Hi to Everyone at WriteWords.

I've just joined under the trial membership in order to explore what WriteWords have to offer. I have a passion for writing and I'm currently seeking to have my first works published. I need all the help and support that you can offer and hope to be able to network with like minded writers.

I've always written short stories, poetry and songs, but at present my best effort is encapsulated in approximately 366 pages - fiction novel.

My novel is about the relationship between five women who live the perfect lives. This however, is just a facade to the tumult of mischief, adultery, drugs, sex and scandal that really lies behind the perfect imagery they present to the outside world. Intriguing! Do you have any guidance on how I can get my work published?

Stylistic.

Hi Stylistic and welcome to WriteWords

Interesting novel. With regards publication I can recommend getting hold of a copy of Writers and Artists Year Book (often refered to as WAAYB). That contains a list of Agents and what sort of fiction they are looking for.
You'll need to put together a submission package of covering letter, first 3 chapters, and a one page synopsis. Then submit in batches of ~10 to all the agents you've shortlisted from the hundreds in WAAYB.

As a part member you can join one group and upload one piece of work. There is advice on writing synopses and covering letters in the Synopsis & Outline group, or you might prefer to join one of the writing groups and upload an extract from your opening chapters to see if it's ready for submission.

Good luck,

- NaomiM

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Based on what oyu have written above, and without seeing the synopsis, I would tentatively place your novel in the Womans Fiction genre, so worth adding those agents who deal in that genre to your list.

Hi Stylistic, and welcome to WriteWords. Lots of advice and support here, so I hope you get stuck in and find it useful.

Emma

Hello Naomi and Emma,

Thanks for responding. I certainly will follow your advice. I have only recently come across WW, and so far I think the site is great. I am going to start putting your guidance into practice Naomi and I'll keep you posted. Thanks again.

Stylistic.

Welcome, Stylistic! Your book, from the thumbnail you give, does sound like commercial women's fiction - why not come along to the Women's Fiction group and say hello there, too?

Rosy

Thanks Rosy,

On your suggestion, I've had a quick perusal, but will definitely explore later on tonight, when I get a chance at my PC.

Thanks a million!

Stylistic. XX

Hello again, Stylistic. As everyone says, women's fiction (or possibly chick lit?) is probably the best fit in terms of genre. There are also groups that do intensive critting over a longer period, although you may want to wait and see if you like the site before you join one of those.

Hope you enjoy ww. The members cover a very broad spectrum from people who are writing their 9th or 10th novel, to people who have only just discovered the writing bug, so there is usually someone to respond to most questions/ musings or rants.

Hi Stylistic, and welcome to WW.

You’ve had lots of good advice already, so there’s not much I can add. I would say, though, that the market is extremely tough at the moment – isnt it always! – so we have to do all we can to make our work stand out from the pile. Don’t start sending it out until you’ve had some unbiased feedback from fellow writers. You could do this by paying for a professional critique, but you’ll get a pretty good idea from uploading a section on here. Try and keep it under 2000 words, and you should get some feedback that will help you see where your novel stands on the Total Rubbish to Bloody Brilliant scale.

Good luck
Dee

Thanks Everyone,

For your kind words, warm welcome and strong advice. I am quite excited at this time with both a sense of anticipation and overwhelming excitement. I am currently doing my first re-edit/re-write to perfect my style. I have always written short stories, poetry and music, however this is the first time I've been thinking of pursuing my writing seriously and really do appreciate all the help I can get from all you experienced and published writers out there.

I know the market is over-swamped with chick lit at the moment, but I'm hoping that my work will find a place and a voice within the community as well.

Thanks for all your tremendous support in advance!

Stylistic

Hi, Because you cannot edit or delete work posted in Topic sections of WW, it's best to join one of the writing group forums and upload the work there.

Unfortunately Admin is liable to remove this excerpt in due course, so if anyone would like to comment in the meantime it's best to WWmail the feedback to Stylistic.


- NaomiM

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- this happens a lot, so don't worry about it.

Thanks NaomiM.