Matt, Stephanie, LT, and I are interested in running a bit of a social writing experiment. On occasion, we see agents discussing the difference between pubbed and unpubbed authors. And while our experiment may or may not fuel this debate, we'd like to do an anonymous comparison between the pubbles and the wannabes. But we need volunteers. This is what we'd like:
250 words from one of your pieces (preferably a chapter/section beginning, though not necessarily the first). Give us the genre (e.g., YA, Fantasy, etc.) and location within your manuscript (e.g., -- opening page, chapter 2, etc.)
This is what we plan on doing (on a weekly, biweekly basis - will depend on interest):
Paste a page of a published piece versus a page of an unpubbed - both anonymously and of similar genre - and see who can tell the difference. Obviously this won't take into account (too much) pacing, character and plot development, but it will allow for writing Xs and Os to come through to an extent.
If interested, please email me at BaneOfAnubis@gmail.com. Also, feel free to include another 250 words from a pubbed piece if you'd like us to compare yours to that (if you do this, give us the title of the pubble's book). We will change character/location names in both pieces to reduce chances of ID.
14 comments:
Very cool idea...
You know I'm in! Now I just need to find the right 250 words... hm...
Funnily enough, I was just thinking of doing this same thing last night! I think it's an interesting experiment. I will plan on sending you something.
This is exciting! What a great idea for an experiment. :)
I may or may not send something. I've got a lot on my plate right now.
This is a cool experiment. But there are drawback to such a study. First, there are poorly written sections in pubbed works BUT they function because there is a good story backing it up. AND there are well written sections in unpubbed work and well, they're unpubbed because of plot/pacing/story issues,etc... (this is a long laundry list I won't delve into).
So what are the repercussions of said experiment? What will it truly achieve....other than some interesting play time for us writers? Are we going to rally behind the results and picket outside Random House? =)
That said....I think I'll participate....he he
Anita, I agree on all points... 250 words is a short amount of space and would not afford great insight into overall story... It's more the idea of being able (or not) to spot "professional" writing (through style, pacing within a section etc.,) As with all experiments, it very well may crash and burn :), but hopefully we'll get some willing test subjects to play along.
Ha -- Joshua would be Bane (via my BaneofAnubis email... not the quickest dog in the kennel, am I, setting up my BofA avatar w/ my name account and vice-versa... or maybe I'm just trying to confuse... yeah, that's it.)
Bane-- I meant to ask, is there a a deadline for people to get stuff to you in order to be considered/ posted, etc.?
This sounds really interesting! Great idea!
No deadline... if it gets traction, might make it a sidebar thing.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the first one of these posts, I might even put in myself :) once the MS is up to scratch
For some reason this scares me. :) But I'm excited to see what happens! Let the mayhem begin!!!!
Man, I was hoping for a repeat of the Stanford Prison experiment. This is cool, too, though. Look forward to checking it out.
Cool idea. I'll have to find something that hasn't been around the web yet.
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