Editing and thoughts of Publishing. Starting to Wobble.

[Lavenderdays]

I have written a novel over the past couple of years. It is based on a personal experience but there is a whole lot more to it than that.

I am currently editing my work and although there are parts of it that I think I really like, I am doubting myself and telling myself that what I have written isn't going to be of interest to anyone/is dull...you get the idea.
I have primarily written the book for myself as an interest, it has made me feel very happy and I set out writing the book with little intention of ever publishing it, so really it doesn't matter what others think...yet if I am honest, I would love someone to say, "that was great, I especially liked the bit where... or "I felt really sad when I read that," etc. Now that it has taken the shape of a novel, I am tempted to submit it to an agent and see what they think but I am afraid I might take rejection personally. In the end, I will self publish it for me at the very least and I will have a proper cover etc. but it's only now that I am moving toward finalising it that I am starting to feel quite nervous about it all.
I belong to a small writing group and although I have received some pointers as to minor things that could be improved, I suppose what I am after or expecting is criticism and I don't think my writing group is equipped to do that so I haven't really been able to test the waters.
I have posted on another thread about the publishing process...this in itself seems like a minefield. Writing a synopsis and finding suitable would be agents appears to be like an art in itself. I have had someone volunteer to correct grammar for me (it is a big ask) but I don't know whether to pay for a professional editorial service (because I would still want the book to be the best it could be even if it were not taken on by a publisher/agent).
Anyone in a similar situation, where you might look to publish this year? If you have had a book published, how did you go about it...did you use any professional services etc. or did you send it straight to an agent? Perhaps you self published? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Hi Lavender. Well done on writing your novel. I had similar feelings to you when I wrote my book, and then later wanted to see it published. I did pay for a professional editing service, and it was useful, but not as helpful as another author I met here on MN, and whose advice and support has been invaluable to me (you know who you are).

I submitted to lots of agents with limited success over about a 12 month period. I won’t go into the details but I ended up getting a publishing contract without an agent (a chance meeting/ conversation with an editor/ publisher), and my debut novel
Is due out later this year.

Everyone’s journeys are different. I feel like I’ve been lucky to meet particular people at a particular point in my life and they have been the people I’ve needed to meet - if that makes sense.

Anyway, hope this post helps. I’d be happy to read a few chapters if you wanted some honest, impartial feedback.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck! I hope you get to see your book in print some day

JB (love the username) thanks for replying. Congratulations on the book...that sounds very exciting!
Sometimes an element of luck does seem to be involved in all of this but unfortunately, I don't think I am moving in the right circles etc. to ever stumble upon anyone like this. I hope to join a new writing group in a couple of months time, and you never know who might be there or whether some of the members might have published so, maybe.
Can I ask you what editing you had done i.e was it structural or proof reading and did it make a difference to the overall read?
Thanks for offering to read my chapters, I might well take you up on this at a later point. The storyline is a little complicated in that it moves between the past and present day (two central female protagonists) and has a distinct theme which wouldn't be to the taste of the mass market but it has been suggested that it might appeal to the American market. It probably is more suited to screenplay but I just had to write it; I feel passionately about the subject, it was cathartic and had to be done. You've probably guessed by now it is not a light read but does have a sort of happy ending! I loved doing the historical research, in many ways it has saved my sanity and needs to be put into book format if only by myself. If ever it was published, I would love for some of the proceeds to go to one of the charities that the book relates to, that would be very satisfying.

Hi Lavender. It’s difficult to say how I got my book deal as I don’t want to out myself but I certainly didn’t move in those circles either and although I said I feel lucky to have met the people I did, I didn’t mean to suggest there wasn’t a lot of hard work and the need to put myself out there to get where I am. Not that I’m saying that’s what you said, but I don’t want you to feel disheartened by thinking it was easy for me because I knew people or had an ‘in’. It’s sort of like that saying, we make our own luck. There are always events where these people are - local book signings, literary festivals etc. I sought out people who were interested in my genre and with encouragement from my aforementioned friend I plucked up the courage to approach someone and pitch my book. It’s unusual and admittedly people don’t often get book deals that way (so I’m told), but don’t close yourself off to any possibility. If someone had told me, just a few days earlier, that would happen to me, I would have laughed my head off.

The editing I paid for was more of a read of the story and see if it makes sense kind of thing rather than a copy edit. It was from the writers workshop, and as I said was helpful and encouraging, but I ended up changing my book so much from what they originally read that I’m not sure how helpful it was to my book actually being published.

Hi JB, I admire you for having the courage to put yourself out there and also for believing in your work to enable you to do that x The last time I spoke to an author (a semi-chance meeting), I turned to jelly and nothing much came out of my mouth because I was so awe struck (had read this authors books...all of them!). I think my work will fall into a funny sort of genre...it is womens literature because of the theme, historical that flips to contemporary with elements of the supernatural/suspense bordering on horror at times with a light sprinkling of romance. Slightly toward Barbara Erskine's type of work but a lot more gritty/hard hitting if that makes sense, though I wouldn't dare to suggest that I am anywhere near as good a writer as she is!

Lavenderdays
I used Scribophile for critiques. People pick up things you wouldn't, but also I find doing critiques for others really helps your own writing too.

Writers Workshop is who I have used and been pleased with. They are now Jericho Writers.

I am in the process of submitting to agents. That is a grim process, to be honest. If you want to get a flavour of just how agents may approach the 'slush pile' look out YouTube videos by Piers Blofeld. It's brutal.

Places like Jericho Writers (I am sure there are others but I can't think of any. Maybe Cornerstones?) also offer submission package reviews or opening chapter reviews which are cheaper and may be more helpful. If you have really bungled your synopsis (or if the synopsis shows that your plot or character arcs don't work) then a submission package review should reveal that.

Thanks Choc. Did you have your work edited by Jericho?

Good luck with your submission x