I've proposed a new Group where members who are gearing up to submit to Agents can upload their first 3 chapters for critique.


- NaomiM


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This group is intended to compliment the Synopsis and Outline Group, where members can upload a synopsis and link it to the opening chapters in the other group.

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I don't know if David will allow it, but I would also like to limit this group to full members only - no access to part members who jin on one month's free trial.

That sounds great - I assume you mean members - part or full - just not 'free trial'? I'd like IC to be the same...

I only say that because I'm a part member

Sarah

Yes, I should have clarified that, Sarah, I mean subscription-paying members, be they part or full.

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...I mean access limited to subscription-paying members...

I think I've just joined - or at least I hope I have!

You name is on the list, Deborah. Only 3 more people needed.

I suppose the inevitable questions are going to be:
'what if my chapters are really short - should I upload more than three?'
'Does a prologue count as a chapter?'
'What if I haven't organised the mss into chapters?'
'What if the interesting bit of the mss is chapters 14-17 - can I upload these 3 instead'?
...which will all be answered if & when we get the group up and running.



- NaomiM

Naomi - my initial responses to these questions:

1.'what if my chapters are really short - should I upload more than three?'

No. The Group's called First Three Chapters for a reason - and that's all we're allowed to send out with a submission, isn't it? (I have been asked for either 2 or 4 before, though).

2.'Does a prologue count as a chapter?'

Does an agent count it as a chapter? I don't know. I guess it's still the "1st body of text" so I'd count it as one - unless it's just one line long!

3.'What if I haven't organised the mss into chapters?'

Then you're not exactly ready for the "First Three Chapters" sub - organise them then come back!

4.'What if the interesting bit of the mss is chapters 14-17 - can I upload these 3 instead'?

See 1.

I know my 'gut reactions' seem harsh. I don't intend them to be - it's just that right now in my head I'm a bolshy 15 year old (WIP) and mainly teenagers just say what they think, right?
Sorry *blushes* I must be a "method writer"
Debs

Lol, Debs.

Dare I add some more to the list? -

"Can I upload a play?"

No.


"Can I upload non-fiction?"

Non-fiction is pitched to publishers as a 'treatment' before you write it, and you only write it if they commission it, so, again, No.
It's probably best to upload a 'treatment' one of the script-based writing groups or in S&O Group.


"Can I upload a memoir?"

Maybe.
Strictly speaking it's 'non-fiction', but personally I like memoirs. Not sure how many other takers you'll get for it, though.



- NaomiM

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Um, question of the Prologue - some agents such as Peter Cox on Litopia recommend leaving it off the submission.
I'll leave it up to members whether or not they want to include it with the opening 3 chapters.

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Oh, and to anyone who posts the question:

'my chapters are over 10K long - is it ok to post 3 of them'?

I would have to answer, 'my attention span is only 10K long, so it's up to you.'

I've signed up.
And I'm with Madame Thighboots. We need to be strict.
This group is supposed to be helpful - it will only be so if people use it properly.
HB x

Naomi,

'my attention span is only 10K long,

I have Ssssooooo joined the right group!
LOL
Debs

p.s. actually I think mine might be slightly less!

Madame Thighboots.

Oo-er - is this me?!

(I'm LIKING that!)

Madame Thighboots.

Now if we had avatars that would bring the men flocking. Do you have a whip Deb?


The model is a standard agent submission.
Obviously different agents have different submission criteria on their websites, but lets not complicate matters by trying to be all things to all agents here.

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And for anyone hoping to upload their chapters and have an agent perusing the group and cherry picking mss from it aka Authonomy....er, I think you need to stand in the corner with the pink elephants.

I think the biggest problem is going to be formatting the feedback in amongst the pages and pages of original mss.
I don't know what people feel about swapping email addresses so they can be sent as Word attachements? I'm happy to - I can set up a temp. googlemail account - but I expect others would be less keen.
Maybe we should get used to typing [ b ] ... [ / b ] to highlight comments in bold.

Blimey, whips AND pink elephants!
I'm going to enjoy this group - let's hope we get a full-house.

I'm q. happy to divulge my e-mail details. The formatting on this site has always been a bug-bear, hasn't it? I don't think I've ever gone through a piece I've uploaded and picked out all my italicised and emboldened bits, I've just hoped for the best.

Yes, formatting is a pain. In S&O Group I copy and paste the original in the comment box and add my first impressions as I go through it. But if it's a pretty polished upload it might simply be a matter of dotting i's ad crossing t's and deleting several spurious hundred commas; corrections which are going to be hard to spot in a 10K word upload.

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I obviously should have proofread that before posting.