Beverly Horowitz Part 2

Things an author might do to understand her novel:
*Where's the focus?
*Who is your market?
*Who will buy it?

Be your own best advocate by:
*Be able to clarify what your book is about
*Get on the other side of desk and figure how to pitch your novel. Do not describe it as then, then, and then..
*Always get another set of eyes to look at your work-especially helpful if they are your own eyes which requires distancing from your work.
*Put manuscript away, come back and say, "I'm going to read from a new perspective."
*Have I brought my character my own gender sensibility? (I can't remember quite what this means).
*If I don't love my character, who will? The character doesn't have to be loveable to love-Voldemort is a great character, and we can love his character because it's so wonderfully, fulfillingly evil.
*Are all your scenes age appropriate for the protagonist's age?
*It's ok to write about anything as long as its intent isn't to titillate or exploit. Don't throw in anything that isn't needed or meant to achieve exploitation.
*Analyze each scene--is it necessary? Ask why this tangent was taken?
*The writing cannot have an agenda. What makes our work different from what adults do?
*Young people are still in the process of growing and becoming. They are a blank page.
*Remember that teenagers have limited experience when they come to the party.
*What is my moral obligation to kids who are still a blank slate?
*The story must bring a sense of hope-even a story that Random House published about a boy and his transgender transformation, though it was sad, the story offered hope. In the Chocolate WArs, there was a ray of hope for the boy who dared to disturb the universe.
*Book must be the best and at the inspiring level.

Once your novel is in the publishing que:
*Write flap copy for the book-to further understand meaning. Would you buy the book from the flap copy? (once you do this it may help to write a query).
*The industry has become smaller.
*Try to understand what is beyond sending the book in.
*Do I love my character? Enough to revise as much as might be required?
*Ms. H. looks for honesty in writing because kids can smell a fake a mile away-no fakes.
*If someone gives an author the respect to read her book, the reader deserves the very best the author has to offer

When a manuscript comes in, what is the dealbreaker?
1. Author must be willing to revise
2. Editors must receive the manuscript in their name.-Understand that publishing has its own chaos.