Anatomy of Publishing
From idea to published book36 total reviews
Comment from Debi Pick Marquette
I read this at 4 this morning, but hadn't slept yet and was so tired so knew I would miss something. And I did.... Gone with the wind! Hahaha! Good one!
Where you Texan men say umm, us MN girls say hmmm and that just means we are thinking. And I am thinking that I absolutely loved your story to tell about your story and your experience with the committee.
I'm sorry but they actually spoke to you in that manner? Hmm, I would think a little more professional response from them with a little respect would accentuate their duties here, instead of making themselves look worse, while anything less cheapens and makes anyone look ignorant. I feel so strongly on the subject that in all cases, no matter what, respect is always necessary and NEVER an excuse and I would be embarrassed if I were Tom.
I had the same thing happen to me once when the CEC told me that I hadn't followed the rules correctly on a contest. I knew I had and while trying to prove it to them, I said that even the guy who started the contest had given me six stars for my entry. Obviously the only reason I brought that up was to say that if I hadn't followed his rules, would he have given me six stars? I was shocked by the next two things; one that happened and one that didn't. They so rudely answered me by saying, "We don't care if you received a six star from everyone here." I wrote back and said I couldn't and asked them to look over the rules one more time please. What didn't happen was a very rude nothing. No apologies, nothing. Once again Tom should be embarrassed by this kind of action.
No matter how people feel about what they do or don't do, disrespect is not an option. It's as much for their benefit as it is for ours.
I may have caught them on a bad day, but then again sounds like you tried the same day. Anyway, good luck and I know your book will do great! I am pretty proud to have the honors to have read it and I can't wait for more. I love it that much!
Six stars from six grand babes!
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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I read this at 4 this morning, but hadn't slept yet and was so tired so knew I would miss something. And I did.... Gone with the wind! Hahaha! Good one!
Where you Texan men say umm, us MN girls say hmmm and that just means we are thinking. And I am thinking that I absolutely loved your story to tell about your story and your experience with the committee.
I'm sorry but they actually spoke to you in that manner? Hmm, I would think a little more professional response from them with a little respect would accentuate their duties here, instead of making themselves look worse, while anything less cheapens and makes anyone look ignorant. I feel so strongly on the subject that in all cases, no matter what, respect is always necessary and NEVER an excuse and I would be embarrassed if I were Tom.
I had the same thing happen to me once when the CEC told me that I hadn't followed the rules correctly on a contest. I knew I had and while trying to prove it to them, I said that even the guy who started the contest had given me six stars for my entry. Obviously the only reason I brought that up was to say that if I hadn't followed his rules, would he have given me six stars? I was shocked by the next two things; one that happened and one that didn't. They so rudely answered me by saying, "We don't care if you received a six star from everyone here." I wrote back and said I couldn't and asked them to look over the rules one more time please. What didn't happen was a very rude nothing. No apologies, nothing. Once again Tom should be embarrassed by this kind of action.
No matter how people feel about what they do or don't do, disrespect is not an option. It's as much for their benefit as it is for ours.
I may have caught them on a bad day, but then again sounds like you tried the same day. Anyway, good luck and I know your book will do great! I am pretty proud to have the honors to have read it and I can't wait for more. I love it that much!
Six stars from six grand babes!
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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LOL, Six grandbabies. Thank you for the six stars and for being a first reader. Your opinions did help me formulate my thinking about the book's appeal. Terry.
Comment from evilynne
I read and reviewed the original story you posted on FS and was absolutely charmed by it. Your writing now about how you have expanded the tale and are working on publishing it is fascinating. You certainly know whose help to enlist! As for those so-called professional reviewers, it's your actual readers, i.e. grandparents, etc., who count! As for me, I BELIEVE! Evi
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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I read and reviewed the original story you posted on FS and was absolutely charmed by it. Your writing now about how you have expanded the tale and are working on publishing it is fascinating. You certainly know whose help to enlist! As for those so-called professional reviewers, it's your actual readers, i.e. grandparents, etc., who count! As for me, I BELIEVE! Evi
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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LOL, Thanks Evi! And thank you for the six stars. You are right. It was a grandmother telling me that she and her grandkid liked the story that convinced me to go forward. But, I did get some help. Terry.
Comment from Faith Williams
The thing about FanStory is that most of the stories posted here are considered flash fiction. Of those stories considered short stories, they tend to barely warrant the classification. Anything over 2000 words is considered 'long' on this site. I don't care about the word count. I want to read a good story, and if it keeps my interest, I'll read it no matter how long it is.
I hope the committee pointed out the good aspects of your story and didn't just provide a fix-it list. Did they really say you let the 'sixes go to your head'? That seems harsh. It would be nice if there was a clear set of guidelines for applying for a seal. But not even all the contests have a clear set of guidelines (think haiku-are we talking a traditional haiku because there are a lot of rules other than the syllable count). Anyway, I am glad you found an outlet for your story. It may even be a more fulfilling outcome.
One suggestion to consider:
'The more I thought about it, It became clear that this could be a little book... ' Maybe, 'The more I thought about it, the clear it became that this story could be a little book... '
Interesting fact: Book, song, and movie titles are not covered under US copyright laws, only the content of said books, songs, and movies. And rarely is a title eligible for trademark purposes as it doesn't meet the requirements. Therefore, using the title/phrase 'gone with the wind' is not considered plagiarism.
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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The thing about FanStory is that most of the stories posted here are considered flash fiction. Of those stories considered short stories, they tend to barely warrant the classification. Anything over 2000 words is considered 'long' on this site. I don't care about the word count. I want to read a good story, and if it keeps my interest, I'll read it no matter how long it is.
I hope the committee pointed out the good aspects of your story and didn't just provide a fix-it list. Did they really say you let the 'sixes go to your head'? That seems harsh. It would be nice if there was a clear set of guidelines for applying for a seal. But not even all the contests have a clear set of guidelines (think haiku-are we talking a traditional haiku because there are a lot of rules other than the syllable count). Anyway, I am glad you found an outlet for your story. It may even be a more fulfilling outcome.
One suggestion to consider:
'The more I thought about it, It became clear that this could be a little book... ' Maybe, 'The more I thought about it, the clear it became that this story could be a little book... '
Interesting fact: Book, song, and movie titles are not covered under US copyright laws, only the content of said books, songs, and movies. And rarely is a title eligible for trademark purposes as it doesn't meet the requirements. Therefore, using the title/phrase 'gone with the wind' is not considered plagiarism.
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Whew! I didn't know that about titles. Thank you. It was intended as little self-satire humor.
The comment about the six-star ratings going to my head is a direct quote. I don't remember anyone saying the story was creative or had any merit. Maybe someone did, but that was not the message they were trying to deliver. Thank you, Terry.
Comment from Tpa
Congratulations on your achievement, and I wish you the best.
Publishing is a difficult industry and very competitive, let alone costly. I did 4 self-published books on Amazon. Marketing is a pain in the #!##. I have found many resources and aid on FB. FS does help a great deal and many reviewers give you courage. This was a good topic to cover. Please tell me where I can get your book on your reply, thank you.
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Congratulations on your achievement, and I wish you the best.
Publishing is a difficult industry and very competitive, let alone costly. I did 4 self-published books on Amazon. Marketing is a pain in the #!##. I have found many resources and aid on FB. FS does help a great deal and many reviewers give you courage. This was a good topic to cover. Please tell me where I can get your book on your reply, thank you.
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the review. The book will not be out until later in the fall. It should be available on all book-selling sites, including Amazon. Terry.
Comment from rama devi
Nice share! I enjoyed reading it, for the most part, and it's great seeing all the help you've had from numerous people, including me! The sentence mechanics and pacing are great. No spag nits...yay!
*One optional suggestion:
Umm, I thought. Now that is an interesting idea.
It's usually optimal to use contractions in internal dialog, so I suggest using THAT'S instead of THAT IS
Very nice to see you at healthy:
After some coffee, organic cereal with yogurt and soy milk.
I've submitted things to the Seal of Quality committee before, and i actually thought they were super helpful and professional, because I really wanted honest constructive feedback and to improve my writing . They gave elaborate critique that helped me improve greatly. It never felt like they had 'put down glee' but rather sincere caring in teaching me what I needed to learn.
That was over a decade ago, and perhaps the members in that committee changed...but i did find myself slightly cringing at this comment:
I thought that may have contributed to a certain amount of put-down glee.
I feel like those members who participate in that committee do a great service to this site and yet get complained about. When I joined this site (way over a decade ago) it had a lot more serious writers and reviewers. The average rating was three or four stars, and fives really meant something. Sixes meant a TON. But many of the serious writers left, and nowadays, FS members give fives by default and only a rare few offer in depth critique.
Writing is both art and craft, and professional reviewers need to address both aspects if giving a thorough review. I think you gave the committee a bad rap when they were only trying to be helpful, since applying for a seal of quality implies you wish to move your writing up to a professional level.
Readers of your story may come away with a highly negative impression of the committee, and that makes me sad. But I do understand your feelings, of course, and I am not asking you to change it. I just want to be a voice of defense for the honest reviewers, as I myself would get a bad rap from members if I dared to give less than five stars. In spite of winning the reviewing contest every other month and also becoming one of the few 'Recognized Reviewers' (which is akin to a 'seal of quality' for reviewing, some people would bad mouth me no matter how kindly I candy coated that honest feedback and also i spite of the fact that I always took time to come back, re-review and upgrade ratings accordingly at no benefit to myself but simply to encourage people.
That committee is misunderstood, underappreciated and wrongly attacked, in my opinion.
I like this closing note:
Look at the picture with this story again. The guy is not smirking. He's smiling and carrying his book. I hope the guy is me in a few months. I think it will feel good.
I do not like the negative closing note regarding the committee:
I will update you all later in the year on how everything progresses. Oh, and if you know anyone on the committee, they gonna have to buy the book, but why would they want to?
Oh, really? You think they might have grandkids. Umm.
Personally, I would love to see that last bit trimmed off so the ending note is positive instead of negative satirical humor that literally attacks likely well-meaning and hard working committee members.
Just like I'm sure you respect my sharing my honest opinion, I also respect your wish to vent your reaction to the committee. It's very well penned and well paced and had no spag nits too! Awesome student! Bravo.
I hope your book does well and that many people enjoy it, and I'm very glad you engaged my services to polish it up before publishing. You are a good student, indeed, because you ultimately understood that critique can be positive and delivered with care and good intent. Yay!
Warmly,
rd
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Nice share! I enjoyed reading it, for the most part, and it's great seeing all the help you've had from numerous people, including me! The sentence mechanics and pacing are great. No spag nits...yay!
*One optional suggestion:
Umm, I thought. Now that is an interesting idea.
It's usually optimal to use contractions in internal dialog, so I suggest using THAT'S instead of THAT IS
Very nice to see you at healthy:
After some coffee, organic cereal with yogurt and soy milk.
I've submitted things to the Seal of Quality committee before, and i actually thought they were super helpful and professional, because I really wanted honest constructive feedback and to improve my writing . They gave elaborate critique that helped me improve greatly. It never felt like they had 'put down glee' but rather sincere caring in teaching me what I needed to learn.
That was over a decade ago, and perhaps the members in that committee changed...but i did find myself slightly cringing at this comment:
I thought that may have contributed to a certain amount of put-down glee.
I feel like those members who participate in that committee do a great service to this site and yet get complained about. When I joined this site (way over a decade ago) it had a lot more serious writers and reviewers. The average rating was three or four stars, and fives really meant something. Sixes meant a TON. But many of the serious writers left, and nowadays, FS members give fives by default and only a rare few offer in depth critique.
Writing is both art and craft, and professional reviewers need to address both aspects if giving a thorough review. I think you gave the committee a bad rap when they were only trying to be helpful, since applying for a seal of quality implies you wish to move your writing up to a professional level.
Readers of your story may come away with a highly negative impression of the committee, and that makes me sad. But I do understand your feelings, of course, and I am not asking you to change it. I just want to be a voice of defense for the honest reviewers, as I myself would get a bad rap from members if I dared to give less than five stars. In spite of winning the reviewing contest every other month and also becoming one of the few 'Recognized Reviewers' (which is akin to a 'seal of quality' for reviewing, some people would bad mouth me no matter how kindly I candy coated that honest feedback and also i spite of the fact that I always took time to come back, re-review and upgrade ratings accordingly at no benefit to myself but simply to encourage people.
That committee is misunderstood, underappreciated and wrongly attacked, in my opinion.
I like this closing note:
Look at the picture with this story again. The guy is not smirking. He's smiling and carrying his book. I hope the guy is me in a few months. I think it will feel good.
I do not like the negative closing note regarding the committee:
I will update you all later in the year on how everything progresses. Oh, and if you know anyone on the committee, they gonna have to buy the book, but why would they want to?
Oh, really? You think they might have grandkids. Umm.
Personally, I would love to see that last bit trimmed off so the ending note is positive instead of negative satirical humor that literally attacks likely well-meaning and hard working committee members.
Just like I'm sure you respect my sharing my honest opinion, I also respect your wish to vent your reaction to the committee. It's very well penned and well paced and had no spag nits too! Awesome student! Bravo.
I hope your book does well and that many people enjoy it, and I'm very glad you engaged my services to polish it up before publishing. You are a good student, indeed, because you ultimately understood that critique can be positive and delivered with care and good intent. Yay!
Warmly,
rd
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Rama, thank you for your review and your comments about the committee. My point about the committee is really pretty simple in my mind. If an anonymous committee can offer their honest opinions, then I can also offer my thoughts.
In my mind, there was some put-down glee. I think I acknowledged the fact I am less than sufficient in the educated ways of writing. You would know better than most, LOL. And I'm grateful for all your help, and I would highly recommend you to others who need help. And I hope to hire you in the future.
I think there are two important points to keep in mind. I didn't let the committee stop the story. I developed a plan to improve the story. Part of the plan was to employ your help.
Ultimately, I did take some of the committee's advice. But I still like the satire in this story. Terry.
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Thanks for your kind and positive response, my friend, and you kind words about working with me, too. I lilked the satire as well...very humorous, but it still pushed a button for me since I've had to deal with being misunderstood in the past for offering honest critique. Definitely, sharing you honest opinion is certainly legitimate, and it felt like you were also enjoying some put down glee in that satire too...ha ha ha! Just teasing you. IN fact, I hope some of the committee members read this so they can be aware that they need to improve their 'candy coating' efforts for the feedback. I'm sure that whoever mentioned the six stars meant it in a constructive way - that Fanstory sixes may not have the same weight outside of Fanstory, so not to think your work is perfect before you've polished it to your best. Maybe they need to word that concept differently. I don't know who the members are, but if I did, I'd point it out to them!
Looking forward to working with you in the future.
Warmly,
rd
Comment from Sally Law
Thank you for sharing the trials and tribulations of publishing a story. The art is fine you can always switch it out. I have had a myraid of comments about my books and have to overcome blindness too. It's like the Amazon at night without night vision goggles. Audible is Mount Everest. I have three Audible books now.
If folks only knew what it takes to overcome to get here, they'd be nicer. Especially on here: a writer's forum intended to foster and grow writing talent.
Bravo for you, Terry! Let me know if I can help at all. I'd be glad to. Are you going to be on Amazon? Many of us here are published on Amazon. One day I hope to be somewhere else, but for now it works.
Sending you my best today as always, and my very best wishes for your writing endeavors.
Sal xoxo
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Thank you for sharing the trials and tribulations of publishing a story. The art is fine you can always switch it out. I have had a myraid of comments about my books and have to overcome blindness too. It's like the Amazon at night without night vision goggles. Audible is Mount Everest. I have three Audible books now.
If folks only knew what it takes to overcome to get here, they'd be nicer. Especially on here: a writer's forum intended to foster and grow writing talent.
Bravo for you, Terry! Let me know if I can help at all. I'd be glad to. Are you going to be on Amazon? Many of us here are published on Amazon. One day I hope to be somewhere else, but for now it works.
Sending you my best today as always, and my very best wishes for your writing endeavors.
Sal xoxo
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Sally, thank you for the six stars. I will certainly take up any offer to help. I will follow up when the process gets a little further along. Terry.
Comment from Monica Chaddick
This is a very cute, as well as educational, story. I, too, have been harshly turned down by the "committee". I understand how you feel. I am currently preparing to go the Amazon route, myself. Unfortunately, I can't afford to self publish, as I am on fixed income. I will definitely look for your book, though, if you tell me where to look, as I also have grandchildren. I have had a book published once, and it is a very good feeling, although I made nothing off of it.
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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This is a very cute, as well as educational, story. I, too, have been harshly turned down by the "committee". I understand how you feel. I am currently preparing to go the Amazon route, myself. Unfortunately, I can't afford to self publish, as I am on fixed income. I will definitely look for your book, though, if you tell me where to look, as I also have grandchildren. I have had a book published once, and it is a very good feeling, although I made nothing off of it.
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Monica, thank you for your review, and good luck with Amazon. Making money at this point in my life is not my objective. I have been having fun in doing the story, I know you know what that's like. Good luck with your project. Terry.
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Yes, I very much understand that. My goal is to entertain and make my family proud by having my books in print. MY grand daughter just finished 7th grade, and her teacher read a story that they were assigned to write. She called her aside and complimented her on her writing and story telling skills. My grand daughter credited it to me. Proud grandma right here!!! That said, I'm on a fixed income, so a little extra money wouldn't hurt my feelings.
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LOL, Amen!
Comment from Annmuma
A creative, honest, orginal and a post certainly deserving of ten stars, but I am limited to six! This work gets your point across and allows the reader to share your frustration and feelings from the beginning to the last word. This is great commentary built on experience -- an experience easily understood and experienced by so many untimate winners -- not just in writing, but in life. Great job. A pleasure to read.
Eager to buy my own copy of your book!
By the way, I liked your first art better because I felt the ending of the post related well to it and closed the story circle well.
ann
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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A creative, honest, orginal and a post certainly deserving of ten stars, but I am limited to six! This work gets your point across and allows the reader to share your frustration and feelings from the beginning to the last word. This is great commentary built on experience -- an experience easily understood and experienced by so many untimate winners -- not just in writing, but in life. Great job. A pleasure to read.
Eager to buy my own copy of your book!
By the way, I liked your first art better because I felt the ending of the post related well to it and closed the story circle well.
ann
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Ann, thank you for the six stars and your wonderful comments. The original artwork would not post with the story, so I had to use a different one. Terry.
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The art work does NOT detract from the story. ann
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Well, I think this is a well-written story about the way you went about trying to get the committee to offer you a yellow star and how your reaction led you to go to get help from Rama and other places to get your improved story published. This shows us how to do it right! I am glad you didn't give up and went for it lock stock and barrel. Thanks for sharing this amazingly real account of what it means to wish to be published and I wish you well in your dream of being published!
Jesse
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Well, I think this is a well-written story about the way you went about trying to get the committee to offer you a yellow star and how your reaction led you to go to get help from Rama and other places to get your improved story published. This shows us how to do it right! I am glad you didn't give up and went for it lock stock and barrel. Thanks for sharing this amazingly real account of what it means to wish to be published and I wish you well in your dream of being published!
Jesse
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Jesse, thank you for the six star review and your best wishes, we see what happens. Terry.
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You're welcome, my friend.
Best wishes for your success!
Jesse
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Thank you!
Comment from Tom Horonzy
First, I wondered where have you been. Now I see creating a, most likely, likeable piece for children to read or be read to. The committee? CEC? Tom and company? I guess there has to be to have FS kept running but they should listen to suggestion.
Anyhow, I enjoyed your expressing the anatomy of publishing, at least herein. Tom H (another Tom)
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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First, I wondered where have you been. Now I see creating a, most likely, likeable piece for children to read or be read to. The committee? CEC? Tom and company? I guess there has to be to have FS kept running but they should listen to suggestion.
Anyhow, I enjoyed your expressing the anatomy of publishing, at least herein. Tom H (another Tom)
Comment Written 04-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2023
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Tom, thank you for the kind words. Terry.
