tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post3256125961457006512..comments2023-10-26T11:34:38.322-04:00Comments on Ask Allison: A Helping HandAllison Winn Scotchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-21505264101444261672009-03-02T14:16:00.000-05:002009-03-02T14:16:00.000-05:00I completely agree. Where I'm frustrated right now...I completely agree. Where I'm frustrated right now is that I'm eager to have a relationship with an agent--and eventually an editor--so that we're all heading in the same direction. As it is, I've gotten some excellent, helpful feedback from a handful of editors and agents over the past couple of years that has certainly helped me improve my mss, but begins to feel piecemeal after a while.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-47078264884888052009-02-28T15:17:00.000-05:002009-02-28T15:17:00.000-05:00I agree with Amy Nathan. Now, I adore my critique ...I agree with Amy Nathan. Now, I adore my critique group. They're smart cookies and well read. Several have published short stories. One had a high-profile agent for a while. (I was repped for a while too.) Although my peeps do help me take my work to a higher level, they are not literary agents or editors. Also, when you get six different people together, you're sometimes going to get six different opinions. I get stuck occasionally because I'm not sure who I should listen to. <BR/><BR/>But your advice is wonderful for authors who are repped and under contract. I know one author who waited until she'd finished the ms until showing it to her agent and editor. Bad things happened.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-32710587704322672062009-02-26T16:58:00.000-05:002009-02-26T16:58:00.000-05:00I love getting feedback on my writing as long as i...I love getting feedback on my writing as long as it's constructive. It's hard to find someone, if you don't have an editor friend or agent, that can do that for you. Luckily I have a few people I can count on and it helps me out tremendously. When I get a fresh idea for the plot, regardless of where or whom it comes from, it always energizes me and my story.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322909971110874248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-87880869477428069242009-02-26T13:20:00.000-05:002009-02-26T13:20:00.000-05:00Excellent advice and reminders, yet not all of us ...Excellent advice and reminders, yet not all of us have friends or colleagues with eyes of a real editor -- someone who can find plot holes or suggest changes, identify character arcs, flaws and strengths. And when you give the ms to different people, you get different opinions and suggestions. At least that has been my experience.Amy Sue Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13854920309673361956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-49096749131143102062009-02-26T12:19:00.000-05:002009-02-26T12:19:00.000-05:00I'm glad you were able to get positive feedback on...I'm glad you were able to get positive feedback on your manuscript that has helped you to continue moving forward. I'm in the process of editing my YA novel so that I can send a clean copy to my agent. Eve though he told me that he's going to make me work my a$$ off to make it the best book possible, I'm actually looking forward to receiving his feedback and then going back, if necessary, and taking another stab at the story. This isn't about ego for me. It's about writing a book that people will want to read. Good luck to you as your finish your book. I can't wait to read it.<BR/><BR/>LeahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-41076184315211254762009-02-26T11:19:00.000-05:002009-02-26T11:19:00.000-05:00Ah, thank you! I'm wrestling right now with excell...Ah, thank you! I'm wrestling right now with excellent (but scary) advice from an advisor in my MFA program, and reading this at the moment feels like kismet.Rachel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02188261442140028937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-3950106123597053472009-02-26T11:08:00.000-05:002009-02-26T11:08:00.000-05:00Omigosh, this is PRICELESS writing advice. My fir...Omigosh, this is PRICELESS writing advice. My first book was so different after the editing process, it made me wish I'd called for help earlier.<BR/><BR/>It's like any project we take on--fresh eyes can be so helpful in breaking through to really cool things we wouldn't have come up with on our own.Trish Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038324441006141430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-27998231931370490662009-02-26T11:00:00.000-05:002009-02-26T11:00:00.000-05:00I couldn't agree more. I utilized the services of ...I couldn't agree more. I utilized the services of a copy editor on my recently finished ms, and she had great tips here and there that really took the book to a higher level. I think it's invaluable to get another trained and trusted set of eyes on your ms. Plus, as writers, we are so "lost/involved" in the story, that we sometimes miss signs, dialogue, or even plot lines along the way that can elevate and shine new light on the story.Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.com