1911 Beta

Reh wrote:In addition to what I said above about the charities, create a feasibility study. Executive summary, a comprehensive SWOT Analysis, top ten reasons for success/failure, research what has worked for others and what does not, interview professionals, conduct literature reviews, 4p's, and really any analysis that you see fit.

It makes a powerful impression to be able to walk into their office and set a 200+ page business report down after you initially drop the idea to the people you have networked with. You've actually put significant thought and effort into your product (in this case your book). Anyone can churn out a book or an idea. You have to prove how you're going to get results for a publisher.

You get places in this world by exceeding expectation---in other words, make people remember you. I gaurentee what I said above will create the kind of impression that you need. This of course assumes that your actual work--the writing--is good enough to compete.

If nothing else, it would serve as a tremendously personal resource for TQM. What you'll learn from conducting such a study would almost certainly create marked improvement in all areas.


I'm not sure how serious you actually are, and this will require a metric ton of work, but it's what I would do. But that's just me.

Reh wrote:The more I think about what your professor said, the more annoyed I get. The phrase "He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches" comes to mind---but from the sounds of things, he or she isn't a great professor for the students either.

I think I would have asked him or her why they felt it nessasary to project their failures onto others. Not everyone falls on the left side of the bell curve, like that little professor.

St|ck wrote:You should rewrite it into a choose-your-own adventure book. I heard those are big money sellers.

`NG wrote:Also, grow a handlebar mustache. It lends itself to your cred as a writer.

Reh wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tjYoKCBYag
Fired from a newspaper because he "lacked imagination and had no original ideas": Walt Disney.

If you're serious about your career, then network. Specifically, try and get involved in charities where you know movers and shakers in publishing will be. Do good work, get them talking about themselves (people like that), and show enthusiasm. Sending your writing or resumes to countless places is no where near as effective as real face time---go straight to the people who make decisions and be persistant.

stealthlol wrote: I've been told this many a time. I've come to recognize it as the loosely named "You will fail speech." I'm not against re-writing my work, as I've done it many times on my own in the sense of completely overhauling everything and ending up with practically a new book. But it certainly doesn't help when people use the line "Be prepared to get rejected for 20 years." (Nothing against what you said, by the way! I've been told it many times and it's just simply being realistic. Just not very encouraging ). A creative writing professor I had a few semesters ago pretty much said to the class that nobody would ever have a career as a writer, then proceeded to go on and on about how he will be. Not a very helpful class in the end.

Sears wrote:It's very difficult to get a work of fiction published if you have never been published before...

Be prepared to get rejected for 20 years, and be prepared to be asked to totally re-write and change your work in the event that you do get picked up.

Self-publishing and e-book publishing can at least help you get your name on google, but you won't get published until you produce something that will convince non-creative's that they will make $$$. Which is much easier said than done.

`NG wrote:If this is something you're really set on, why don't you find a writers agent that specializes in the novels genre. He/she will know the publishers most likely to pick up the book.