Writing business in 'Revival'

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Diane Cox

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Nov 20, 2013
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Atlanta GA
When i first started writing about seven years ago it didnt take long to realize there was a lot about the process that i didn't know or comprehend. So I took a course from a writer who has also been an editor and a writing instructor, and she passed on several 'you can'ts'. I was delighted to see Mr King employ at least one of those quite successfully in this book - he addresses the reader directly at one point. I love how successfully he writes from first one point of view and then another in different stories. To me, Jamie Morton is a throwback to the nitty gritty characters of early King. Everyman, if you will.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
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Cambridge, Ohio
When i first started writing about seven years ago it didnt take long to realize there was a lot about the process that i didn't know or comprehend. So I took a course from a writer who has also been an editor and a writing instructor, and she passed on several 'you can'ts'. I was delighted to see Mr King employ at least one of those quite successfully in this book - he addresses the reader directly at one point. I love how successfully he writes from first one point of view and then another in different stories. To me, Jamie Morton is a throwback to the nitty gritty characters of early King. Everyman, if you will.
...certainly an exquisitely flawed example of the perfect "Everyman"....
 

EMTP513

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2012
503
1,923
When i first started writing about seven years ago it didnt take long to realize there was a lot about the process that i didn't know or comprehend. So I took a course from a writer who has also been an editor and a writing instructor, and she passed on several 'you can'ts'. I was delighted to see Mr King employ at least one of those quite successfully in this book - he addresses the reader directly at one point. I love how successfully he writes from first one point of view and then another in different stories. To me, Jamie Morton is a throwback to the nitty gritty characters of early King. Everyman, if you will.

That's just one of the many reasons I stopped writing. The last straw was for the editor to tell me correct medical information I had entered was "wrong." Just bc nobody in popular writing knows a cotton pickin' thing about Emergency Medicine doesn't mean I as a paramedic am the same type of person.
I was willing to change all kinds of other things about my writing, even though it made the writing wrong. But not information I got from being a paramedic and knowing exactly what I'm talking about. I guess I was always more interested in being precise. I don't care what everyone else does most of the time - esp if it doesn't ruin the entire story. But I can't make mistakes in medical details. I've been a paramedic too long to feel comfortable doing it.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
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Atlanta GA
That's just one of the many reasons I stopped writing. The last straw was for the editor to tell me correct medical information I had entered was "wrong." Just bc nobody in popular writing knows a cotton pickin' thing about Emergency Medicine doesn't mean I as a paramedic am the same type of person.
I was willing to change all kinds of other things about my writing, even though it made the writing wrong. But not information I got from being a paramedic and knowing exactly what I'm talking about. I guess I was always more interested in being precise. I don't care what everyone else does most of the time - esp if it doesn't ruin the entire story. But I can't make mistakes in medical details. I've been a paramedic too long to feel comfortable doing it.
Who says you have to quit writing, though?
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
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Atlanta GA
Sorry, you'll have to enlighten me as to what "everyman" refers to. I'm clueless.
I define "everyman" to be a character, either in fiction, mythology, or real life who is essentially nothing more than typical. This is not to say that the individual has no magical, unique, or special qualities since every man has those things. But not every man is given credit for them, but tends to fly under societal radar set up to detect the great people.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
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Spokane, WA
I define "everyman" to be a character, either in fiction, mythology, or real life who is essentially nothing more than typical. This is not to say that the individual has no magical, unique, or special qualities since every man has those things. But not every man is given credit for them, but tends to fly under societal radar set up to detect the great people.
In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual, with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify easily, and who is often placed in extraordinary circumstances.
Or just your average Joe. ;-D
 

EMTP513

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2012
503
1,923
Who says you have to quit writing, though?

Nobody; I decided to do it again. My only problem now is how to find the right 'agent' when you're still unpublished in terms of making money at it. I've been published several times for free. I got tired of it and my friend who's a professional writer says they need to be paying me, not me paying them. But she said to get an agent. So far I have no idea how to do that.
 

EMTP513

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2012
503
1,923
Okay. Anybody who knows anything about the writing industry, can you tell me if an agent wanting to take 50% is normal? I thought 25% was the standard, not 50. I don't think I want this agent. I know they're going to take a lot up front but 50 percent of what I can make in the deal isn't going to work for me. Besides, I never heard of them taking that much off the top. Talk about greedy-guts people. :blues:
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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The High Seas
Okay. Anybody who knows anything about the writing industry, can you tell me if an agent wanting to take 50% is normal? I thought 25% was the standard, not 50. I don't think I want this agent. I know they're going to take a lot up front but 50 percent of what I can make in the deal isn't going to work for me. Besides, I never heard of them taking that much off the top. Talk about greedy-guts people. :blues:
I think that is waaaaay too much. I think 25 is too much! thought 15 was standard.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
Okay. Anybody who knows anything about the writing industry, can you tell me if an agent wanting to take 50% is normal? I thought 25% was the standard, not 50. I don't think I want this agent. I know they're going to take a lot up front but 50 percent of what I can make in the deal isn't going to work for me. Besides, I never heard of them taking that much off the top. Talk about greedy-guts people. :blues:
Sounds like a ripoff artist to me.
 
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Jul 10, 2006
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Okay. Anybody who knows anything about the writing industry, can you tell me if an agent wanting to take 50% is normal? I thought 25% was the standard, not 50. I don't think I want this agent. I know they're going to take a lot up front but 50 percent of what I can make in the deal isn't going to work for me. Besides, I never heard of them taking that much off the top. Talk about greedy-guts people. :blues:
It's not standard. It's probably gone up and I don't know how much Steve pays his agents, but at one time 15-20% was more the norm for an agent's fee. There are other published writers here on the Board, so they may be willing to share what their experience is with agent percentages.