No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells [Hardcover]

Alice Orr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2004

No More Rejections, An Insider's Guide gives writers an inside look at the story fundamentals that readers and publishers are looking for. Orr provides many examples of manuscripts that have been rejected, and provides a clear demonstration of what doesn't work from an editor's point of view. The 50 essentials that Orr discusses will help writers think about what they need to do prior to writing and submitting their work so that it has the best chance possible of being published. These essentials range from knowing the characters to knowing the target audience. Beyond the issues of crafting a story that is engaging, this book forces writers to look at what elements need to be in their stories in order for editiors to want to read them and for readers to want to buy them. In addition to actual manuscript and story examples, Orr offers hands-on exercises that correspond with each chapter so that writers not only read about what they need to do, but are led through the process. Her keen insight into the writing and publishing business will help writers get attention from editiors instead of getting rejected.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alice Orr owns her own literary agency and is an award-winning author.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; First Edition edition (March 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582972850
• ISBN-13: 978-1582972855
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, helpful, and practical, May 7, 2004

By 

H. Grove "Errant Dreams Reviews" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells (Hardcover)

First things first--you should know up front that this book is aimed at writers of novel-length commercial fiction. If you write thrillers, mysteries, romances, or other genre work, this is the perfect book for you. If you don't, it will still hold a lot of value, but some of the more sweeping statements won't ring as true. The title of the book sounds gimmicky, but the book itself isn't. I thought from the title that this would be one of those books that would promise you publication if only you followed these simple rules, but it doesn't.

Author Alice Orr is also a long-time editor, so she knows what editors look for. Her "secrets" run the gamut from ideas, to beginnings, characters (both primary and secondary), drama, middles, writing style, endings, and even submissions and self-promotion.

Many of these ideas won't be new to writers who've been around a while. We know we need strong protagonists, dramatic beginnings, and so on. However, Orr does more than just give us a rule to follow. She backs up those rules with directions, examples, exercises, questions to ask ourselves, and more. She takes abstract concepts and turns them into concrete practices. She tells us how far editors want us to take our dramatic beginnings and strong characters, as well as how far they *don't* want us to take them.

In short, any writer of commercial fiction who is unsatisfied with her acceptance rate will probably find something of value in here. Regardless, Orr's witty style makes this a fun book to read!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of practical application, March 13, 2004

By 

TheCafeWriter (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells (Hardcover)

This is a very hands-on kind of book with clear examples, thorough explanations, and lots of thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter. It will get you thinking about your story and how to really give it dimension. The first time I paged through it, I started getting all kinds of ideas for my story - and particularly the characters - that hadn't occurred to me before. If you're afraid of writing a flat, boring, predictable or cliched novel, you need this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great How To Book, September 22, 2008

By 

Barbara Warren - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells (Hardcover)

As a freelance editor and writer I read a lot of books on writing, and this is one of the better ones. I read it with a pen and notebook handy and I learned a lot of very practical tips. Alice Orr is an award winning romance/suspense writer, has owned her own literary agenty for 20 years, and teaches seminars on writing and publishing. She knows her business, and it shows in this tightly written, very helpful book. It's one I will refer back to over and over. The reader will not only find chapters on crafts, but she also includes lessons on marketing, tips and techinques, and how to decide if an idea is salable. She includes examples of writing that doesn't work and explains why. Strongly recommended.