tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post9194481403345359131..comments2024-03-29T09:09:33.450-04:00Comments on alien romances: Ace of SwordsRowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-66168715530730969482007-08-15T16:56:00.000-04:002007-08-15T16:56:00.000-04:00Many e-book publishers (including at least one of ...Many e-book publishers (including at least one of mine) DO reject over 90% of submissions. And goodness knows I've had some detailed line-editing on my e-published novels. But, yes, it's really HARD to get that opening scene right.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-71206386566449167022007-08-15T15:28:00.000-04:002007-08-15T15:28:00.000-04:00MaryKOh, yes, you are absolutely correct. Many (n...MaryK<BR/><BR/>Oh, yes, you are absolutely correct. Many (not ALL!) e-book publishers either don't edit, or don't know how (or why) certain types of editing are necessary.<BR/><BR/>Some e-book writers (not ALL) don't understand WHY that type of editing of their "precious prose" is necessary and don't understand that their refusal to accept editing is what prevents them from selling to Mass Market.<BR/><BR/>And you know what? Many a Mass Market book does indeed have that innate flaw (bland expository lump at the beginning, wandering off the conflict line in the middle because "the characters took over" and an ending that doesn't resolve any of the conflicts indicated in the beginning. <BR/><BR/>Right now, though, we are seeing a renewed energy in Mass Market -- we're seeing experimental books that wouldn't have made it into print even a few years ago.<BR/><BR/>This, I think, is a good thing. <BR/><BR/>But the real reason editors are casting about for "something different" is that book sales are still trending down in fiction of all kinds (though Romance hangs in there). Nonfiction is doing OK -- but OK doesn't keep a company going.<BR/><BR/>So watch those e-book publishers very carefully. As soon as they get crackerjack editors on board who reject 90% of the submissions, and heavily edit the rest -- you can expect e-book sales to soar. <BR/><BR/>JLJacqueline Lichtenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613040740264804278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-7311086938955703102007-08-14T21:31:00.000-04:002007-08-14T21:31:00.000-04:00"students say it's not possible for editors to rej..."students say it's not possible for editors to reject a book on the first 5 or 10 pages."<BR/><BR/>Ah hah! So that's why those first-five-pages excerpts are usually so lousy - because the authors think they have longer to capture readers. As a reader, I've declined to buy many an ebook because of bland and generic first-pages excerpts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-9164963562036078692007-08-14T16:16:00.000-04:002007-08-14T16:16:00.000-04:00Jacqueline,Fascinating! As you know, I use the Tar...Jacqueline,<BR/><BR/>Fascinating! As you know, I use the Tarot in my alien romances, and I was rather proud of the climactic Tarot scene in Insufficient Mating Material. <BR/><BR/>Fiery Wands were important there.<BR/><BR/>Well, Knights' Fork begins with a Tarot reading (this one for fun)! I submitted it to my editor yesterday. How's that for a coincidence?<BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/>Rowena CherryRowena Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-51760160515801350902007-08-14T15:55:00.000-04:002007-08-14T15:55:00.000-04:00The first two to ten pages certainly are the most ...The first two to ten pages certainly are the most difficult to write! And I do believe an agent or editor can know if the story's a bust in just those short pages. After all, that's how long it takes me as a reader to figure it out!<BR/><BR/>I'm nearly through the Final Polish of 'Quest for the Holy Bennu.' Once complete, I'm going to let it sit for two weeks to make certain I nailed those first two to ten pages!Kimber Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982239712083114488noreply@blogger.com