Comments on: Writing Excuses Episode 12: Submitting to Editors Part 1 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/ Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:08:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mike Barker http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1612 Mike Barker Tue, 06 May 2008 05:09:08 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1612 Summary over here http://mbarker.livejournal.com/69227.html Hope someone is reading these. Summary over here
http://mbarker.livejournal.com/69227.html

Hope someone is reading these.

]]> By: stacy http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1396 stacy Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:20:34 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1396 By the way, PW just published <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6556117.html" rel="nofollow">a great article talking about what makes a book YA</a>. By the way, PW just published a great article talking about what makes a book YA.

]]> By: WEKM http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1387 WEKM Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:18:17 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1387 Ok, first off, I love your podcasts. That said, I must now say this... I hate you all! If you are going to break up a session like that, DON'T tell me about it. Now my OCD is going to make me nuts(er). If I didn't know that it continues on from where you stopped, I would not be fretting over it for the rest of the week. Great job by the way, and I am really looking forward to hearing more on this. Ok, first off, I love your podcasts. That said, I must now say this…

I hate you all!
If you are going to break up a session like that, DON’T tell me about it. Now my OCD is going to make me nuts(er). If I didn’t know that it continues on from where you stopped, I would not be fretting over it for the rest of the week.

Great job by the way, and I am really looking forward to hearing more on this.

]]> By: Dan Wells http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1371 Dan Wells Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:56:53 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1371 Audrey does say hi in the next one, though. Audrey does say hi in the next one, though.

]]> By: admin http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1370 admin Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:16:41 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1370 No it's not. We were recording this at a friend's house, which was closer to the SLC airport then the normal WE recording place and more convenient for Stacy, and their daughter was upset she couldn't come into the room where we were. No it’s not.

We were recording this at a friend’s house, which was closer to the SLC airport then the normal WE recording place and more convenient for Stacy, and their daughter was upset she couldn’t come into the room where we were.

]]> By: Cy Reb, Jr. http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1369 Cy Reb, Jr. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:34:50 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1369 Is that Audrey crying in the background? You may want to attend to her, if only for aesthetic reasons. (Yes, I know the second half has already been recorded.) Is that Audrey crying in the background? You may want to attend to her, if only for aesthetic reasons. (Yes, I know the second half has already been recorded.)

]]> By: Dan Wells http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1367 Dan Wells Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:12:19 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1367 Nathan: Your best bet is to look for other Magic Realism/Urban Fantasy books that are similar to yours, and find out who publishes them. If you can swing it, also find out who the editor and agent are. Then get your book in shape and start writing queries. Nathan:
Your best bet is to look for other Magic Realism/Urban Fantasy books that are similar to yours, and find out who publishes them. If you can swing it, also find out who the editor and agent are. Then get your book in shape and start writing queries.

]]> By: Howard Tayler http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1360 Howard Tayler Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:41:17 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1360 Stacy: I fixed the link so I had the right Kristen Nelson post... If people still want the "Top 25 YA Tropes" it's right <a href="http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2008/02/ya-top-25.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a> Stacy: I fixed the link so I had the right Kristen Nelson post… If people still want the “Top 25 YA Tropes” it’s right here.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1358 Nathan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:50:40 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1358 The podcasts just keep getting better! I've really enjoyed listening to each and every one of these. It's like I'm taking a creative writing 101 class for free! Overall, Writing Excuses has really helped encourage me to keep writing even when people tell me I should do something "better" with my future aspirations. Question: What would be some publishers you would recommend for a Magic Realism/ Urban Fantasy book? The podcasts just keep getting better! I’ve really enjoyed listening to each and every one of these. It’s like I’m taking a creative writing 101 class for free! Overall, Writing Excuses has really helped encourage me to keep writing even when people tell me I should do something “better” with my future aspirations.

Question: What would be some publishers you would recommend for a Magic Realism/ Urban Fantasy book?

]]> By: stacy http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 stacy Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:33:17 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1348 Re: Liner notes--that's a great list of YA tropes, but the conversation Kristen and I had got us <a href="http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2008/03/you-know-you-have-tired-ya-fantasy.html" rel="nofollow">this list</a>. @B.E.: Both. YA can be boiled down to pretty much anything that is of interest to teens and their lives. So generally the protagonist should be a teen (a rule that can be broken, but rarely), the story *generally* tends to be a coming-of-age type of story, and generally it deals with more mature topics than middle grade. Though that differs dramatically between whether you're writing for the younger part of that huge spectrum (12-14) or the older (16 and up). That's a big gap, so the books in the YA section tend to run the gamut. Middle grade generally tends to have characters just slightly older than the target age group (the reading-up trend) and have less mature topics--more adventure, mystery, and fantasy than romance, for example, though YA has all those *plus* romance. But again, the idea is that the story should be about what kids that age would be interested in reading about. Since developmental stages vary so widely, it's just a broad categorization that has many little niches and especially when you're talking about a series in which the character grows older (the <i>Alice, I Think</i> series and the Harry Potter books are perfect examples) it can be very controversial about what section those books go into. But *in general* it's about age groups because age groups tend to have interests common to a developmental group. Re: Liner notes–that’s a great list of YA tropes, but the conversation Kristen and I had got us this list.

@B.E.: Both. YA can be boiled down to pretty much anything that is of interest to teens and their lives. So generally the protagonist should be a teen (a rule that can be broken, but rarely), the story *generally* tends to be a coming-of-age type of story, and generally it deals with more mature topics than middle grade. Though that differs dramatically between whether you’re writing for the younger part of that huge spectrum (12-14) or the older (16 and up). That’s a big gap, so the books in the YA section tend to run the gamut.

Middle grade generally tends to have characters just slightly older than the target age group (the reading-up trend) and have less mature topics–more adventure, mystery, and fantasy than romance, for example, though YA has all those *plus* romance. But again, the idea is that the story should be about what kids that age would be interested in reading about.

Since developmental stages vary so widely, it’s just a broad categorization that has many little niches and especially when you’re talking about a series in which the character grows older (the Alice, I Think series and the Harry Potter books are perfect examples) it can be very controversial about what section those books go into. But *in general* it’s about age groups because age groups tend to have interests common to a developmental group.

]]> By: B.E. http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1345 B.E. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:05:37 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1345 Is it just age range? Some people have tried to convince me that it has to do with the plot and the characters. Is it just age range? Some people have tried to convince me that it has to do with the plot and the characters.

]]> By: Jen http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1344 Jen Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:03:42 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1344 Excellent podcast, Stacy and co. Very informative! One thought - when you spoke of simultaneous submissions and asking one editor to wait because it's with another editor - doesn't it tell the second editor when they receive the manuscript that this has already been rejected, putting up a red flag? Excellent podcast, Stacy and co. Very informative!

One thought – when you spoke of simultaneous submissions and asking one editor to wait because it’s with another editor – doesn’t it tell the second editor when they receive the manuscript that this has already been rejected, putting up a red flag?

]]> By: stacy http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1336 stacy Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:28:43 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1336 I thought we covered it here, but here's a quick reference: YA: 12 and up Middle grade: ages 8-12, roughly. Independent readers. I thought we covered it here, but here’s a quick reference:

YA: 12 and up
Middle grade: ages 8-12, roughly. Independent readers.

]]> By: B. E. http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1332 B. E. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:43:33 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1332 Can someone talk about the differences between YA and middle grade? I had never heard of middle grade until I married an editor. Since then, a few people have attempted to explain the differences. Despite their efforts, I am still unclear about what separates the two genres. Can someone talk about the differences between YA and middle grade? I had never heard of middle grade until I married an editor. Since then, a few people have attempted to explain the differences. Despite their efforts, I am still unclear about what separates the two genres.

]]> By: Jon W. http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1328 Jon W. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:25:29 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1328 This was the best ad placement so far. This ad sounded like it was done "on set" at the time of recording, where as past ads sounded inserted after the fact, almost cutting off whomever was talking while at the same time being at noticeably different volume levels. Please continue this podcast's practice for future installments. This was the best ad placement so far. This ad sounded like it was done “on set” at the time of recording, where as past ads sounded inserted after the fact, almost cutting off whomever was talking while at the same time being at noticeably different volume levels. Please continue this podcast’s practice for future installments.

]]> By: Roland http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1325 Roland Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:35:48 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1325 Okay, this week the ad was a little less obnoxious. Good job. Keep it quick and to the point like that. Okay, this week the ad was a little less obnoxious. Good job. Keep it quick and to the point like that.

]]> By: Jonathon http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1324 Jonathon Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:23:11 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1324 Ahhhh, this podcast (the bad submissions part, in particular) reminds me of the American Idol outtakes: people can be glaringly stupid about their own talent, or lack of it. I mean, a lot of the really bad singers on Idol? You can see they really believe they're good. Same thing here, seems a lot of rejections happen because the author thinks they're just SO clever, or their art or submission idea is SO good... On the flipside, it doesn't seem to me like the really good authors consider themselves to be really good. I know I've heard stories about authors who are opinionated or arrogant, but it's never seemed to me that I hear that in relation to the _quality_ of their work... the validity of their opinions, sure. The purity of their artform, yeah. The whole "I don't write for the fans" idiocy, ok. Just something I find interesting. Perhaps a mindset we should all strive for? Ahhhh, this podcast (the bad submissions part, in particular) reminds me of the American Idol outtakes: people can be glaringly stupid about their own talent, or lack of it.

I mean, a lot of the really bad singers on Idol? You can see they really believe they’re good. Same thing here, seems a lot of rejections happen because the author thinks they’re just SO clever, or their art or submission idea is SO good…

On the flipside, it doesn’t seem to me like the really good authors consider themselves to be really good. I know I’ve heard stories about authors who are opinionated or arrogant, but it’s never seemed to me that I hear that in relation to the _quality_ of their work… the validity of their opinions, sure. The purity of their artform, yeah. The whole “I don’t write for the fans” idiocy, ok.

Just something I find interesting. Perhaps a mindset we should all strive for?

]]> By: Blógünder Schlock » Blog Archive » This week on Writing Excuses: No Howard Is A Huge Improvement http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 Blógünder Schlock » Blog Archive » This week on Writing Excuses: No Howard Is A Huge Improvement Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:45:09 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/04/27/writing-excuses-episode-12-submitting-to-editors-part-1/#comment-1308 [...] Have a listen. This one’s really good. Explore posts in the same categories: Podcasts [...] [...] Have a listen. This one’s really good. Explore posts in the same categories: Podcasts [...]

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