Final blog for spring semester

I enjoyed this class, I think that it gave a good perspective on all the work that goes in to being a writer. I think that it has shown me that writing a short story or a screen play are two things that I am good at. However this isn't going to be my last try at a novel but I will not be concentrating on this as much. I enjoyed getting feedback from everyone but I chose to look at the ones that enjoy reading mysteries and suspense thrillers more so than others. I found their feedback more helpful because I feel like, since they've read more mysteries, they know what it takes to make a good mystery. I am not ready to send off a letter yet, though it could be a series of short stories someday. I would want to have it ready first. I probably won't E publish because of all the work involved, not trying to be lazy but it makes more sense to have someone with experience for my first time.

Publishers, which ones fit my ideal mold?

     Well, to start off, I didn't have a rough time choosing through the five main publishers given. (L.B. Publishing; Penguin Random House Publishing; St Martins Press; and Harper Collins.) These were the five and they all are great, but I had to narrow down for myself to two. Honestly I went by who had what on their website, whether it was the books they already published and were marketing or trying to get to know those who come to their site looking to be published. 
      I chose L.B. Publishing and Random House Publishing because they both had my style of stories in their published section, also they seemed to want to encourage writers to come checkout their site to receive information about them as well what they needed from them to be able to help them get published. I also think that they are a little more spread out in genres, not saying the others aren't, but I honestly can't remember when I've picked up a book from Penguin or Harper Collins. Now they may have something that I just don't remember reading, and it had most likely been since high school since I've read something from St. Martins Press.    
     My main reason for not choosing the other three were because they either weren't marketing my genre and therefore didn't seem to be all that interested in what I would want to give them. Also I didn't feel like with Penguin that their site was as user friendly as some of the others, St. Martins press was user friendly but didn't really stand out to me. Although Harper Collins was interested in the writer and helping the writer get published most of what was being marketed was either a romance novel or something more female oriented in my opinion.

Literay Agents

I have had a time finding agencies, but I feel that these three are a good start and would give my story a good chance at being published.

The Steinberg Agency have three main publishers, Edward Graham, Lisa Kopel and Peter Steinberg. (The founder of the agency.) Lisa’s likes reading more of the nonfiction but Edward and Peter welcome fiction with open arms. (Edward has a few requirements for the writers. He would like to see clear and thought filled writing.) Peter does more of the YA fiction, he enjoys almost every genre category. They’ve had nominations the Pulitzer prize and several other awards since they began in 2007.

My next choice in agencies would be Heart line agencies, they are a Christian agency based out of Amarillo, Texas. Since they are a Christian agency they’re main focus is on that sort of writing...duh. They don’t however turn down other literary pieces with general interests in mind.

Terry Burns is an agent that works with my genre he says in his biography if it “is unique and different” along with what he sees to be marketable. (which I feel my story would fit these criteria). 

Now, last but not the least I would like to send a letter to The Knight Agency, They are another Christian agency who like suspense, thrillers, as well as mystery. They also deal with other genres but these are the ones I was looking for in an agency. One of their books from these genres is THE ANATOMIST’S APPRENTICE by Tessa Harris. It’s based back in the 1800s and it is a murder mystery, kinda like mine. 

I feel that Terry Burns would best serve my story because it is right up his alley, how ever looking at an agency as a whole I think The Knights Agency has more opportunities in my opinion and has been around the longest of the three. Then again The Steinberg Agency has been nominated for more awards so I would definitely have a hard time choosing one publisher.