Thinking of using Cornerstones?

Tracy

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

SilentTony

Brilliant interview Tracy. I like the idea they have a filtering system. That shows they are committed and will only be working with your manuscript if they feel it is close enough and has potential. I have Helen Corner's 'How to Write a Blockbuster' and must say it is the most simple and easy to follow how to book ever. It's a book about getting a good page turner down on paper rather than serious literary novels. Fantastic little read.

Dwight

I agree, Tony. I used that book too: very good in so many ways, and user friendly.

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.

SilentTony

Dwight that sounds like some journey. Long but obviously worthwhile. Good luck with the submissions and hope it returns favourably for you.

Tracy

ST - I've got the book too, one of the first I bought and still one of the best.

Dwight - Wow, I'm impressed with your dedication. I wish you every bit of luck with next stage, I'll keep everything crossed.

Dwight

Thanks, Tony. It'll be an emailed submission, so the turnaround should be fast. Meanwhile it'll be a lovely change to get into research for another book. This one is FINISHED!

Dwight

Thanks Tracy too. :) Messages crossed.

Rosalie

Yes, I like that book too. And I also had a useful good critique from Cornerstones, plus a follow-up, which help me get 'Chloe' into shape. When I submitted to Phoenix Yard, I mentioned I'd had an appraisal from Cornerstones and based my revisions on that. They asked to see the Cornerstones report and I think it helped them make their decision to accept. So even if they don't recommend you to an agent, it can still help your path to publication in other ways.

I'm impressed too, Dwight, and wish you luck, both with this one and the next.

megrose

Rosalie and Dwight - may I ask which Cornerstones critique you went for? Did you use the Mini Critiques as you went along, or the General Report?

Dwight

I did three different ones, Meg: a submission package one, a general one which was fairly brief, and the biggie, which involved a marked MS, a report and an hour-long phone conversation with my editor, which was the most useful single item of any of the critiques I've ever had. Mind you, that came after I'd had the benefit of all the others, so it must have been a cumulative effect.

Good luck with your project.

Nefertari

I used Cornerstones two years ago after I was shortlisted in their ready to submit competition . I got 10% off their usual price for a full critique. It was still a lot of money about £250 I think but the critique was really good. I made some changes, taking into account what they said, but couldn't afford to send it in again but I think if you can afford it this is one of the best things to do before sending your book anywhere. I wish I had done it before with my first books.

Rosalie

Megrose, I had the general report. I think there was some kind of offer at the time, maybe 10% off or similar. They liked it enough to give me a second critique (of the revised version) for free, with the idea they might recommend it to an agent, but they eventually decided not to do the agent thing. Still,I got 2 critiques for the price of one, which was great.

Lou Treleaven

That must have cost a lot though, Dwight, when you add it all up?

flyingtart

Paperbackwriter started a thread recently on this topic:

http://www.writersnews.co.uk/writers_talkback/comments.php?DiscussionID=178584&page=1#Item_23

Tracy

I think using a literary consultancy is the same as finding an agent or publisher. Do your research and find out what suits you best.

Dwight

[quote=Lou Treleaven]That must have cost a lot though, Dwight, when you add it all up? [/quote]

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?

pbw

Interesting you should start this thread now. I have just received my feedback from Cornerstones. I am very encouraged by it, although not yet immersed in the new workload, but I am very pleased with the constructive criticism and the insights I am gaining from it.

http://fiona-maddock.blogspot.com/2011/05/lost.html

flyingtart

Dwight, Tracy asked me to tell you she's having trouble signing into the new site. I expect she'll respond when it's sorted.

Tracy

[quote=Dwight]Tracy wrote: I think using a literary consultancy is the same as finding an agent or publisher.

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.

Dwight

I understand, Tracy, and we're warned not to assume that 'having an agent' is automatically like sailing into the smooth waters of a tropical lagoon. In fact you need to not exactly challenge your prospective agent/editor, but certainly question them as to their intent/methods/expectations. I've exchanged emails with Kathryn, whom you interviewed on one of your links, and not only would I vouch for her as being at the heart of a sound literary critique agency, but I found her very generous with her time.

pbw

[quote=Dwight]but I found her very generous with her time. [/quote]
Yes I agree.