Don't be a know-all.

Prolific Buffy author Christopher Golden also has plenty of helpful hints for would-be authors to bear in mind.

"[Lisa Clancy�s] stable of writers is pretty much full, so the truth of the matter is that whether you�re great or not, she doesn�t really need you," admits Chris. "But that doesn�t mean that she won�t feel she needs you if she reads the material and it�s really good. It�s a two-fold process. You have to get her attention and you have to be good.

"The best way to get the attention of any editor is to have an agent. If we assume that you don�t have an agent going into it, then I do have just a few dos and don�ts:

"My number one don�t is - and this happens all the time - don�t presume that you know more about Buffy The Vampire Slayer than Lisa Clancy. I don�t care how much of an expert you think you are. Even if, by some stretch of the imagination, you do know more than she does, don�t presume that you do.

"Don�t say, �I know that this doesn�t really work in continuity,� or, �I know this isn�t something that you normally would have done, but my idea is so wonderful that I know once you read it you�ll realise that it�s the right way to go.� "