tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post6561850381427138241..comments2023-06-12T17:08:36.320+01:00Comments on How Publishing <i>Really</i> Works: Manuscript Display SitesJane Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-29001561917232433752009-01-24T08:45:00.000+00:002009-01-24T08:45:00.000+00:00Reg, I've been thinking about the whole peer revie...Reg, I've been thinking about the whole peer review system and I wonder if the real value for the writers of lies not in the comments that are received on the work, but in the crits that writers make. It's far less painful to dissect someone else's work than your own, and by spotting the problems in that way you learn not to make them in your own. <BR/><BR/>Penny, the first round of slush-reading is usually carried out by editorial assistants and trainees; they filter out the things they like, and hand them on to more senior staff, who then reject pretty much everything. It's not work that's outsourced, as far as I know: and those editorial assistant jobs are difficult to get, and pretty low-paid. <BR/><BR/>As for manuscript typing, there are quite a few services around offering it: you could try posting on a few writers' message-boards to see if anyone's interested, but lots of writers write by typing direct onto their computers, so this is probably a dwindling market. Sorry!Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-11946958484560028812009-01-24T04:06:00.000+00:002009-01-24T04:06:00.000+00:00Ms. Smith, how can I become a slush pile/manuscrip...Ms. Smith, how can I become a slush pile/manuscript reader (for lack of a better word)? What website can I go to to find out the qualifications and receive some useful advice? I also want to type manuscripts but have no idea where to get updated information to set up a business--the sites I've come across haven't been very useful...Hope you can advise.Pennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01932859321223254374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-76854416244411390482009-01-21T19:22:00.000+00:002009-01-21T19:22:00.000+00:00While I was diddling with the idea of self publish...While I was diddling with the idea of self publishing with YouWriteOn, I dipped my pinky into the murky pool of manuscript display.<BR/>It was fun, actually. <BR/>I read some manuscripts from other hopefuls and in turn my dreadful tome was subjected to some fairly harsh assessment. It was very interesting because the budding critics would write what they liked as they didn't know me, never would know me and probably wouldn't want to know me. <BR/><BR/>My badger with the whole thing was that there is a word limit on how much one can send in, the standard of critique was my level, (novice) and that I was sent stories to read that I would never, in real life, pick up at a book store, (e.g. Chick-Lit).<BR/>It was fun, I read some GREAT stories but I would never hang my world on it.<BR/>A phase in the learning process is how I see it now.<BR/>BTW Jane, I love your Blog, it really is very educational.<BR/>Thanks a lot.<BR/>Reg :-)R.R.Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17834582008567973188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-50563892112301178262009-01-21T12:25:00.000+00:002009-01-21T12:25:00.000+00:00Karen and Jo, I'm with you both here. Do have a l...Karen and Jo, I'm with you both here. Do have a look at the Writer Beware articles I linked to, as they're very interesting.<BR/><BR/>Writing is by its nature a very solitary activity, so interraction with other writers is a precious thing. Which is why peer review sites are useful. But it's important to ensure that you're taking advice only from those able and qualified to offer it.Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-46706666114246252402009-01-21T12:06:00.000+00:002009-01-21T12:06:00.000+00:00I totally agree. Why waste valuble writing time re...I totally agree. Why waste valuble writing time reading other (unpublished) authors' mediocre work, just to gain a credit to enable another wannabee author to praise or trash a chapter or two of your own work. It may do your ego good to have some unqualified person gush about how great your writing is, but at the end of the day it's unlikely to find you an agent or publisher.<BR/>And as Karen says if you're a bit of a prevaricator it's another heaven-sent excuse to 'sit' on that manuscriptJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01247087405251361998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-14509910171773560042009-01-21T11:30:00.000+00:002009-01-21T11:30:00.000+00:00Although I did sign up to Authonomy, I haven't pos...Although I did sign up to Authonomy, I haven't posted anything for all the reasons you've mentioned. I'm too good at prevaricating as it is, and decided in the end I'd much rather just get on with it :o)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05986874444030474719noreply@blogger.com