Welcome… I’m New Here! Aspiring MG author in Cornwall, UK

[David McGuire]

*Shuffles in quietly*

Ahem. Hi, everyone. It's nice to meet so many like minds.

My name's David, I'm 46, and by day I'm a marketing copywriter, writing content for big technology companies. But I'm much happier writing adventure stories for 10-12 year-olds (my own kids were strong readers who fell into a gap around that age: bored with MG, but not yet ready for YA... so that's the reader I have in mind).

I've got my first novel ("Soap"; 48,000 words) to a point where I'm happy to share it with agents and editors. That feels like quite an achievement in itself; in later life I'm beginning to realise my own neurodivergence, and I'm awaiting ADHD diagnosis, so having stuck with the work is quite something. I suppose I just enjoyed spending time with those characters, and inhabiting that world.

Having said that, initial submissions have been met with a scattering of positive-sounding rejections ("lots to admire... not quite right for my list") amid a wide, foggy field of silence.

(Goodness, it's hard, writing a forum post for other writers, isn't it? I feel like everyone's going to be judging my metaphors and semicolons. That foggy field is definitely trying too hard. Calm down, David.)

Anyway, the short version is that I'm feeling a little bit discouraged. I'm not sure if the work itself is simply old-fashioned/uncommercial (third person? In this day and age?!) or if the cover letter and synopsis are missing the mark. I hated summarising the plot in a page; it's a twisty story, and the major story beats seem random without all the foreshadowing that makes them make sense... argh.

My point is, it would be nice to hang with you, and feel like a writer for a bit.

(Is this OK? Am I doing it right? Am I waffling now?)

Reading-wise, I tend to gravitate to books with lovely worlds, smart conceits, adorable characters, and a big relentless hook of a story. I don't like overthinking too much, or worrying about whether something's literary. Could be Frances Hardinge (always a treat), Neil Gaiman, or Cornelia Funke... but equally Elizabeth Gaskell, Ralph Ellison, or Graham Greene. Currently balancing reading as much current MG as I can with wider research for my next book.

So... um... hi.

*Sits down at the back*

 

[Josephine]

You're doing it exactly right. Welcome

 

[Brooke]

nice to meet you! i already like your writing style. can't wait to see what you've got in store!

 

[David McGuire]

Thank you both! That's very kind.

 

[Barbara]

Welcome to the Colony. Nice to meet you.

 

[Barbara]

PS

(Goodness, it's hard, writing a forum post for other writers, isn't it? I feel like everyone's going to be judging my metaphors and semicolons. That foggy field is definitely trying too hard. Calm down, David.)

Don't worry. We're a relaxed bunch. In the Colony, everyone can be who they are. The only thing we may judge is whether or not we've had enough cake.

We all have days of bad writing, tysops and bad metaphors that fit like chips and mustard (and oh, dear, this sentence was a lot harder to write than I thought. )

 

[David McGuire]

Thank you! Nice to meet you too

 

[Jonny]

Hi @David McGuire A very warm welcome to the colony.

Nice to have you here. Hope you enjoy Litopia and do get involved as soon as you’re ready to.

This is a good place to check out (How-to guide) to see a lot of what goes on in the colony.

If anything is unclear do please contact me and I’ll be happy to assist if I can..

Oh, and your intro? Just mighty fine and dandy.

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Hello David,
And like they all said, welcome.

We have some great resources on here, most notably Pete’s Seminars on Blurbs, and Synopses (both of which I’m heartily rubbish at). And asking for help with those will get you lots of friendly advice from the group.
And you’ll find helping others with their work (in the Writing Workshop) quickly gives you pointers as to which things in one’s own work might need strengthening.
Wishing you well, and looking forward to reading your work xx

 

[Hannah F]

Hi David. Welcome. I write YA fantasy. (Love Frances Hardinge.)

Once you've found your way around the colony, why not put a sample of anything you're unsure about in the writing workshops (you need to comment on others first)l. And when you realise what fun it is to hang around here, make yourself a full member and bring work to the weekly huddle.

Don't feel discouraged. Synopses are hard. And rejection is a large chunk of everyone's early (and not so early!) writing journey. But you've come to a great place to hone your craft (speaking from experience).

Current upper MG: Have your read Witch by Finbar Hawkins? Heartless by Marissa Meyer? Are your kids boys or girls or both?

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Welcome, David. I see you shuffling in quietly. It's me replying to you, me the quiet one in the back, the one in slippers not proper shoes. If you squint at the screen... Yes, that's me and welcome. Just jump in and share some of your writing. I promise we will treat every word like a newborn babe, with respect and awe.

 

[David McGuire]

Thanks for the welcome, everyone!

@Hannah F : Frances is actually a friend from university; we were in the roleplaying games society together. She's delightful, and speaks exactly as she writes. Last time I saw her, she was charmingly bemused at her Costa win, which is typical of her. (Funnily enough, for a long time, the knowledge that I couldn't write like Frances prevented me from trying to write fiction at all. I'm not sure why it took me so long to figure out I should just write like me instead.)

"Witch" has been in my TBR pile for a bit. On your recommendation, I'll promote it!

 

[David McGuire]

Forgot to say: I have two daughters. Both are teens now; happily, both have rediscovered reading. One is devouring all manner of classics, the other (who was also the first reader for my novel) enjoys sapphic fantasy.

 

[Eva Ulian]

Hello David, welcome and pleased to meet you.

 

[MattScho]

Hello David, We welcome you, from your wall of corn. It's always a good idea to toss something like a synopsis into the workshops if you're wondering. A little wisdom gleaned from here: Synopses generally suck. Writing them, however, makes that a certainty. Condensing a story you have labored over and perfected into a concise 300 words is up there with water-boarding as far as torture goes. Good to have you here, and great comments from YouTube during Pop-Ups!

 

[David McGuire]

Thanks! Nice to meet you.

 

[astrakhangentry]

Hi David, thanks for the pointer to this place, I’m waiting for ADHD diagnosis too, who knew! Cheers, Kate B

 

[David McGuire]

Hello Kate! Nice to see you here.

 

[RK Wallis]

Welcome aboard @David McGuire Writing is a hard gig. We all struggle with exactly the same things as you, so you are not alone

 

[David McGuire]

Thanks! Nice to be here.

 

[David McGuire]

Hello David, We welcome you, from your wall of corn. It's always a good idea to toss something like a synopsis into the workshops if you're wondering. A little wisdom gleaned from here: Synopses generally suck. Writing them, however, makes that a certainty. Condensing a story you have labored over and perfected into a concise 300 words is up there with water-boarding as far as torture goes. Good to have you here, and great comments from YouTube during Pop-Ups!

Actually, having first recoiled in horror at Pete's advice in the synopsis seminar, and now mulled on it, I've come to the conclusion I know what's wrong, and I'm planning to have a good submission synopsis to share with the workshops by the end of today. (Everybody hold me to that!)

 

[PCFrontier]

Hi David, welcome. We have already met on Litopia. I would not be discouraged if some literary agents have turned your writing down. As we all know, so many well known and best selling writers have been rejected by agents. I reckon some literary agents would not recognize a best selling script if it hit them on the head.
If you chose to put your writing up on Litopia, I would be happy to comment. Good luck with your writing.
Best wishes
Paul

 

[David McGuire]

Current upper MG: Have your read Witch by Finbar Hawkins? Heartless by Marissa Meyer? Are your kids boys or girls or both?

Thanks for the nudge to read Witch. I loved it to pieces! Such a great, clear voice.