Elanor, ooooh, wow!! Awesome!! And congratulations!!!

wow Ela, your book looks so so awesome, congratulations once again

Thank you both!! I've finished re-editing it now (:P There were way too many mistakes in my first copy), so as soon as Betsie finishes changing the cover a little bit, I'm going to order some more copies. Excited!!

I just wanted to post in here to officially announce that I submitted my novel to CreateSpace today! I should be getting my free proof copy pretty soon. It's my first time doing this, and I'm really excited - albeit a bit nervous. I'm really hoping it looks alright.

I've heard from a lot of people who also got novels from CreateSpace that their novels get shipped/arrive very soon. Sure enough, I got an email this morning that it shipped, so now it's just a matter of time. I'll be sure to post pictures when it arrives.

Congrats, Mountie!! So exciting that it's your first time as well! I cannot wait to see pictures, and how you feel about it, so be sure to tell us as soon as you get it! I am in the process of ordering a new and improved copy of my book, so I'm getting the excitement twice over!

I had a question. I hope to someday have my bookseries published by a large publishing house... and I was wondering: how and when would I start out with that? How does one go about getting a good enough agent to get one published with a large publishing house? Am I supposed to get smaller works published by smaller houses first? Or go to conferences, and enter things in magazines? I write novels and series, not poems or short stories, so I wouldn't know what to enter in a magazine... And when should I start doing this? Before the books are written so I know ahead of time about the industry? Or should I wait until they're complete, so I'm ready for the opportunity when I see it?

Also, another question. With genres... how do you know what genre your book is when it's a combination of many different genres?

~Riella

Ithilwen, I find many books fall under a variety of genres. Howeve,r I suppose books are generally categorized by the most prominent genre traits they feature. If you can provide a brief description of your story, I might be able to help you more here.

Ithilwen, I find many books fall under a variety of genres. Howeve,r I suppose books are generally categorized by the most prominent genre traits they feature. If you can provide a brief description of your story, I might be able to help you more here.

I was thinking it might be fantasy, since it has a fantasy feel to it; but it's difficult to say, considering it doesn't really have any high-fantasy elements. There's no magic, witches, wizards, dwarves, elves. It just has an other-worldly feel to it. A good example, I suppose, would be some movies by Tim Burton. It's the atmosphere that's the fantasy element; and not any events or creatures, etc.

What makes it even more difficult is that it's a series. And where the main characters are in book one is not the same place they'll be in later books. The place they'll be in later books will alter the general atmosphere quite a bit. Any advice when it comes to that?

~Riella

Change the genre with the book, if you like. It doesn't matter. Just make sure that you're not making any queries to publishers until the novel is complete. It's not considered professional to ask them if they'll publish your novel and/or its sequels if you're not all set to be published.

That actually depends on the query form. However, if you do submit and it's not finished yet, you MUST post an expected finish date. But I would generalize with slg in this case and make sure you book/series is ready to be published. The thing about series is that they tend to shift the direction of the first as the author grows and the characters do. My sequel has done that with me. I ended filling in more gaps to the first that will blow the mind of the reader once they put the two together.

Now, Ithilwen, though I am published, Lighthouse is a small publisher, and could almost be considered a low cost, self-publisher. Getting a larger publisher to carry you, if you are a first time author like I am, will not be easy. Most large publishers don't want to take on the risk of a first time author because they don't know if the book will be successfull or not. They don't know you or what you bring to the table. And they also know that there about 500,000 other authors just like you that may be better and may not be. With me, when I went to an American Christian Writer's Conference in Oklahoma City, one of the speakers, Rene Gutteridge (who's published 19 fiction novels) said my work was at the caliber that a large publisher would want. But none have contacted me through my query at Writer's Edge Service. As the summer continues and I get closer to getting my sequel ready to go to a publisher I will be seeking a larger publisher.

So I'm still learning the process myself. I do personally recommend starting small if you are getting published for the first time. So few authors find themselves hit with a big publiser right off the bat. And it's my understanding that Christopher Paloni and Stephanie Meyers (Eragon and Twilight) self-published at first, then a big publisher found them. For me, those who have read my book have for the most part all said that it could take off once word gets out about it. And I have a Creation Science speaker friend who wants to market it to his 5,000+ followers. We're just waiting for a larger publisher (and a better editor than what Lighthouse offered) who can market wider. I am on Amazon but I am pretty much relying on personal contacts and word of mouth.

Now something to consider with publishers: find out about the details of marketing and what is involved. I have a church friend that wants to publish a children's novel and got a contract offer from Tate Publishing. They wanted $4,000+, which is way too much for a college student. They also said there would be lots of marketing opportunities. What I warned her about is that they would likely require her to travel to marketing spots to sell her books. And unless it is stated otherwise, it is best to assume the publisher will not cover travel costs like airline, hotel, etc. So unless you know for certain, like in a contract, that the publisher will cover it for you, whatever marketing you get will be out of your pocket. Not all publishers are like this, but you do need to be aware of it.

Ithilwen, Since you story is made up of a series of books, it might be helpful to look for traits which are common in all of your books.

I guess your story could be categorized as Speculative Fiction which is an umbrella term that covers a variety of sub-genres, including Fantasy.
From your description, it sounds a lot like Magic Realisim: "magic elements" are combined with "real elements" to create a slightly unreal mood and setting. I would suggest looking up these terms (and other genres as well) to get a better idea.

Anyways, I wouldn't be too worried about genre for now. Just finish your story; figuring out the genre can be done later.
I hope this is of some help to you.

So I've decided to participate in NaNo, which was a huge decision for me as I am terribly shy when it comes to doing stuff life this. I registered on the site and everything I've even got an idea for my NaNo novel. The only catch is I am again stuck as to what language to write it in. I want to do both and I know I won't be able to, so I will have to choose.....and that is not easy . Only now I have to hurry up and finish my other novel before November, I was hoping to have it done by December but I'm going to try and have it finished by the middle of October. I have been writing a good deal, even though I had to write a sad part in my novel and I really don't like writing sad scenes, it leaves me sad , I'm not quite done with it, and I think I'll write the rest tomorrow

Oh congrat Mountie, on ordering your NaNo novel, it must be so exciting I hope you will post pictures

Yay, another convert! I'm so glad you're going to do it, Wild - I guarantee it will be fun!
I wrote the first sentence of mine the other day. I think it's slowly coming to life, and I may actually do the story idea I have now. Because there isn't much of an idea, and that's what I want.

Hi, I'm new to this but I'd like to ask a bit of writing advice. XD I'm working on several different fantasy series and I was wondering what are some good ways to develop characters. I make notes a character sketch for each of my characters which gives a description and a few of the characteristics. I was wondering if that's enough or would it be better to expand on that. XD

Oh another question, is NaNoWriMo helpful? XD I've heard alot about it but I'm kinda nervous to try it out.

The real value of NaNo, I think - especially to those of us who like to edit and re-edit our work - is that the emphasis is on writing. Not perfection, just quantity. 50,000 words in the month of November.

The NaNo site itself observes that this will result in a lot of poor writing - but the important thing is that participants are writing! There are jewels among that dross, and there's time for editing after November ends. And, if all goes well, you'll have a complete novel!

This ties in, to some extent, to character development. I have a mental image (and written description) of my characters' appearance, personalities, attributes, etc (much like you've described), but getting them "into action" in previous NaNo stories has allowed me to develop and expand them right in the context of the story. As I've often heard writers say, sometimes the characters and story take us in directions we hadn't anticipated - and this means more character development.

Even if your NaNo 'crashes and burns,' I think it's valuable experience in just sitting down and writing. You'll learn things about your characters and their universe that will prove helpful in future writing projects.