Comments on: THE HELP needed lots of help to get started

By: Glynis

Glynis — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:32:53 +0000

That made this hopeful smile Thanks!

By: Alice Anderson

Alice Anderson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:26:13 +0000

Stories like that are always good news for writers. Your book may get rejected 50 times, but if you're persistent, work on your craft, develop your network, you can prevail in this business. Now to keep reminding myself of that…

By: Alli

Alli — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:16:48 +0000

Stacey, thanks for posting such an uplifting story. And thank you very much for bringing this book to our attention – it's wil be on my TBR pile very soon!

By: Malanie Wolfe

Malanie Wolfe — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:21:39 +0000

I am learning that the selling a manuscript is very much like selling anything else in the corporate world. When someone says no don't get discouraged just move on to the next person.

By: Amy Sue Nathan

Amy Sue Nathan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:22:48 +0000

I saw this yesterday and immediately posted it to my Facebook page. It gave me warm fuzzies — to know that persistence was, in the end, what led to Ms. Stockett's success and two, I loved the book so much I was happy to know a bit of the behind the scenes "action." I think that's what aspiring authors yearn for…the inside scoop.

By: Susan at Stony River

Susan at Stony River — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:11:27 +0000

I love such stories; they keep me going when I'm about to give up on a story. Thanks for passing it on!

By: Valerie Geary

Valerie Geary — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:59:26 +0000

Great post! Thank you for the encouragement!

By: Marty Ison

Marty Ison — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:59:03 +0000

As with any business for profit, both agents and publishers must look first for marketable manuscripts. Unfortunately, this focus causes some first readers, many whom have specific instructions and limited time and experience, to miss the remarkable while looking for the marketable.

I doubt that 50 agents actually read the manuscript. More likely, it never made it that far. If it did then that would be a disturbing fact.

This case, as with J K Rowling’s, should encourage us to believe in our projects but it should also reinforce the importance of an effective and concise query, strong first pages, great characters and story, and fantastic writing to the end. For these skills, there are no substitutes.

I caution any martyr to the pine that believes otherwise to prepare for despair. One in a million chances is just that.

By: Jm Diaz

Jm Diaz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:29:40 +0000

This does make us First Timers feel better. Moreover, it reinforces my belief that persistence in the work and the quality of work will ultimately decide a novel's success.

Thank you for sharing!