How this for a log-line/synopsis?

[Grant Meadows]

Karen,
What a sly inserted insult. You are more than welcome to view my 107 pages anytime.

[Karen Dionne]

Grant -

It's only an insult if you're hoping to land a contract at the major publishers with your novel. In that case, I and the others whose work is being read by the big guys right now will all tell you that unless you're the next Norman Mailer, you need to take more than just a few weeks crafting your work before sending it out. I don't care how brilliant the stuff is that you've got right now on paper; I guarantee that if you'll take the time to step away from it for a while and then come back, you'll see places where you can make it even better.

The reason for putting out only your absolute best work is simple: only the best of the best gets published. In my experience, it's relatively easy to secure an agent (assuming your story is compelling and competently written), but the process only gets harder and more competitive the closer you get to the top. My agent has told me that my work is being read now by the same editors who read Crichton and Cussler. My favorite best-selling authors are now my competition.

So how is my work being received?

Bantam: "Loved the premise of this intriguing novel and the author has the wonderful imagination that you promised. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that the plotting was consistently strong enough to take this on in an increasingly glutted suspense market."

Crown: "Dionne's writing is engaging and her characters intriguing. [Unfortunately] the thrillers we take on tend to be more on the literary side of the genre. I just don't see this being an ideal fit for our list."

Ballantine: "I read this clever and entertaining manuscript from first page to last. I'm sorry to say, thought, that I found the concept of xxx a difficult sell."

Kensington: "The writing and dialogue needed to be much stronger, and the overall storyline more focused and compelling."

Doubleday: "I did think there were redeeming qualities to this novel. In fact, I found it to be suspenseful right up front, but after reading further I didn't feel hooked enough to be moved to make an offer."

These are the rejections we're getting now from the major publishers, even though I rewrote the novel twice under my agent's direction. So do you see why I'm preaching patience? Honestly, Grant, I'm not trying to be snide now at all. Rewrites are just something I've learned are an absolutely necessary part of the business. All the big-name authors do them. For 99.999% of writers, the first thing they put down on paper is NOT their best work. If you really want to get a contract with the major publishers, I hope you'll slow down and take the time to do the best with yours.

Good luck -

Karen

[Karen Dionne]

Just finished listening to a radio interview with my agent. (It's on his website, if you're interested in learning LOTS more about the publishing business: http://www.graybillandenglish.com/jmk.htm - you'll need RealPlayer or some such to listen to it.)

In it, he says that 99% of the stuff that's sent to him isn't ready to go. Food for thought.

Karen

[Grant Meadows]

Karen,
An insult by another name........
Again, I feel apologies are in order, both ways. I read, and reread, your post: I get nothing more than a thinly veiled insult. But, I will take you at your word, and accept that was not the intention.
Quick, or not, the first 107 pages were done in a flash. To berate, or judge, simply based on imput time, would be far from proffessional. Where would the literary world be without the arrogance and self centered attitudes of authors. I, for one, would have no interest in reading drivle from one so timid as to think "...here's my work: boy, does it suck!"

[Karen Dionne]

Okay, Grant. I'm done here; how about you? I think for either of us to discuss this further would be a waste of both our time. Good luck with the novel -

Karen

[Sheer gen]

I don't think anybody will come back to peruse this thread anymore, but I'd like to relate an experience here. When I began typing the first chapters of my novel, I had a 'set target' in my mind, and complete faith in the quality of my writing (both of which every writer does and should have.) Karen, who read my chapters as they came out, liked them all, but once or twice, seeing my impatience in beginning querying agents, she spoke of the function of revisions. On every such occasion, I'd tell myself, "I don't need any revisions/edits at all."

Now, in the last six months, I have 'discovered' that revisions are not only desirable, but they also enhance the 'joy' of writing--the least qualitative constructs (relatively speaking) of each chapter transform into the very best ones. I'm indebted to Karen for showing me the scope of both extracting from, and instilling into my own work an even greater number of dimensions of pleasure.