See...
...here's the thing, people. Last year I wrote a novel, and as I mentioned at the time, had wonderful fun doing it and no intention of trying to get it published. So for the last twelve months it's been sitting around doing nothing.
Except leering at me, huffing with disapproval and muttering things like lazy and cowardly under its breath.
I did suggest self-publishing, but it laughed so much I thought it might choke and solve the problem, but no. And its reasons, unfortunately, were entirely valid. With my talent for self-promotion (zero), it would an expensive exercise in futility. I seem to be congenitally incapable of networking, even online. (I'm not a hermit for no reason.)
So in order to shut the thing up, I'm thinking of getting it appraised. There seem to be a lot of people out there who do this kind of thing (for a fee, obviously) and I'm wondering if anyone knows who is reliable, honest and knowledgeable, without costing squillions which I don't have.
I should also mention that this is not a work of supreme literary merit. It has no pretensions to grandeur. It's what I think they call a relationships novel - an easy read that isn't a romance, a whodunit, a thriller or sci-fi. It's strictly light ent, and doesn't pretend to be anything else.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
- I thought it was a grabber, Helen – in that I did wonder about their lives and how their paths might cross, so to speak. Hope you’re not offended if I say that the authors: Joanna Trollope and Fay Weldon sprung to mind – it just so happens that I’ve read quite a few of their books and enjoy them. Just finished: The Stepmother’s Diary and The Spa Decameron by Fay Weldon.
The only thing that threw me a bit was the name Joey when realising the character is actually the name belonging to that of a woman. Perhaps it’s just me and once realising the name belongs to a ‘her’ there was no problem. And then I did flit back to the names and wondered why they hadn’t been mentioned in order of how they’d been written in the opening line. Is this my lean towards autistic tendencies? Sometimes I do wonder. Go for it, Helen, it’s looking good! I like the title, too.
- I'm intirgued, Helen. Good luck - hope I'm able to read it some time.
- Best of luck, Helen.
- I know exactly how you feel - I too just love the writing part but can't put my mind to publishing, well, perhaps not so much the publishing as all the after stuff and selling that comes once published. The ideal would be if I could hand over a finished manuscript to somebody and say, "Here it is, do something with it." Dream on! if you know your manuscript is worth it why not do as suggested - post a few chapters on Arena and get some feedback. Then try somewhere like Lulu. It would be a start. Good Luck. Jeanne
- Congrats on finishing your novel Helen, must be a wonderful feeling. Have you thought about posting a couple of chaps on here to test the waters? I know the arena can be a little slow, but if you put a blog post letting people know it’s on the Arena you will get reviewed. I did it and got some really good comments from the likes of David, Mo, Laurie and Bob. It’s given me the confidence to know it’s worth pursuing, anyway.
And I’d like to have a look. I like a good easy read from time to time. I get caught up in too many dark thrillers lol. I might even have a look at the sites David suggested. Just a look mind.
Good luck with it - Paul.
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