8/26/10: I finally completed writing my Memoir, "Iron Grip," and have queried about a dozen agents and publishers–so far.  The run-up to "completion" has been the reading and editing of a professional editor friend.  She  read chapters one by one as I mailed them to her.  The asked to see the entire Ms for a final reading.  I incorporated her final suggestions–all good. Among the "editors" of this Ms have been members of two of my writer workshops.  I have received excellent suggestions  from them, as well as from the professional editorI urge all writers to submit their writing before submission to a professional editor, if you possibly can.  No matter how many times authors review their own work, we miss some mistakes and can profit by suggested re-wording, or even the suggestion to change a single word.The summation to date is that one publisher to whom I sent a query asked to see the first 50 pages.  I guess this is a step in the right direction.  At any rate, it is my first breath of encouragement since five of the recipients of  required emailed submissions of queries, respond with "thanks but no thanks." –Willma

Aug. 6, 2010–I have a short anecdote for the writing world.  About five years ago when I was invited to speak to a writer group in Henderson, NV, I met a member who was an agent and had successfully marketed a number of manuscripts for clients.  I had just finished writing a "mature romance" novel and asked if she would look at it.  She did and offered to try marketing it for me.  I was then completing a second one which I also sent to her.  Within about six months her husband (also a writer) became very ill and was diagnoses with terminal cancer.  She spent a year caring for him until he died. Yesterday I received a full report from her  listing all the publishers to whom she had submitted my novels.  She was not successful in placing them and let me know that she has switched her business to editing only.  She returned the fees I had paid that were charged to cover not her time  but mailing costs.  With this came her apology for not being able to place my novels. If you or any writer you know is interested in having his/her work eyed by a professional editor, do contact her.  I can recommend her highly for editing skills and integrity. My long experience writing and publishing (more than 60 years!) highly recommends that we all need the eyes and minds of at least one other skilled reader for our own works no matter how many times we have reviewed our "precious" words.  This is one of the supreme values of the workshops I lead.  We value the suggestions of our peers. Contact Carol Zimmerman at ckazonis@cox.netUntil next time, Willma (willmagore@gmail.com )

July 31, 2010– Word comes this morning from my grammarian/editor that she is well into reading the  final (?) copy of my Iron Grip manuscript.  It is now 32 chapters, approx. 67,500 words. This dear friend read about four chapters at a time, sent them back with suggestions, then informed me that she wanted to read the entire manuscript.  That was mailed to her about ten days ago.  I have sent queries by email to six agents who consider handling memoirs and prefer to receive a query by email, and mailed queries with SASE to two who want them by post.  I've received four, very polite "no thanks."  Each saying they have too much on their "plates" right now but wishing me luck.My pleasant surprise: As I've studied the entries of publishers needs in Writer's Market, I'm finding that many (contrary to popular opinion) accept queries from and do publish books by first time authors and  consider queries and manuscripts submitted directly by the authors rather than via agents.  The list is LONG, and so my work is cut out for me–querying these.  Good writing to you, Willma