Category: Publishing

The Future of #Writing: Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Humans in Deciding the Fate of Manuscript Submissions?

Published on by melanievlogan4 Comments

This quote from Georgina Cromarty’s post about writing and artificial intelligence practically blew my mind.

“Some writers will see AI manuscript evaluations as a blessing since it takes the subjective human out the loop.

…And some may see it as a threat.”

Yes, I’ve worked in the IT field for 20+ years.  Yes, I understand what the ones and zeros are all about, and the inner workings of software and hardware.  Yes, I know technology brings about modern convenience, and can spout an answer to the hardest equations with speed and ease.  But with all of that, do I trust it wholly?  No!  Here’s why.

Mankind believes computers are smart.  The reality is that technology is only as great as the humans that make it.  And of course we know that humans are bound to mistakes.  So, technology is too.  Nothing is perfect.

So when I think about artificial intelligence playing a role in evaluating manuscripts, a smile crosses my face because it means the process of submitting and getting a response will be shortened.  But then my smile fades, and my head cocks to one side like a questioning puppy.  What algorithm is used to decide what’s publish-worthy and what’s not?  How often is the artificial intelligence maintained and updated for optimal performance?

I get it from a productivity perspective. There’s a lot of reading and publishers want to watch their bottom line.  Technology can help, but in the end will it really?  When people read, they have the ability to experience feeling and emotion.  Can technology do that?  Of course not.  It can only do what it is told (and even then it’s not the real thing). So an award-winning manuscript may never see the light of day because it didn’t meet the criteria of a computer.   Not sure I like that.  What are your thoughts?

Check out the rest of  Georgina Cromarty’s post on other interesting takes on artificial intelligence and it’s place in various industries.

Facing rejection from Agents: Remember No means No!

Published on by melanievlogan1 Comment

Confessions of a published author

I was ready to submit and had researched various literary agency websites. My covering letter, synopsis and manuscript were polished and ready to go. I felt a sense of euphoria when I actually posted that A4 envelope off or clicked ‘send’ on the messages I sent. There was nothing to do but wait for the positive replies to come in!

Unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way. You see rejection may be presented in many different forms, but they all the mean the same thing: No means No!

Let me run you through the different forms of literary rejection. Please note that these are actual replies and not ones I’ve made up.

I can’t be bothered replying to you ‘No’:

This is where the agent doesn’t even bother getting back to you. They may have read your work or may not have. For all you know there is…

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photo: Caro Wallis Sweet Sorrow via photopin (license)

Dreams of a #Writer: Insight on Turning a #Book into a #Movie

Published on by melanievloganLeave a comment

One of my life’s ambitions is to turn at least one of my stories into a movie. In my head, I’ve cast characters, picked out background music, and envisioned settings that would make anyone wish to live in the neighborhoods.  Then there’d be the fans that post rave reviews which prompt others to rush out to buy the book.  But somehow the shelves can never stay stocked.  And there’s the plethora of interviews with news outlets and nominations for awards.  The thrill and possibility of it all gives me goose bumps!

While it’s great to dream and I am a positive thinker, I’d be remiss if I didn’t consider the quirks and adversities that could come.  So to understand the book-to-movie progression, I did some digging.   Below is what I’ve learned. Continue reading “Dreams of a #Writer: Insight on Turning a #Book into a #Movie” →

Dreams of a #Writer: Insight on Turning a #Book into a #Movie

Published on by melanievlogan3 Comments

One of my life’s ambitions is to turn at least one of my stories into a movie. In my head, I’ve cast characters, picked out background music, and envisioned settings that would make anyone wish to live in the neighborhoods.  Then there’d be the fans that post rave reviews which prompt others to rush out to buy the book.  But somehow the shelves can never stay stocked.  And there’s the plethora of interviews with news outlets and nominations for awards.  The thrill and possibility of it all gives me goose bumps!

While it’s great to dream and I am a positive thinker, I’d be remiss if I didn’t consider the quirks and adversities that could come.  So to understand the book-to-movie progression, I did some digging.   Below is what I’ve learned. Continue reading “Dreams of a #Writer: Insight on Turning a #Book into a #Movie” →

FOLLOWING YOUR HEART AND GUT

Published on by melanievloganLeave a comment

At least a few times a week I’ll see retweets about various agents looking for submissions for this genre or another.  While I’m glad to receive these, I am sometimes left wondering how many people reach out to these agents from the retweets, and how many are actually accepted. It would be great if the process could be that easy.

I’m not quite at the point of needing an agent, but I’m one of those people that likes to plan ahead.  In researching, I have found that there are a plethora of sites offering tips on how to go about finding an agent.  This is great info, but as Carrie mentioned agent requirements can vary.  Not to mention how we may interpret those requirements may be completely different than what the agents may expect or accept.

All in all, I’m trying to keep a positive attitude and open perspective on the process.  Hopefully there will be future success.

WRITERS' RUMPUS

character-drivenWriters could probably go crazy if they stopped to analyze all of the agent desires that are out there. This one is seeking fun, x-y-z concepts. That one is seeking l-m-n-o-p stories. What do they mean, exactly?

With so much subjectivity surrounding this business, one person’s x-y-z is another’s l-m-n-o-p. What they DON’T mean is, “Quick! Write a story with an x-y-z concept!” It means, if you happen to have something like this, there is a chance, albeit small, that this agent might want to take a look.

I’m as eager as the next person to check into what agents are looking for. But, I love it when I see an agent encourage writers to write what they love, and I honestly believe that all agents really want us to do that. If your heart is not in your writing, if there is no passion behind it, if you are…

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