tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post8136198339481330503..comments2023-10-01T03:10:10.767-07:00Comments on Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: How to Win Writing Contests and Big Publishing ContractsErica Verrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-53763499061107286032017-04-05T13:24:46.198-07:002017-04-05T13:24:46.198-07:00I think it bears mentioning, that contest wins and...I think it bears mentioning, that contest wins and book deals are two very different animals.<br />A contest is concerned exclusively with literary merit.<br />A book deal is about commercial merit.<br />Many books have one, but not the other.Steven Hutsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17811098189596427346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-73498959085554204632016-12-06T08:10:04.850-08:002016-12-06T08:10:04.850-08:00Richard: "I see failure in your future"
...Richard: "I see failure in your future"<br />Erica: *has written seven books and published five*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12836727816449467241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-12090694536293405032015-12-21T18:00:17.935-08:002015-12-21T18:00:17.935-08:00LOVE IT! You're a lifesaver, it just sees thro...LOVE IT! You're a lifesaver, it just sees through every possible scenario. You're a genius sir:)Vandini Sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11171261808577641881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-28345689533146964602015-08-08T14:32:59.480-07:002015-08-08T14:32:59.480-07:00Whatever floats your boat.Whatever floats your boat.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17169727994080936279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-71995087208298275702015-08-07T11:05:44.302-07:002015-08-07T11:05:44.302-07:00It is one thing to express an opinion and quite an...It is one thing to express an opinion and quite another to resort to insults. Regardless of whether you believe the previous comment to be "silly," it is a matter of simple good manners to refrain from making personal jibes. I am leaving the above to serve as an example of how NOT to express yourself when voicing disagreement. Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-35890392870748969362015-08-07T08:44:48.806-07:002015-08-07T08:44:48.806-07:00"I have never found anything that can replace..."I have never found anything that can replace natural talent." <br />There is no such thing. Not in writing. Writers need to read everything, study everything. Writers develop, they're not born. None of them. Not Twain, Tolkien, Tolstoy, Aasmov, Herbert, Plato, Shakespeare. None of them! <br /><br />"I avoid writing advice and write by the seat of my pants."<br />I see failure in your future.<br /><br />When I hear silliness like this, it's because the writer doesn't have any real world experience. Your opinion/advice isn't worth a clod of dirt, and I doubt you made much beyond a clod of dirt for your troubles.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17169727994080936279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-20314724454639595852014-11-19T17:05:22.754-08:002014-11-19T17:05:22.754-08:00Yes, Erica, these are the same things we look for ...Yes, Erica, these are the same things we look for when we wear the editor's hat. Kenneth Harper Fintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13930324643302865678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-30309880197409142372014-11-18T12:35:48.262-08:002014-11-18T12:35:48.262-08:00Agreed! Overthinking can spoil a piece of fiction ...Agreed! Overthinking can spoil a piece of fiction - and there is certainly no substitute for talent. But, looking over this incredibly long list, I realized that these are the questions I ask when I am editing someone else's work. I often pose similar questions when I make an editorial suggestion,Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-64376877480349957712014-11-18T11:37:08.837-08:002014-11-18T11:37:08.837-08:00Interesting - and probably good advice. I have to ...Interesting - and probably good advice. I have to admit I have never heard of John Labaqui, but I have heard of Erica Verrillo. Does that mean anything? Generally speaking, I avoid writing advice and write by the seat of my pants. I have never found anything that can replace natural talent. My failure to be known by the world at large is mostly a result of my hating promotional work and relying too much on other people's opinions. That has not stopped me from being a great writer, but it has made it impossible for the world to know it.Kenneth Harper Fintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13930324643302865678noreply@blogger.com