In a recent newsletter, Hope Clark addressed a typical issue faced by new writers: what am I supposed to do while I'm waiting for publishers and agents to respond to query letters?

Her advice was spot on: stop waiting. Rather than waiting, the writer should be sending out more queries, proofing the manuscript again, researching or outlining the next book.

Waiting, she says, might kill an offer you might otherwise get because agents and publishers are not just looking at the MS, they're looking at you. What if they say: "Love the book, what's the next one about?" We really don't want to tell them there isn't a next one because we've been sitting around waiting.

We can, at the very least, outline the series or the sequel. Waiting is a waste of time and a sure way not to look professional.

Hope's advice makes for a good wake up call...just in case we need one.

Malcolm

I have outlines for two next books.............just need the publisher.

DK,

Well, should they ask what's on the drawing board, you'll have solid information to give them.

Have you thought of either Vanilla Heart Publishing or Second Wind Publishing?

Malcolm

No. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look into them. I currently have a publisher for romance and paranormal, but not for a general literature genre.

Both of those publishers tend to focus on genre books. But they're worth taking a look at, I think, for anything you might have that fits their guidelines.

Malcolm

Well...I do have that part down. I just keep on writing away...will have a list as long as God's arm before it's over with...

Keep chugging along, Rhett!

M

I have three in various stages of (in)completion. Funny, but my
favorite one, a sci-fi, was begun over twenty years ago. Recently I
went back and re-worked things like sentence structure since I have
improved somewhat since those years. One "problem" is that what I wrote
as science fiction back then has become reality.

What is that saying? Art imitates life or is it life imitates art? Either way it is true.