Posted by admin | Posted in Bestsellers | Posted on 12-02-2009
Tags: books, first novel contest, first novel ever written, first novel ever written on a typewriter, first novel written on a typewriter, first novels, literature, mckay/sheppard, sga, writing
I have a few questions about writing my first novel?
Hello! Well, I’m writing my first novel(obviously!) and was wondering:
1) Where is a place where I can find publishers and agents for FREE?
2) What is the process of publishing?
3) What’s a good catchy first sentence to catch the reader?
Thanks ahead of time, and I also appreciate links!
1. Check your local library for books about publishers and agents. There’s one big directory that I know of, but the title slips my mind at the moment. Agents usually ask a percentage of whatever their authors make.
2. Here’s the process of publishing as I understand it: An author completes a draft of their novel, and possibly after some edits from a friend they send their manuscript to a publisher. If the author can afford an agent, the agent will try to push the book as much as possible, if not then the book will be at the mercy of the editors who weed through the slush pile. If a book is selected from the slush pile and given the OK by the editorial board, then the author is paired with an editor who will help the author make the book as good as possible for publication. After the book is deemed ready, all the good stuff like font, paper, format, dustjacket design, and more is set up and the book is marketed and sent out.
3. I’m sorry but I can’t help you with the first sentence because I don’t know what your story is about. Read some good books with stories similar to what you’re trying to write to get some ideas.
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Map of Brobdingnag, illustration from the first edition of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ by Jonathan Swift, 1726 (print) by English School – 3×2 inch Fridge Magnet – large magnetic button – Magnet – inches $4.99 Rectangular wrap-around refrigerator magnet and a glossy mylar cover.Large 2×3 inch rectangle fridge magnet or ‘buttons’ as they are sometimes known in the USA.Crop shown is automated for display purposes only. All magnets are hand finished and the best most appropriate crop will always be selected to best show the full image. Therefore, actual product may vary slightly from crop shown – this can … |
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Captain Ahab and Tashtego sighting the White Whale Photo Mugs Captain Ahab and Tashtego sighting the White Whale (Moby Dick) from the top of the foremast of the whaling ship Pequod. …. |
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Captain Ahab on the deck of the whaling ship Pequod Photo Mugs Captain Ahab, holding his telescope, on the quarter-deck of the whaling ship Pequod. …. |
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A Little Princess $4.48 After the critical success of 1993’s The Secret Garden, Warner Bros. returned to the novels of Frances Hodgson Burnett to create this 1995 adaptation of A Little Princess, which instantly ranked with The Secret Garden as one of the finest children’s films of the 1990s. Neither film was a huge box-office success, but their quality speaks for itself, and A Little Princess has all the ingredients o… |
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Josh Groban $4.68 There are worse things in life than making your acting debut on the much ballyhooed season finale of Ally McBeal, though teen operatic baritone Josh Groban doesn’t seem destined to encounter them anytime soon. As the awkward high school student-client who asks the typically romance-jinxed Ally to his senior prom, Groban performed this debut album’s “You’re Still You” (adapted from film-composing l… |
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Wounded Rhymes $9.58 Wounded Rhymes, is one of the most tremendous records you will hear in 2011. Channeling the demise of The Shangri-La’s Leader of the Pack, women under the influence, ladies and gentlemen of the canyon, a Kung-fu Marianne Faithful, and an armed Nancy Sinatra on peyote, Lykke Li has created an eleven song album that sounds like no other. The record is packed full of pounding, voodoo drums, gir… |
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Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary Collection (Planet of the Apes / Beneath the Planet of the Apes / Escape From / Conquest of / Battle for) [Blu-ray] $58.87 Planet of the ApesBilled as a “reimagining” of the original 1968 film, Tim Burton’s extraordinary Planet of the Apes constantly borders on greatness, adhering to the spirit of Pierre Boulle’s original novel while exploring fresh and inventive ideas and paying honorable tribute to the ‘68 sci-fi classic. Burton’s gifts for eccentric inspiration and visual ingenuity make this a movie that’s as e… |
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[VHS]Peter Pan(Fully Restored 45th Anniversary Limited Edition) (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) [VHS] $5.94 Peter Pan has a special place in the realm of classic animated Disney films: it instills an element of childlike wonder. The 1953 version of James M. Barrie’s story is colorfully told and keeps on the straight and narrow of the book. Barrie’s wondrous focus on child’s play is the key to its longevity: kids who don’t grow up, shadows that run away from their owners, pirates, a fairy, and the magic… |
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Richard Simmons Sweatin’ to the Oldies [VHS] $3.49 Richard Simmons is the king of motivational exercise, especially if you’re a beginner. This video workout is a dance party simulating a class reunion, with an energizing live band playing lively hits from the ’50s and ’60s, such as “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Dancing in the Streets.” The singers and musicians sometimes come offstage and dance with the exe… |
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo $3.99 … |
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Your First Novel $16.99 In Your First Novel, novelist Laura Whitcomb and seasoned literary agent Ann Rittenberg team up to provide you with the skills you need to write your dream novel and the savvy business know-how to get it published. In this all-in-one resource, you’ll discover essential novel-writing techniques, such as: How to best structure your research so that you can save time later How to card your story before you start writing What to consider when developing your cast of characters How to adapt classic story structures to fit your own ideas and insider information on what it takes to get published, including: What agents do at those three-hour power lunchesand how it affects you What makes an agent instantly reject a manuscript How to correctly translate submission guidelines What happens if you get multiple offersor no offers at all Plus, learn about the publishing process from the firsthand accounts of such noted authors as Dennis Lehane, Kathryn Harrison, Jim Fusilli, Kathleen George, and others! |
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First In $7.99 While America held its breath in the days immediately following 9/11, a small but determined group of CIA agents covertly began to change history. This is the riveting first-person account of the treacherous top-secret mission inside Afghanistan to set the stage for the defeat of the Taliban and launch the war on terror. As thrilling as any novel, First In is a uniquely intimate look at a mission that began the U.S. retaliation against terrorism–and reclaimed the country of Afghanistan for its people. From the hardcover edition. |
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A History of the Irish Novel $72 The first critical synthesis of the Irish novel from the seventeenth century to the present day. |
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The Everything Guide to Writing Your First Novel $15.95 For an aspiring novelist, nothing is more intimidating than a blank page or computer screen. This step-by-step guide helps you get past that hurdle, start writing, and cross the finish line to a first draft in only twenty-six weeks! The Everything Guide to Writing Your First Novel covers the entire novel-writing process–from polishing an idea to finding an agent and submitting to publishers. Published author and noted book reviewer Hallie Ephron takes you through the ins and outs of writing and publishing your first book, including how to: Create authentic characters, engaging plotlines, and believable settings; Edit for tone, structure, and pacing; Find the right agent; Market and sell your work to publishers; Build a career as a novelist. Complete with writing exercises, inspiring examples, and expert advice from editors and agents, this is an excellent starting place for anyone interested in the art, craft, and business of writing fiction. |