First Word

I don't know what it is about some of those folks who dwell in the sub-culture called Author-Dom. Now the vast majority I meet are really terrific, open and interested full of questions to which I try to answer. Then exists another strata where they act pretentious and irritated that I don't think the next best-seller is standing in front of me. This attitude embraces arrogance and entitlement. I don't know if they're trying to overcome low self-esteem and pump up their chests to make some sort of statement about their skill levels or they're just obnoxious. For those of you who approach me with the attitude, "I am published hear me roar," and you want to work with 3L Publishing , please be advised. I am sizing you up too. I don't work with people I don't like. You could hand me a $1 million and that would not solve my desire to not work with Mr. or Mrs. Full of Themselves. Entitlement and obnoxious behavior includes the following: talking down to ...

Many authors and writers out there would be shocked to know that I can tell by almost the first line in a book whether or not it's a winner or loser. I know you're thinking, "How can she tell by the first line?" Well, I'm not sure what it is about terrible manuscripts, but they show their flaws almost as soon as the authors has typed a single word. I recently was given a book to read. Published by one of our fellow publishers aka vanity press, I was immediately captivated. No, not by the scintillating prose. The author makes the clear beginner's mistake right from the start -- she writes in passive voice. Passive voice is like being a victim -- everything happens to you! This error was followed by equally flat and uninteresting writing. (Also, if you don't know what is passive voice, please go to my favorite website, Grammar Girl , and look it up ... I heart Grammar Girl.) Did I know by the first line this book wasn't getting published at 3L ? Absolute...