The blog's main features:
Face-Lifts/Synopses
Authors with books that they feel are ready for publication prepare query letters or synopses, which they plan to send to publishers or literary agents. They get these into the best possible condition, and then email them to Evil Editor. Evil Editor prints them exactly as they came to him, adding his own comments in a different color. Evil Editor's comments are intended for entertainment purposes only, although many readers insist on finding them instructional as well. The word limit for a synopsis is 400. Queries aren't limited by EE, but if you can't fit it on one page, it's probably too long.
New Beginnings
Authors submit the first 150 words (approximately) of their books. Evil Editor's minions will provide a brief continuation of the book, and will then provide comments on the opening. You don't have to adopt the continuation, although in most cases it's far more interesting than the way your book really goes.
2. How--?
Email queries, synopses and openings to evledtr@aol.com. Within the email, not attached. If your query gives no clue as to where your title comes from, that's fine, but you might let Evil Editor know where you got the title, so that he can create a "Guess the Plot" that sounds like someone might reasonably have made it up after seeing your title.3. Huh?
At the beginning of each Face-Lift is a feature called Guess the Plot. It includes five fake plots along with the correct plot for the title of the book. The fake plots are submitted by EE's Evil Minions, of which you are now a member. On this site (EvilEditor.net) you'll find a list of titles waiting for fake plots. Click on "Guess the Plot," in the sidebar to the left.
3. How else--?
You can provide a continuation for some author's opening. Openings are listed at http://www.evileditorsopenings.blogspot.com/. There's a link to this list in the sidebar of the main blog. Continuations need to bring an unexpected twist to the story. Humor is encouraged.
You may also comment on any post. When submitting a comment, try to be helpful or witty or both. All authors enjoy praise and constructive criticism. And don't forget to include praise for Evil Editor.
You may also show up, read the new posts, and leave. No obligation, except to have fun.
4. Can I--?
No. You must be willing to be humiliated (or praised) in a public forum. The lessons to be learned from having your query critiqued are probably available in the critiques of other authors' queries, however, so if you don't have the guts to submit, read the archives.
5. What if--?
If you disagree with Evil Editor, strive to see where you've gone wrong. If you disagree with a commenter, remember, it's just one person's opinion. It's your book. A consensus of opinions may indicate that you have a problem worth addressing.6. When--?
If you've submitted a query, you should soon find it listed on this site (EvilEditor.net) in the "Queries Waiting." Others in the queue have been waiting longer than you, so be patient. Queries/synopses are critiqued in the order received.
If you've submitted an opening to your book, it will appear on the main blog soon after a suitable continuation has been found. This could take hours or weeks. Evil Editor is picky.
7. What about--?
Most of them are answered in the archives. If reading the archives is a pain, you can order Evil Editor's books, Why You Don't Get Published, which collects many of the funniest Q & A's along with hilarious excerpts from the Face-Lifts, and Novel Deviations, which collects the best of the New Beginnings.
The archives, by the way, may be more enjoyable if you read from the earliest to the latest, as there are a few inside jokes you won't find amusing otherwise.
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