Link 2

Dear Aylad,

I just love your web site, mostly because it led me to the agent who is
eager to market my novel "Cruising for Murder." About two months ago I
downloaded names of agents from your site, sent e-mail queries to each one,
and got a favorable response.

After sending the agent three sample chapters, he asked to read the entire
manuscript. I had a vacation scheduled, so I mailed the manuscript and left
for two weeks. Upon my return you can imagine my delight and surprise to
find a contract in the mail!

Thank you so much for the time and effort you have taken to establish such a
helpful and informative web site. I've explored the entire site, and the
links have been excellent. I will keep you updated on my progress in
getting a publisher for my novel.

Thanks again,
Diane Rapp--Colorado

Writers' Groups. No Place for Shy Violets

It was once the done thing to join the local tennis club. Then lawn bowls
claimed attention for a while. Anglers' clubs have died on the end of the
line. The 'in' mob to be with today is a writers' group. They're easy to
find. Writers gather together like seagulls around a dead prawn. They are
not all the same. I classify them as overrate, stylistic and havoc.

The overrate group are very like a social club. All members come along for
a chat and a cup of decaff. If there is any criticism of one's writing it is
usually something like, 'I just loved your story Irene. What made you choose
pink for Felicity's slacks? She seemed more like a sea-blue person to me. I
loved your simile about 'being as lonely as the teaspoon that's always at
the bottom of the wash-up dish. That made me smile.'
All this makes you feel wonderful. You wonder whether you are on your way
to a Pulitzer Prize. Don't be fooled. Praise does not improve your work.
Worse, it could ruin your chances of success by making you think this first
draft is brilliant.

The stylistic groups usually have a leader who reads nothing but the
classics. All members follow his observations about your work and compare
you to writers you've never heard of! 'You should read Leonie Getwell's
"Life is Mysterious" someone will tell you. They say 'avant-garde' and
'experimental prose' a lot.

If you are really serious about your writing hunt around until you find a
havoc group.
This is where it all comes together. On your first visit you may feel you've
joined some kind of weird sect where everyone wants to cause havoc to
everyone else. Their criticism is more likely to be, 'A taxi driver like
that wouldn't last five minutes in New York. Give him a bit of punch and
verve. Don't have him just sigh and hope the next passenger will give him a
tip.'
This kind of ripping up of you precious prose might be hard to take at
first. You might come away swearing never again to go near the place. But it
gets easier as you see the benefits and improvements in your story. If you'
re wise you'll look at the criticisms closely. Do some of them agree with
one another? Ask yourself could they be right. Pin the critics down. Are
the characters too shallow? Is the plot over the top? Does the story wander
about without getting anywhere? When finally convinced a change is necessary
go to it and make your story better.
Ern Carne II

Diana, thank you so much for the invitation! What a wonderful site you have. I've
read the stories and they are fantastic and I'm looking forward to reading more.
I may ask to be a part of your showcase! I will add your web site to my own.
Again, thank you for such a treat!
J.M. Delong

Thank you Diana for you help for all the writers in the group! We all love you! And
the page rocks. Tis a rockin' metallica, megadeath, korn, metal, rockin' kick ass page!
hehe There's my rebelious streak! Greatings from Nottingham. It's getting cold again
here. I hate cold. brrrrrr Have fun and keep writing lots and lots and lots and lots
cause your brilliant! byesybye!
Chris Gilbert