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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

“Publishable”

 

A broad term and surprisingly – but maybe not – with multiple meanings depending on who you're talking to.

When I hear the term, this is what I think of:

"I"s dotted. "T"s crossed. Grammar and punctuation in the correct place.

Genre-precise.

Formulaic.

Ordinary. Sticking with the "norm".

Expected generic appeal with an established audience.

 

BarbieRomanceNovelLow

How 'bout you? What do you think when you hear someone in the biz describe fiction as "publishable"?

 

Father, keep me focused on you and your desires for what I need to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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7 responses to ““Publishable””

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    Romance.

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  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Good point.

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  3. Tim George Avatar
    Tim George

    All of above and sadly about the only way to make a living if writing genre fiction (especially in the CBA).

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  4. Jessica Thomas Avatar
    Jessica Thomas

    I love picture. 🙂
    I tend to think “fitting into someone else’s mold” which makes me apprehensive because I’ve always felt as though I don’t quite fit in with the norm.

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  5. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Amazing how we all agree.

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  6. Normandie Fischer Avatar
    Normandie Fischer

    Nicole, now that I’m an acquiring editor, I have a different perspective on “publishable” for the unknown writer: someone who believes in the work enough to take a chance on it. So, if we write good stories and work on our craft until those stories have life, someone will want them. Maybe not a big someone, or a notable someone, but editors make choices, and many times we choose because we see a gem underneath the missing (or overused) commas or the POV shifts. The trick, of course, is in finding that editor and that particular pub board.

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  7. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I understand, N. (And thanks for the “overused” comma reference. 😉 ) Here’s the deal with me. I’ve seen some comments made by “judges” in contests. These particular judges are professionals, not other wannabes. The above mentioned points are exactly what they decided was “worthy” of publishing. Given the posted examples (which, as you point out, N) of their judgments, I could see not only their preferences but their perceptions of what warrants publication. Of all their choices, I couldn’t find anything to inspire me to read the completed books.
    I totally agree with finding the right people and places for getting our work published. But, as you know, compromise only goes so far with me. If it’s legitimate in making my story better, I’m for it. If it’s merely the idiosyncratic judgment of a particular editor based on a standard with which I disagree, no thanks.
    Thanks for taking the time, N. I appreciate your wisdom.

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