Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-29-08 00:52
I am horrible at grammar and spelling (figures) Do I have to get an proofreader to correct whatever I miss out of my money before an agent or does the agent find one? I have gone through my book I don't know how many times but I'm positive there are a lot of mistakes and I priced proofreaders and they are extremely expensive to where I could never afford to hire one.
What do I do? I always assumed that the agent would set this up but I wanted to know before I send out queries out.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Joe Zeff (---.lsanca.dsl-w.verizon.net)
Date: 06-29-08 01:16
No agent is going to accept your work without reading it. Once it's clear that your book isn't properly edited, including correcting all grammar and spelling issues, any agent worth having will turn it down. It's up to you to get your manuscript polished until there are no more problems with it before you start looking for an agent.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-29-08 01:27
How would I get it done to where I can afford it? My book is 320 pages long so the ones that edit per word will range me thousands of dollars.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Sail Away (---.tampfl.dsl-w.verizon.net)
Date: 06-29-08 08:48
I am horrible at grammar and spelling
Then learn. Go to your library. Seek out community colleges. Don't tell yourself that you can't do it.
-SA
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-29-08 09:48
I have gone and gotten a ton of English and grammar books to help and that is what I have used to help me edit/proofread it I am just afraid of what I might have missed. A friend had mentioned that maybe I could see about getting a college student that is taking English courses to proof it for me but I have no clue on how I would go about that. I'm cautious about giving my work to a student in fear some one might rip me off and steal my work so I am not sure that is a good idea. I feel so ignorant now lol. There has to be a way of doing this but I am just drawing a blank on how to get it done with out spending a lot of money since I am DEAD broke. The only thing I can think of is to have some one else read it such as my best friend that is good in English and then go over it again after her.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Finnley Wren (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
Date: 06-29-08 10:11
Imagine, for a moment, someone who said the following:
I'm a terrible driver - and I'm sure I won't get any better - but I want to drive trucks for a living.
I want to be a comic book artist, but my stuff just comes out looking like a bad cartoon. Will comic book companies fix my bad stuff for me and then publish it?
This is what you are asking. You want to be a writer, but don't want to learn how to write.
Think about it.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Finnley Wren (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
Date: 06-29-08 10:24
PS: No manuscript ever submitted was perfect, so don't sweat that out.
But it might be that you, like me, make the same mistake over and over (with me, it's apostrophes. I screw them up all the time and have to take special care with them and examine every single one to make sure I'm using them correctly.)
If you can discover exactly what mistakes you make over and over again, then maybe you'll feel more confident about paying extra special attention to them. So it might be you don't need to have all three-hundred pages looked at, but maybe having someone look at just a few will point you in the right direction.
PPS: J.K. Rowling polished the first Harry Potter book for what, nine years? If you haven't yet spent nine years with it, you'll get no sympathy from her!
Best of luck.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-30-08 03:57
I do want to know how otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much time looking up and reading a ton of English books. I am just worried I didn't catch everything and that I will look ignorant. I am just trying to figure out how to go about this since like I said I have no money to hire a proofreader and a lot people don't even realize their mistakes on their own work. I guess I will hit the library again for English guides to see if I can find more errors. Hopefully I wont find many since this will be my 5th time going through it.
"You want to be a writer, but don't want to
learn how to write."
Obviously I am trying to learn I was just hoping that it would be checked later by a professional. Since this is the first book I will ever submit I just didn't know if this was either taken care of by the agent or by me hiring some one since the sites I have checked out never said anything on how that part works.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-30-08 04:05
Thanks, those words meant a lot. I am probably being paranoid since i have already gone through it 4 times and my best friend looked through once. I know there has to be a writer that has had problems like me lol. Thanks for telling me about J.K. Rowling's information now I don't feel like I am the only one =)
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Jeanne Gassman (---.hsd1.vt.comcast.net)
Date: 06-30-08 09:45
Ruth,
If you really feel like you need a professional to look things over for you, you have several options. Take a writing class at a community college and ask the teacher (for an extra fee) to read a few chapters. You can do the same thing with a professional editor. Rather than pay for a complete edit of the book, hire the editor to edit three or four chapters. Use those edited chapters as a template for the rest of the book.
You could also consider joining a critique group if you feel you need another set of eyes. Look for critique groups in libraries, bookstores, coffee houses, community colleges, and adult ed programs.
At some point, though, you need to learn to become your own best editor. If you don't master the skills of grammar and spelling, you will always be dependent on someone else and limited in your craft.
Hope that was helpful.
Jeanne
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Kate Humphrey (---.hsd1.md.comcast.net)
Date: 06-30-08 13:59
A few ideas. First of all, you can always give it to a few beta readers, just friends or family if you want, but I am really doubtful that some student would try to rip you off in any case. THey can catch a lot of things. A critique group is also a good idea. THere is an online crit group that I like, call critique circle, at critiquecircle.com, which you could check it out. If you really feel there are all those errors in it, and you know you are bad at spelling, I wouldn't submit it without some more people looking at it. Your computer shoud also help with spelling and grammar, and any of those grammar books you have read. There is always a dictionary for spelling and things. But those are my ideas. Kate
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Paul Harris (198.153.221.---)
Date: 06-30-08 14:43
Ruth - I'll say what no one else seems to be willing to say. Based on your admitted lack of proficiency I very much doubt that you've written anything valuable enough for someone to rip off or that you are anywhere near ready to start looking for an agent. I suggest that you post a bit of your opus and garner some objective feedback.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-30-08 18:20
Thanks Jeanne and Kate for your helpful advice. I passed all the different programs that check spelling and grammar on my computer with no errors my last check.
I will check out some groups and see if some of my friends that have already read part of it and see if they would read more of that same chapter or different parts.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Frank Baron (---.cpe.net.cable.roger)
Date: 06-30-08 19:54
Ruth, your librarian just might be your friend here. S/he's likely to be aware of groups or individuals (or be one herself) who may be willing to beta read for you.
Costs nothing to ask. Good luck.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 06-30-08 20:00
Okay, thank you! =)
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Lynn Wilson (---.hsd1.tx.comcast.net)
Date: 07-02-08 22:17
I agree. I am just as bad at grammar, but I have always wanted to write. I go over my manuscripts with a fine tooth comb, and then ask everyone else I know to brandish a merciless red pen at them. It’s the only way I can be confident I am getting all the mistakes.
|
|
Re: Does an agent set this up? |
Author: Ruth Lee (---.hsd1.tn.comcast.net)
Date: 07-02-08 22:29
It doesn't help that I am a perfectionist and paranoid on anything I make/do/create
|
|
Sorry. You need to Join WritersNet and activate your account to post a message.
It's quick, easy and free. All we need is a valid email address and the name you wish to use here .
|
|
