Katie:

RE: I followed the link, but I wasn't really sure what I was reading. It seemed to be non-fiction, and a case of reporting various events to do with religion.
Although it was interesting material, it's not something that strikes me as publishable in its present form.

It was presented only for style. Just a way for you to decide, "I might be interested in this writer," or "No Way! Yuk!"

The story I have in mind is pseudo-fiction.

Psuedo-fiction?
Er... what's that then?

Very clever Dee. You just want me to prove I'm pseudo enough to know how to spell it proper.

Bonsoir! Je vais!

Ohhhhh!!!! buggeur...

mea culpa (ish)

xxx

Hi Katie,

I was just wondering if your open invitation has an expiry date? Is there a date where you will say 'no more submissions please.'? Also, I read that you're not looking for romance - do you mean 'Mills & Boon' romance? I think they call the genre I write in 'modern woman fiction'. The novel I've recently completed is a man/woman story but nothing gooey or slushy. I'd like to send it out to you, but it won't be for another three weeks or so. Is that okay?

While I'm here, would you know why some agencts ask that you submit your manuscript to them on an exclusive basis? And they have to be informed if you've submitted elsewhere?? Should this be a red flag? Also what are the pros and cons of dealing with Agents that insist on dealing with ALL media rights? Just curious. Thanks for you help. :-)

Appologies to those people whose message I've deleted after this point - I was trying to move them off to a new thread, but I accidentally deleted them!

Anyway, please can we all make an effort to keep a thread on - topic. If you have a new subject to start (eg a discussion on Romantic literature) start it as a new topic, don't post it in the middle of a completely unrelated topic!

Many thanks and sorry again about the deletions!
David

Well said, David.

It has not gone unnoticed I am sure by most Members, that some comments have tended to stray well away from the main point or subject matter originally raised on certain Forums.

Lyrical Reckoner - I'm afraid,as I said, I really don't know how to respond to what I've read so far! I can't judge your style of writing fiction based on your style of writing fact; the two involve different skills and have different aims. Also, I can't judge its commerical viability or its relation to other works on our books if I don't know anything about it. As I said, I am interested in writing that responds to topical events/issues. I can only repeat my previous advice - if you want me to consider it then please send the synopsis to the office and I'll get back to you.

Word's Worth - Most agents agree that about one in every thousand submissions they receive gets published. So keep 'em coming! I admit that the office is getting pretty busy as I'm the only one around to wade through it all (but very happily I might add - the literary equivalent of a hippo in mud) At the moment I'm getting back to people in two-three weeks.

As for your particular book, I would say that by Romance, yes, I meant Mills and Boon, but also, Catherine Cookson type romantic sagas, that sort of thing.
I confess that 'modern women's fiction' could be anything, from my point of view. If it's 'chick-lit', then send it in if it's very funny and has an exciting new angle/storyline in the genre. If it's something else then by all means send in the synopsis to give me a better idea.

As a general point, the genres I've asked for or refused aren't set in stone, apart from children's fiction, which we never handle. I just wanted to give guidelines to try and save you a few stamps. As some of you will have seen on a previous thread I started, publishing is a little quiet of late. It'll spring back, but in the meantime, everyone (agents and editors alike) are perhaps being a little more wary.

Ok, what was next? Right, exclusive submissions. I suppose some agents prefer it firstly as it saves them from getting identikit letters. I've noticed a new trend where authors don't even send a letter or synopsis, just a sample with a tag line on the front, which has obviously been sent to every single name in WAYB. It shows you've been selective, I suppose. And also, it doesn't hurt that if you've written the next Harry Potter, you've saved them from having to fight over it with anyone else.
I often ask authors who else has seen a book, just to get an idea of its history and how others have reacted to it. But I have no malicious intent with that question, so it's not a red flag. To be honest, different agencies probably have different reasons for these things. For some it's courtesy, for others it's a matter of hierarchy, for others it's tactical. Me - I just like to know where I stand from your point of view.

And finally....media rights. Well, this is one I can't claim to have a lot of experience with but I'll do my best. Most agencies will want to handle all the rights to your book - apart from anything else, it's easier to have one person deal with it all than half a dozen. Also, big agencies have different agents who specialise in TV/Film rights and foreign rights, so they'll pass it on to the best person. If you're worried about anything like that then discuss it with the agency. I assume that's what you meant? Is there an alternative you'd prefer?

Right, I'm going to leave it there before my computer decides to wipe it all. Hope it helps.
Katie

Katie- as always, incredibly helpful, clear comments from you that should help writers on this site help themselves by being accurate with what they send out. So big thanks as ever.

Thanks Anna.
Glad if it helps.
Katie

Thank you Katie very much for answering my questions and so fully too! It's simply because this is the first time that I've sent out my work to an agent that I suppose I want to do everything right but at the same time not be too naive in my approach. As far as my book is concerned it is a lighthearted story with an angle - I don't know about being very funny but I suppose different things make different people laugh? Anyway, you've been very helpful! I shall definitely be sending in my synopsis and sample chapters for you to have a look. In the meantime, Katie, if we don't speak again until then, have a very Merry Christmas and Hungover...I mean Happy New Year! That goes the same for all here at WriteWords! :D

See, you really were opening yourself up here! Sorry but I have to ask: Science Fiction . No, please come back. I'll buy you some chocolate. Excellent

So Science Fiction. Right, K, ummm...first things first. It's not space opera, it's not small guys with big feet and big staffs. It is not renegade Han Solo type characters who 'jack-up' to the matrix and smuggle information, though I suppose it is closer to this than anything. But it is science fiction because it uses technology that isn't currently around.

Now, would such a 'genre' be worth sending to your lovely agency? I ask because, as you say, it would take you about 2 months to answer (now, fair enough) but since having something to send to agencies around the middle of last year I have only sent it to 3 (as far as I am aware it is bad form to send off details to more than one agency at a time). Therefore, as I have a chance to ask whether such a thing would be appropriate, I thought I would ask to save both yours, and my, time.

Thank you and remember, chocolate. What would you like?

james (anthony)

Hello,

I know this was posted in October last year, but I wondered if I could put your details on our writers group web site (Editorial Desk page).

Please take a look at it and let me know.

Also, ould you let me know if you are still looking for fictional historical novels? I have one that you might be interested in.
Many thanks
Kaye
2 Grey Street
Tayport
Fife
DD6 9JF
scriptsplayed@yahoo.co.uk
www.geocities.com/scriptsplayed

Hi James (Anthony). I'm not against Science Fiction (sorry if I gave that impression). In fact, I enjoy reading it, I'm just wary of LotR wannbees, that's all. So if you'd like to send in some info, go for it. I'll take a look at a synopsis and the first two chapters and get back to you as soon as I can.

Scriptsplayed - I'm intrigued. Will check out the website and get back to you. Shouldn't be a problem if you just want to list our details, but I should poit out that I'm looking for novels rather than screenplays at the moment.
As for your book; as long as it's not a romantic saga or stone age/pagan/druid type stuff then feel free to send in the first two chapters.

Sorry about the wait, by the way. Going as fast as my eyes can follow....

Dear Elspeth,

I've uploaded the first chapter of the work I wrote to you earlier about.

It's logged under Writer's Archive, Fiction, Historical, Bellus Locus - and it has an error in one of the final paragraphs, but because my membership hasn't gone through fully, I cannot edit it!

Meanwhile, I hope that you find it of interest.
Many thanks
Kaye