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Wrote a historical Irish Novel. But nobody wants it... but it's not bad...

245

Comments

  • #32
    ebixa82
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,289 ✭✭✭ebixa82


    Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »
    I wrote a historical Irish novel (4 yrs work), set in 1879, with long flashbacks to the famine. In fairness it is a very large novel (190,000wds).
    Took over a year to get an agent. Long story here, no Irish agents could be interested, (there are only about 8) but some of the responses were classic. UK agents - very professional, and eventually settled with a nice chap in London.
    He sent it to 3 publishers - one liked it a lot - gave 3 pages of notes and asked for a re-write. I did a re-write (3 months). Re-submitted, and waited...and waited...and waited...
    Today, 3 mnths later - got a rejection from the publisher. They said they hadn't time to read it all, but...no - oh I could moan all f~~cking DAY - but... I'll only moan for a half hour here anyway.


    What I really want to say about this is - F**k, F**k, F**k, F**k F**k, F**k, F**kF**k F**k, F**k F**k, F**k F**k, F**k F**k, F**k
    F**k, F**k F**k, F**k... etc.

    Sorry for the rant - Bollox,bollox, bollox. x 1000.
    I was just on itunes liking for appropriate music - thought"Best of Nick Cave" might do the trick but.. appears not.
    Any suggestions?

    Taaaaaankns. ( slides hand into pocket and takes fraudulent insuracne claim)

    Spellcheck much?


  • #33
    Donal Og O Baelach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭Donal Og O Baelach


    ebixa82 wrote: »
    Spellcheck much?

    Funny - thats exactly what they said in the rejection....


  • #34
    bonerm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,594 ✭✭✭bonerm


    foxinsox wrote: »

    Never heard that version before. It's awful! :(

    I think I'll just stick with the original

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCRZLr9oRw


  • #35
    talla10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭talla10


    Does Micky from Athenry get a mention??


  • #36
    Donal Og O Baelach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭Donal Og O Baelach


    talla10 wrote: »
    Does Micky from Athenry get a mention??

    Do you want him to?


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  • #37
    Johro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭Johro


    Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »
    Never fecked.
    How the feck could I fail when Jedward can succeed? (Respect to the Jedward twins workrate by the way)
    Not really comparable though is it? Ask Louis Walsh to plug it.


  • #38
    talla10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭talla10


    Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »
    Do you want him to?

    Ah yeah but he is prob in Austraila in 1879!!

    Good luck with the book JK Rowling was turned down loads of times!


  • #39
    Donal Og O Baelach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭Donal Og O Baelach


    Johro wrote: »
    Not really comparable though is it? Ask Louis Walsh to plug it.

    Imagine me, 40+ and ragged, clutching a copy of my large manuscript, wading through the glam teenie hopefuls.

    WAIT - he liked wagner...


  • #40
    kincsem
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,012 ✭✭✭kincsem


    Send it to a few people (not publishers) to read. Ask for opinions.

    Does it have a catchy opening sentence like this?
    http://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Dirty-Influence-People/dp/0671751085


  • #41
    Johro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭Johro


    Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »
    Long story here,...
    You're not kidding.. 190,000 words, you need to do some serious editing alright. What sort of suggestions did ya get from the publisher?


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  • #42
    Captain Darling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,542 ✭✭✭Captain Darling


    Johro wrote: »
    Not really comparable though is it? Ask Louis Walsh to plug it.

    There is a smidgen of talent here, so Louis Walsh is not appropriate. Just a smidgen mind you. ;)


  • #43
    Nulty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,843 ✭✭✭Nulty


    A book of 190,000 words that is - to quote the author - "not bad".

    If you don't believe in it then no one else will. "Not bad" leaves room for improvement though


  • #44
    Johro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭Johro


    Captain Darling wrote: »
    There is a smidgen of talent here, so Louis Walsh is not appropriate. Just a smidgen mind you. ;)
    Fair enough, a smidgen is enough to tell Louis to f#ck right off.


  • #45
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,369 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    Nulty wrote: »
    A book of 190,000 words that is - to quote the author - "not bad".

    If you don't believe in it then no one else will. "Not bad" leaves room for improvement though

    I suppose the trick is to get them in the most sellable order.


  • #46
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    You could make a serious amount of paper aeroplanes from all that paper.

    Imagine the fun you could have, re-enacting Pearl Harbour...

    Pew, pew, BOOOOSH, pew, pew.. BOOOOOOOSH... pew


  • #47
    DublinWriter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭DublinWriter


    Hazys wrote: »
    Add more leprechauns.

    ...and change your name to Leon Iris.


  • #48
    Johro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭Johro


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    You could make a serious amount of paper aeroplanes from all that paper.

    Imagine the fun you could have, re-enacting Pearl Harbour...

    Pew, pew, BOOOOSH, pew, pew.. BOOOOOOOSH... pew
    You're not helping..:rolleyes::D


  • #49
    bonerm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,594 ✭✭✭bonerm


    starbelgrade wrote: »
    You could make a serious amount of paper aeroplanes from all that paper.

    Imagine the fun you could have, re-enacting Pearl Harbour...

    Pew, pew, BOOOOSH, pew, pew.. BOOOOOOOSH... pew

    Trent : The Famine Years?

    Best-seller IMHO.


  • #50
    DublinWriter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭DublinWriter


    Hazys wrote: »
    Add more leprechauns.
    ...and zombies.

    Better still, mutant zombie leprechauns.

    From outer space.


  • #51
    Johro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭Johro


    DublinWriter wrote: »
    ...and change your name to Leon Iris.
    Nah there's nothing wrong with the name. The name fits. Irish historical novel. Irish historical name. Irish historical novelist.


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  • #52
    bonerm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,594 ✭✭✭bonerm


    talla10 wrote: »
    JK Rowling was turned down loads of times!

    Not enough times.


  • #53
    Jesus Wept
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,243 ✭✭✭✭Jesus Wept


    change it to zombies


  • #54
    Donal Og O Baelach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭Donal Og O Baelach


    Johro wrote: »
    You're not kidding.. 190,000 words, you need to do some serious editing alright. What sort of suggestions did ya get from the publisher?

    English Publisher said - "Make it more Irish", I buckled down - called Michae l- Meechaaaael, and stuck in extra Oirish phrases "ta me go maith a chairde".
    And, I tipped me hat, and di me best.
    Also, i cut this and that.

    The only thing I can really complain about is that the publisher sent me 4 pages of notes to cerrect - i corected them, and then, another lady - the fecking editor!! - said, "Eh, why did he change this" after the other lady telling me to.

    I think - the only thing for me to say as I bow out, is,

    Ah B'lloxcxxxxxx.


  • #55
    DublinWriter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭DublinWriter


    Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »
    I think - the only thing for me to say as I bow out, is,
    No...re-arrange all the words into a random order and you'll have a post-modern classic.


  • #56
    starbelgrade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,739 ✭✭✭✭starbelgrade


    If at first you don't succeed, give up.


  • #57
    PeterIanStaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭PeterIanStaker


    Say that Jesus had kids.


  • #58
    Axe Rake
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 240 ✭✭Axe Rake


    Lack of dinosaurs.


  • #59
    Setun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,804 ✭✭✭Setun


    Donal Og O Baelach wrote: »
    English Publisher said - "Make it more Irish", I buckled down - called Michae l- Meechaaaael, and stuck in extra Oirish phrases "ta me go maith a chairde".
    And, I tipped me hat, and di me best.
    Also, i cut this and that.

    The only thing I can really complain about is that the publisher sent me 4 pages of notes to cerrect - i corected them, and then, another lady - the fecking editor!! - said, "Eh, why did he change this" after the other lady telling me to.

    I think - the only thing for me to say as I bow out, is,

    Ah B'lloxcxxxxxx.
    Have you seen the film Sideways, OP? Great scene in that where Paul Giamatti's novel gets rejected and he downs a jug of wine.

    Seriously though, in this "digital age", is it not possible to self-publish - or is that the maddest suggestion in the world?


  • #60
    Donal Og O Baelach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭Donal Og O Baelach


    Daddio wrote: »
    Have you seen the film Sideways, OP? Great scene in that where Paul Giamatti's novel gets rejected and he downs a jug of wine.

    Seriously though, in this "digital age", is it not possible to self-publish - or is that the maddest suggestion in the world?

    I'm not sure Daddio - I can load the book onto Amazon, but then distribution? I don't know. I may go there.
    If I keep writing crazy threads on After Hours, maybe i can self publish and make a profit???

    But seriously, it's a good book about out history.


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  • #61
    Millicent
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,559 ✭✭✭Millicent


    Daddio wrote: »
    Have you seen the film Sideways, OP? Great scene in that where Paul Giamatti's novel gets rejected and he downs a jug of wine.

    Seriously though, in this "digital age", is it not possible to self-publish - or is that the maddest suggestion in the world?

    Self-publishing is only a route to go down if you sincerely believe you cannot sell to a publisher. There are also a lot of self-publishing scams out there so it's an avenue that needs to be thoroughly researched before you do. It is very, very rare that a self-pub sells in the quantities that a traditionally published book.


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