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Dear Lee

Dear Lee,

Help! I am in love with my editor. I'm a new, unpublished science fiction/fantasy writer that, like most new writers, needed help with my manuscript. I had problems with character, plot, point-of-view and a few million other things. But with the help of my wonderful editor, I now have a seriously kick-ass novel, and my long time dream of being a published author is in sight. However, I fell in love in somewhere between the numerous rewrites. Here's the problem: I never met my editor face-to-face. We've only communicated via email and through written comments on the pages of my manuscript. Lately, he has returned my "flirty" comments with some of his own. Can you fall in love with someone you never met? One more problem: I'm married.

-Editorial Assistance Needed
Dear Editorial,

It could be love, but I doubt it. It sounds more like a school-girl crush. It’s almost a cliché for a writer to fall in love with his or her editor. Let’s think about this for a minute: You never met your editor, you have no idea how he feels about you and most importantly you’re married. Express your “love” for your editor where it should be expressed: On the acknowledgment page of your book, not between the sheet. Focus your energies on writing a new novel; more importantly, create a little fantasy with your husband between chapter breaks.

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Dear Lee,

I have been rejected by almost every agent and publisher in the universe. I know my novel isn’t that bad. I’ve read Grisham, Patterson and Brown and I know I write just like them. So what’s the problem? Why can’t I get a break?

-Confused in Texas
Dear Confused,

You might want to start reading a few books on the craft of novel writing, and it wouldn’t hurt to read a few of the classics as well. Keep in mind that the publishing industry is a business. What do you bring to the table? Since you have received the “universal rejection” notice, I’d say not much.

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Dear Lee,

I’ve always loved reading, I’m a really good sales person and I’ve been in the publishing industry as an editor for five years. I’m thinking about opening my own literary agency. I’ve done enough research to know that I can’t financially survive on commissions alone and have decided to offer other literary services, such as editing, consulting, critiques and workshops. I don’t want to read manuscripts for free because when something is free it risks having no value and my time and expertise is of value. I have seen what happens to agents that offer other services and charge evaluation fees; they either get slammed on some blog site or wind up on a blogger’s worst agent list. I’ve even know of three or four bloggers who contact the company I work for and attempt to strongly encourage our editorial staff not to accept submissions from certain “scam” agents. It’s brutal out there. You think I should take the leap or stay put?

-On the Fence in New York
Dear On the Fence,

It has been my experience that a person always has a choice of what direction or action they will take. It has also been my experience that a person is responsible for their own choices; not the guy next door or some blogger on the Internet. To give up your choices or not claim responsibility for your actions is surrendering your power, your life blood and your hope. Do you want to give your life to the bloggers? If you do, you are creating nothing but a lot of suffering for yourself. Eventually, you’ll just freeze up and be unable to move. It’s your move. Are you going to move forward or backward? You can’t stay in the middle.

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Dear Lee,

I want to meet James Patterson. Have any contacts?

-A Patterson Junkie
Dear Junkie,

Yes.

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Dear Lee,

I absolutely am addicted to writing poetry but nobody wants to publish it. What can I do?

-Poet at Heart Who Can’t Get a Start
Dear Poet at Heart,

There are worse things to be addicted to. If you can’t find a publisher, how about YOU becoming a publisher of poetry?

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Submit Your Questions to: dearlee@writersnewsweekly.com.