| Author |
Message |
    
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:04 pm: |   |
Alright. I was suckered into PA not once, but twice (I'm 21 now, was 20 then, and am feeling quite naive at the moment), and now am not quite sure what I am thinking. What if the books I wrote suck? Is there any way to find out from someone else without having to rely strictly on friends and the like? I mean, the one I had published had some good reviews and all, but not from anywhere major. Ok. Let me focus this a little better. Is MyShelf.com a good review outlet? How about All About Murder or Roundtable Reviews? Can I trust what they said in review format? |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
941
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:18 pm: | |
Chico,
Stick around and get into some of the past threads and read them. There is a wealth of information inside some of them. Just start looking. Keep posting and get to know a bit more about our board, and about us and read the posts and ask questions. You will find out who to direct those questions to as you read and find names you know, since you have been with PA you will recognize many of us soon.
Stick around, make yourself at home, put on the coffee and start reading the pages. I understand your hesitation in revealing yourself. You are welcome here.
Claudia
PA author of Notes from Nobody
http://notesfromnobody.homestead.com/book.html |
Fred Dungan
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
621
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:20 pm: | |
Your books are as good as you think they are. If you don't think they are good enough, it won't do you any good to read the threads. Skip the coffee and start rewriting. Nobody, nowhere, is a better judge of what you create than yourself.
Vigilantes - read it as I write it
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Jennifer Lynn
Unity Member
Post Number:
1097
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:32 pm: | |
Welcome Chico. It's sad to see someone so unsure and disillusioned about themselves and their work, but we've all been there. And guess what? It passes.
The best thing you can do is move forward. Write something new and start submitting it to other publishers. I've always felt that the best revenge is to do well... so do well. Move forward and don't look back.
Jenn
Jennifer Lynn
www.jenniferlynn.ca |
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:35 pm: | |
Thus the title. See, I think it's a good book. I think that it's good, personally, but I wrote it, and so I know I'm a little biased. I had put a little faith in the fact that someone else thought it was good enough to be published, and now that it turns out they pretty much didn't even bother with the whole evaluating it thing, I'm at a loss. I still believe in it, but what's shaken me is the idea that I really have no idea what others think. But then, on the other hand, everyone who has read it has liked it a lot... So, maybe that's all that really matters? I don't know. I think it's more just me being disillusioned with PA in general... |
Jennifer Lynn
Unity Member
Post Number:
1098
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:42 pm: | |
Of course that's all that really matters! I know its tough to wake up one day and realize that you didn't make a good choice. But there's plenty of time to learn from your mistakes and move on.
Even if I wasn't totally happy with my PA experience, I learned valuable lessons. I learned the importance of networking within my genre. I've learned how to promote with confidence. I've learned that I am a heck of a good writer, and I can and will succeed.
Don't let PA squash your dreams. Don't be another PA victim. Be a PA survivor.
Jenn
Jennifer Lynn
www.jenniferlynn.ca |
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:53 pm: | |
Muchos Gracias, Lynn. Actually, I am in the process of trying to find a publisher for a new work. This is actually the first full length book I've written (approx 88000 words as opposed to 45 and 44 thousand respectively), and so I think I'm either maturing or developing or something vaguely adolescent-sounding... Oh well. Such is life, no? Actually, I'm quite interested to see what's going to happen with the second one. I mouthed off on the PA board late Sunday night only to wake up Monday morning to find that my thread had been responded to once. I looked and read and hit refresh and the computer couldn't find it. Somehow, in the minute or two since I had opened it, someone over at PA had managed to remove it right out from under me. Plus, now I'm banned. It was funny, too, because I got my dollar today (yipee, let me tell you... I put it in the same dusty drawer with my other one...). Hmmm. Wonder what'll happen with the book (novella, I guess...)? |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1244
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 05:23 am: | |
"I had put a little faith in the fact that someone else thought it was good enough to be published, and now that it turns out they pretty much didn't even bother with the whole evaluating it thing, I'm at a loss."
Many of us have been there, trust me...
And the advice from folks, of moving on and continuing to do the thing we love (writing), is sound... |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2714
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 06:17 am: | |
For my own situation, Chico, I prefer a broad range of publishine experiences because that is how I learn.
My first book was published through PA.
My second book was self pubbed through 1stBooks and then picked up by another publisher so it is now out in a second edition - new cover and new ISBN.
A third book has been accepted by another publisher.
I'm not very prolific so a fourth book will be a long time coming. But here is a comparison between my three publishers.
I'm not unhappy with PA but emails and snail mails I send are answered only about 50% of the time.
My second publisher is devoted and supportive and willing to accept anything I write, regardless of genre. She believes in me far more than I believe in myself and honors me with her respect. She keeps in touch by phone and email.
My third publisher provides open information to authors and keeps in touch by phone and email, is respectful, helpful, and a forward thinker.
Maybe it's time for you to test the waters with other publishers, just for the experience and comparison. |
C. E. Winterland
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1383
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 06:35 am: | |
Chico,
I have personally found that critique groups can be extremely helpful. It can certainly take some getting used to hearing critiques about your work, but even if you don't submit work, but just observe how a crit group runs you can benefit from them.
That being said, I agree with what the others have said. After all, what your work means to you is beyond what a publisher says it is, yes?
C. E. Winterland |
Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1545
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 07:55 am: | |
Chico,
I personally have faith in MyShelf.com - but heck, I work there! I agree with C.E. Critique groups are a great resource. Just be sure someone knows what they're doing. If you are a fiction writer, I recommend Sol Stein's books, Stein on Writing and How to Grow a Novel. Also, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King.
Writing is a craft. Learn it. It will make you more sure of yourself. I think you lack confidence because you're not sure about your skills. Writing is like anything else: knowledge and practice bring confidence and skill!
Nancy |
Eric Summers (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 168.182.1.254
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 08:30 am: | |
I agree with C.E. A critique group of some sort is essential if you have worries about how your book "really" is. Luckily, my wife is a writer as well and she fully understands that honesty in a critique is the most valuable thing a writer can get. Giving your book to friends and family who don't understand that you are looking for hard facts about what is good and bad with your work is a dead end. They will most likely not tell you anything that they found wrong with your writing so as to not hurt your feelings.
Writers are also a lot more attentive to word usages that are awkward or pointing out character inconsistencies. These are things that your average joe won't spot.
Good luck with your work. Remember that if a critic ever tells you something that is wrong with your work, they are probably right. Its nothing to get worried about though, as if someone never tells you where you are doing something wrong, then you will never do it right.
|
Gloria Marlow
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
689
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 08:45 am: | |
Chico, I can relate to what you're feeling. I was never blessed with boatloads of self-confidence. I always thought I could write, but with me there's always this niggling little doubt in the back of my mind. When my book was accepted by PA, I was so excited and felt that my one belief in myself had actually been proven to be true. When I realized it really hadn't, it left me reeling.
Don't doubt your reviews...What reason would a reviewer have for lying about how they felt about a book? Lying would only screw up their credibility. Of course, a review is honestly just an opinion and everyone's not going to agree with each review anyway.
So, my advise is basically what everyone else said. Pick up and move on. With each subsequent book, you'll feel better about your abilities. Listen and learn from other authors. I feel that my writing has grown tremendously just by doing that here. Also, when you do find a publisher, don't take his or her editing as a negative, use it as a positive...it means they read it. Not only did they read it, errors and all, they liked it enough to invest time, energy and money into improving it. Study the edits and you'll figure out what you did wrong, then learn from them, and use that knowledge when writing your next book.
|
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 02:33 pm: | |
Alright. Then, is there anyone out there who could direct me to some sort of critique group? |
Tony (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.31.215.202
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 02:35 pm: | |
Try the Critters Workshop at http://www.critters.org |
LaurieAnne
Unity Member
Post Number:
1255
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 02:58 pm: | |
Chico,
Um...is there a different kind of nickname I can call you? That just feels wrong to me. (Unless that's what you prefer, of course.)
Many of you have me beat. I absolutely detest anything I have personally written. Must be why my company doesn't have a host of my own completed works listed for sale. I only have 1 I like and 1 that is almost passable. The rest I think need so much work that I have stuffed them into a file drawer and haven't touched them in ages.
Crud...Tiem to head out on the road. I have an appointment in 1/2 an hour in a city several miles away.
Later,
LA
www.authorsinkbooks.com
LaurieAnne
|
D.R. Bennett
Awareness Member
Post Number:
41
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 03:48 pm: | |
Chico,
Try not to worry too much about what others think of your writing.
If you like it, that's all that really matters in the end. Everyone has their opinions, just like everyone has an ass.
Donny -
http://www.literaryagent.2ya.com
http://www.drbennett.2ya.com |
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 05:59 pm: | |
Alright. Thank you for the info on Critters... I applied for membership and the like. I will change my name to something else after PA finshes the second thing i gave them (mistake). Hopefully, itll be soon (i just got my "advance"). Anyway.
- Chico
P.S. Random site time:
http://campus.houghton.edu/webs/students/ryan_mayers/fractured/index.html |
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 06:00 pm: | |
P.S.
A note on Random Site Time: I'm gonna find them from the old PA boards. Just for fun. |
LaurieAnne
Unity Member
Post Number:
1265
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 04:40 pm: | |
Chico, dude. THREE is pretty danged messed up. and if you could hear me speak the words, you'd need an exclamation point after each of the last 4 of that sentence. Interesting...but MESSED(!) UP(!).
LA
LaurieAnne
|
Chico McChico (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 04:42 pm: | |
Messed up good, or messed up bad, or messed up who the heck knows what? |
Donna Brown
Awareness Member
Post Number:
9
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 05:22 pm: | |
Hey, Chico - You do understand that the link to your website reveals your name, right? Nothing wrong with posting anonymously, but it's not very anonymous if anyone can find out who you are.
Donna
P.S. I didn't understand your message about Random Site Time or LA's response. Maybe there's something wrong with me. |
Gloria Marlow
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
704
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 06:16 pm: | |
Chico, I visited your site a few weeks ago after I read something you wrote on the PA board. I don't think you have anything to worry about. I think your writing is very good. It's different, far from the romance and mystery I usually read, but it's good.
I don't know what Random Site Time is but I did read Three. It is messed up, but very good, descriptive writing.
Gloria |
BlueMonkeyBobo (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 07:16 pm: | |
Here's what happenned: I was dumb. Therefore, screw anonymity (not that it matters anyway - who cares about lil' ol' me?). Thank you, then. I've been having somewhat of a crisis ever since the weekend, so this helps a lot. It's not so much that I feel the urge to be validated as it is that I like to know I'm not delusional. Yea. Anyway, like I said: screw anonymity.
- BlueMonkeyBobo (the name i posted under on the PA board)
Fractured - It's Funny. |
Jennifer Lynn
Unity Member
Post Number:
1112
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 07:30 pm: | |
Not delusional at all. Just a little writer's identity crisis. We all have them from time to time. Hang in there, you'll be fine.
Jennifer Lynn
www.jenniferlynn.ca |
LRHG (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 209.159.215.245
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 08:00 pm: | |
I think it is important to point out that disillusionment comes from within. I know the feeling well. I'm finding it very hard to pull myself out of it as well. I got an email from a friend recently, thank god for my friends. He told me not to let the bastards get me down. I'm trying to take his advice though from time to time I really feel surrounded by them.
I have another friend that constantly tells me to expect only the best. I like that advice and I have been saying those words in my mind repeatedly over the last several days. It helps. Sometimes to eliminate disillusionment, one just needs a very good dose of self worth.
Peace,
LRHG |
Donna Brown
Awareness Member
Post Number:
10
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 08:02 pm: | |
BlueMonkey - I hope I didn't upset you - that was not my intent at all. I just thought if you truly wanted to remain anonymous you shouldn't post links to your website. I agree with Jenn - hang in there, you'll be fine.
Donna |
BlueMonkeyBobo (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 08:13 pm: | |
Donna -
No offense taken.  |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2726
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 08:15 pm: | |
I'm never truly disillusioned about anything, writing or otherwise. Decades ago I started telling myself in good times and bad, "It all adds to my body of knowledge." Looking back over six decades now, I was right. Everything DID add to my body of knowledge and I'm still alive and kicking.
Positive messages work. |
Donna Brown
Awareness Member
Post Number:
11
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:24 pm: | |
Then why are you sending a scary, spring-headed something after me??  |
BlueMonkeyBobo (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:30 pm: | |
Well, yea, but he's a happy, scary, spring-headed something. See? Look! He's smiling... Or maybe it's moustache. Either way, I can't spell moustache right. Plus, I think technically he's a jester... Which would explain the hat... But not the moustache (or mustache or must-ash or whatever the heck it is...) |
BlueMonkeyBobo (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:30 pm: | |
Oops. My bad. I forgot an a. I'm not gonna tell you where, but I definitely forgot one. |
BlueMonkeyBobo (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 12.19.230.80
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:32 pm: | |
On a happy note, my disillusionment has moved from being about me to being solely with PA. Sigh. Oh well. Just gotta aim higher, eh?
P.S.
I won't clog this with another immediate post... |
Donna Brown
Awareness Member
Post Number:
13
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:42 pm: | |
BMB - Yep, I caught the missing 'a'. I still think that thing is pretty scary. |
Fred Dungan
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
635
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:35 pm: | |
Chico,
It's probably just the chicken fingers giving you indigestion. Take a Tums.
http://www.fdungan.com/bushwhacked.htm |
D.R. Bennett
Hunger Member
Post Number:
75
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 11:08 pm: | |
Disillusionment...or dilusionment for that matter, is just a normal part of being an insecure writer.
We have all had our share of both. No worries Chico. Take it easy.
http://www.literaryagent.2ya.com
http://www.drbennett.2ya.com |
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