NEWBIES-Welcome To Publishing!

[Georgia McBride]

Just completed your manuscript? Nearly done? Thinking about finding an agent? No idea where to look? Scared to death of the idea of having to write a QUERY or a SYNOPSIS? Well, this forum is for you!

 

 

[Georgia McBride]

A great place to start! Entering the publishing world and all sorts of wonderful links: http://dglm.blogspot.com/2010/03/entering-publishing-world.html

[Georgia McBride]

Need help financing your writing? Here's a great link to grants for writers... http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2010/03/guest-blog-post-grants-for-wr...

[Vanessa P]

Hello, I am currently beginning my search for an agent for two of my novels and my self-published novel, A Memory Between the Hills

[Laura Boyd]

Wow, I just thought this site was just for bibliomaniacs, but I suppose I was too presumptious when I first joined. I can't say that I'm publishing a book but knowing that this site gives such great information and support is very comforting.

[Fish Stark]

Thank goodness. I need a forum like this.

Anyway, I'm definitely a newbie. Just finished my first manuscript, and I am clueless as to where to go. I've written a query letter (including a small synopsis) and have sent it to one agent via agentquery.com, but I'm sure I've already committed numerous egregious agent-soliciting sins. I have no experience in the publishing industry and the fact that I'm 14 is no help at all. I'm not sure what to expect on this site, or what exactly goes on here--I was referred by LM Preston, a wonderful woman who I had the privilege to serve on a Young Adult Fiction panel with at the Annapolis Book Festival (my sorry, unpublished self was only on said panel because I go to the school), and she said it would be very helpful. I'm hoping to find some people who can help me work over my novel, query letters, etc, and I hope to help people with theirs.

I have so many questions--not only about publishing in general, but this site--it's so chock-full of stuff that it's intimidating and I'm worried that never in a million years will I be able to find my way around.

Just from looking at the site, I'm sure I'll get a lot out of this. This looks like a wonderful community and I'm proud to be a part of it.

My novel is called First Daughter, and its protagonist--Griffin Peshk--is no ordinary American kid. First of all, he's Albanian. Second, he's been rigorously training in a top-secret military facility all of his life. He's an elite weapon--so elite, in fact, that he's been tasked with the most dangerous mission any spy has ever received--to take out the President of the United States. But as he stakes out his mission as a butler in the White House, his mission slips to the back of his mind as his fun-loving roommate introduces him to a life outside of constant military exercises. And when Griffin meets Veronica Carr, the beautiful First Daughter, all patriotic duties are pushed aside in favor of young love. A bumbling sex-addict of a President adds hilarity to the mix of this witty teen romance.

Yeah, if you want to read it, hit me up.

I'm also starting my next novel, Convention, soon, and am hoping to kick around ideas for that with someone--but I won't say anything more about it as this post is already obscenely long.

I'm thrilled to be a part of this community. Really thrilled.

Peace,
Fish

[Kay]

Hi! I'm new to YALitChat. Saw this forum and wanted to pose b/c I'm avoiding writing a synopsis like it's H1N1. I've yet to send to any agents who require a synopsis. I'm frightened to death of it. EEK! I get nervous thinking about it.

[Georgia McBride]

Check out this PUBLISHING DICTIONARY on Editorial Annoymous!

Definitely bookmark this one!

[Peter Taylor]

Firstly, I recommend seeking an agent. I have one, and she took me on after I got a contract for a non-fiction book. I asked if she'd negotiate the contract. She also has a reputation for YA.
She managed to get the publisher to pay more than double what they initially offered me.
I met her at a talk she gave to a small number of people at a local meeting of book-lovers. I asked a sensible question at the appropriate time at the end of her talk. We chatted later when the official part had ended. No synopsis was needed - except I had a 100 word or so description of my YA that I could easily provide in about 30 seconds. After she asked me to send something, I provided a very early first draft as a sequence of events and in which only the first chapter nears what I hope the rest will be like. At this stage, she could already see that the story is likely to be interesting enough to have potential.
Many agents give appraisals at Writers Festivals and Conferences. There's nothing like meeting in person - the agent would love to take on only people they can get on with at a personal level - someone who is probably not going to chase them every three hours, someone who is likely to consider advice and suggestions for a re-write without getting uptight, etcc..
It's my impression that smaller Conferences and events are most likely to give you the best chance to gain a relaxed meeting with an agent (or editor), where everyone can be at ease and enjoy the experience.
Many agents have blogs and provide descriptions of the 'perfect' query letter thay have been sent.

Best wishes to all

Peter