I stumbled across this interview a bit late in the game, but better late than never. I’m also an entrant in the Dorchester/Textnovel “Next Best Celler” contest, and I can’t tell you how many people think I mistyped that!

From the day I heard of the contest, which I think was a few days into it, I was excited about it. I had researched the Japanese success of cell phone novels a few months before for one of my press releases. I’m writing a novel using the notes application on my iPhone 3G and the media loved the idea. My iPhone novel, Finding Bliss, led to an invitation from Stan Soper at Textnovel to check out the site. And I’m very happy I did.

My entry in the Dorchester contest has gone from a first draft of about 40,000 words written quite a number of years ago, to a revamped manuscript with major revisions and a new suspense theme. This contest spurred me on to work on a genre that I’d only played at before–ROMANCE. I’m mainly a suspense author, but have written a successful general fiction/YA novel as well.

So, firstly, I’d like to thank Dorchester for seeing possibilities and a future in text novels. I’m always one to jump at the chance to be first in line with innovative techniques or opportunities.

My questions: I have 58 chapters (about 500 words each) up on Textnovel to date. Will Dorchester be looking for novels that appear to be mainly completed on the Textnovel site? Or do you really want only 20 chapters posted? I expect to have the entire novel completed and edited within the time-frame but am worried that you might not want so much of it online. Yet, my readers want more, so I’d like to give them more.

Thank you and I look forward to your reply, Brooke.

Thanks for sharing this interview, Kelsey!

Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Lancelot’s Lady
Read Lancelot’s Lady for free at Textnovel.com

I also don’t know how I will ever get any votes on my story, because the people I typically talk to are simply not “joiners” or the type to vote on things, but it’s going to be a great experience just sharpening up my chapters and trying to keep the tension high in every segment. Good thing I’m the eternal optimist. Thanks for talking to us about the contest!

I am happy to report that you can revise/edit chapters.

After logging onto textnovel.com, click on My Library on the top right hand of the page. This is how it appears on the website (so that you can find the link):

Home
Logout
My Admin
My Profile
My Library
.
Clicking on My Library will take you to a page where you will find the heading “Stories I’m Writing.”

Immediately below the header is information on how to manage stories with a special link giving instructions on how to add to stories by email and text message.

Thank you for your response.

I want to clarify it’s the first 6,000 words, not the first 6,000 pages.

I am checking on the technical details in the latter part of your question. I should have a reply for you first thing in the morning.

I think it’s important to distinguish between a manuscript being requested by a publisher and an author submitting a manuscript to a publisher.

Manuscripts are oftentimes submitted to multiple editors simultaneously. Editors usually advise against submitting the same manuscript to more than one editor at the same publisher/imprint; but submitting the same manuscript to editors at different publishers/imprints is customary practice.

If an editor has already requested a manuscript and is in the process of evaluating it for publication, I would advise that the author inquire about its status before entering our contest. I think that’s only fair to the other editor who’s already devoted time to the prospective novel.

That’s a great question which I hope I can answer clearly and coherently.

If I confuse you further, please feel free to write back again for clarification.

Dorchester’s editorial team will have sole discretion in choosing the winning manuscript.

There will be two rounds of judging: Semifinalists (Top 20) and Finalists (Top 10).

Semifinalists will be determined by number of votes and/or subscriptions a serial has by November 1, 2009.

10 finalists will be selected from among the 20 semifinalists by Dorchester’s editorial team and will be announced on November 15, 2009.

The winner, to be chosen from among the 10 finalists, will be selected based on a combination of factors, including positive votes and subscriptions by readers and reviews by reviewers, as well as the subjective opinions of Dorchester’s editorial team.

Please note that should none of the 10 finalists, in the opinion of Dorchester’s editorial team, be publishable and saleable in the U.S. market, Dorchester reserves the right to review and select a winner from all eligible/original entries.

Great article…something I had just been checking out over the weekend! Sounds like a blast…I’m one of the ahem….”older generation” who has never thought of reading a book on my PDA..lol….thanks, this brings new insight to the things I can do with the darn thing other than plan my grocery shopping list on it!

Looking forward to following some of the stories, not sure yet if I’ll enter or not!

thanks again!

carrie