tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post4865337179639433186..comments2023-10-26T11:34:38.322-04:00Comments on Ask Allison: The Best of the BestAllison Winn Scotchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-58894332123438813102007-10-16T20:26:00.000-04:002007-10-16T20:26:00.000-04:00oops. that's published friend . . .oops. that's published friend . . .Kathleen Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02074121280577113617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-85077951211731786502007-10-16T20:25:00.000-04:002007-10-16T20:25:00.000-04:00Thanks for taking this on Allison! And great com...Thanks for taking this on Allison! And great comments all. Carleen, I especially like your friend's advice that sometimes you need to send it out there to get its lumps. I, too, might work on a book till the end of time -- if I don't stop myself. I had a published say something similar after reading my mss, but have since spent months reworking the beginning, still not satisfied. Am I procrastinating? Putting off the inevitable? Trying to drive myself insane? Who knows? I look forward to seeing the discussion on knowing when you're good to go.Kathleen Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02074121280577113617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-27539473432657216012007-10-15T21:30:00.000-04:002007-10-15T21:30:00.000-04:00Carleen and Marijke, good points and points taken....Carleen and Marijke, good points and points taken. I think I'll blog on this later in the week, and maybe we can discuss how to know when you're good to go.Allison Winn Scotchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-2137876310319309952007-10-15T21:19:00.000-04:002007-10-15T21:19:00.000-04:00Agree...and disagree. I'm one of those writers wh...Agree...and disagree. I'm one of those writers who was going to work on my book until the end of time. Finally, a very good, wise and published friend of mine told me it was time to send it out and let it take its lumps. I got an agent and a publisher so maybe she was right.<BR/><BR/>I also understand writers who want to get a sense of how their work might do in the marketplace. I know agents don't like the idea (and I don't blame them), but I say if you're curious or think your work might be ready...take a shot. But don't be surprised if you get rejected. And I do heartily recommend first getting someone (anyone) to read it before you start with agents.<BR/><BR/>Another thing to consider is you might get great feedback from one agent and spend a lot of time rewriting for one agent's specifications to no avail.Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-71667399648219836362007-10-15T10:49:00.000-04:002007-10-15T10:49:00.000-04:00I agree. The only thing I'd add is that once you ...I agree. The only thing I'd add is that once you have an agent and/or an editor, you then have to dial back and realize that perhaps that wasn't the best writing you had in you after all, because they're suggesting changes. I'm learning how to identify when something is the best I can make it, but still stay open to the fact that another set of wise eyes on my work will spot places that still need tweaking.Trish Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038324441006141430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-8876497220771752432007-10-15T09:10:00.000-04:002007-10-15T09:10:00.000-04:00I sgree, but many writers never feel that their wr...I sgree, but many writers never feel that their writing is ready for prime time and that leads to never submitting it. Perhaps there's a happy medium somewhere?<BR/><BR/>I do know when my writing is ready to go and that's a good feeling. But it's fairly new, in the past year or so. Before that, I had a hard time judging and was much harder on myself than others were.Marijke Vroomen-Durninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436563110710429784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-37058272246166378452007-10-14T23:40:00.000-04:002007-10-14T23:40:00.000-04:00Agreed.Agreed.MaNiC MoMMy™https://www.blogger.com/profile/14038801888210803955noreply@blogger.com