Anything I can do to help…let me know.

Mostly I’ve been checking out which pubs have stories similar to mine in style and–I don’t know the right word–philosophy? I’m about 20 000 words into what I’m hoping will be a category-length ER, but I’m not envisioning the traditional Cinderella ending for it (or for any of my stories, really). That kind of narrows the field a bit, but it looks like there’s still options for me.

Another thing I’m really paying attention to is the quality of the excerpts offered on the websites. My interest in certain publishers is waning, the more typos I find in the bits that are supposed to attract readers. And any website that’s hard to navigate brings that pub down a notch, too.

The EREC site is very helpful, and I’ll definitely be in touch with you as I get closer to finishing. Thanks again.

Mostly I’ve been checking out which pubs have stories similar to mine in style and–I don’t know the right word–philosophy? I’m about 20 000 words into what I’m hoping will be a category-length ER, but I’m not envisioning the traditional Cinderella ending for it (or for any of my stories, really). That kind of narrows the field a bit, but it looks like there’s still options for me.

Another thing I’m really paying attention to is the quality of the excerpts offered on the websites. My interest in certain publishers is waning, the more typos I find in the bits that are supposed to attract readers. And any website that’s hard to navigate brings that pub down a notch, too.

The EREC site is very helpful, and I’ll definitely be in touch with you as I get closer to finishing. Thanks again.

Kis, I love Rachel Vater and Jenny Rappaport–they’re both at the top of my query list. BookEnds is a fun blog too but they don’t really rep urban fantasy like my project, which sucks.

I know what you mean. I tend to take little breaks as well. I don’t comment at Miss S as often as I used to–it’s really only if I have something to really add anymore. I go in cycles with my websites and stuff, maybe you do too.

Which publishers are you looking at? I know someone published with just about everyone, so email me if you’re looking for specific info you can’t find anywhere else.

I used to visit there religiously, and frequently commented, but the momentum seems to be fading. There’s just too much–I read the Q&A, but never the comments anymore. I still visit EE every day, but I don’t comment much there either. I’m kind of in a heavy research mode right now, and doing less “playing,” if you get my meaning. I promised myself I’d only waste time if it gives me the warm fuzzies, and that’s not too many places, really. Even Agent Kristin, whom I adore, doesn’t get more than a cursory visit from me these days.

I’ve actually been finding Rachel Vater’s and Jenny Rappaport’s blogs to be hugely helpful and entertaining, and of course my one really guilty pleasure is the smart bitches. But right now, I’m mostly reading what’s available for free in ero-rom, researching publishers and trying to spend at least two or three hours a day actually putting words on–well, not paper, but at least on screen.

And about the hook comment- if only it was so easy to see the strengths in everyone’s Snarked pages! You’re a brave lady.

I hadn’t heard that about Brad Pitt. Funny, someone on AW mentioned how thin Angelina Jolie looks lately, and someone else replied, “Yeah, but all the woman BP dates do that.” Hadn’t occurred to me until then. So maybe he’s really a huge dickhead.

Gotta watch Troy…as soon as I finish watching my favorite Troy, as in Dr. Christian, in the bootleg DVDs of Nip/Tuck Season 4 my best friend sent me! They’re just starting to show this season on TV here and I couldn’t wait. Don’t worry, I’ll still buy the DVDs when they come out. I’m no thief.

I wouldn’t be complaining if it was my beloved Aragorn. I think it was Philip Seymour Hoffman, who I do adore, really I do. I just hink it’s a shame Eric wasn’t even nominated.

Thank you, thank you…I don’t know that I’d say unjustifiably harsh (although I sure appreciate you saying it, lol), but I admit to being disappointed. I didn’t think it was great, but I didn’t think it was that bad, and certainly I thought there were worse examples that she seemed to like better. But that’s why it’s personal taste. I actually think the lack of comments hurt me more than what Miss S said. I knew she was being deliberately cold and harsh–she emailed me to tell me so. But I hoped the Snarklings would have more to say, especially after they liked the hook so much. Anyway, thanks so much. I feel much better.

I guess I’m chatty too.

Thanks again, JTC…

I agree about Troy–EB was the best thing in it. I had a real hard time swallowing Brad Pitt as Achilles. (Not as hard a time as I had swallowing Colin Farrell as Alexander, though, what a freaking joke that was, IMO.) Did you know BP refused to wear sandals because he has “ugly feet,” and made the costume designer do anachronistic boots instead? How vain is that?

Who did win best actor? I never really follow the oscars (except during the LOTR years). Was it Viggo Mortensen–cause if it was him *drool, drool* I can forgive the committee.

Oh, and I did read your pages over at Snarky’s, though I didn’t comment. I thought they were pretty good, especially for a rush job, and she was maybe unjustifiably tough on you. But that’s just my opinion, and I don’t have to read a billion queries and five billion pages a year. If I did, I’d probably be a bit unforgiving (and bitchy and probably committed to a mental intitution by now).

But I’ve come to the dawning realization–judging by what’s being published in my genre (SFF)–that agents might actually be pickier than publishers. That may be the case for ER, and maybe even straight romantic fiction. Agents are all about “fresh and new,” but the ratio of “fresh and new” to “same old same-old,” in published books makes me wonder. Same with the writing. I’ve seen stuff published recently that can’t remotely stand up to your writing–from big trade houses, no less. Something to think about.

Sorry to ramble. Just feeling talkative, I guess.

BTW, what’s with the comment moderation? Was somebody bad?