As it was a lousy summer I started writing and ended up with a novel.  I was pretty chuffed with it.  A few years ago I did a writing course so knew the basics so consider my original copy to be a 'draft' and I'm now editing it.  In the meantime, have been trying to find an agent - 4 rejections so far.  It all seems pretty hopeless when you get into it.  It would seem getting a book published is as likely as winning the lottery!!  Help!!

Hi

I too have finished a novel (nearly) and I'm probably going to start applying to agents myself in the new year. Exciting times!

4 rejections - go you. Someone posted the other day to say that Gone With the Wind was rejected 25 times, so don't give up!

How have you gone about it? Have you researched each one?

Welcome to the site by the way...

 

Hi - thanks for that - comforting to know 'Gone with the Wind' rejected 25 times - there's hope for all of us!!

'Strictly Single' is set in a Park Home Site in Devon.  It covers the ups and down's of a handful of the residents plus a love affair between 'Leo' the owner of the site and Isabelle from Islington, London who buys a mobile home at Folly Park to use through the summer.

There is a web site of Agents and I'm basically just working my way through the list!! It links with another site that gives information about individual agents.

What's your book about?

 

Yes that's what I thought!

Oo sounds good - congratulations, by the way, for finishing it. Many times I nearly didn't finish mine, I don't think I realised what I was getting myself into until I was too far to get back out, if you see what I mean... but perhaps this was a good thing cos I don't know if I'd have started it if I knew what a slog it would be! But still, it reamins one of my biggest achievements to date 

Sounds like a useful site - and also like you're on the right track... Obviously I don't really know much I think its an industry where a little research goes a long way.

Mine is about lots of different things really - student life, working in menial jobs, bits of philosophy... can't really describe and make it sound good - must work on that before I send it out I think!

Well good luck with it, let us know how you get on! 

When you are ready to get your book out there let me know and will forward site of agents etc. that you will need.

Have you got a title yet?  You will need to compose a synopsis!!  So be prepared to give an overview of your story.

I'ts very satisfying when you finally get to 'THE END'.  It will need editing but if you manage to get a good agent they will help you.  If you need any help with anything let me know - don't get caught up with paying for it to be edited....I had a quote of 1p a word - and roughly 100,000 words equates to £1000.  An expensive hobby!!

One way and another though - it is a huge achievement getting a book together - it has been a bit of a slog - but an enjoyable one.

good luck in the publishing of your books...I am always in awe of people who are disciplined enough to write everyday..

Thankyou!!  Still editing it and re-working here and there but all but ready to go!!  Will be giving myself a break over Xmas though - you can get a bit obsessed.

eileen3:

When you are ready to get your book out there let me know and will forward site of agents etc. that you will need.

Have you got a title yet?  You will need to compose a synopsis!!  So be prepared to give an overview of your story.

I'ts very satisfying when you finally get to 'THE END'.  It will need editing but if you manage to get a good agent they will help you.  If you need any help with anything let me know - don't get caught up with paying for it to be edited....I had a quote of 1p a word - and roughly 100,000 words equates to £1000.  An expensive hobby!!

One way and another though - it is a huge achievement getting a book together - it has been a bit of a slog - but an enjoyable one.

Hi - Yes, I have a title - I sort of knew what it was going to be practically after the first sentence... It's called "12". I have a hashed-together synopsis, but it just doesn't sound too exciting, if you know what I mean - it's not exactly action action action, put it that way! Will need to work on it before sending it out, though, I agree.

And no, I wouldn't pay to get it edited - I have done a little research, and every site says don't pay anyone to read/edit/publish your novel, apparently there's a lot of scammers out there... Lucky me, I have found someone on this forum who was willing to, as she put it "assist at the birth". I am actually so very incredibly lucky to have found her and that she was willing to undertake this task: as well as the fact that we get on great, we want to get similar things out of reading I think (though we have different tastes) and plus she is v intelligent and has done some proof-reading before, and is just v well read generally. So I am really looking forward to reading her criticisms/ideas/improvements... I know what you mean about getting obsessed - I think felt so close to it at one point that editing it was like trying to examine my own body: despite it being my own, large parts of it I will never see... so I strongly believe that someone else's opinion at that stage is absolutely priceless.

It has now given me some room to start a second novel.... huh am I nuts?

100,000 words is pretty long! Enjoy your Xmas break... sounds like you deserve it!

x x x x

Yes - you are nuts thinking of the next book!! Wait till someone else has cast their eyes over '12'.  My neighbour, very like your friend, offered to read Strictly Single.  After she crucified it in the nicest possible way I started editing and re-working. 

But I had to agree with her and accepted I only had a 'draft' book.  Even though I'd done a creative writing course I hadn't applied any of my knowledge (double line spacing, indented paragraphs etc.) Also, I hadn't even typed it in 'word'.  That's history now thank god, but at the time of her reading it, I was thinking of a second book.  I can laugh now, but at the time was a bit disheartened.

I feel quite smug now .  Happy Christmas x