Thursday, November 17, 2016

Pass For A Book: 99%

Writing a book is not like getting a pass (50%). It's not like getting a distinction (say 80%). My own finest performance (94%) would not do. I have read that 98-99% is what you need for a book to get through -- unless for some reason you hit the jackpot. At the moment, I have two manuscripts of about 200 pages each, both far advanced. Rather than having "written" them, I would say I have "developed" them. They have both had professional assistance, and a lot of help and encouragement besides. Yesterday, for the first time, one of them made it past the query stage -- which is the first hurdle -- with an agent in New York. Typically there are two hurdles after that. OBSERVATION: This book might not make it any further -- this time. However, it is a sign that my hopes for my writing may not be misguided.

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