Comments on: Balancing the Writer, the Agent and the Internal Editor

By: Kitina

Kitina — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:47:56 +0000

Hi Lois,
I enjoyed the article it was enlightening. I am a Christian fiction writer and like many have written before me I am finding it hard to find a literary agent. (Despite the fact my books have gotten great reviews) Is it wise to submit to an agent numerous times despite rejections. As an agent, does that appear as tenacity or annoyance?

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:02:51 +0000

The fact that sometimes 20 publishers and, yes even agents, will reject a booko and yet another will accept it and it will go on to be a best seller tells you that publishers and agents opinions mean diddly squat.

e.g MASH was rejected by 20 publishers before it was accepted. I bet they are puking now.
Animal Farm was rejected by innumerable publishers. Harry Potter by a heap of now red faced publishers. Ray Bradbury had a thousand rejection slips before someone gave him a chance.

So Never give up. Never. Keep sending those manuscripts out. One day…..

By: Wes

Wes — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:10:12 +0000

A fabulous five rating!!!!!!!!

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:44:45 +0000

Very useful tips. As a writer I have found some successful actions. With writers block I have found the best thing is to just write anything. Even itf it is gobbledygook. it gets the juices flowing, as it were, and you can start to turn out some real content again.

Just my thought. If you are looking for a write I write mainly factual material, not fiction.

By: Deborah Blake

Deborah Blake — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:46:52 +0000

I second what Annette says! I took a bunch of online workshops last year–I got more out of Lois’s than any others…times ten!

By: Lois Winston

Lois Winston — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:01:09 +0000

Thanks for the plug about my courses, Annette! It’s always so gratifying to hear when someone has found my workshops beneficial. Too often in online workshops people lurk, reading the lessons but afraid to participate. So the instructor is never sure whether those taking the course feel they’re getting their money’s worth.

By: Annette Gallant

Annette Gallant — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:48:20 +0000

Thank you for the great Q&A, Lois. Your comments about overworking a manuscript really resonated with me. I did that with my first manuscript and turned it into a big mess. For now I’ve set it aside, but eventually I’ll rewrite it the way I want to.

Everyone – If you’re thinking about taking a course with Lois, do it! I’ve taken two of her courses so far and found them extremely helpful and informative.

By: Deborah Blake

Deborah Blake — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:41:23 +0000

Thanks for the input. I’m thinking of trying my hand at an Urban Fantasy based on my award-winning short story, “Dead and (Mostly) Gone.” Not a chuckle to be seen in that one. Of course, that means trying to do world-building that doesn’t come across the same as everyone else’s…

Unfortunately, “hot” just isn’t my thing (although there is a sex scene in my second ms–blame the characters, since it was apparently their idea!). And I don’t like the really dark, gritty paranormals, so I don’t see myself writing one. I guess I’ll write my UF, and hope for the humorous romance to make a come-back soon!

By: Lois Winston

Lois Winston — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:30:11 +0000

Hi Deborah–
Thanks! Always nice to hear from someone who LOVED my books !

To answer your question about humorous paranormals, there’s definitely a market for them, but the dark, sexy ones are selling better right now. If you can incorporate humorous and hot, you might have a better chance of getting an editor interested. Editors are still looking for hot reads, and I don’t see any cooling off of that anytime soon. (Sorry about the pun!)

You could also try your hand at writing darker. Some authors are capable of very different voices and styles. Others can only write one way. You really won’t know which you are until you try to do something totally different for you. Just don’t force it. If it doesn’t come naturally, it will be very obvious to editors and agents that you’re writing too far outside your comfort level.

As for workshops, I’ll be giving two in the fall. You can get info on them at my website under Appearances. I’ve also partnered with author Dianne Drake in a new workshop venture. You can find info on that at http://www.beginningwriterworkshops.com. The website just went live this week, and the PayPal function isn’t up and running yet, but the workshops aren’t starting until the fall.

By: Deborah Blake

Deborah Blake — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:29:28 +0000

Hi Lois,
I’ve read your books and LOVED them! I am writing mostly in a humorous voice and I’ve had my mss. read by agents and editors who loved them, but thought they couldn’t sell them in today’s “dark sexy paranormal” market. Is it worth it to keep trying to find a home for these books, or should I just put them aside for the moment and write something darker?

BTW–You didn’t mention any of your wonderful online classes. Are you doing one soon?