Don't forget to enter into my Celebrating 50 Followers giveaway. It ends January 31st! Enter for your chance to win Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, Wendy's Writer Digest Guide to Query Letters or a $20 Amazon gift card.
Enter here!
January 29, 2011
January 24, 2011
Open Range
February is the time when I send out my second novel to my final BETA readers. Yep, the MS has been torn apart, put back together and edited within an inch of it's life.
So what now?
Really my only goal this year was to get ALL BECAUSE OF YOU ready and submitted to agents. So in February, while my BETAs are reading, I am open to critiques.
Need a critique of your first chapter, your synopsis, query or your entire MS? February is the time to send it to me! I don't charge, but I am really detailed. So I hope you're willing to hate me after you receive the final read through.
How to submit to me: First, read my Services page so you understand my guarantee. Second, email me (on the Contact page) with whatever you need help with. It's that simple!
I am taking a break from writing (but not school) in the month of February - so give me about two days for your single chapters to be reviewed and week-week and a half for your entire MS.
If you submit to me between the dates of February 1 and February 28 your project WILL BE CRITIQUED, even if March comes and I have to get back to work :)
So what now?
Really my only goal this year was to get ALL BECAUSE OF YOU ready and submitted to agents. So in February, while my BETAs are reading, I am open to critiques.
Need a critique of your first chapter, your synopsis, query or your entire MS? February is the time to send it to me! I don't charge, but I am really detailed. So I hope you're willing to hate me after you receive the final read through.
How to submit to me: First, read my Services page so you understand my guarantee. Second, email me (on the Contact page) with whatever you need help with. It's that simple!
I am taking a break from writing (but not school) in the month of February - so give me about two days for your single chapters to be reviewed and week-week and a half for your entire MS.
If you submit to me between the dates of February 1 and February 28 your project WILL BE CRITIQUED, even if March comes and I have to get back to work :)
January 19, 2011
Celebrating 50 Followers!
You guys are amazing! 50 followers - that's a lot for me. I'm impressed you've all stuck around and in return, the winner of this giveaway shall be granted a gift :) Spread the word!
All you have to do is leave a comment with which item you want from these by January 31st:
The Lovely Bones by Alive Sebold
The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters by Wendy Burt-Thomas
OR if you're not the book type
$20 Amazon.com Gift Card
Thanks for following me on this journey! You guys ROCK!
January 17, 2011
Get with THAT Program
Of course, joining professional organizations offers a lot of benefits. But why should you, there, sitting at your computer, reading this blog post, write that check every year?
First and foremost "You will be revitalized by interacting with your peers. You can brainstorm, learn, and grow as a professional and writers can really benefit from teaming up with each other, " says author and platform guru Cristina Katz in her book Get Known Before the Book Deal.
And not only will you get the help and support you need throughout your writing career, but you can take advantage of writing classes and will start to accrue credentials. Being a part of an official writing organization such as Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and others, gives you the ability to learn more about your specific genre and leads that agent or editor you've been working so hard for to take you a bit more seriously.
Organizations like these count as experience!
I'm not saying go out and join these two groups because I say so. You have your own genre to write. Whether its romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal, fantasy/sci-fi, or steampunk - any organization you join and stick to a meeting schedule with will help you with those pesky novel elements (plotting, GMC, etc) and keep you updated on what the market is looking for.
It seems this industry is changing faster than any of us can keep up with, but honing your craft and showing an agent you have a bit more experience than the other 1,000 submissions she gets every month is going to give you that chance to make it out of the slushpile.
What organizations do you belong to in order to hone your craft and grab that credential? If you aren't part of a writers group, would you ever be interested in joining?
First and foremost "You will be revitalized by interacting with your peers. You can brainstorm, learn, and grow as a professional and writers can really benefit from teaming up with each other, " says author and platform guru Cristina Katz in her book Get Known Before the Book Deal.
And not only will you get the help and support you need throughout your writing career, but you can take advantage of writing classes and will start to accrue credentials. Being a part of an official writing organization such as Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and others, gives you the ability to learn more about your specific genre and leads that agent or editor you've been working so hard for to take you a bit more seriously.
Organizations like these count as experience!
I'm not saying go out and join these two groups because I say so. You have your own genre to write. Whether its romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal, fantasy/sci-fi, or steampunk - any organization you join and stick to a meeting schedule with will help you with those pesky novel elements (plotting, GMC, etc) and keep you updated on what the market is looking for.
It seems this industry is changing faster than any of us can keep up with, but honing your craft and showing an agent you have a bit more experience than the other 1,000 submissions she gets every month is going to give you that chance to make it out of the slushpile.
What organizations do you belong to in order to hone your craft and grab that credential? If you aren't part of a writers group, would you ever be interested in joining?
January 13, 2011
How much is too much?
I found a comment by my awesome BETA reader, Sara, very interesting. In my suspense, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, most of my chapters are between 30 and 35 pages. This is double-spaced of course. Times New Roman 12 pt. font. She suggested cutting them in half. So instead of having 13 chapters between 30 and 35 pages, I would have 26 chapters between 15-17 pages.
For some reason, when I was constructing my chapters, I kept the idea in my mind that when (or if) my book is published, the pages would be printed differently. It's not like they just shrink the pages down, right? So I'm thinking when in print, the chapters will actually be shorter physically. Not only are the pages double-sided, but the print is smaller. Do you get what I'm saying?
What do you think? Is 30-35 pages too much for one chapter?
For some reason, when I was constructing my chapters, I kept the idea in my mind that when (or if) my book is published, the pages would be printed differently. It's not like they just shrink the pages down, right? So I'm thinking when in print, the chapters will actually be shorter physically. Not only are the pages double-sided, but the print is smaller. Do you get what I'm saying?
What do you think? Is 30-35 pages too much for one chapter?
January 9, 2011
Blasted GMC
Goal, motivation and conflict. As writer's we've all heard it, but what does it really mean?
If you're a fiction writer and you haven't checked out Debra Dixon's book Goal, Motivation and Conflict, go do it. Now. This book completely changed my MS, making it stronger, clearer and believable.
Isn't that what we all want in our work?
So what is GMC? Well, the simplest way to explain is to show you first.
Having a GMC chart for each character, no matter if they are your main or secondary characters, is a MUST. This screen shot is for my secondary characters in my novel ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. Understanding every character's GMC will save you time, frustration and bring your plot across clearly.
Your character's goal is what they are working toward. What do each of your characters want emotionally and physically (internally and externally)?
Next, is motivation. Why do they want to achieve their goal? You should be able to answer this question with "Because...". What drives them toward their goal internally and externally?
And finally, conflict. Why can't they achieve their goals? What is holding them back? Emotionally, your own character is holding themselves back in some way. But why? Physically is simple. For your protagonist, what is your antagonist doing to thwart their goals?
It seems simple, but in my experience, I had more trouble deciphering my character's GMC than plotting my novel!
One last element of my GMC chart is the Dominant Tag (highlighted in pink). Debra Dixon suggests using this to keep your GMC simple. Using an adjective + an adverb will keep your character in focus. For example, my main character is Adelaide. Her brother, Taigen, only wants the best for her, no matter what he has to do. He constantly worries over her and therefore, the tag "Overprotective brother" fits him nicely.
I really recommend finding a copy of Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Not only will it help you get a better reign on your characters, it stresses the importance of each element in order to make your story believable and enjoyable to your reader.
If you're a fiction writer and you haven't checked out Debra Dixon's book Goal, Motivation and Conflict, go do it. Now. This book completely changed my MS, making it stronger, clearer and believable.
Isn't that what we all want in our work?
So what is GMC? Well, the simplest way to explain is to show you first.
Your character's goal is what they are working toward. What do each of your characters want emotionally and physically (internally and externally)?
Next, is motivation. Why do they want to achieve their goal? You should be able to answer this question with "Because...". What drives them toward their goal internally and externally?
And finally, conflict. Why can't they achieve their goals? What is holding them back? Emotionally, your own character is holding themselves back in some way. But why? Physically is simple. For your protagonist, what is your antagonist doing to thwart their goals?
It seems simple, but in my experience, I had more trouble deciphering my character's GMC than plotting my novel!
One last element of my GMC chart is the Dominant Tag (highlighted in pink). Debra Dixon suggests using this to keep your GMC simple. Using an adjective + an adverb will keep your character in focus. For example, my main character is Adelaide. Her brother, Taigen, only wants the best for her, no matter what he has to do. He constantly worries over her and therefore, the tag "Overprotective brother" fits him nicely.
I really recommend finding a copy of Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Not only will it help you get a better reign on your characters, it stresses the importance of each element in order to make your story believable and enjoyable to your reader.
January 1, 2011
A Little Late...But Amazing
Some good new first...the article I wrote, "5 Steps to a Perfect Submisson", was submitted and accepted by the editor of my Romance Writer's of America chapter here in Las Vegas. And in turn, was posted on EditorLink and accepted by the Wisconsin Romance Writer's of America chapter for use in their newletter!
Yes, this is just something small, but also an accomplishment for me. So I'm pretty happy right now.
You may have noticed a change in the web address above. I changed it so my name isn't included in the address. I have problems using my real name on the Internet sometimes. So until I come up with a psuedo, I'm just The Las Vegas Writer. :) Thinking of using my grandmother's married name with my first ititial, but haven't decided.
Now, onto the meat of the post!
Last year, I only had two goals. They were small and manageable and I completed both.
1. Read 50 new books (ones that I've never read before).
2. Finish a short story.
Done and done. Yep, it's time to make a new list.
1. Pass my classes (that's what takes up most of my time now days).
2. Submit/query my second novel, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.
I'm keeping the list short. With school, it's hard to tell how much reading I'll be able to accomplish or how much writing I'll be able to tackle. I know I want to try to revise and edit my third novel, ALL OR NOTHING, but it's not going on the list just yet.
What are your goals this year? Are they more writing-related than mine?
Yes, this is just something small, but also an accomplishment for me. So I'm pretty happy right now.
You may have noticed a change in the web address above. I changed it so my name isn't included in the address. I have problems using my real name on the Internet sometimes. So until I come up with a psuedo, I'm just The Las Vegas Writer. :) Thinking of using my grandmother's married name with my first ititial, but haven't decided.
Now, onto the meat of the post!
Last year, I only had two goals. They were small and manageable and I completed both.
1. Read 50 new books (ones that I've never read before).
2. Finish a short story.
Done and done. Yep, it's time to make a new list.
1. Pass my classes (that's what takes up most of my time now days).
2. Submit/query my second novel, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.
I'm keeping the list short. With school, it's hard to tell how much reading I'll be able to accomplish or how much writing I'll be able to tackle. I know I want to try to revise and edit my third novel, ALL OR NOTHING, but it's not going on the list just yet.
What are your goals this year? Are they more writing-related than mine?
December 31, 2010
5 Steps to a Perfect Submission
NOTE: This article has now been published in 7 different chapters across the US and Canada for Romance Writers of America, is now being considered for Mystery Writer's of America SoCal chapter newsletter and is on submission for Writer's Digest's October 2011 issue.
As fiction writers, we strive to perfect our submission process to catch our dream agent’s attention and this can only be accomplished by using the basic pattern of submission rules that each agent has constructed to suit them individually. Following these five simple steps, even a novice writer will be ahead of the game when taking their masterpiece out into the world.
As fiction writers, we strive to perfect our submission process to catch our dream agent’s attention and this can only be accomplished by using the basic pattern of submission rules that each agent has constructed to suit them individually. Following these five simple steps, even a novice writer will be ahead of the game when taking their masterpiece out into the world.
Finish the book. DO NOT submit to an agent unless you are able to use the word “completed” (with word count) in your query. This doesn’t mean first draft material either. Not only do you take that final plunge in writing “The End” at the bottom of that last page, but you have to take your book a step further. Edit and revise several times, which may include several man hours, weeks or years depending on your life and your idea of revisions. But the most important part of this step is that you do it. Your manuscript (MS) is an extension of you and will be the deciding factor in catching an agent. Make it into a masterpiece and then hand it over to someone else.
And I don’t mean your mom. Getting your work critiqued can be daunting. Your work is going out into the world, you’re nervous, you’re not sure if your trusted friend will like your characters or the world you’ve built for them, but here’s the hard truth: you want to be an author. You’re going to have to get over those nervous jitters and accept that not everyone has the same taste. Besides, moms lie. Use your loyal writing community. Don’t have one? Start by reading other writer’s blogs. Befriend them and they will welcome you with open arms. They might even teach you something. The online writing community is always willing to help and know what agent’s are looking for. They will BETA-read for you. They will give you feedback and you will consider every word because you want the best chance of getting noticed by an agent. Of course, you have to use your own judgment in their suggestions as well. This is your work and you know it best.
Because your MS is an extension of yourself, you want it to look professional. So format. This will tell your chosen agent just how serious you are. There are many different opinions on what your header should contain, to bold or italicize the title page and what font to use and a nice tool to answer all these questions is Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino.
Synopsis. Nicknamed the “dreaded synopsis”, the synopsis is your second step in the submission process and unfortunately required. Some writers believe writing an entire novel is easier that consolidating it down to a few pages and I’d have to agree. Contrary to popular belief, the synopsis is NOT a play-by-play of your MS. Instead, think of it as the summary on the back of your book when it’s published, only two to five pages rather than a couple paragraphs. Summaries don’t tell the entire story and neither should your synopsis. You will have the main points and the ending, of course, but the synopsis should be emotional rather than physical. Who are the main characters? What’s at stake? What are their goals, motivations and conflicts? Tell the agent why your readers will keep turning the page, but in a brief summary.
Write the Query Letter. Easier said than done. Trust me, I know. Just like the synopsis, the query letter is required. This is how you’re going to catch an agent’s attention and make them want to represent you and your work. Further consolidating your MS into two or three paragraphs seems impossible, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Start with a hook line. You’ve already done this in your actual MS. Your hook line is the first sentence that keeps your reader wanting more and you have to do the same in your query letter. Make the agent keep reading your sales pitch. Make her eager to request more material. Because that’s all we as fiction writers really want: a chance to share the real masterpiece.
Two to three paragraphs is plenty to express the goals, motivation and conflict of your protagonist(s) and antagonist(s). Keep it simple. Give the agent the basics, just as you’ve done in your synopsis, but keep them wanting more with conflict. Agents receive thousands of submissions each month and more than you’d think take up more than one page. Two hundred and fifty words is usually the maximum agents are willing to consider for each submission.
Once you’ve got your query cleaned up, send it off to your trusted critique partner or submit it to The Public Query Slushpile (http://www.openquery.blogspot.com/), hosted by Rick Daley. The site is an excellent resource to get free critiques and feedback.
Comprise your list of agents. Your list of agents needs to compliment your work. Genre, for example, is the most important factor in selecting your agents. You don’t want to submit your thriller to an agent who only represents romance. An easy way to sift through the thousands of agents is to obtain a copy of Writer’s Market or subscribe online for about $5.99 a month, check out Agent Query (http://www.agentquery.com/), or head over to Preditors and Editors (http://pred-ed.com/). With these valuable resources, you can weed out agents through an advanced search of genre, website availability and much more. Once you have a basic list, it’s time to research.
Researching your agents. Besides the query letter, researching your agents is the most important step in the submission process and the most time consuming. You will need to read up on every single agent on your list in order to tell the agent why your MS is going to fit them personally in your query. When I say “fit”, I mean you need to know which agent you will be submitting to (some agencies house more than one agent and yes, you need to know the agents name. None of this “Dear Agent” crap), what their submission guidelines are, how to submit to them (snail mail or email), and finally, and what book sales of theirs might compare to your MS. It’s hard trying to compare someone else’s work to yours since yours is so unique, but it can, and must be done. This little tidbit of information gives the agent confidence that you’ve done your homework and tells them just how serious you are about being published.
These five steps will put you ahead of the other two thousand submissions a single agent receives every month and may even lead to that call or email you’ve been waiting for. I wish you the best of luck!
December 29, 2010
To the Writer Community...I Need Help
Dear friends of the Internet,
I'm researching agents. Yay! Not. This is the point where my query letter is finished and now I need to personalize it to every agent in my list. I'm doing this by researching the agent's sales, comparing my work to others.
Here's where I need help.
I have two perfect comparisons that I've included in my query letter for one agent. I'm not sure if there will be other books out there that can compare so well. Can I keep those two throughout my submission process for EVERY agent, assuming they know the books I'm speaking of or do I need to go even further and find different comparisons for EACH agent?
I'm researching agents. Yay! Not. This is the point where my query letter is finished and now I need to personalize it to every agent in my list. I'm doing this by researching the agent's sales, comparing my work to others.
Here's where I need help.
I have two perfect comparisons that I've included in my query letter for one agent. I'm not sure if there will be other books out there that can compare so well. Can I keep those two throughout my submission process for EVERY agent, assuming they know the books I'm speaking of or do I need to go even further and find different comparisons for EACH agent?
December 27, 2010
The State of Mind
I have a secret: all of my short story plots come from dreams. Very rarely I dream, but when I do, I tend to memorize every moment, every action and, when I wake, I write them down. In my dreams, I'm never myself, I'm always looking down. My "characters" can have my name, they can act like me, but they never look like me and I'm never in that first person chair.
I write like this, too. Never in first person (I just don't have the patience to use "I" in every sentence and even now I'm a little bothered). I was taught and grew up to write third person. The "characters" in my dreams don't have names or personalities until I take the notes I've written from my dreams and start a new creation, but I already know the plot :)
Do you utilize your dreams in your work? Have they ever given you that blockbuster plot?
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break. The New Year is coming soon!
I write like this, too. Never in first person (I just don't have the patience to use "I" in every sentence and even now I'm a little bothered). I was taught and grew up to write third person. The "characters" in my dreams don't have names or personalities until I take the notes I've written from my dreams and start a new creation, but I already know the plot :)
Do you utilize your dreams in your work? Have they ever given you that blockbuster plot?
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break. The New Year is coming soon!
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