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Finding a Tech-Friendly Novel Editor?
Brian J. asks: "I've recently completed a manuscript for a novel that depicts a heist involving elements of the Information Technology industry. Basically, a quartet of laid-off technology workers think they're going to get revenge against their former employer, but it doesn't work out that way. I was wondering if Slashdot knew of author's agents or editorial staff at publishers who have an affinity for technology, especially technology fiction, to whom I could send a query letter."
The movie only had three protagonists, is the fourth person you?
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo.
I think the best way would be to find out who edited your favorite techno thrillers, and send targeted packages to them. Some of the authors may thank the editors in the acknowledgements, and you could try emailing some of the other authors (don't ask the authors to read your manuscript though, they probably don't have time). Same goes for agents.
:)
Depending on how much you already know, try reading Getting Your Book Published for Dummies or Cory Doctorow's book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Science-Fiction (even though you aren't writing strictly sci fi, the general principles are the same). Most of the "serious" writing books I read weren't as good as either of those two, but hey, I'm either a dummy or an idiot when it comes to writing I guess
I actually thought you were looking for novel writing software - I'd be interested in that topic as well, I've tried out a few, but they don't seem to fit my needs as well as two open text editors (one for notes, one for writing).
Tips and Tricks for Mozilla
There are two possibilities.
(1) Your book is so technical that the layperson wouldn't understand it. That would mean that you really do need a technical editor and/or agent. However, your book will be harder to sell to publishers anyway because its audience will be limited to technical people.
(2) Your book, although it contains technical elements, would really be accessible to anyone. In that case, you don't really need a technical agent; you can use any agent. Such an agent might not be able to critique your technical accuracy, but if you can get the technical stuff right on your own, then it should be an added plus for readers who understand it.
The only difference between these types of books is that the latter explains things. A book for a general audience can still use technical language, but it makes it extra-clear whether a technical event is good or bad for the characters, and why.
I'd recommend going for the larger audience. Go over your manuscript pretending to be a non-technical reader. See if a non-technical reader can at least tell what the important plot events are. (If something bad happens, can the reader at least tell it's bad, or is it something that only a technical professional would realize is bad?) Find some non-technical people you know, and let them read the book, asking them if they find it interesting -- if they find your book boring, they are probably passing over technical stuff uncomprehendingly, and missing the main events.
If your book is targeted for a wide audience, you won't need any special technical skills on the part of your agent or your editor, and, besides, the book will sell better.
Sunlit World Scheme. Weird and different.
Speculations has a ton of good advice, and don't miss The Rumor Mill, especially the Caveat Scrivener sections.
SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. If you know anybody in SFWA, ask to look in the back of the directory at the list of agents representing members.
SFF.net, which hosts most of SFWA's online conversation in newsgroups.
Preditors & Editors is another outstanding resource; if you have any doubts about whether your agent, editor, or publisher is on the level or not, go poke around there.
You sure as hell wouldn't want CmdrTaco to act as a proof-reader...
If your work is well written, it'll stand on its own. If it depends heavily on the technology to make it work, then it'll only appeal to techies, which is such a small market (even smaller than science fiction or fantasy), that it likely won't interest any publisher.
If you've worked well within the craft of writing, you'll have a good story and compelling characters and anyone, tech friendly or not, will be interested. If, on the other hand, you've written a story about a lot of cool techno tricks to amaze the reader, they you're basing the story on a gimmick, and it won't be of interest to anyone.
For example, in it's time, Run Silent, Run Deep involved a lot of high tech stuff (it's not high tech anymore, but it was as advanced in its day as movies like Sneakers were). It wasn't the technical details that made the book sell (although they helped a lot with the setting). It was the simple conflict set up between a good submarine captain and a very clever former sub captain who was taking out almost every sub the Allies had in one area. It's true, the tech stuff helped, but it was only added color to help the setting.
If you don't have a good solid story and good characters, and the book depends on the tech stuff and therefore depends on a tech friendly editor, you haven't written a story -- you've written a self-indulgent fantasy.
I truly hope the case is the former, and not the latter. If so, anything you do that gets you out of the slush pile and onto someone's desk -- anyone's desk -- is all you really need.