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no degree in 'magnificent writing 101'
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| Rosheen~D |
Posted: August 23, 2009 09:07 pm
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Adept Writer ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 51 Member No.: 1,651 Joined: January 21, 2009 |
If an agent has stated in their submission instruction page that they want you to write an introduction explaining all your experience and qualifications, when you don't exactly have any...what should you write?
Just read my submission and tell me if whether I need a stupid degree?? Should you just skip that part? *is frustrated* -------------------- I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.
~Oscar Wilde |
| T.L. Kenworth |
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Super Writer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 420 Member No.: 1,397 Joined: June 08, 2008 |
A great question, one I wish I had the answer to. For my queries, I mostly skip that question. I've tried writing a little about myself like asked for in some submissions on agent websites but so far it seems to go against me. I figured that writing something like what passes for a bio on a bookjacket would be okay but now, I'm not sure. I have no degree or specialty in the areas I write about, just good old fashioned research and hard work. I have been published in newspaper and poetry magazines but nothing in fiction. As to why I should write the story in question instead of someone else, the answer is because the story was entrusted into my hands and I did the best I could to tell the tale. R-Tech, Tina, I'm sure you have the answers here...
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| yaghish |
Posted: August 24, 2009 05:43 pm
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![]() Prolific Writer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 635 Member No.: 83 Joined: March 26, 2004 |
Well, maybe you're just not ready to get an agent if you don't have any experience or qualification. You might better work on some experience or qualification then. What may count as such:
- entering contests, and if you ended up in the upper x, say so ("ended among the best 50 entries"). If it hasn't turned down right away, just say so ("has been nominated"). Any contest will do here, it shows that you write more than just the story you want to sell through the agent, and you know about deadlines, and aren't afraid to win and get publicity. - being published somewhere, for example a local newspaper. It doesn't have to be fiction, but is sure shows you know how to write a readable piece. - If you have a fair number of visitors and respondents to a live-journal or such online, mention it. If you write crap, you won't have any replies or readers. - mention the writing-related workshops you attended, even if they were online. It shows you're serious about the writing business - any writing experience of some level for studies or work, it proves you know your language - writing reviews for fiction books, it shows you know how to write and that you have knowledge of the genre - having a self published book that has been bought by a number of people, it shows initiative and determination - open mic events you have performed at What those people -agents and publishers- want, is an author with some experience and not the next bored teenager who only *thinks* he can write like Shakespeare and just sends them the first piece of crap he ever wrote. After all, what for do you need an agent if you haven't tried anything to make yourself a real writer? So if you want to work for a bakery, and you can't relate of any interest in baking, cooking, in cakes, bread and so on, be it eat the stuff or bake it or sell it, why would you apply for the job with a half-burned muffin that no one wanted to taste? |
| R-Tech |
Posted: August 25, 2009 12:13 am
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Moderator ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Moderators Posts: 1,628 Member No.: 20 Joined: January 28, 2004 |
Often 'qualifications' refers to nonfiction books. It is possible that this agent/agency represents both fiction and nonfiction. Other qualifications would include degrees (Journalism, English, Creative Writing) any awards, previous publishing experience, etc. Yaghish gave many good examples that don't need repeating in detail. If you don't have any, since you can't include it, you don't mention it and move on. R-Tech -------------------- |
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