tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post297337549336156083..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Getting an agent or editor’s attentionRachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-10518698925902568622013-05-29T00:27:30.237-07:002013-05-29T00:27:30.237-07:00Though on one hand many people feel, there are few...Though on one hand many people feel, there are fewer people writing and reading now-a-days... (thanks to proliferation of multimedia devices), on the other I find there is a huge rush to publish books. <br /><br />It's so difficult to get one book published. Publishing houses indicate an average waiting period of 3 to 6 months... <br /><br />I am just wondering isn't the concept of self-publishing a better alternative? You are your own boss, and you don't have to beg and plead with others to convince them about the worth of your creative product.<br /><br />Or, you can even have your book on a website, chapter-wise (make it free or paid).. Publicise that site yourself through various media. <br /><br />Of course, this doesn't factor in the huge royalty some wannabe publishers look forward to.Pradeep Nairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04873369124947878452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-7382301305444822482013-05-28T17:51:58.947-07:002013-05-28T17:51:58.947-07:00No, I haven't...yet. I think it's great th...No, I haven't...yet. I think it's great that people have secured representation or contracts that way though. It's got to be good practice, if nothing else.Jeff Hargetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198367021884647821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-16728673798868892182013-05-27T20:11:50.460-07:002013-05-27T20:11:50.460-07:00I think contests can be a great way to get an agen...I think contests can be a great way to get an agent's attention. I've done several myself. The one Greenhouse is doing is interesting!alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-83586096181095678952013-05-27T10:03:47.506-07:002013-05-27T10:03:47.506-07:00I think it depends on what type of book you've...I think it depends on what type of book you've written. The competition that works for one type of book isn't going to work for another.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-11040794151464285972013-05-27T07:53:28.264-07:002013-05-27T07:53:28.264-07:00I think it's helpful to enter competitions. I&...I think it's helpful to enter competitions. I've entered a few, and three times I got honorable mention (for three different pieces). I think it helps in your credits when you are querying a novel. I think it's good discipline, too. It gives you a deadline to work toward and it makes you go back and do extra re-writes.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-78436859921009892013-05-27T03:30:04.695-07:002013-05-27T03:30:04.695-07:00Contests are great for any writer. I enter the co...Contests are great for any writer. I enter the commonwealth story writing contest every year. Haven't won anything though.Alka Gurhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050387590729571321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-88489516357091405682013-05-27T03:27:45.667-07:002013-05-27T03:27:45.667-07:00Yeah, some are really good! It's worth checkin...Yeah, some are really good! It's worth checking out the judges before you enter though.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-31866741766043276572013-05-26T14:23:55.844-07:002013-05-26T14:23:55.844-07:00Great advice, Rachna! All the best with the compet...Great advice, Rachna! All the best with the competitions!<br />Nashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984530648140460594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-76775840788602375352013-05-26T09:41:05.410-07:002013-05-26T09:41:05.410-07:00Ah, a fellow writer! Excellent. I'll follow ...Ah, a fellow writer! Excellent. I'll follow yours if you follow mine. Sounds like you have a brain and a soul as well! Rarity these days. Joined.Mike Cronishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12752551739307761520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-70905033979515353342013-05-26T02:27:45.177-07:002013-05-26T02:27:45.177-07:00Thanks for the tip.
moodThanks for the tip.<br /><br />moodmooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-64784715278144738722013-05-25T11:37:05.301-07:002013-05-25T11:37:05.301-07:00Sounds like fun!! I think these are good opportuni...Sounds like fun!! I think these are good opportunities for critique at least, but you can't discount the old fashioned way either. :DLisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-51228165070225460262013-05-25T01:43:13.233-07:002013-05-25T01:43:13.233-07:00This is an angle I'd just not considered befor...This is an angle I'd just not considered before. Thanks for drawing it to my attention.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-67726728022402164402013-05-24T18:58:39.645-07:002013-05-24T18:58:39.645-07:00I think contests can be a great way to break in if...I think contests can be a great way to break in if you're writing style matches the contest theme.Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-40259470364701164422013-05-24T17:42:37.848-07:002013-05-24T17:42:37.848-07:00Sometimes contests are a good way to get motivated...Sometimes contests are a good way to get motivated to polish up a story opening or pitch line or query. This one sounds interesting!Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-81003294595108790042013-05-24T15:22:01.742-07:002013-05-24T15:22:01.742-07:00Sounds like a good contest; I can't write humo...Sounds like a good contest; I can't write humor, though.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-17722897454903474742013-05-24T13:51:35.903-07:002013-05-24T13:51:35.903-07:00I've entered a couple of contests in the past,...I've entered a couple of contests in the past, and gained valuable insight even though I didn't win. Sure wish I could write humor, tho, since the Greenhouse one sounds neat :-)Kenda Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972218446945404475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-35604924840256975452013-05-24T13:11:03.754-07:002013-05-24T13:11:03.754-07:00I have entered some but it really depends on who i...I have entered some but it really depends on who is doing the judging etc. If there is feedback --that helps the most.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-38965039418963603792013-05-24T12:11:56.654-07:002013-05-24T12:11:56.654-07:00I've entered a few, and done well in a few of ...I've entered a few, and done well in a few of those. Good luck!Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-25991052736804505632013-05-24T11:07:33.306-07:002013-05-24T11:07:33.306-07:00I think competitions can be a good thing to gain e...I think competitions can be a good thing to gain experience and attention. They also provide practice for us, and help us polish and work with guidelines. If you don't win, you have something you can tweak and submit elsewhere, whether another contest or publication.Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-21392177834104517672013-05-24T10:34:20.771-07:002013-05-24T10:34:20.771-07:00That sounds like a good contest. I've never he...That sounds like a good contest. I've never heard agents don't read queries, since they desperately want to find the next big thing. But they may have assistants who read for them. <br /><br />I've been in some contests, won or placed in some, but not much ever came of them. In general, it's better to send a query with your complete, well-presented idea and the sample pages. I've gotten far more requests that way (and am agented now).<br /><br />Good luck whichever way you go! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-22914373634828514652013-05-24T07:07:33.067-07:002013-05-24T07:07:33.067-07:00I haven't entered any competitions. I'm op...I haven't entered any competitions. I'm open to it though. I think competitions are good experiences for writers, though, and who knows, you might just win!<br /><br />Happy reading and writing! from <a href="http://lauramarcella.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines</a>Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-5346576467147048252013-05-24T05:29:32.113-07:002013-05-24T05:29:32.113-07:00I've never entered any contest at all.
One of ...I've never entered any contest at all.<br />One of my blogging buddies is holding an agent contest right now, and the winner of the last one got a publishing deal. She's really brought in some top agents for the current one.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-67385040391211850152013-05-24T04:38:51.113-07:002013-05-24T04:38:51.113-07:00I think these contests have merit. Anything one ca...I think these contests have merit. Anything one can do to put the work out there and possibly get a contract is all good.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153821980625034810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-59046166437707064912013-05-24T03:33:06.933-07:002013-05-24T03:33:06.933-07:00Thanks for letting us know about this. To be hones...Thanks for letting us know about this. To be honest, I never do well at these contests, at least for the book I'm working on. And I've interviewed authors who had the same experience but querying worked for them. That's what I'm hoping for, at least for this book.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-85126481774795810442013-05-24T01:00:40.710-07:002013-05-24T01:00:40.710-07:00I am not too sure how competitions help budding wr...I am not too sure how competitions help budding writers but surely it does give visibility if one is on a winning streak:)Rahul Bhatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690287853990880735noreply@blogger.com