I've spent ages, really ages, researching a book about ancient egypt set in a real village called Deir-el Medina. Story plan done, a few chapters written, scenes set, characters developed etc etc and THEN looking at an agents website, they talk about a fabulous new discovery! A new children's author whose book about an ancient village called Deir-el Medina, has just been sold! Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!
Sue

God, Sue - you must have almost passed out!
This is probably completely unhelpful, but have you thought about making up a village? Then you could use some of the research and also just embellish wildly - adding all the stuff in your imagination that you may have shelved because it didn't fit. I only say this because with mine, I got into a real pickle about authenticity about a particular American town. Kept thinking if I got the tiniest detail wrong, then someone (if it was published) would really give me a hard time. Anyway, it struck me that I could make up a town and then it could be exactly as it was (perfectly formed) in my head. It was HUGELY exciting for some reason and I remember almost dancing round the room!
Just a thought. I certainly don't think you should shelve it.
C

It's in my pile of future projects still. I just need to do a radical re-think! Yes, I think I will probably make up my village. It's safer that way!
Sue

Oh, Sue, that is just too cruel. But wait! Like Caroline, I agree - make it up. Have you read the Lian Hearn books, can't remember the name of the trilogy, but Across the Nightingale Floor and Grass for his Pillow (the third is just coming out now)? They are set in ancient Japan, yet not quite in ancient Japan. And it works wonderfully.

Deir-el Medina yet not Deir-el Medina?

Worth a try?

Sue, that’s the most appalling bad luck.

I can only echo what the others have said – use all that research and build your own place.

I did it with Paying For The Gallery. Stanegarth doesn’t exist but a couple of friends who’ve read the manuscript asked me for directions so they can go and see the place for themselves…

It’s always good to set a story in a real place but you have enough skill and talent to convince us that Cloud Cuckoo Land exists!

Go for it.

Dee
x

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I've actually put the egyptian book on the backburner but will bring it out and reinvent it at some time in the future. The next one is a YA novel set in victorian london that i'm really excited about. BUT i've got to finished the boxed crystal yet!

Sue

Andrea - those books sound good. I'll look out for them.

Dee - I thought it was a real place too!

Sue,

See we are still the same person - now we both want to set novels in Victorian times. I'd just sound a cautionary note - the new novel set in Victorian London. None of my business, and don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but I've realised that setting Corozal & Dexire in Victorian times has really limited it's appeal, to those prepared to give the era a chance as a possibly interesting setting. Thus my market was already perhaps halved, and publishers will be very aware of that. Terry raised that doubt some time back, and I think he's right.

I've promised myself that, unless and until I'm a published writer, I'm setting my stories strictly modern. Otherwise, you are fighting with one hand behind your back.

Hope you don't mind my pen'north. I just know I feel I made a big mistake setting C&D historically, and if my experience could be of help to anyone else ...

For myself, I love a bit of historical - but alot of people don't feel that way. Of course I'd never suggest a novel set in that era couldn't get published; but I do think it might seriously reduce your chances at this stage.

Take care
Andrea

<Added>

don't hate me!

Well I've just taken the plunge and submitted the manuscript for my first book for an editorial review with www.writersservices.com

There seemed to be a no. of similar services available and I did a bit of research into what was out there. There was quite a variation in price with people like The Literary Consultancy and Cornerstones charging 400 - 500 GBP to work on a 102K word manuscript. These firms seem to have a good reputation and offered turn around times of about a month and a half. Writers Services charged me 170 GBP and offered a turn around time of just 2 weeks (although I'm still waiting for them to get back to me with a firm date).

Part of me thinks you get what you pay for so I may have chosen badly. However another part of me thinks that its likely that the manuscript will need to undergo serveral future revisions so even if the advice is more broadbrush than a more expensive service it should still be beneficial for the next draft. I can always use another company at a later date.

Anyway, I'll let you know how I get on when I get the report.

Simon

Simon,

I'm not saying that it'll happen with you, but once I'd paid it was three weeks before they came back to me with a firm date, and it was only from then that the "2 week turnaround" started.

Andrea

Simon, you must remember that these editorial services are, in the end, only one person’s opinion. I once paid £250 to have a manuscript edited. I still haven’t managed to get it published but the general advice I got was worth every penny – mainly because I could use it to improve all my writing, not just the one novel.

Having said that, (and this is by no means the first time I’ve said this) the detailed feedback I got on here when I uploaded the same novel, one chapter at a time, helped me enormously.

So take all the advice you get from the editorial service, but remember there are hundreds of committed writers on WW. From so many, you can expect lots of detailed comments.

Dee

Thanks Dee

I agree that you can get lots of useful advise on here from members and certainly the passages I have posted up I have got very valuable feedback on. However whilst this is useful for individual pieces one thing WW can't do is provide feeback on a complete book and how all the pieces hang together as a whole. That's where I'm hoping an editorial service will come in.

I've just heard back from Writers Services - I should get my report back by the 31st Dec.

Regards

Simon

Keep us posted. A few of us would be interested in what kind of appraisal they offer.

Colin M

Yes, Simon, let us know how you find the service.

I take your point about the novel as a whole, although I think I'd probably submit a batch of short stories (well, that's what I write, and longer short stories, which I have yet to complete!). I am inspired by Dee's comments that her critique service provided valuable guidance on her writing in general, which I'd really like to have myself. I'm trying to move ahead with my writing, but often I just can't see!

Ani

Hi there
Haven't been able to get on here for ages (actually injured my eye - can't get much more disruptive to one's writing time than that!) but just wanted to say that I'm really glad I went for my report from Cornerstones. I have found their advice so useful. They advise taking time before getting into the re-writes (good job too in my case!)so it's a slow process, but I'm so glad I went for it.
Please let us know how you get on?
best
Caroline

Simon,

one thing WW can't do is provide feedback on a complete book and how all the pieces hang together as a whole.

I have to disagree. I’m close to the end of uploading a second novel and lots of the comments I’m getting now relate to the plot-line. A number of members have followed the novel from the beginning and are brilliant at alerting me to continuity glitches or character inconsistencies.

Dee