I've been checking out the Agents' lists mainly London. I'm just wondering if anyone can recommend an Agent, from experience?
I'm after one who doesn't require an experienced writer because I have my first and only book nearly completed. It's Narrative non-fiction. Thank you.
Stevie, I am on the last pages of my first novel: it's a rewrite of one I sent off years ago convinced it was perfect, which of course it wasn't, in many ways: the events happened in the longest four days in history, for instance, because I didn't keep an eye on the timeline.
I started out researching and writing copy for international TV news, where every word had to earn its keep, and be factually and grammatically correct. I've had some short stories published, and some flash fiction, but I have three novels on the go now, so the sooner this first one is finished, the better.
I've been asked to edit for other people; I'm the second pair of eyes. Even so, I will be handing my novel to someone else to read and edit as necessary. We are all blind when it comes to our own words, even editors! Never forget that a traditionally published book will have gone through several stages and is far from being the original mss that was submitted. Good books are edited books.
Lorraine
Penny Gadd
Thank you for your reply.
It's not easy, writing a book, not being a book reader myself. I probably don't include the grammar some would need dictionary for, but it will all be the truth and my voice finally spoken via my writing. It is in chronological order. I personally don't want to share any of it yet. I'd rather get the completed book off to an agent.
Yes, I know it's ferociously competitive, and another reason why i'm not sharing my story in case it gets copied.
I agree, I'm sure there are hundreds or thousands of writers wanting their books published. I'm also sure there's budding authors from all walks of life, and all levels of education and disabilities. They manage to get published. I'll keep writing and bare everything you say in mind, thank you Penny.
Lorraine Swoboda
Thank you for pointing that out about the years i've shelved my writing. It's corrected. I have been eagerly writing across the past three years, (within the fourteen years it was shelved).
I am constantly proofing and editing my work, to try reading it through the readers' eyes, yet still hold on to the gory details.
The book itself is grammatically correct and in the right order in my folder. I wish I could say the same for on the laptop.
Although I don't read books, I am still getting it across, about the crimes, and the story around them, and seeing as this isn't a fantasy story, it's factual. i can't imagine any other way it can be written other than the way I have done so.
I know what you mean as it's never the end. Even when I once thought it the first couple of chapters were complete, I still found reasons to edit yet again.
Thank you again for the warning me about keeping it as polished as can be. i'm constantly trying to view it from another readers' view. How many books have you written?