Being Social

I guess it's time to finally write something worth reading.  It's going to be short and simple: Be social.

I mean in the internet world.  Get out there and get on twitter.  Yeah it takes a second to get use to, but twitter is a huge outlet to meeting authors and other people that can help you.  Check out blogs!  Good writers need to be good readers.  Get some reading time in that will help you be successful.  There are hundreds of contests out there.  Go get into it and make people read your writing!

The Writer's Voice Contest: #57, SODALITY, YA Fiction

No longer available for view.

Query Letter Stuff

So, I just found out about this great site called QueryShark.  The literary agent who developed this blog works at FinePrint Literary Management.  She takes query letters that people submit to the site and completely marks up what they did wrong and sometimes suggests how they can fix it.

I think it is a great resource for any new writer.  Therefore, I took the plunge and submitted my letter to see if she will give me any feedback on it. 

Make sure you read all the revised queries. 

It has great information to help you with yours.  Just to give an example:  In my novel, I have a prologue.  When literary agents asked for the first “whatever amount of” pages with a query letter, I have been submitting my prologue in that request.  The QueryShark says that it is a bad idea to send the prologue. 

I could not find the answer to this anywhere until I read her blog.  So, now I know, when they say the first “whatever” pages they mean starting with the first chapter.

Anyways there is a bunch of other stuff on how to write a good letter that maybe you didn't even realize.  Such things as simple as word choice and syntax or much bigger things such as actually writing about the plot and not backstory.

Check it out!

The Grand Adventure of trying to find a Literary Agent

Do your research:

So, this agent query thing had me down when I first started.  I either received formulated rejection letters or I didn’t even get a response back.  I learned real fast to buck up and keep trying!

At least I was smart the first time, though.  I did a little bit of research.

            I “googled,” or rather searched, on how to get a literary agent.  I soon found that I needed to develop a query letter.  Although my first few query letters were not as good as the one I have now (and I have no doubt that the one I will have in a month will be better than the one I have now), I pretty much got the gist of what I needed:

            1.  A “Dear Mr. or Mrs. Literary Agent (use their real name),”

            2.  Background of my writing history and awards that I have received.  (This should be briefly stated—which mine is, because I have no writing or publishing history except for the fact that I graduated from Central Washington University with a B.A. in English/Language Arts… whoop-dee-doo, but at least it is something)

            3.  A synopsis/pitch that will entice my audience (the lit. agent) to want more.

            4.  Word count, genre and target audience.

            5.  A genuine “thank you for reading my letter.”  (Because, really, I am sure that it takes a while to read hundreds of letters they receive every week.)

            6.  And of course the “Sincerely blah blah” at the bottom with possibly your phone number, website, facebook page, blog, twitter etc.

            Now, while this is all grand and good, I also needed to find out where the heck I am supposed to send off the letter, right?  So, I started searching for young adult literary agents (because my book is young adult) and found many.  I also found that I should not have to pay any literary agents money to look at my stuff.  I was and still am very paranoid about copy writing and someone stealing my idea and manuscript, so I have been very careful to not just hand it out and only let very trusted family and friends read it.

            Anyways, now that I have searched around even more, I found that EVERY agent asks for different things.  Therefore, it is important to do the research and find out if they even are accepting solicited emails and how they want it.  Make sure to take the time to read.  Some want the above general query letter only.  Others want the letter with extra stuff and the fist 5-10 pages of the manuscript (IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL).  So, it is important that you check out what the agent wants and if they even want it. 

What are the sub-genres they are looking for?  Do they represent books like the one you have written.  Do they even want to represent a book like the one you have written?

Do your homework.  Do the research.

Queries I have sent 10. 

Queries rejected 7. 

Keep on truckin'.