So I got this in my email yesterday:
The story mentioned is found here.
Dear Ms. Jill Wadworth,
Hi. I read your novel, Chance, and I loved it. It is a great story and is very well written.
I love the way you portray Marissa and Chris's relationship. The emotional tension is fabulously done to the point of excellence--never over doing it, never holding back. The conflict as they get together is very nicely done. You handled their relationship very professionally (not to insult you, just to say that you are unpublished), never too much tension or too long without tension. It was easy to connect with both Chris and Marissa's inhibitions, and that really made the story that much more powerful.
Have you considered publishing it? I really think you should give it some serious thought, if you haven't already. If you are interested, I would love to help with this process. I have been writing for several years and am currently seeking a publisher for my own novel while writing another. Through my search for a publisher, I have gotten a feel for publishing houses. I would be more than happy to help you edit, represent you to publishers, or help you self-publish, if you'd like.
Just to give you a feel for my intentions, here is a list of what I see as the biggest changes that will need to be made before Chance is ready for publication.
1-Changing the Band
Chance is a great story, and the name of the band is irrelevant to this. I strongly urge you to create a fictional band and use it instead. Aside from removing copyright hassles, you will have more freedom as an author to change the characters as you see fit--not try to work them into the images already created by existing people.
2-Shortening the Story
According to my calculations (and correct my if I'm wrong), Chance is 140,000 words long. That's about a 500-600 page novel, which is long for your genre. Probably the best way for you to shorten Chance is to focus on Chris and Marissa and limit attention to Joey/Clara and JC/Anika parts.
I read in your disclaimer that you felt your story was highly improbable and asked us to bear with you. I think your story is excellent. I recently read a piece of NSYNC fanfic where the following occurred: after JC proposed (with a seven carat diamond), his fiancé told him she was pregnant, and he asked if the baby was his! On top of this, she acted like this question was completely logical! Whether you realize it or not, your story tops fanfic and would be an excellent addition to the standard market.
If you are interested in my offer to help you edit, represent you to publishers, or help you self-publish, or you have any questions you’d like answered, please contact me. If not, please accept my congratulations on an excellently penned novel.
Sincerely,
Kayla Bain-Vrba
Okay, still reeling from this. Although, honestly? I think someone contacted me through the Nano site about the same thing, if not using quotes from the story I'd written....
Dear Ms. Jill Wadworth,
Hi. I read your novel, Chance, and I loved it. It is a great story and is very well written.
I love the way you portray Marissa and Chris's relationship. The emotional tension is fabulously done to the point of excellence--never over doing it, never holding back. The conflict as they get together is very nicely done. You handled their relationship very professionally (not to insult you, just to say that you are unpublished), never too much tension or too long without tension. It was easy to connect with both Chris and Marissa's inhibitions, and that really made the story that much more powerful.
Have you considered publishing it? I really think you should give it some serious thought, if you haven't already. If you are interested, I would love to help with this process. I have been writing for several years and am currently seeking a publisher for my own novel while writing another. Through my search for a publisher, I have gotten a feel for publishing houses. I would be more than happy to help you edit, represent you to publishers, or help you self-publish, if you'd like.
Just to give you a feel for my intentions, here is a list of what I see as the biggest changes that will need to be made before Chance is ready for publication.
1-Changing the Band
Chance is a great story, and the name of the band is irrelevant to this. I strongly urge you to create a fictional band and use it instead. Aside from removing copyright hassles, you will have more freedom as an author to change the characters as you see fit--not try to work them into the images already created by existing people.
2-Shortening the Story
According to my calculations (and correct my if I'm wrong), Chance is 140,000 words long. That's about a 500-600 page novel, which is long for your genre. Probably the best way for you to shorten Chance is to focus on Chris and Marissa and limit attention to Joey/Clara and JC/Anika parts.
I read in your disclaimer that you felt your story was highly improbable and asked us to bear with you. I think your story is excellent. I recently read a piece of NSYNC fanfic where the following occurred: after JC proposed (with a seven carat diamond), his fiancé told him she was pregnant, and he asked if the baby was his! On top of this, she acted like this question was completely logical! Whether you realize it or not, your story tops fanfic and would be an excellent addition to the standard market.
If you are interested in my offer to help you edit, represent you to publishers, or help you self-publish, or you have any questions you’d like answered, please contact me. If not, please accept my congratulations on an excellently penned novel.
Sincerely,
Kayla Bain-Vrba
Okay, still reeling from this. Although, honestly? I think someone contacted me through the Nano site about the same thing, if not using quotes from the story I'd written....