Pop-Up Submissions

[Howard]

Saw the alert the other day and was thoroughly intrigued by this
Pop-Up Submissions Are Open!
Anyone else getting involved? Am I to be crucified alone?

 

[AgentPete]

Yes, you are.

Actually, I'd be pleased to have as many submissions as people want to throw at me. And I'll try to make it as painless as poss... honest...

 

[Howard]

Hah! I jest, but in truth, I am way past the need to be liked. I have confidence in my work, but I know it requires...well...work, so I am open for any and all criticism. Looking forward to Sunday!

EDIT: Brain caught up with eyes. When you say "as many submissions as people want to throw" do you mean I could submit two things? Greedy, I know, but really want the feedback.

 

[AgentPete]

Sure. But only 1st 20 pages, pls.

 

[Ancora Imparo]

You won't be alone, Howard, I sent in the first 20 pages of my work in progress (I assumed double-line spacing rather than single, though I couldn't see any instruction on that.) Hopefully it made it through okay. Feeling very nervous, but will appreciate the professional feedback.

 

[Kitty]

This is a fantastic opportunity.I was fortunate enough to receive feedback from Peter in Litopia's previous incarnation and it was invaluable! I strongly recommend it!

 

[Boopadoo]

I'm in. I just finished uploading the first 20 of Paige 99.

 

[Sea-shore]

Oouhh, yes. Definitely in! But will submit in the last two weeks when we are back from the Cotswolds (Cirencester) . Will be listening in on the other submissions though. What a great opportunity!

 

[Sea-shore]

Hi, any one on fb live? I can't see the video post. Been on since 5:50pm.

 

[Howard]

Hi, any one on fb live? I can't see the video post. Been on since 5:50pm.

I'm on
EDIT: the video isn't so much a video, really; its just the script currently being discussed.

 

[Sea-shore]

Thanks Howard! Got on to hear the end of your first ms being discussed. Useful commentary, don't you think? Most people would pay to get this kind of feedback.

 

[Ancora Imparo]

Not sure if Pete saw all the comments, so wanted to say again Thank you – that was an interesting and very helpful two hours. Thanks for giving up your time on a Sunday evening, agent Pete! Much appreciated. I'm going to go and change the end of that chapter!

 

[AgentPete]

Very happy to do it, and looking forward to the next one, this Sunday!

 

[Howard]

Took me a while to reply to this after last night, not because I was licking my wounds, but rather because Pete lit a fire in me.
With the chat completed, I spent 5 hours heavily rewriting Dara, and have continued to do so for another 6 hours today.

Pete, your words last night have been more help to me than any other thing in the last 10 years of writing. I don't know why, exactly, for you didn't really say anything I have not heard before, but simply seeing the process applied to my work just made something click in my head. The draft I now have of the early chapters of Dara is far more streamlined, far more exciting and moves to engage the reader much more quickly.

I genuinely cannot thank you enough!

That being said (there is always a but!), I am afraid we shall have to differ about Sonnet & Calhoone. Clearly, it was just not for you, and that is absolutely cool, but if I were to begin to take on board your criticism of it, and change it accordingly, I think it would lose all its current charm and disappear into being "yet another pulp fiction".

I look forward to future sessions like this and, if I can get it back into a "ready to show state", would be fascinated and grateful to see what you think of the new Dara!

 

[AgentPete]

Thanks, Howard, this mean a lot!

S&C… actually, I could absolutely see its appeal. The problem with “doing submissions”, as one publisher said to me once, is that “you’re always looking for a reason to say no”. This does tend to make the process a bit negative, I’m afraid, and I do try to guard against that.

Anyhow, so pleased the Dara feedback was useful!

 

[Quillwitch]

I totally forgot about this!! rats and slithers! Is there any way that I can read it or listen to it?

 

[Ancora Imparo]

I totally forgot about this!! rats and slithers! Is there any way that I can read it or listen to it?

I think Pete said it wouldn't be taped, so no I don't think so, Quillwitch. Sorry. It was very interesting having prose directed in front of our eyes – lots of great pointers. But there's another one next Sunday and I'm sure that'll be just as good. Not sure of time differential where you are. I hope you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for it!

 

[AgentPete]

Nope, it's live, and live only! Be there, or be... er, something that rhymes with "there" and has a literary significance. Maybe there's no such word...

 

[Ancora Imparo]

I think Pete said it wouldn't be taped, so no I don't think so, Quillwitch. Sorry. It was very interesting having prose directed in front of our eyes – lots of great pointers. But there's another one next Sunday and I'm sure that'll be just as good. Not sure of time differential where you are. I hope you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for it!

Sorry – that should have read very interesting having prose dissected in front of our eyes ... oops.

 

[Quillwitch]

I think Pete said it wouldn't be taped, so no I don't think so, Quillwitch. Sorry. It was very interesting having prose directed in front of our eyes – lots of great pointers. But there's another one next Sunday and I'm sure that'll be just as good. Not sure of time differential where you are. I hope you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for it!

Sounds great. I hope I can make it next time. I´m behind London about 7 hours, so I don´t think so. It´s usually New Zealand that get´s the midnight shift.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

For NZ, it's 5 am Monday. Not too bad, actually, though that's my morning chores hour. Would have been there this week, but completely forgot about it.

 

[AliG]

Ne'er seems an option for the be there or conundrum.

 

[AliG]

Sounds brilliant. I hope to join in on 13th or 20th, French forest fires permitting.

 

[Quillwitch]

For NZ, it's 5 am Monday. Not too bad, actually, though that's my morning chores hour. Would have been there this week, but completely forgot about it.

You mean you deliberately get up at 5 am every day to do work no one is forcing you to do? I can barely get up at 8 to get to work.

 

[Quillwitch]

A question for @AgentPete --Will it only be us listening in, or will this be open to others? In other words, anyone on FB?

 

[Robinne Weiss]

You mean you deliberately get up at 5 am every day to do work no one is forcing you to do? I can barely get up at 8 to get to work.

I'm afraid I do, at least most of the year. It's midwinter now, and the garden requires less work, and the animals don't stir until 7 or later, so I often sleep in until 5.45. But the key is, I have to get it all done before 7.15, when it's time to get the kids to school. Even on days when my husband takes them, I try to be at work by 7.15, so I can get a full work day in before I have to pick the kids up at the end of the day. I've always been a morning person. I can count on one hand the number of days in my entire life that I've slept past 7 am (and they were all when I was sick). But please don't ask me to function rationally after 9 pm!

 

[AgentPete]

A question for @AgentPete --Will it only be us listening in, or will this be open to others? In other words, anyone on FB?

Yes, anyone on FB can watch - live - but there will be no recording, i.e. if you miss it, you miss it!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

*keeping a beady eye on this.*

Faint sounds of hammering coming from an unseen forge.

 

[Quillwitch]

Yes, anyone on FB can watch - live - but there will be no recording, i.e. if you miss it, you miss it!

I understand, thanks.