|
|
Home | Email | Site Map
|
|
|
|
||
 |
| Stella Cameron Writer's Workshop - Manuscript Preparation Part 2 04/19/01 |
|
Cissy - So Stella! Do you have opening comments for us tonight or do we go straight into Q&A?
Go on to Part 2
StellaC - Theresa, our workshop is your workshop
AprilE - pretty good Stella thanks. I have joined RWA and am going to a local chapter this week and hoping I get into a critque group. I NEED IT
Danie - Hello
Cissy - Absolutely, Theresa!
BarbH - for ten dollars Theresa
kamy - hehehe..worth the read Barb
Tigg - Thanks. It's my real nickname, short for Tigger... 
AprilE - How are you doing?
StellaC - Do it, Barb
Niteowl - Hi Danie 
Cissy - Hi Danie
StellaC - O
StellaC - I'm good. Now let's get ourselves together.
Brandy725 - I want to know why no one is adding on to the progressive story like they did when it first started.
Cissy - So Stella! Do you have opening comments for us tonight or do we go straight into Q&A?
BarbH - I will after Slightly shady
StellaC - Hi Danie
Renee has timed out.
Theresa - Ten bucks, Huh....that would be sent to stella? Right Barb? 
BarbH - I havent even checked it out lately
StellaC - Tonight I want a really interactive session.
BarbH - 5 for me 5 for stella,
AprilE - okay Im ready...!!
LauraLeigh - logged on - 4/19 at 9:11pm EST
StellaC - almost no question will be stupid
BarbH - Hi Morgan
Cissy - "Almost no" question will be stupid? Sounds like a challenge!
Cissy - Hi LauraLeigh //wvae
LauraLeigh - K, it's jsut me Morgan.....Darn thing wouldn't let me come in without registering, buti was already in the room!
Cissy - okay, Stella - does that mean straight to Q&A?
StellaC - We work hard, go through highs and lows with our stories and eventually the time comes to go to market.
AprilE - LOL...I'll try my best
Brandy725 - I ask some really stupid questions.
StellaC - Along the way there are sticky times but we think once we write, The End, it's going to be a breeze. But....
LauraLeigh - Hi Barb. i Finally mad it. Grrrr. GOt knocked off three times. WEre ya tired of hearin the door slam?
Theresa - I'll bet I can rise up to that challenge...I can be really stupid when I want to be, sometimes I don't have to even try.
StellaC - Brandy--you may ask stupid questions!
jeff - logged on - 4/19 at 9:13pm EST
StellaC - Hi Laura
BarbH - nahh, Iknew you would be here
Brandy725 - Thank you, but will you answer them?
kamy - hi jeff
Theresa - hi Jeff
Cissy - Welcome to tonight's Writers' Workshop with Stella Cameron. Tonight we'll be focusing on manuscript preparation (query letters, synopses, etc.). If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
LauraLeigh - Hi Stella. LOL. IT feels weird to have y'all call me by my real name. LOL.
StellaC - Have a good "think" and consider where you are right now
Cissy - hi jeff
Niteowl - hi jeff
AprilE - ?
StellaC - Am I typing to myself around here?!
jeff - hi.....
LauraLeigh - hi Jeff.
Brandy725 - Sort of because my computer is going wiggy on me
Cissy - No Stella, we're listening
StellaC - Make your questions count for YOU
kamy - no Stella...reading everything you say
AprilE - no stella Im listening to you I know where I am right now with my writing.
StellaC - I want to help you succeed. So fire away.
StellaC - ga
LauraLeigh - no, Dear, I'm listening. And paying attention. Sorry. I'll shut up.
Cissy - April has the first question (no one in line)
Theresa - ?
StellaC - I'm a bit tetchy--forgive me. I have to spend a week without speaking or making any sound.
AprilE - Stella, I tried to write the synopsis but Im still not sure how to captivate that. Do I need to go in order? what points do I need to make?
Cissy - why on earth do you have to do that, Stella??
AprilE - Its okay stella...sorry about that I think Id want to die if I couldnt make a sound. 
StellaC - The synopsis doesn't have to be as fearsome as some would have you believe.
StellaC - I have chronic laryngitis (about 6 mos) and they want to try complete voice rest.
Cissy - that's horrible, Stella
Niteowl - that's bad, Stella
AprilE - so what points does a snyopsis have to have?
AprilE - thats terrible
StellaC - One way to warm up to write a synopsis is to use a talk session. Either alone or witha friend. Tell your story aloud and get as excited as you were when you first thought up the idea.
kamy - oh my gosh.....how awful
StellaC - Don't sit down feeling as if you're about to be beheaded!
StellaC - We're talking synopsis, not query here.
LauraLeigh - That must be hard, but look at it this way...at least you don't have to talk ot chat online.
BarbH - logged on - 4/19 at 9:19pm EST
StellaC - Right, Laura
AprilE - okay...thats how I feel or my heart being ripped out.
BarbH - I got bumped!!
StellaC - But you do organize the synopsis.
AprilE - thats what I need to understand
BarbH - So Laura, you know where to send the umm, synopsis.
Brandy725 - ?
StellaC - Start (this is just my method) with a snappy overview paragraph or two that sets the scene and introduces your main characters.
LauraLeigh - Stella, since you are answering aobut Synopsis, can you tell us the difference between that and query?
AprilE - okay
LauraLeigh - Barb....You KNOW my synopsis. LOL.
Sara - Laura, do you want to be put in line?
StellaC - I seriously mean something like this: London, 1825. Horse drawn busses are amazing the crowds. In America the first passenger railroads grab attention wherever they're seen. And in London, Latimer More and Jenny McBride face the biggest challenge of their lives.
BarbH - I know,
FlaGal - logged on - 4/19 at 9:22pm EST
Cissy - Hi FlaGal Welcome to tonight's Writers' Workshop with Stella Cameron. Tonight we'll be focusing on manuscript preparation (query letters, synopses, etc.). If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
StellaC - Keep it fast, and appealing.
AprilE - OH thats so good!!! lol write MINE! just kidding but that is good...and helps me see what you mean.
Cissy - Laura, do you want me to put you in line with your question?
FlaGal - Hi, Stella, but I'm looking for Ciji Ware. Where or when?
StellaC - Carry on to a concise overview of your story. The main characters, the conflict, crises, crises resolutions, and eventual denoument.
StellaC - Hi Fla
kamy - ?
Cissy - FlaGal - check our chat schedule on the main chat page. She'll probably be at next month's Ballantine Ivy Authors chat
StellaC - My synopses are usually around six pages.
StellaC - GA
FlaGal - 
- 4/19 at 9:24pm EST
Cissy - you go ahead and give out all the spoilers in the synopsis, Stella?
AprilE - okay....
Cissy - Theresa has the next question (Brandy, LauraLeigh, kamy in line)
StellaC - In a way, Cissy. The editor has to know how you intend to pull things off.
Theresa - I'm curious about what constitutes a submission t
StellaC - Just let me know when there's some other point you'd like me to make on a specific topic, please.
Danie - ?
StellaC - Theresa, you
Theresa - n the eyes of those publishers which prefer NOT to be Simultaneous submissions. Is the First three chapters/snynopsis a submission, or only the entire manuscript itself?
StellaC - Theresa, you're asking what a submissionis?
elizajane - logged on - 4/19 at 9:26pm EST
Cissy - hi elizajane Welcome to tonight's Writers' Workshop with Stella Cameron. Tonight we'll be focusing on manuscript preparation (query letters, synopses, etc.). If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
StellaC - Oh, okay.
StellaC - Each publisher tends to have different submission requirements.
Theresa - sorry stella my post gpt screwed up.
elizajane - ok, thank you
StellaC - a great many are now asking for query letter only.
Danie - What is easy to write the query letter or the synopsis
Danie - oops sorry
Danie - that was by accident
elizajane - ?
StellaC - Others will look at a query, synopsis and say, 50 pages or the first three pages. You always submit from the opening of the book.
StellaC - Please avoid cut cover letters or lists of qualifications unless they are your publishing history.
Tigg has timed out.
Sara - cut = cute??
StellaC - Remember, you want to be published--for those of us who've been there, done that, etc., we know that first published book is all important.
StellaC - So try to do whatever it takes without offending anyone.
Theresa - But if they ask to see the manuscript after reading the query...if you send the first three chapter and synopsis....say to three? Yet none of them want simultanious submissions...?
StellaC - Conferences are great places to have interviews with Editors and agents. There'snothing like an offer for you to send your submission along.
Brandy725 - Simultaneous submissions? As in more than one story to one place or one story to more than one place?
darkone - logged on - 4/19 at 9:30pm EST
StellaC - Well, Theresa--here goes my 2c. I believe in simultaneous submission.
Cissy - Hey darkone (cris?) Welcome to tonight's Writers' Workshop with Stella Cameron. Tonight we'll be focusing on manuscript preparation (query letters, synopses, etc.). If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
AprilE - who knows Brandy they just say NO simultaneous submissions.
StellaC - Why should writers be less businesslike than other people?
StellaC - You don't stand up and wave and say--I've got this out at five houses. Just do it.
Brandy725 - You're no help, April. I'm still confused....
Theresa - okay, thanks Stella
Cissy - one story to more than one place, Brandy
StellaC - This topic gets me worked up. Think about it. You submit to a publisher, wait weeks or months for a response, send what they ask for, wait more months and if they turn you down you start all over again? I don't think so.
Cissy - Brandy has the next question (LauraLeigh, kamy, Danie, ElizaJane in line)
Brandy725 - Thank you Cissy. You are the goddess.
Cissy - oops, didn't mean to step on you, Stella
StellaC - So will you multiple submit Theresa?
BarbH - lynn says hey
LauraLeigh - Hahaha, you go Stella! LOL.
AprilE - I want to I dont want to wait their time schecdule.
StellaC - Hey to Lynn
Sara - how about this, when you are looking for a job, don't you send your resume out to lots of places at the same time?? You don't wait on the company to refuse you.
Sara - same thing with a submission.
StellaC - Exactly, Sara--that's the whole thing in a nutshell.
StellaC - ga
