Has anyone had one? I mean, an honest-to-goodness, real-deal, agent dream? Not just a daydream you have when you're waiting for the blog to load, or twitter to update. One that you wake up and remember.
Yeah. I did. Have a dream about an agent, I mean. I won't tell you who I dreamed about it, but suffice to say the person is a stellar agent. Who. I. Would. Love. To. Rep. Me.
She was in my house, on my laptop, giving me advice about my blog. Wish I could remember the advice. :)
I think I'm not getting enough sleep.
#mightbegoingcrazythissummer
Monday, August 9, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Getting Back in the Game
It's so easy to be distracted while querying--all the pretty lights blogs and twitter accounts and querying websites and forums, etc., etc.
I've had a really hard time getting used to the TIME querying takes. Yes, there are the quick agents who come back with "NO" very fast. But I've decided I like the ones who take their time more. Yeah, it's great to get a lightning-fast reply...but really, did that agent who responded in 20 minutes really read my sample pages? Even if I did target well?
I've been lucky enough to be assigned a work-for-hire project this summer. Actually two. And I've had to get myself to the library--force myself to do the research--write and update an outline--put my butt in the chair (pandora.com blaring on my headphones)--actually write words on a page.
It feels good. And I'm working. Of course I still check twitter, but hey, going cold turkey is hard.
Anyway, my advice for the day--try to distract your subconscious. Work on something else. Even if it's a blog post. ;)
I've had a really hard time getting used to the TIME querying takes. Yes, there are the quick agents who come back with "NO" very fast. But I've decided I like the ones who take their time more. Yeah, it's great to get a lightning-fast reply...but really, did that agent who responded in 20 minutes really read my sample pages? Even if I did target well?
I've been lucky enough to be assigned a work-for-hire project this summer. Actually two. And I've had to get myself to the library--force myself to do the research--write and update an outline--put my butt in the chair (pandora.com blaring on my headphones)--actually write words on a page.
It feels good. And I'm working. Of course I still check twitter, but hey, going cold turkey is hard.
Anyway, my advice for the day--try to distract your subconscious. Work on something else. Even if it's a blog post. ;)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
You Wish Contest
Did that get your attention? Well, it should have. CA Marshall is hosting a contest and giving away a signed copy of Mandy Hubbard's YOU WISH--and unless you've been living under a rock, you know how cool this book is going to be.
I've been pretty lucky recently with book giveaways--I won at the SCBWI blog a couple of weeks ago and I also won a couple of books at Tara's Bodacious Pen. So I hope my luck continues.
On a personal note--Mandy is a class act. She's not only a writer, but a literary agent active on twitter and her own blog. And while she won't be my agent, at least not for the current MS, she did give me some nice compliments on my writing after she read my full. And I love her for that!
If you're a YA writer--I'd encourage you to query her. Check her blog for what she's looking for (I believe YA romance, in particular!) Oh, and read her work--she's a great writer!
I've been pretty lucky recently with book giveaways--I won at the SCBWI blog a couple of weeks ago and I also won a couple of books at Tara's Bodacious Pen. So I hope my luck continues.
On a personal note--Mandy is a class act. She's not only a writer, but a literary agent active on twitter and her own blog. And while she won't be my agent, at least not for the current MS, she did give me some nice compliments on my writing after she read my full. And I love her for that!
If you're a YA writer--I'd encourage you to query her. Check her blog for what she's looking for (I believe YA romance, in particular!) Oh, and read her work--she's a great writer!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
How I Write: Revision Part 2
Welcome to the eighth installment of the How I Write series, brainchild of Ansha Kotyk. A group of writers are writing about how we write – scheduled for Wednesdays through August. Please check back weekly. And click here for the list of all the writers participating and links to their blogs.
This week, we're delving deeper into Revision - first pass, resources, critique groups. We've talked about writing a first draft and revising it--how do we delve deeper into revisions?
I'm sure my colleagues will have more comprehensive strategies for deep revision--I'm still making my way through the journey of novel writing and I'm still figuring this thing out. I've got a shelf full of craft books -- some that I love, some that haven't helped so much.
These are my favorites:
1. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
2.The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
3. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell
4. Novel Metamorphosis by Darcy Pattison
Better than all the books in my library are the ladies in my critique group--my cheer leading team, my writing partners, my task force, my confidantes, my beta readers. If you don't have a critique group or partner--do whatever you can to get one. Check on absolutewrite.com, or Verla Kay's "blue board"--lots of people advertise for critique partners.
These friends are responsible for the major revisions and breakthroughs I've had on my novel this past year. ::hugs:: to Ansha, Laura, and Jennifer.
Other great resources? Agent blogs (see my sidebar for helpful links), Querytracker, VerlaKay.com, and countless author blogs and websites. Browse, google -- you've got to find what works for you.
I firmly believe that writing is a craft--one that you can practice and improve. We should always keep learning from our peers, our mentors, our partners, and professionals in the field. They make us work harder and get better all the time.
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