tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post5798093442791337059..comments2023-10-28T02:56:39.548-07:00Comments on Write Forward: Insight into the fate of the perfect submissionCaroline Dunfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12301025064244614542noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post-72853422110878696942008-08-06T05:50:00.000-07:002008-08-06T05:50:00.000-07:00Khalid,I'm afraid there isn't a way to know. This ...Khalid,<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid there isn't a way to know. This is what writing is about. You write the story you have to tell and hope that agents, publishers and readers enjoy it. <BR/><BR/>Good luckCaroline Dunfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12301025064244614542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post-79776430755119910392008-08-06T03:27:00.000-07:002008-08-06T03:27:00.000-07:00Dear CarolineWhile web is replete with advise to w...Dear Caroline<BR/><BR/>While web is replete with advise to writers on subjects that interest the readers, I do not find a 360 feedback as to what readers prefer to read in UK and the US. <BR/><BR/>I have written my novel with terrorism to be the stage where my story is enacted. On the other hand, over the years since 9/11 the subject has been rendered run of the mill by the journalism. I have made a unique setting. It came so naturally to me becuase I live so near to the sharp edge of the things. <BR/><BR/>I do not' have intelligence agencies or terrorist among the characters. I have people caught in the middle, people both good and bad who want out etc.<BR/><BR/>How will I know whether all above will draw attention of readers if at all the book draws attention of the agents and publishers?<BR/><BR/>KhalidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316053426183643792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post-44250110550685406982008-07-31T07:43:00.000-07:002008-07-31T07:43:00.000-07:00Khalid,While you should always present the very be...Khalid,<BR/><BR/>While you should always present the very best and most polished manuscript you can, it is the story and the idea contained within that count the most. Any good publisher will provide you with editorial help if your work is strong enough to be commissioned.Caroline Dunfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12301025064244614542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post-38898334852961768962008-07-30T21:10:00.000-07:002008-07-30T21:10:00.000-07:00Dear CarolineIt was like Christmas come early to h...Dear Caroline<BR/><BR/>It was like Christmas come early to have recieved your comments. I know next to nothing about blogging and I am not sure if a blog is a perfect site for professional advise. So, put up with a novice as a further question has occurred: <BR/><BR/>My novel (first draft of 75,000 words completed) is based on my personal observations living in the middle<BR/>of the things happening in this part of the world that you must be listening, reading and watching. I have spun a yarn and come up with a story that encompasses many contemorary aspects. I have<BR/>published one Urdu novel before and it was acknowledged as a good<BR/>story. I can make a claim , therefore, that I can tell a story.<BR/><BR/>I have command over English as my peers keep bolstering me. Some of<BR/>them are English speaking from the west working in Pakistan. That<BR/>said, I am still unsure whether the English I write will be acceptable in your part of the world. The fact that I havn't studied abroad makes this question recurs and slows me down in my editing efforts.<BR/><BR/>Is there a way you could guide me on the above?<BR/><BR/>I am trying to establish myself with LiveJournal as recommended by<BR/>you and thank you for that.<BR/><BR/>KhalidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316053426183643792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post-69637849798042909952008-07-29T04:41:00.000-07:002008-07-29T04:41:00.000-07:00Hi KhalidHere's my encouraging thoughtsThe reality...Hi Khalid<BR/>Here's my encouraging thoughts<BR/>The reality in UK publishing is that a publisher is only likely to spend a lot of time and effort in arranging personal appearances by the author if their novel is considered a 'flagship' novel. This does sometimes happen with a first or second novel, but there only a handful of novels that are 'flagship' ones each year and of those few will be new writers. <BR/>Also a tremendous amount of publicity can be done via the internet or other general forms of advertising. If your novel is very timely then perhaps your publisher might want to get you on tv or radio, but (at least in my case) there's always been the option of going to a local station and having it transmitted from there.<BR/>And then of course there is always the possibility that your novel is a stand out world wonder in which case your publisher will pay to get you to wherever you need to be.<BR/><BR/>Slightly less encouraging thoughts<BR/>Authors are expected to do a lot of their own publicity nowadays and those of us in the west do have the option of befriending local bookstores and arranging talks. But having said that I'm running workshops at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year, and they pride themselves on bringing in writers from *all* over the world, and are especially interested in good writers that might not be otherwise heard of in the west.<BR/><BR/>But if overseas travel is not for you then I strongly suggest creating your own website, and also joining writers communities on places like livejournal - social networking with other authors, even if only by the internet - can be invaluable.<BR/><BR/>I certainly would not let location stop you from submitting your work to western publishers. <BR/><BR/>Good luck!<BR/><BR/>CarolineCaroline Dunfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12301025064244614542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946048869597938004.post-18558979930754916642008-07-29T03:27:00.000-07:002008-07-29T03:27:00.000-07:00I am about to finish a novel written in English. ...I am about to finish a novel written in English. I keep reading that a writer has to participate in marketing and have potentials in order to score some points with a publisher in addition to a quality product (my novel for instance).<BR/><BR/>My dilemma is that I am a Pakistani who has never travelled abroad to the West, nor do I see prospects of doing so in the near future. <BR/><BR/>This is my first novel in English. My first ever was an Urdu novel with NO readership in the west. <BR/><BR/>How should I see my position? Writing a books is up to me and let us assume I have written an excellant novel. A lot yet is not up to me if I wish to have it published in UK or US. <BR/><BR/>Any thoughts to encourage me?<BR/><BR/>KhalidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316053426183643792noreply@blogger.com