Authonomy News

October 2010

The Power of Feedback

"I will hate you till the day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make."

So said Alain de Botton, the British author and essayist who took umbrage at the less-than-glowing review his book received from the New York Times journalist Caleb Crain. To many authors, however, thoughtful feedback and criticism can be a valuable step towards creating a polished and saleable manuscript.

Many of you have found that authonomy is a place where an early draft can be honed and worked on, often in collaboration with the community who offer advice and suggestions.

Angela Kecojevic is one such authonomist:

"I was either brave or plain daft to put something so raw and poorly punctuated onto a site of hungry critics! Yet, the comments received inspired me to work harder and to listen to suggestions and well-meant criticism."

Of course, it's not just unpublished authors who can benefit from a few words of wisdom. Once a manuscript is acquired it is subjected to intense scrutiny by an editor. The first line edit is the editor's initial response to a work and contains instructions for the changes an author must make. It can be an alarming realisation for a first-time author, but often results in a much tighter, better book.

This was the experience of Sunday Times bestselling author Miranda Dickinson, whose second novel Welcome to My World is published on November 2nd.

"I understand what my editor and the editorial team at Avon are doing when they send through suggestions to tighten up my work. But it's still difficult at times to switch off the 'proud parent' inside my head and approach it as a teacher who wants to bring out the best in her pupil."

Whether you take it with a pinch of salt, or absorb every comment, there's no doubt that the more people you share your work with, the more likely you are to produce a well-rounded, and ultimately publishable piece of work.

Until the 31st of October, CreateSpace is offering authonomy members a free editorial evaluation:

Free Editorial Evaluation

No matter where you are in the publishing process, getting feedback from a professional editor can help you take your manuscript to the next level. And, right now, CreateSpace is offering you a free editorial evaluation with the purchase of any of their Total Design Freedom solutions. This offer expires on October 31, so contact CreateSpace today to learn more.

Click on the link to request your free evaluation:

http://harpercollinsnews.co.uk/go.asp?/bCOL002/q89AQI5F/x3459J5F
- Gather Feedback Online

If you don't feel ready for a professional assessment, you may prefer to take advantage of CreateSpace's free preview tool.

Use CreateSpace's free preview tool to display and share a portion of your work so others can provide feedback, including answers to specific questions you pose. Share your Preview with select friends and family via e-mail, or post your Preview publicly to get feedback from a wider audience. You can even add a sample cover to enhance your Preview!

Click on the link to find out more:

http://harpercollinsnews.co.uk/go.asp?/bCOL002/qZ0JQI5F/x3459J5F
The authonomy team