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Literary merit aside, Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho was a veritable catalog of brand names and designer labels. I agree that you should just write what you want and let agent/editor figure it out.

I see what you're saying Teresa. I don't think I know enough about Pub. America to really know what they're up to. I'll read that thread. I guess I was just really responding to the harsh response XWing got.

I think Xwing Mom wrote eloquently why she liked Publish America. Maybe she is using it to her satisfaction and is not interested in sales reps and royalties.

I just finished it too and am about 50 pages into Child of Flame. True, sometimes it's tough going, you really have to be aware when you are reading. Not like some books where you can read without really reading if you know what I mean. I just wish some enterprising fan out there would put...

You would think there would be a character list in the back of the book, Gollum, but alas, there is none.

That would be so helpful. Anyone know of such a thing? I'm 1/4 into The Burning Stone right now. I really like this series. I have set the Burning Stone down a few times to read lighter fare but now I have come back to it and am really enjoying it. But it would be great to have a list of the...

Re: novel structure Hmmm. Not sure why you would want to break the habit of tried and true narrative structure. Conflict, action, resolution seems to work for every story no matter how literary or commercial. There are all kinds of examples of different narrative structures, though I know not...

I didn't read it all yet but I wanted to point out one thing that stopped me. You wrote: The evening was coming on quickly, the tops of the abandoned towers were still lit gold and scarlet, but the ground was already dark. Wouldn't this sentence be much more active if you tried this? The...

Professor T’hin Ke Moo was in his lab when the visualizer buzzed. Cybele Rain, the President’s Special Representative appeared looking most annoyed. Professor Moo's stomachs flipped. Maybe: Professor T’hin Ke Moo was in his lab when the visualizer buzzed. Cybele Rain, the President’s Special...

Interesting. Not much to go on, but I think I would keep reading. I'm not sure what's going on. Is Eugene absorbing someone else's body? If he's looking into the mirror, he is looking at his own face, right? A few edits follow: “What’s it like being you?” Eugene asks as he looks into the...

My comments on rainbow Room should have gone here, but it's in your other thread. But while I'm here, I also like the Introduction. Seems to set us up for something, of which we have no idea, but intrigues me to keep reading.

Very interesting. Nice rhythm and sense of place. Evocative and very distinct mood. Very 19th century. Is this what you are going for? Parts of it remind me of Patrick McGrath. If you're not familiar with his work, you must read him. Ok. The excerpt that I like most is the Rainbow Room. Very...

The line you highlighted was actually one of the lines I was debating over for a fair while; I guess I should go with my instincts and cut it, huh? I think it's a lot smoother if you take it out: I lift her hand and kiss the crepe paper on the inside of her wrist. I can still smell the...

Very nice. It reminds me of Patrick McGrath or Rupert Thomson. If you haven't read Thomson's The Insult, you should. The only line that took me out of it was: Why do old ladies always choose the same scent? Don't know why. It just seemed to jokey for the mood you are creating. Again, nicely...

Interesting so far, Yeoman, although the last paragraph has me a little confused. Is Keaira the girl we've been reading about?Here are a few suggestions in RED: The room was dark and dingy and the whitewashed walls were beginning to blacken around the edges. The girl stooped by the small...

Hi John, I've been reading a lot of agent blogs and also the blogs of new writers who have made their first sale. These writers often say excitedly (rightfully so!) that they just signed a three-book deal or a two-book deal with so-and-so Big Publisher. That got me thinking. What happens when...

Thanks, John. Good advice.

Hi John, glad to see you back on the forums. I'm relatively new here and have caught up on all of your posts. What a great resource you are! I have a suspicion I may know the answer to this question but I wanted to ask a publishing professional. What is the difference between Young Adult and...

That's a good book, Jonathan Strange. Also, the word count for YA or Middle Grade books can be shorter. I just finished draft zero and I am at 34,000 words. With future edits I think I'll reach 45,000, because I know there are some areas I need to flesh out. Here's a great site where you can...

Nice. Wants to read more.