Sorry if I sounded condescending, Caroline. It was not my intention.

All I meant was that when submitting to publishers (or agents) you're pitting your work against a lot of others - solicited or otherwise. The numbers will be huge and the quality you're competing with will be very high. My point was that in order to get anywhere your work has to be fantastic.

As I say, sorry if I came across wrong!

I'd be interested to know how many submissions publishers get. I'll bet it's still a lot!

Cheers,

Nik (hoping he hasn't offended!).

Nik! No!! Honest, mate, no way did you offend! God, I'm worrying I sounded snippy now!!
I think there has been so much kicking off and incendiary nonsense on here lately that we've all got a bit twitchy..
Anyway, I was just adding that out of slightly pedentic interest!

Ah I see Davy, thanks for that. I agree with Emma (this looks like it may become a refrain!) about writing the book you feel compelled to write, rather than worrying too much about genre. The Extra Large Medium, for example, is not a book I would be able to pigeonhole into a genre easily - it's just a really good story, well told. That is the key thing for me. If a novel is good enough, keeps you turning the pages, wanting to find out more, draws you in, it doesn't matter what genre it is - similarly, if it's a weak novel, it's a weak novel, whatever genre it is.

Jess -

Thanks for that advice, I think EmmaD is a bit of a guru so I totally agree with what she wrote. I was just putting the question out there, coz it interests me, and obviously it is vital to understand if I wanna get published.

The only thing with your reply is; doesn't it contradict this:

"1. No science fiction
2. No Romance - as in Mills and Boon
3. Not a children`s or teenage novel or what is known as crossover fiction - which is a genre supposed to straddle young people/adult..
and - that`s it"

Because what if someone has written an amazing sci-fi book aimed at teenagers, like our own Colin M? If you would still consider it, why have those guidelines in the first place?

Anyway, I sound like I'm being a bitch, but I'm not. I am genuinely interested in this!

Caroline - twitchy huh? what you trying to say

That's a joke, just in case it isn't very funny!

Regards


DS

Sorry Davy, you're quite right, it does appear to contradict that. I didn't express myself clearly - I was thinking in terms of genre as in subdivisions of mainstream fiction - i.e. crime, family saga, etc. We wouldn't consider fantasy/teen novels, because our focus with this first novel project is on publishing contemporary, mainstream fiction. There is a place for those other types of writing, of course there is, it's just not with us, and we wouldn't be able to do a book of that type justice. Hope that is clearer.

Hi Jess, my suspicion comes from small independent publishers who use competitions as a form of income and don't put the money or effort into publicising, promoting and supporting the competition winners. I guesss I was expecting to see an entry fee. I am naturally suspicious of anyone contacting me (or websites) to tell of "a great opportunity". I blame spam and junk mail.

I did say it was an initial response. I used to have a friend who had the motto, "treat everyone as an imbecile, unless they can prove otherwise".

I couldn't prove otherwise

Colin

Hi Jess

Yeah well that's what that book I was on about meant I guess. I'm not judging anyone, or saying its wrong, you should publish what you want and feel you can do justice to. I'm just interested in the genre thang, that's all.

Ignore me anyway, I'm a complete bimbo.

Luv






DS

I never wanted to be considered a genre writer, but the more I write about about timetravel, nanobots and a post-apocalyptical future world, the more my right hand threatens to smack me in the forehead.

My other book's about a troll.

Davy
'Bimbo' made me LOL. I have a vivid mental image now of a bloke with a big fluffy blonde wig and bubblegum pink skirt showing off his hairy legs.
Hang on a minute - call myself a feminist?

Blimey Caroline, how did you know that? Monday is my "pink" day, see...

And that is NOT a wig thank you very much.

Davy, we're all beginning to worry about you. First net curtains, now pink dresses! It's a slippery slope! I understand though, one of the great things about WW is you can relax and be yourself and not have to keep up that football hooligan facade like you do for your other mates.

Mine's a babycham. Cheers doll. Or should I say 'Davina'?

JB

Hey it was Bege in the net curtains. Besides, I'm comfortable with my sexuality, that's why I can dress up in drag and still go down the pub and talk about footie.

Get some strange looks tho!

Seriously tho, I'm not one of these weird blokes that act all homophobic then start telling all my mates I love them, showering them with kisses when I'm bladdered. Trying to live up to some misogynistic stereotype for 99% of my life and scared of being myself, scared of gay men, scared of strong women. Like the General who moves next door in American Beauty!

I like girls though, just to clarify things!








<Added>

Davina's a nice name tho. You might just be onto something there...

Hey I was only joking Dav. We can smell the testosterone from here you big hairy cave man!

JB

Jess,

Do you know if you have to download in double-spacing? It doesn't say on the site, so maybe they assume you will.

Thanks

Sammy

Hi Sammy,
Double spacing does make things easier to read, and I would say it's the conventional way of submitting things, so yes, I think, we'd prefer it if you submitted your work in this format. We wouldn't not read it if it wasn't, for some reason, however...

Thanks,

Jess