tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post4004984925396775974..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: The Readiness TestMisha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-59383422796814092232011-07-28T13:56:21.090+02:002011-07-28T13:56:21.090+02:00Shelley: CPs are essential. And if you find yourse...Shelley: CPs are essential. And if you find yourself in the company of great ones, consider yourself blessed.<br /><br />Arlee: Spare the rod, spoil the author. :)<br /><br />Devin: I remember the first time it happened to me and I said: Wait. What? That's all you found? LOL.<br /><br />Al: Very true. And the reverse is true too. If it's great, you get all the glory.<br /><br />Rebecca: Thank you!Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-73503838708595896242011-07-28T11:51:28.141+02:002011-07-28T11:51:28.141+02:00A great post and reminder of the hard work that go...A great post and reminder of the hard work that goes into writing a publishable novel. <br /><br />I love the synopsis!Rebecca Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10194524230109997420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-87924443617285189632011-07-28T11:23:57.561+02:002011-07-28T11:23:57.561+02:00Great post.
It is absolutely true self publishers...Great post.<br /><br />It is absolutely true self publishers have to take all the blame.<br /><br />Get it checked before you publish.Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625543235578144620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-91444989161188608102011-07-28T06:23:20.786+02:002011-07-28T06:23:20.786+02:00Ah, that's some really good advice. I can'...Ah, that's some really good advice. I can't wait until all I see from a crit is "you missed a period here." or something dumb like that! Thanks for the post.Devin Bondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02778910287345364738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-80987321674746816212011-07-28T05:58:21.887+02:002011-07-28T05:58:21.887+02:00This is some quality advice. Honest critique part...This is some quality advice. Honest critique partners are the best. I'd rather receive adulation after I'm published that gushing praise that shows to be false when my book gets rejected because of how bad it is. <br /><br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-50360580495763228502011-07-28T04:52:48.431+02:002011-07-28T04:52:48.431+02:00Excellent advice, Maria. When it comes to self-pub...Excellent advice, Maria. When it comes to self-publishing having a team of critique partners etc behind you makes all the diference. I think this will become even more important in the future as the number of self-published books increases.Shelley Munrohttp://www.shelleymunro.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-60359416519037731102011-07-28T03:11:24.283+02:002011-07-28T03:11:24.283+02:00Michael: I used my editor from Carina Press for Th...Michael: I used my editor from Carina Press for The Devil To Pay because I already knew her and respected her work.<br /><br />On a previous Indie Roadshow guest post I also discussed editors. http://mariazannini.blogspot.com/2011/07/get-thee-to-editor.html <br /><br /><br />Talei: Part of being a writer is never to stop learning or stretching ourselves. It's not a race. It's a journey.<br /><br /><br />Lynda: LOL. I think we all have a Chicken! file somewhere on our hard drives.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-18297890065262458352011-07-28T02:21:10.870+02:002011-07-28T02:21:10.870+02:00Great advice. I snorted at "At this point you...Great advice. I snorted at "At this point you either submit it to a regular publisher, self-publish, or store it on your hard drive in a folder marked: ‘Chicken!’." I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I'm leaning toward the chicken folder. hahahaha.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-52705694786653184642011-07-28T02:09:07.808+02:002011-07-28T02:09:07.808+02:00Really great advice. I think you're right, yo...Really great advice. I think you're right, you do know in your heart if its not ready and as you say, if may not be ready today but that doesn't mean it won't be tomorrow. I love those points especially. ;-)Taleihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07317577935549931974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-7956382464098817002011-07-28T01:28:08.113+02:002011-07-28T01:28:08.113+02:00Good editors are also hard to find in my opinion b...Good editors are also hard to find in my opinion but yes...they can do wonders for your manuscript.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-40107339920961575372011-07-28T00:49:09.288+02:002011-07-28T00:49:09.288+02:00MPax: Thank you! I think it's a fair guess tha...MPax: Thank you! I think it's a fair guess that we're all in a hurry to get published--at least until the first reviews come in. :)<br /><br />Barbara: <br />Ref: eye candy<br />Steady, girl. Steady. You can have your eye candy and eat it too. Oh, wait. That didn't come out right.<br /><br />Jackie: From your lips to God's ear. LOL. I'll be happy if people like the story enough to continue with the series.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8512046623122681132011-07-27T23:19:44.630+02:002011-07-27T23:19:44.630+02:00Sounds like you have been blessed by not only raw ...Sounds like you have been blessed by not only raw talent but the editing and critiquing partnerships you have as well Maria, enjoyed the post and even though not a writer it made perfect sense to me... May I say that with "True Believers" 3rd time was the charm and kudos on the 2 best of in 2010, here is looking forward to those best of's in 2011 for "The Devil To Pay"!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02181111718630957098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8047155254963558462011-07-27T23:04:32.213+02:002011-07-27T23:04:32.213+02:00But...but...my eye-candy is also a really good rea...But...but...my eye-candy is also a really good reader!!!! ^_^Barbara Ann Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01751427987081847906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-81770698213730873552011-07-27T22:58:00.438+02:002011-07-27T22:58:00.438+02:00Great advice, Maria. Don't rush and let your c...Great advice, Maria. Don't rush and let your craft grow is the best thing we can do ... and hire an editor. All success to Maria.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-20206008720837134122011-07-27T21:48:11.665+02:002011-07-27T21:48:11.665+02:00Mike: Caustic? Moi? Says my #1 CP who has stuck wi...Mike: Caustic? Moi? Says my #1 CP who has stuck with me through bad copy and good, and invested a considerable amount of red ink on me over the years.<br /><br />Connie: See comment above. LOL. I love my CPs (even tough-love Mike). Without them I'd have wallowed in mediocrity the rest of my days.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-3400233652377114702011-07-27T21:36:11.143+02:002011-07-27T21:36:11.143+02:00A good reminder that there is nothing more importa...A good reminder that there is nothing more important than kind, but honest crit partners!Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-25714459069919087172011-07-27T21:21:18.613+02:002011-07-27T21:21:18.613+02:00Caustic as usual and thoroughly enjoyable. Mind yo...Caustic as usual and thoroughly enjoyable. Mind you as compensations go, I'd settle for <i>that eye-candy who wants to get into your pants.</i> - whilst waiting for the big break of courseMike Keytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116528233058221536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-17268962631661108142011-07-27T18:59:38.377+02:002011-07-27T18:59:38.377+02:00Michelle: Maybe it's just me, but self-publish...Michelle: Maybe it's just me, but self-publishing was a whole lot scarier than going with traditional publishing. I felt better after the editors got through with it, but I never lost those butterflies.<br /><br />Laura: <br />Ref: My focus now is to avoid jumping the gun and really improve my writing. <br /><br />That is an amazingly shrewd and well thought out game plan. Most of us tend to jump in first and then flounder when we realize we can't swim. Kudos, Laura. <br /><br />Cathy: There really are only six big publishers. All the myriad names you see belong to one of the Big 6. That's why it's considered so scary. They own so much and stand to lose a great deal.<br /><br />Raelyn: I guess in scrapbooking the font remark would be welcomed. LOL. <br /><br />Cate: Excellent point. I'm a firm believer in giving my brain time to forget the story so I'm not influenced by my intimacy with it.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-90410463496965692462011-07-27T18:45:37.620+02:002011-07-27T18:45:37.620+02:00En-Musing: You start to get a feel for what's ...En-Musing: You start to get a feel for what's good and what isn't. But for me there's always a sense of doubt.<br /><br />Angela Brown: Every day I thank God for helping me find some awesome crit partners who have never spared the rod. LOL.<br /><br />Angela Felsted: Look at this--two Angelas back to back. :o) AF: You have nothing to worry about. I read your poetry and weep at the power your words hold.<br /><br />Jayne: I think pride keeps us from listening to that little voice. But it's there if we care to listen. (Nice to see you out and about, Jayne!)Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-33046568960450168602011-07-27T18:28:32.065+02:002011-07-27T18:28:32.065+02:00I'm the same way Maria. I run my stories throu...I'm the same way Maria. I run my stories through tough self-revision before even sending to my crit partners - at least three, sometimes double or more that number. By the time I'm finished revising, I'm sick of the story, lol. But I could revise forever, so at some point, I have to cut it off. Most of my stories take at least a year before I do, and the longest was about four years (still unpublished, but I haven't given up on it yet!) The best advice I've ever heard is to set the story aside for awhile so you as the author can see it in a new perspective. <br />I'm lucky, too, that my crit partners are honest and would never beat around the bush - it's why my skin's nice and thick now. :)Cate Mastershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01371792447604980848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-54816807913168662452011-07-27T18:23:46.047+02:002011-07-27T18:23:46.047+02:00Excellent points Maria!
"I really like the ...Excellent points Maria! <br /><br />"I really like the font you used." :snort: If I was getting that kind of feedback I'd wonder if it was the right group! On a scrapbook page that would be an awesome remark, not so much on a MS.<br /><br />"You know in your heart it has problems." Yep, that's why it's not ready for others to see it yet :)<br /><br />Another post to bookmark.Raelyn Barclayhttp://raelynbarclay.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-16927389731431880162011-07-27T18:23:21.224+02:002011-07-27T18:23:21.224+02:00Michelle said everything I was thinking :)
Excell...Michelle said everything I was thinking :)<br /><br />Excellent advice, Maria. Indie pubbed or small press or one of the Big 6 (or however many there are), the main thing is to produce a compelling story where any mechanical or plot issues are small to nonexistant. The only way to do that is through editing and honest appraisal by your self or a trusted colleague.Cathy in AKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08667978358875270260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-46300535195874176352011-07-27T18:19:34.427+02:002011-07-27T18:19:34.427+02:00The part of your advice that struck me the most wa...The part of your advice that struck me the most was when you emphasized the amount of time it takes to get a quality piece of writing ready for submission. The pressure from the constant exposure on my blog, Facebook and Twitter, and keeping up with other writers' social media makes me feel inadequate. I haven't queried or submitted my writing, but I also know my gut is telling me I'm not ready. My focus now is to avoid jumping the gun and really improve my writing. Thanks for sharing your experience!Laura M. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07118305776404765529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82020699290583985542011-07-27T17:41:56.447+02:002011-07-27T17:41:56.447+02:00This is great advice, Maria. For those of us who w...This is great advice, Maria. For those of us who want to be traditionally published, maybe a question we could ask ourselves is whether we think our manuscript would be ready for self-publication. If the answer is "yes," then we'll know we stand a much greater chance of catching an agent or editor's eye. Thank you, Misha, for hosting Maria today!Michelle Fayardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05323853315988838877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-26197285790923145442011-07-27T17:38:11.060+02:002011-07-27T17:38:11.060+02:00If I had self-pubbed my current book two years ago...If I had self-pubbed my current book two years ago, back when I really seriously thought it was done, I doubt I'd have any readers left. And again last year. I think the line 'You know in your heart it has problems' is really true - a little voice that speaks the truth. Great advice, Maria! (And hello Misha!)Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11309191526500602452noreply@blogger.com