tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301859857718273999.post8997498977067661936..comments2023-11-28T07:46:13.211-05:00Comments on WRITING TEAZURS WITH ANGIE AZUR: Intern Advice on getting that AGENTAngie Azurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824815599991389685noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301859857718273999.post-30265640331690626752013-07-21T17:38:25.378-04:002013-07-21T17:38:25.378-04:00You're welcome!!You're welcome!!Angie Azurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824815599991389685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301859857718273999.post-20994780256901384312013-07-21T13:40:42.036-04:002013-07-21T13:40:42.036-04:00Thanks for your response, Angie!Thanks for your response, Angie!A. R. Silverberryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457517531000178459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301859857718273999.post-5443930910251771732013-07-21T09:01:15.001-04:002013-07-21T09:01:15.001-04:00Sorry forgot to add this: yes, don't include t...Sorry forgot to add this: yes, don't include the prologue in your first 10 pages --- really we want to read the book, and you want us to read as much of it as possible, right? Do you read prologues when you buy a book? I never do, and I never need them. But if there is something in your prologue, a line, a specific thing that readers absolutely need to know, add it to the first chapter, or do what I said above. <br /><br />Write~on<br />Angie Azurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824815599991389685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301859857718273999.post-8871976013087708922013-07-21T08:58:09.954-04:002013-07-21T08:58:09.954-04:00Hey Peter -
No one I know reads prologues unless ...Hey Peter - <br />No one I know reads prologues unless they've asked for the full. So if the story starts in the prologue, don't call it a prologue. Call it your 1st chapter - or flashback - so many prologues do not help the story in any way and are not needed. OR don't call your chapters by numbers. Separate them with *** or +++ - that way we just read, and the word prologue doesn't throw us out of wanting to read it.<br /><br />I see thank yous from form rejections and from specific feedback. But both types mean that you were read, and your idea or writing was worth sending out a rejection, and not just archiving the work. So I would thank them, just a quick note. We talk about the writers who thank us....it's good to have your name talked about in that positive way. Right? Angie Azurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824815599991389685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301859857718273999.post-49780154537512854062013-07-20T17:41:02.259-04:002013-07-20T17:41:02.259-04:00Wow, Angie, this is one of your best posts yet, fi...Wow, Angie, this is one of your best posts yet, filled with comprehensive advice that I'll be coming back to many times.<br /><br />A few questions, though. On the point about prologues, are you saying don't include them in your submission if they ask for the first ten pages? It seems a bit deceptive to me to withhold the prologue; how will they feel if they ask for the whole manuscript and you didn't include it? I asked Harold Underdown what he thought about this. Here's what I asked him followed by his response:<br /><br />"If I follow submission guidelines, two scenarios might occur:<br /><br />The agency asks for the first chapter or two. Does that include the prologue?<br />The agency asks for the first fifty pages. Again, does that include the prologue?"<br /><br />His response: <br /><br />"I could make a case for either approach. The important question is: how important is the prologue? Does the story really start in the prologue? Then include it, in either of the scenarios you give. If it serves some other purpose, then I suppose you could leave it out. But if you do, say so in the query."<br /><br />On your point about thanking the agent, does this apply to ones that reply with a rejection, but offer no specific feedback?<br /><br />Thanks again for sharing your experience!<br /><br />Peter<br />Writing as AR SilverberryA. R. Silverberryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457517531000178459noreply@blogger.com