I started writing long before the Internet, and before you think I’m an old codger the ‘net has only been around fifteen odd years! If writing is a lonely occupation now, back then there were no forums where I could discuss my word count, or grumble about slow-to-reply agents. There was nothing, and I was stumbling about with my little Amstrad computer (good old Alan Sugar), writing novels with the word count something in the region of 300,000.

I’m glad to say my word count is under control now, and when the Internet arrived it was easier to find information on my chosen profession. And with Facebook and Twitter agents and publishers were no longer faceless, and there were other writers like me!

Indie presses, eBooks, and POD soon followed and the writing forum I was a member of offered to POD Eden. I had previously found an agent for Eden, but because of its originality the agent failed to place it with a publishing house, and so instead I thought I’d experiment with POD. It meant I’d have to do all my own marketing, and a few years ago this would have frightened me ridged, but honestly it’s been great. The entire process has been a learning curve.

I started blogging for the first time in 2008 on the launch of Eden, and looked for ways to get myself “seen”. I wrote articles, short stories for magazines and offered an editing service on my blog. Word soon got round and people began to contact me for support/articles.

I now offer to feature new writers and their books on my blog. It works both ways. I get my name “out there” and writers can use my audience to their advantage.

I am still open to submissions. Send me a short bio, blurb of your book, include links to blog/website that you want published and I’ll get back to you. Sometimes I will send out questions, this just gives a bit of variety to my posts. I am trying to do two features a week and it will help me enormously if you send things via email rather than attachment.

Blog: http://louisewise.blogspot.com/

Email: louisewise3@ntlworld.com

Eden on Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/c2Lh45 or Amazon.com:http://amzn.to/9lowsQ

Louise Wise: Proposals by Email

Dear Agent,
Please find attached my idea for a novel called: Twinned. It’s in PDF because I don’t want you to steal my idea!!!
My mum says it’s brilliant! It is a thriller about a woman who falls for a man who has a twin who is a wanted man. To spice things up the woman also discovers she is a twin (separated at birth), and the sister traces her and falls in love with the criminal twin!!!!
Let me know what you think,
Regards, Sarah

Dear Agent,
Just to let you know I’ve thought of a sequel to Twinned. It’s about the twins marrying one another and going on a life of crime with their twin children. View the attached and let me know what you think ASAP.
Regards, Sarah

Dear Agent,
Forgot to add, the sequel is called Twinned Again.
Sarah.

Dear Agent,
I’m concerned you haven’t contacted me about my ideas for Twinned and Twinned Again that I emailed the other day. I’m sure you can’t be that busy that you can’t press the reply button!!!
Regards, Sarah

Dear Agent,
Why haven’t you replied? It’s very rude. Mum thinks it’s a conspiracy or new authorism or something. Is it?
Regards, Sarah

Dear Agey,
I am getting very worried now. Maybe you haven’t received my novel and it went into spam? I know this can happen because it happens a lot to me . Please check your spam box. BTW I’ve changed the genre to romance.
Sarah

Dear Age,
Just in case you have lost Twinned and Twinned Again here is another attachment !!!!
The opening is a little slow because I have to introduce two sets of twins and their twin off-spring (the criminal twin and his wife have triplets!!!!), but on page ten it’s really good!! Oh, I’ve made the characters older so the children have more to do in the story. Mum thinks it’ll defo be a bestseller now!!!
Best, Sarah

A,
The genre is now a YA. Think I’ll focus on the kids of the story rather than the parents.
Sar.
Yo!
Just to let you know my friends on facebook said they will buy my book once you publish it. Can you tell me when that will be please?
S xx

Hi A,
I’ve wrote the second chapter now and have sent that as attached. It’s copywrited so don’t get any ideas!!!!! This chapter focuses on the triplets. They have taken on their dad’s life of crime, so this one is more thriller than romance. Not sure how it will pan out tbh. Will you get back to me this week? I really, really REALLY need to know what you think before I continue further.
Sxxxxxxxx

A,
Have you replied? If you have I haven’t received it. Can you forward your reply again?
Thanks
S

A,
Disregard the previous email and chapter two. The triplets Jan, Fran and Ann are now boys called Jack, Zach and Mac!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love Sar xx.

AGENT
NOT HEARD FROM YOU AS YET!!!! STILL WAITING!!!
SARAH

Dear Mr Agent,
I am thinking about reporting you. This wait (four days and five hours) is outrageous. May I remain you that if it wasn’t for writers like me you’d be out of a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah Higgenbottom

Agent,
You aren’t going to reply are you?
People are SO rude!!!!!!!!!!!! I am taking my novel ideas to another agency. This is YOUR loss.
Goodbye
Ms Higgenbottom