I believe my story is good and unique enough to get published

How do I go about doing that? Please and thank you!

http://www.wattpad.com/story/1252621-man-on-an-island

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay Most publishers won't accept a manuscript from an unpublished author. You'll have to find a literary agent. To do that, you have to find one that handles your genre. And you need a killer query letter to get their attention to ask for your manuscript. And then it's an uphill battle.

Of course you can self-publish.

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay I'm thinking no. I read five chapters and was totally unhooked. I was just muttering "Who's he? Where did he come from?"

The chapters are ridiculously short, and there is head-hopping (which is an achievement in a story with multipitle first person povs). For a story set in a desert island, no-one seems to be concerned about water And who exactly are the slave traders going to sell the slaves to?

Go back and edit. Start with a synopsis, and give all your characters names. You may think you are creating an air of mystery with The Man and The Woman. No, you're just annoying the reader.

Write out the synopsis and reveal the whole story, from start to finish. Then go back and edit. I'd strongly suggest you use third person limited for this story not multiple first person.

By the way, give your characters some brains. A woman who is running for her life doesn't notice a massive island monster until she runs into it? Please, she deserves to be eaten.

Reply Report

@Ctyolene The back story is here https://www.facebook.com/groups/153416998085245/

And they do have names :)

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay

I agree with @Cytolene about the Go back and edit part, your story needs some work, but I can say, you're story's interesting and that I'm rooting for you! ")

Reply Report

It's a work in progress I agree- I've been at it for 476 straight days so I am bettering myself each day :)

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay Do a synopsis. I know, I bang this drum a lot, but it's amazing how writing a synopsis can reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your story.

In my first novel, I had one wishy-washy character that nobody liked, and I kept trying to find ways to kill him off, but they never worked, Then I wrote the synopsis and discovered that he was the pivot on which three important plot points turned, so I beefed him up, and suddenly it all worked better.

However, I'm not joking about names for you characters, and make sure you have fully rounded goals, motivations and conflicts for each of them. Otherwise, they are just cardboard cut-outs that no reader will care about.

Reply Report

@Ctyolene

Check the date: I have been writing the story each day for close to 500 days. They have names, motivation, conflicts etc. I just haven't had the time to put 650 pieces of writing on wattpad. Make sense now?.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/153416998085245/

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay You asked for comments on the story on Wattpad. What's the point of asking if something can be published if you don't post the story you want to get published? Are you planning to send a Facebook link to a publisher?

Wow, is this the same guy who can hit a rat that's running away, but he can't hit a pig that's directly in his path? And where does he get the bread to make the bacon sandwiches?

"The heroine is coursing through me"?

Reply Report

@Ctyolene Because sweety- I happen to work 7 days a week and I don't have time to post the enitre thing on wattpad. You know what- There are many who enjoy my writing. So one little idiot like you- doesn't really matter. Go screw a duck.

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay So you won't be applying to my publishing company then?

Everone works. Some people manage to be polite in spite of that.

Reply Report

Somebody that's too thick to think for themselves- when I have repeatedly told them something (I.e the date, the names etc etc)- the words "hell" and "no" come to mind.

Good day .

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay

I had a look at your story out of curiosity... It's really no where near ready to be published. Did you SERIOUSLY write that over 500 days? I wrote my story in three weeks, and I've already gotten full requests from agents *shrug*

I think calling someone an idiot because they don't think you're ready for publishing is, to be honest, vehemently stupid. You've spent over a year working on something that, honestly, most writers could churn out in a couple of days. Especially with that quality... Where is your character voice? Where are their motivations. It's almost like you didn't consider your plot while you were writing it.

Honestly, 500 days working on your book, and you couldn't take a single one of them to learn some manners? The whole "My book is great and you don't know what you're talking about" mantra will guarantee you'll never get published.

Reply Report

Oh my soul- it's an idiot's convention. Muffin- it's a daily story. I purposely write a piece a day. I build my motivation and plot over months but I can see you two clowns type with your foreheads I am not going to waste my time anymore here.

If only stupidity was a fatal disease...

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay Seriously? You work 7 days a week and that gives you right to think you're better then others? Why are you being so rude? There is no need for that really.. Its your problem that you can't manage your time to spend more time on wattpad. I also work 7 days a week and I am going to university as well and I spend a lot of time on wattpad. Try multitasking, or you are maybe to limited for that? That's ok... Just don't pick on people for only trying to give you an advice.. jeee

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay I'm apologize for bursting in on this, but you are being very rude here. You asked for honest opinions and you got some. You have no place to then call those who gave them idiots. That's no way to improve yourself and it's no way to treat those trying to help you.

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay If you're planning on getting published, you need to learn how to take in criticism with a grain of salt. You will never, ever be loved by everyone, and there is always room for improvement, no matter how good you are at something. Perfect is a word that is merely there- it doesn't physically exist within the human race yet. It isn't physiologically possible to be perfect.

Therefore, there probably IS something wrong with your writing, and you have to learn how to accept the fact that there is a flaw, change it, and make yourself all the better for it.

That's all.

Reply Report

@bigblueyes1 I'm just allergic to idiots. Where is the name? where is the name? motivation? motivation? I tried getting through to them but wow...seriously? You don't think I name my characters on day one and gave them motivations? Maybe the story concept is too difficult for these twilight fans- for that I apologize. Maybe I was rude but I have zero tolerance for morons. .

Reply Report

This is the reason why I, and many others on here, have stopped doing honest crits.

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay It's funny how you insult other's intelligence by telling them they are idiots as if you are quite the wise one. It takes one to know one. No matter how immature that sounds, tis is true.

Also, it is fabulous that you work 7 days a week, so do a lot of others. And you came here asking how you would get published and everyone is but simply helping you out. If someone finds your story unhooking then take the advice and find how you can make it better. You aren't perfect and neither is anyone else here. Everyone is just trying to help one another to get better.

You look like an idiot when you call everyone else an idiot when this was YOUR forum where YOU asked for help.

Reply Report

@Parogar This is pointless. He asked for help, you gave it, and now you're an idiot.... Who freaking cares

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay You don't want me to look at your story. Trust me.

Reply Report

@theolddarkness Ha, you'll just be an idiot in his eyes too

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay

Did you SERIOUSLY just insult my friend @bigblueyes1 ?

Do you have any idea how wonderful and kind of a person you just insulted? You have just made me gravely angry.

Reply Report

@JohnMurrayMcKay You are seriously lucky theolddarkness isn't critiquing your story... I wont even bother reading it, cause I trust Parogar's opinion. If you were smart, as you are obviously NOT, you would take these people advices and try to improve your story, cause they can help you a lot. They are more talented then you'll ever be. You just stick to your 7days a week job. Don't do writing, it's to complex for you to achieve since you can't manage to post it to wattpad obviously. Or just prove me wrong and be civilized and ask these people to help you if you want to go anywhere with your writing...

Reply Report