I stand corrected. In any case, reading all of a ms is a waste of time. If the first few chapters suck, the rest will, in almost all cases.
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Tico Publishing
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Sassenach said:
I would tend to agree, and I believe that over time the practice will be ammended.
A rejection that tells WHY would still be useful even if it covered only the first 25 pages.
Generally speaking you have about three paragraphs to cause the reader to continue, if you don't, he won't. And still, I rejection that tells WHY the reader couldn't continue would still be useful to the writer.
Even something like: "The grammar, spelling and punctuation errors caused me to stop reading after the first few paragraphs." would be useful to the writer--they'd KNOW that they can't submit stuff like that and expect it to be taken seriously.
Or:
"The first chapter failed to introduce a character I could get inside of, and there was no sense of progress in the story line." should be useful to the writer.
Those are just two real basic reason to stop reading and to the neophyte writer those criticisms should engender a desire to re-write with fresh eyes.
Regards,
Scott
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Spot the problem:
1. TICO's entire business plan is based on the idea that, for lack of agents, connections, whatever, wonderful books by new authors are languishing in the slushpiles of the publishing industry.
2. No one who's read any significant quantity of slush would undertake to read all slush submissions from start to finish, much less undertake to comment on them as well. It is unimaginable that they'd contrive a standard procedure that called for three people read each submission in its entirety.
3. Nevertheless, that's what TICO says they do with all their submissions.
1. TICO's entire business plan is based on the idea that, for lack of agents, connections, whatever, wonderful books by new authors are languishing in the slushpiles of the publishing industry.
2. No one who's read any significant quantity of slush would undertake to read all slush submissions from start to finish, much less undertake to comment on them as well. It is unimaginable that they'd contrive a standard procedure that called for three people read each submission in its entirety.
3. Nevertheless, that's what TICO says they do with all their submissions.
*sigh* Three people do not read each submission in its entirety.
One person from a group of slush readers reads each submission. If they think it's any good, it moves on to the next person in authority, and if that person thinks it's any good it moves up to the editor.
I'm not commenting on the value or lack thereof of this procedure. Just pointing out what's aready been pointed out. TICO never said three people read all submissions.
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The Tico contract, as posted on their webpage, specifies that royalties are to be paid on the list price.
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Okay. So three people don't read all submissions. Do 40%-60% of their submissions get rejected after the reader's scanned the first few pages, then done a quick check further on to see whether the book had an anomalous first chapter? Do they undertake to say anything other than "yes" or "no" to 97% of their submissions?rekirts said:
HapiSofi said:
All manuscripts are read ONCE (at least) in their entirety. Just because a manuscript has a weak beginning or something, doesn't mean the story doesn't have potential.
All manuscripts get commented on by (at least) the first reader. The comments include a synopsis of the story and comments on what the reader did and/or didn't like about the story. (slow here, character development, etc.)
Only if the 1st reader liked the story enough to suggest it be read again soes it go up the ladder for other readings.
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ticopublishing said:
That's fine for now, but once the tide starts to come in, your readers are going to have bigger and bigger piles of submissions to read. The sheer number will swamp them under if they have to read and make extensive comments about each book.
I admire your good intent, but I do believe the policy will have to change to keep up with submissions.
Just applying the "Slush Killer" criteria will make reading less intense for your second rung, because your first round readers should clear nine out of ten from further consideration.
Regards.
Scott
Gah. I need to get rid of that page. It's old. It was the conclusion of the sorry database corruption saga. I had said in a previous update that maybe I could get the d/b restored, but I could not. The site is up and running, but you have to click "Main Menu" to get past the Editorial. (Bad info design! No cookie for me!...sorry.) Better yet, I shall take down the Editorial, and you will land on the Main Menu on first try. Thanks for visiting and for pointing this out. I is uh moron.Popeyesays said:
(Had you meant to ask this in PM?)
[We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion of Tico Publishing, already in session.]
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Of course there's potential. Most books have potential. It's the actual they're short of. And if their authors were capable turning that potential into actual, of making it into a good book, they'd have done so.ticopublishing said:
It's like showing up to audition for a role when you're not a very good actor. Might you have the potential to become one? Certainly; but that's not the point. You're not one yet. What are they going to do with you? They're in the business of making a movie or staging a play. They need actors who can do the work now. If you're already good enough, and it's just a matter of having you change a few things about the way you're handling the role, that's different; they can work with that.
Likewise, when I talk about the tiny fraction of slushpile books that are worth buying, I'm including the potentially good books which have (say) an irrelevant first chapter, and fall apart towards the end. Those things are fixable; but genuinely fixable books, the kind that can be made good, are only a little less rare than books that are fine just as they stand.
That's nice. You'll all get a lot of practice writing book reports. Of course, you'll also be spending huge amounts of time reading books you already know you're not going to buy, and writing synopses of plots for the benefit of authors who are already familiar with them. It's not publishing, but it'll keep you out of trouble.
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Indemnity Clause
5. Indemnity
A. The Author shall indemnify, defend and hold the Publisher, its subsidiaries and affiliates and its and their respective agents, officers, directors and employees harmless from any claims, demands, suits, actions, proceedings or prosecutions based on facts which, if true, could constitute a breach of any of the foregoing warranties (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Claims") and any liabilities, losses, expenses (including attorney's fee) or damages in consequence thereof.
B. Notice. Each of the parties hereto shall give the other prompt written notice of any Claims.
C. Publisher approval. No compromise or settlement of any claim, demand or suit shall be made or entered into without the prior written approval of the Publisher.
D. Security. In the event any suit is filed, the Publisher shall have the right to withhold payments due the Author under the terms of this Agreement (except any portion of the advance) as security for the Author's obligations as stated above.
E. Extension. The benefit of the Author's warranties and indemnities shall extend to any person, firm or corporation against whom any such claim, demand or suit is asserted or instituted by reason of the publication, sale or distribution of the Work as if such representations and warranties were originally made to such third parties. The warranties and indemnities as stated herein shall survive termination of this Agreement.
5. Indemnity
A. The Author shall indemnify, defend and hold the Publisher, its subsidiaries and affiliates and its and their respective agents, officers, directors and employees harmless from any claims, demands, suits, actions, proceedings or prosecutions based on facts which, if true, could constitute a breach of any of the foregoing warranties (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Claims") and any liabilities, losses, expenses (including attorney's fee) or damages in consequence thereof.
B. Notice. Each of the parties hereto shall give the other prompt written notice of any Claims.
C. Publisher approval. No compromise or settlement of any claim, demand or suit shall be made or entered into without the prior written approval of the Publisher.
D. Security. In the event any suit is filed, the Publisher shall have the right to withhold payments due the Author under the terms of this Agreement (except any portion of the advance) as security for the Author's obligations as stated above.
E. Extension. The benefit of the Author's warranties and indemnities shall extend to any person, firm or corporation against whom any such claim, demand or suit is asserted or instituted by reason of the publication, sale or distribution of the Work as if such representations and warranties were originally made to such third parties. The warranties and indemnities as stated herein shall survive termination of this Agreement.
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...facts which, if true, could constitute ...?
That's pretty much anything in the world. Someone claims that reading the book caused her to lose her psychic powers and ruined her career as a medium? Settled out of court: author, pay up! Someone claims that the author plagiarized her book by looking through her kitchen window with binoculars why flying by in his private plane? Author, pay up!
The indemnity clause should be crossed out entirely. The publisher probably won't agree to that. So at the very least the words "upon judgment finally sustained" should be added. That's non-negotiable. If the publisher won't agree to adding those words, no deal.
That's pretty much anything in the world. Someone claims that reading the book caused her to lose her psychic powers and ruined her career as a medium? Settled out of court: author, pay up! Someone claims that the author plagiarized her book by looking through her kitchen window with binoculars why flying by in his private plane? Author, pay up!
The indemnity clause should be crossed out entirely. The publisher probably won't agree to that. So at the very least the words "upon judgment finally sustained" should be added. That's non-negotiable. If the publisher won't agree to adding those words, no deal.
Doesn't this mean if the publisher is sued for X amount of dollars, the publisher can withhold payments to the author for whatever time they feel is right and just for defending the author or the work?
IANAL, etc., etc....I'm not getting any "for the period of defense" from that, only that when a suit is filed they can withhold royalties, etc. against any monetary judgement. One would expect that they'd stop withholding if the suit is resolved favorably, or continue until judgement is paid if not, but I'd sure want that clarified in writing. As well as who would reap the interest on the withheld monies.
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feedback
This site offers feedback on rejected manuscripts to the author. Has anyone on here gotten the feedback? Was it helpful?
awp
This site offers feedback on rejected manuscripts to the author. Has anyone on here gotten the feedback? Was it helpful?
awp
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Judging by Tico's web page, your submission is no longer under review, so you should have gotten something...was it helpful to you?
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OneTeam OneDream said:
First, Tico rejected my submission. I wanted to know if the feedback I received was typical or not. I assume there are more is more than one person reviewing books at the base level and that reviews would vary from reviewer to reviewer.
I just wanted to know if what I received was typical or if I had received something special.
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On a whim, I checked out the TICO contract again, it hasn't changed a bit so far. When will it?
Regards,
Scott
Regards,
Scott
I haven't gotten around to it yet, but then, I haven't signed any new books either so nobody has been effected either. I am going to change it, but it's not necessary until I sign a new manuscript.
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Declan said:
Until he cleans up his contract and gets some distribution in place, don't bother. The editing (if the Look Inside the Book feature over at Amazon is anything to go by) isn't all that hot either. (Examples available on request.)
Aim high, not low.
Thank-you James.
I'll have a look.
(I hope you have a good old-fashioned knees up at your book signing.)
Dec.
I'll have a look.
(I hope you have a good old-fashioned knees up at your book signing.)
Dec.