I think your service has great potential, and was interested to note that Writer Beware is reserving judgment–for now. (I’ve seen your comments there too.) But, I’m reluctant to invest another $19 (which is a very reasonable fee–if your service does indeed prove worthwhile) until I have a better idea of exactly what you’re looking for.

Thanks

The answer to your question is yes, we’re working to add new publishers all the time. In fact, we have just signed Orange Avenue/Zest Books (orangeavenue.com), a San Francisco-based publisher of fun, smart, edgy young adult books. Writers who have subscribed to Creative Byline: If you don’t see editors within Creative Byline who are accepting your type of manuscript at the moment, simply select “New Query Package” from your “Overview” page and enter the title and genre. We’ll send you an e-mail alert when an editor looking for your kind of manuscript signs on. (You don’t need to upload the entire query package to get the e-mail alert.)

Thanks, too, for your suggestion about first reader feedback and your comments on our service. Apparently there are a lot of writers who feel the same way. In the past two weeks, our number of writer members has doubled!

By the way, I love the site! I’m all about creating online efficiencies and knocking down roadblocks, which a lot of agents seem to have become these days. Connecting authors directly with editors is a great idea.

First read feedback from your team was quick, articulate, and included some thoughtful suggestions. I would recommend, however, that readers also drill into more actionable comments, ie: if greater character development is warranted, would the first reader suggest development through dialogue/action rather than description, that sort of thing. If engagement with charcters doesn’t come to the reader quickly, where might character development best be placed so as not to disrupt the flow? You get the idea.

I’m not talking about writing the book for anyone, but broad editorial comments tend to steer younger, more insecure authors into the weeds, and can result in a ton of unnecessary work as well as undesirable edits that detract from aspects of the work that were fine to begin with.

Keep up the good work. This site is a great idea whose time has come. . .

No publisher is going to want unfinished manuscripts, unless the writer has already published. In which case they probably wouldn’t need Creativebyline anyhow.

Wouldn’t it be a better option to let writers upload the rest of their manuscript if finished (which would be useful for editors, as well) or just click on a button swearing the manuscript is complete? (and if not, let them post an outline instead)?