Question to the editors among us - What makes you buy a story or book?

[crystalwizard]

Does the query do it for you?

Is it the synopsis?

Does the manuscript cause you to buy?

Of those three things, the query, the synopsis and the manuscript, which one holds the most weight with you when deciding to buy a story or book?

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[Citiria]

Well, I really cannot be bothered with a synopsis. I cannot write one myself so why should I bother asking for one? No. If someone queries me I will ask for chapters 1-3 and that's it.

[Lyn]

At this point I'm only looking at short stories, so of course I need to read the whole manuscript. Eventually I'll accept chapbooks and novel length projects and I'm guessing I'll be soliciting the first few projects. So long answer to say, I don't know; but probably will rely on the query and first few chapters when the time comes when I accept unsolicited book-length stories.

[RLCopple]

I've looked at two publisher's submission guidelines, and both don't ask for queries, but do ask for synopsis with 3 chapters. Tor and Gyphronwood Press. Of course, that's only two out of many.

[woundwort]

I actually managed to slip a query past an agent and she asked for the first 5 pages of my manuscript. She didn't like the first 5 pages. Can you really make a determination based on such a small sample?

[Keralen]

Well, editors (as discussed at much length in several places in this forum and others) are subjective creatures. When I open a story for critique, I can tell pretty quickly if I'm likely to enjoy reading it. But I agree, if the editor liked your idea enough to ask for a sample, 5 pages wouldn't seem to be enough to judge how well you develop it.

You may be doing a better job writing/editing your synopsis than your story?

[Keralen]

Agents too - even more so.

[crystalwizard]

>I actually managed to slip a query past an agent and she asked for the first 5 pages of my manuscript. She didn't like the first 5 pages. Can you really make a determination based on such a small sample?

Yes, like it or not, people do make such determinations based on such a small sample.

when you're buying a book at a bookstore, how many pages do you read before deciding to buy it?

[erazmus]

>
when you're buying a book at a bookstore, how many pages do you read before deciding to buy it?

Uh, usually more than forty. My bookstore has very comfortable chairs, is better lit and warmer than my house, and when I'm there I take my time.

Mike

[crystalwizard]

Most people don't. Most people pull a book off the shelf, look at the cover, look at the back, read the first couple paragraphs, maybe flip a few pages and scan a bit of text, then either put it back on the shelf or go pay for it.

[woundwort]

Most people don't. Most people pull a book off the shelf, look at the cover, look at the back, read the first couple paragraphs, maybe flip a few pages and scan a bit of text, then either put it back on the shelf or go pay for it.

You're right. For myself, when I'm hunting down something to read, I usually don't have the time to sit and read a lot of it. I have to keep one eye on the book and one eye on the children. I'll usually go by concept alone. Sometimes I'll skim the book, looking through different portions. I try not to spoil any story but I want to get a feel for whether or not the author's writing flows and whether or not the plot is developing. If a guy is having breakfast on page 1 and taking his shower on page 300 (a la L Ron Hubbard), then I'll probably put it back.

[Window Bar]

I'm a great believer in word of mouth. More often than not, I know exactly what I'm looking for because it's been mentioned by someone I respect with taste that I trust.

[cussedness]

I actually prefer a detailed outline and the first three chapters. The outline/synopsis gives me a better idea of whether the author is going to have plot holes big enough for me to put my foot in. And the chapters tell me if the writing is interesting and up to par.