happy Holidays to all! :) Thanks, Melissa, Kristan and Annie. Kristan, good tip on the balloons.

Happy Holidays to all! :)

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]]> By: annie http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97128 annie Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:45:21 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97128 Great post. Very informative. Great post. Very informative.

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97115 Kristan Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:28:10 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97115 I agree, this is a fabulous post. Me, I don't really have any rituals... (Although, btw, I heard releasing balloons into the air is bad for the environment!) I can't wait to learn these lessons, though! I agree, this is a fabulous post.

Me, I don’t really have any rituals… (Although, btw, I heard releasing balloons into the air is bad for the environment!)

I can’t wait to learn these lessons, though!

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]]> By: Melissa Marsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97088 Melissa Marsh Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:41:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97088 Awesome post. Thanks so much for sharing. Merry Christmas! Awesome post. Thanks so much for sharing.

Merry Christmas!

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97065 Therese Walsh Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:11:42 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97065 Richard, big congrats on your book deal! Happy holidays to you as well. Thanks, Kath. :-) Richard, big congrats on your book deal! Happy holidays to you as well.

Thanks, Kath. :-)

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]]> By: Richard Mabry http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97062 Richard Mabry Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:02:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/12/23/out-with-the-old-lessons-from-an-almost-author/#comment-97062 Teri, I'm just behind you on this journey (got my contract recently), and already learning some of the lessons you mention. This is a great post, one that should be read and re-read by every writer. Happy Holidays. Teri,
I’m just behind you on this journey (got my contract recently), and already learning some of the lessons you mention. This is a great post, one that should be read and re-read by every writer.
Happy Holidays.

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