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Thinking of using Cornerstones?
Several tall tales & short stories debut author interviewees have mentioned using Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and how their editorial reports have been an invaluable part of their writing journey. Quite often, a Cornerstones revised manuscript has helped these authors achieve that elusive agent and publishing contract.
Cornerstones author interviews on tall tales & short stories:
Sarwat Chadda
Anne-Marie Conway
Ellen Renner
Harriet Goodwin
Janet Foxley
Jon Mayhew
Established in 1998, Cornerstones is a leading UK literary consultancy and also acts as a scout for agents such as: United Agents, Annette Green, Caroline Sheldon, Eve White, Greenhouse Literary Agency, Conville & Walsh, Celia Catchpole, Lorella Belli, PFD, Christopher Little, MBA, RCW, Felicity Bryan, Andrew Lownie (and others).
tall tales & short stories spoke to Managing Editor, Kathryn Price, about Cornerstones' Kids' Corner Editorial Service.
http://talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.com/2011/05/managing-editor-of-cornerstones.html
Comments
For the benefit of other TBers, I can vouch for what Tracy says as to the powerful help of Cornerstones. I've had five critiques so far on my book - the same book each time but at different stages of its evolution, simply because a critique can only address some of the many things wrong with an amateurish attempt at a novel, and naturally they target the most serious shortcomings each time. I started with Hilary Johnson when my book was particularly inept and she was very supportive and I would have to say sympathetic. Then my first visit to Cornerstones: I learnt that my book in the form I was pursuing back then was basically a non-starter and needed fundamental change, starting with half of it being cut out and the rest being totally changed. Looking back, and with what I've learnt from Cornerstones in the meantime, I can only wonder how I submitted such a poor attempt in the first place.
Then I applied for a critique from The Literary Consultancy: another good one, but dwarfed in its effectiveness by what I learnt from Cornerstones before and after. It was they who did my 4th and 5th critiques, 6 months apart, which between them have enabled me to go through the book with a comb and make it far more attractive. In three days' time it'll be ready to submit to the agent of my choice; my query letter has been ready for some time. This is eight months after my last report from Cornerstones.
My worry is that it will be refused on the grounds that publishers are not looking for this kind of book any more and my agent of choice wouldn't be able to sell it anywhere.
Cornerstones is expensive, but an absolute MUST for producing a viable novel.
Dwight - Wow, I'm impressed with your dedication. I wish you every bit of luck with next stage, I'll keep everything crossed.
I'm impressed too, Dwight, and wish you luck, both with this one and the next.
Good luck with your project.
http://www.writersnews.co.uk/writers_talkback/comments.php?DiscussionID=178584&page=1#Item_23
Yes, Lou, but it was spread over about 6 years. On the other hand, without any one of those critiques, my book would not have become publishable. I know that some people see the value of taking the short cut to 'writing a book' by choosing self publishing, but that doesn't interest me. It has to be the way Anthony Horowitz and Eoin Colfer did it. Genuine recognition of a book that thousands of teen readers will want to buy. The only way to ensure that is to listen to the views and advice of professionals who have been working with such books for years. If I know what needs doing I can do it, no problem. It's finding out the shortcomings that these critiques provide. Worth loads of money to the hungry author.
[quote=Tracy]I think using a literary consultancy is the same as finding an agent or publisher.[/quote]
How do you mean, Tracy?
http://fiona-maddock.blogspot.com/2011/05/lost.html
How do you mean, Tracy? [/quote]
I think literary consultancies are easy to set up and an author needs to do their research and find one that has a track record of helping authors get published or come recommended by agents and publishers. It shouldn't just be a cost consideration.
Also, to find one that knows about the market you're writing for. I have spoken to two literary consultancies for my blog because they specialise in writing for the children's and YA market.
http://talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.com/2010/09/interview-with-natascha-biebow-founder.html
http://talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.com/2011/05/managing-editor-of-cornerstones.html
But also, see what they offer as critiquing packages and choose what is best for the individual. Some writers may need more help than others.
Yes I agree.