I think the title of this blog post practically says it all. It is, as they say, what it says on the tin. I hardly even need to write this post, it’s succinctness in there for you to see in three little words.
Okay, I suppose I am being a tiny bit lazy. I had my third session of acupuncture last night and I’m feeling drained and lethargic and ready for my bed already and it’s only just past 7.30 p.m! I can’t say it’s working any wonders yet, but the migraines and insomnia are massively inbuilt into my system, so it will take a little working out of, I imagine. I had the most bizarre sensation with a needle in the top of my foot last night. It was worse that the one in my face or the ones in my wrists! A real deep throbbing feeling pervaded me and I can still feel it just thinking about it, so moving on….
Saturday, I attended New Writers UK book fayre and festival in Nottingham. It was a good day. Interesting to say the least.
First up I attended a talk on self publishing. Now I’m going to move quickly on from this session as it seemed more like a sales pitch than anything else. My expectations on the panel from the leaflet description of “Two self publishers discuss the pros and cons of self publishing” were not met. I didn’t hear a single con as two people who ran businesses producing writers self published books, talked.
Second up was a lovely literary agent of Rocking Chair Books by the name of Samar Hammam. Samar had traveled from London to talk and she was so polite and kind, even as I wanted to bang the heads together of some of the other members of the audience. Now this is where I do have something to say…
If you are writing and wanting to be published, wouldn’t it be helpful if you researched a little of the business you are wanting to be a part of, or the people you intend to approach at some point. Or forgive me, but understand the rules of engagement? One question put to Samar was on the subject of whether, when submitting to agents, did it have to be the first three chapters because if they weren’t the best, then the agent could be missing out on the next big thing.
Really!? For one. Work on those chapters until they are good enough to read. Two. How is anyone going to understand your story from three random chapters and Three. Get down off your big ego, there are only a few spots out there for new writers and there are thousands of us vying for them. Work hard and do what is requested and don’t think you should be treated differently.
And talking of ego’s, and going back slightly, to the self publishing panel, one member of the audience asked about how to stop agents or publishers ripping off your work! talk about ego, insulting and having no idea.
This is where I think the power of the internet and how we interact on blogs and other social networks is invaluable. I have learnt so much and have been directed to so much information about the things I need to know, and the etiquette I’m still learning, that I did feel kind of sorry for the stay at home, with obviously no internet access, writers, on Saturday.
Like I said, an interesting day.
What if the first three chapters weren’t the best – hilarious! It’s called preparation, people.
It absolutely amazed me that this question was asked. How can it not sound odd to the persons own ears??
That second to last paragraph made me smile! Indeed 🙂
Absolutely. My work is so good, a reputable agent is going to risk everything just to steal it!
The three chapters is such a rookie question. When I started submitting I read lots of how-to books, which makes that kind of thing clear. The assumption that a reader would wade through three chapters before getting to good stuff is really naive.
That’s the thing Annalisa, you were so determined and interested, you read how-to books. It shows the massive difference I think.
Rebecca – Your description of the members of that audience made me laugh and shake my head at the same time. On one hand, one has to have a little faith in one’s work if one wants to be published. On the other, I agree with you that there is no place for arrogance, not even among established authors. Or maybe that’s just my pet peeve…
It was amazing to watch. the panel members were so professional. They could have easily sat up there shaking their own heads, but they answered the questions seriously and politely, while it was left to those of us in the audience to internally shake our heads and laugh!
That needle! Oh my. Even the thought makes me shudder. I sincerely hope this course of treatment works wonders for you, my friend.
Your experience at the fayre is astonishing, especially given the knowledge available out there at our fingertips… *I’m shaking my head*
Thank you Jane. I do think I have slept better the last few days, but I’m not counting my chickens. It’s a very volatile process sleeping, for me, anyway.
The fayre was definitely an eye opener. 🙂
Ha ha ha, what are people like!!!!!!!
Xx
Amusing! 🙂
Wow, you sound like health wise you are suffering worse than me. I hope the migraines and insomnia go away soon, as I know from personal experience, neither of them are any fun.
Also, the book fayre sounds great. We do not have anything like that here. Though I must definitely agree with you. If you want to be a writer, do a bit of research about the career and craft a bit first, before asking questions in public. As the people are only wasting their own time and yours. But I am glad you had some fun and a good experience.
I hope that both of us start to improve Murees. It’s not fun when you’re feeling ill.
It’s only been recently that I have started to become more aware of events and wanted to engage with them and I’m glad that I have been doing. It was certainly interesting seeing how little people engage with what it is they are trying to achieve.
A great post. Sounds like I would have thought the same as you. I wish I’d have gone.
Talking about egos, I once had a heated ‘discussion’ on Twitter with a woman who had messaged me to tell me that the publishers that I was just about to go with were terrible swindlers because in her words ‘they raped my work’. She wouldn’t accept that actually for the publsher to even give her feedback was very unusual and that maybe her work needed tweaking. She ranted on for ages and I asked her how many things she had had published and of course she said none. I’m not surprised with an attitude like that. Not coming to a bookshop near you. Ha ha.
I think you would have enjoyed it!
Unbelievable that people think they don’t need their work editing. I’m really actually quite interested to know what my novel will look like at its final point.