I am on the third draft of a series of novels,5 so far, Daniel's Conflict, Daniel's Challenge etc. I joined as a trial and will consider full membership if I feel it will help improve the work and help me get published. So a few questions please to help me get the best from the community:
1 The work is sexually explicit is that going to be problem and given that which group would be best?
2 The three heros/anti heros are unconventional, non tribal and two, Daniel and Lauren start as undercover military agents in Belfast. The series follows their lives them from 1970s to date and explores their responses to the conflict and tribal violence that haunts them even after they leave that place and work.
The work shines a new light on living in conflict and gleefully slaughters a few sacred cows, so is controversial however I am concerned that this work that might be seen as about 'the troubles' and will struggle for an audience so: Would you dismiss work if you see 'the troubles' or 'Belfast' or Ireland mentioned?
I will submit soon if I can.
Regards David Rory O'Neill

Hi David and welcome to WriteWords

The work is sexually explicit is that going to be problem and given that which group would be best?

We have a Group called Intimate Moments for the more sexually explicit material which members may wish to post for critique. You can find it here:
http://www.writewords.org.uk/groups/114.asp

Not sure I can answer your second question. If it boils down to your last point: Would you dismiss work if you see 'the troubles' or 'Belfast' or Ireland mentioned?
then the simple answer is no a reader or publisher wouldn't dismiss it, the subject is as valid as any work that takes it's central theme as a significant time of conflict, be it the Falklands War, Gulf War, 9/11, or the troubles in Northern Ireland, etc,


- NaomiM





<Added>

Or are you worried because you don't want that to be taken as the central theme of the novel? Bearing in mind that themes are not plots, so the plot will still revolve around the trials and tribulations of your two characters post 1970's.

Thank you for the prompt input. I am worried about the troubles factor because several test readers said: 'I would never think of picking up a book about the Troubles but when I read this I see it's not really about the troubles at all". I guess my problem is not really plot or thyme but presentation and synopsis. Two agents rejected saying they thought there was no market for "Troubles Novels' they obviously read no further than the synopsis. I guess I need help with that more than the writing its self.
Do you need to be a full member before you can upload?
The material is sexually explicit but could not be described as erotica - more character driven sexy thriller.
Thanks again.Regards,David

Hiya,and welcome -
Just chiming in here to say that there's a Synopsis and Outline group (hosted by Naomi) which is fabulous: you are allowed to upload one piece as a part member, so how about doing that, saying specifically what you've said here about taking the emphasis away from the Troubles.
Susiex

Do you need to be a full member before you can upload?

As a Part Member you can join one group and upload one piece of work.
As Susie says there is a Synopsis & Outline group if you'd like to upload your synopsis. Most new members prefer to upload the opening to their novel. If you chose to upload a piece of prose it's usually best to keep ithe extract to a max. of 2000 words because it takes time to critique something, compared to just reading it for pleasure; long pieces can put people off reading and commenting.
As for the Synopsis group, you're welcome to upload the synopsis whatever size it is - we are well practiced in editing stuff down
Agents usually read the synopsis after they've read the first 3 chapters of a submission, so I'm wondering whether the Troubles are taking centre stage in the opening? If so it might be better starting the novel with a different scene. It might be the Agent is having trouble catagorising the novel if it falls between genres - neither a thriller nor soley a character-based novel. So that may need clarifying in your submission material.

Thanks, I will join the synopsis group. Some good tips here already. I am struggling to know wether to submit synopsis for one book or the whole series. I believe that the serial nature of the series ( there will be eight in all) is potentially a good selling point. The genre trap is a sod! Character-driven espionage thriller with strong chic-lit overtones is as close as I can come but that does not neatly fit many slots!
Regards David.

I would submit just the one synopsis, but say in your covering letter that you have outlines for a series.
Susiex

Series are a bit of a hot potato. For various reasons that are wholy publishing industry related, rather than writing related, the first book must work as a stand-alone. As a general rule of thumb, the fact that it might be the first in a series is something to mention later when you've signed up with an agent and they pop the question "what are you planning next?", rather than put it in a covering letter. If you do mention in your submission that it is part of a series, it's best to couch it in terms of "Potentially the first in a series", but don't include details of other books in the series in the synopsis.


- NaomiM