Okay, so I talked last week about your queries. Today I’m taking just a moment—as I’m in a crunch with MI at the moment (Some edits that I need to get to my agent pronto!)—to talk about those all important first 250 words, which is approximately 1 page of writing.
As in all things, there are no specific rules, but you need to grab the readers attention. You don’t want the reader (whomever it may be) to look at the first sentence and go “BORING! Why would I read more?”
Remember, you want your first sentence to really hook them. Think about what you did for your query letter.
Use your first sentence to hook them, then use the rest of the paragraph to reel them in, and use the rest of the first page to anchor them to that book.
Here’s a few things to consider while you’re writing that all important first line. (People who’ve read my blog from the beginning will recognize this from another earlier post.)
1. Sentence Style. Basically what this means is that the sentence must be concise. This doesn't mean it can't be long, but it needs to make sense. It definitely needs to be structured correctly so that the reader doesn't feel as if it's a mouthful. 2. It should make the reader ask a question. Basically this part is your hook. This doesn't necessarily need to be in the very first sentence, but if not it needs to be in the first paragraph. Give your reader a reason to keep reading. Let it be a hint of what's to come and set the tone for the book. If it's a comedy, open with something funny. If it's a horror, something scary, etc. 3. It needs to be relevant. Since this line sets the tone for the rest of the book, don't just add in something that sounds interesting or funny, but has nothing to do with the story. It'll only cause your readers to stop reading that much faster. Readers are smart, they'll figure it out. 4. It needs to allow for setup. You shouldn't toss your readers in the middle of a scene where no one knows what's going on. It's distracting, chaotic, and of course another reason not to keep going. People don't like feeling confused. They want to feel like they've got a good handle on something before they continue.
There are people who say not to start off with dialogue. Or description, but as in all thing writerly, you have to follow your instinct. If dialogue fits better. USE IT! If it needs to start with description. Do it! But make sure it’s EXCITING!
It’s your hook. If it doesn’t make the reader go. “Oh my! I have to keep reading now!” Then it’s not enough. Try something else.
What’s just as important as that first line? The last one. In this case it would be the last line before you end at 250 words. Make sure to end on another hook.
If you can make the agent go, okay, I liked the query, but I LOVE this page and I have to know what happens next, then you’re golden!
So, you have a few days now to make your queries and first 250 shine, so get to it. I’ll see you back here on the first!
Just a quick post today. Here's what my query letter looked like all put together when I sent it to my agent.
DearNatalie Fischer: (SALUTATION: REMEMBER TO PERSONALIZE THIS HERE. DO NOT MASS EMAIL. SEND TO ONE AGENT AT A TIME!!)
You'd think imagining a handsome stranger in your rearview mirror, crashing through a guardrail, careening into murky waters, and then being rescued by the same imaginary boy--who gives his name as Jackson--would be bad enough. But for seventeen-year-old Lily Baker, that’s just the start of her problems. (HOOK: GRAB THE READERS ATTENTION)
After coming home from the hospital, Jackson starts showing up in reflective surfaces — mirrors, puddles, windows, you name it. Lily, fearing others will think she’s crazy, keeps the visions to herself. After all, they’ll just go away if she ignores them, right? Not if Jackson has anything to say about it. And it isn’t long before he convinces her he’s real. The more time she spends staring into her mirror, the more she realizes she’s falling in love with a boy her family and friends insist is nothing more than shadows in her mirror and the hallucinations of her healing head injury. (SYNOPSIS: EXPLAIN ENOUGH OF THE BOOK TO GET THEIR INTEREST. END ON A HOOK)
MIRROR IMAGE is a science fiction romantic young adult novel, complete at 83,000 words. With a mix of Alice In Wonderland, The Phantom of the Opera, and Romeo & Juliet, this is a story of love that knows no bounds. Time, space, even the very fabric of reality cannot stop it. (BOOK DETAILS)
My young adult book, under the working title FALLEN, has been offered a contract from XXX. We are currently undergoing negotiations. I am a member of the RWA and CFRW. (PERSONAL BIO)
(PERSONALIZATION WOULD NORMALLY GO HERE)
Per your guidelines, I have enclosed a synopsis and the first 50 pages. Thank you for your generous time. I look forward to hearing from you soon. (TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE INCLUDING AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME.)
Sincerely,
(MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION.)
And we’re back for Part 4 of my query letter workshop. As always, remember what worked for me, may not work for you as all agents are different and want different things. ALWAYS read the agents/editors guidelines for their recommendations.
Let’s talk about your bio. First the things you can and should include . Other manuscripts, short stories, poems, articles that you’ve published. List the title and whom you sold it to. If it’s a book, make sure to list sales numbers. They’re going to want to know you write something that sells.
Also include if you belong to any writers groups like the RWA (Romance Writer’s of America), the SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), MWA (Mystery Writers Association), HWA (Horror Writers Association), SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers association), etc. (I suggest joining one or a few of these organizations, because they offer great support and information. My RWA chapter gives wonderful workshops once a month, which has really helped my writing.)
If you’re an expert in something that’s pertinent to what you’ve written. For instance, you were in the army for 20 years and went to Afghanistan and you’ve written a book about a corporal in the Army who’s been deployed to that same area. They’re going to want to know that.
Things NOT to include in your query: what your English grades were in school. That this is your first ever “fiction novel”. That you’re the next JK Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Steven King, etc. That you’re in prison. This list goes on and on.
When in doubt, leave it out. If they offer representation and want to know, they’ll ask.
If you have no relative experience, you’ve never published anything, don’t belong to any official writer’s groups, and therefore have no official bio, leave this area blank. It’s better to not list anything than to list the fact that you’re a newbie.
At the time, I was considering a contract for my book, THE EXILED (then titled FALLEN). Since it didn’t work out for various reasons, I never signed, but this is what my bio looked like when I queried my agent.
My young adult book, under the working title FALLEN, has been offered a contract from XXX publisher. We are currently undergoing negotiations. I am a member of the RWA and CFRW.
And now onto the salutation. All you want to do here is thank them for their time and let them know you look forward to hearing from them. Don’t add what you have to offer them, like an offer for the full or partial, or a synopsis. They know—or hope—that you have a full manuscript ready and polished for them and they’ll request whatever it is that they normally request.
If they want a certain number of pages, make sure to let them know you’ve followed their guidelines and have included xx number of pages.
Here’s what mine looked like:
Per your guidelines I have enclosed a synopsis and the first 50 pages. Thank you for your generous time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Then you want to close the letter with “Sincerely” and your name and contact information.
Then include whatever they’ve requested and you’re done.
Tomorrow, I’ll show you what the whole thing should look like, if you’ve followed my advice and a list of resources you can use to help you write that letter if you don’t want to follow my advice, including my own agent’s template for how she wants to see queries.
Welcome back! This is #3 in my query “workshop.” As always, remember what worked for me, may not work for you as all agents are different and want different things. ALWAYS read the agents/editors guidelines for their recommendations. Today we’re going to focus on the ms details section and personalizing your letter.
When I’m talking about the details, this is the nitty gritty section that lets the agent/editor know how long, what genre, and who your target audience for your book is. I try to spice up this section a little so it’s not boring. We still want to keep the readers attention here.
Also, you want to make sure your title is in all caps.
Here’s an example of the one I used for Mirror Image:
MIRROR IMAGE is a science fiction romantic young adult novel, complete at 83,000 words. With a mix of Alice In Wonderland, The Phantom of the Opera, and Romeo & Juliet, this is a story of love that knows no bounds. Time, space, even the very fabric of reality cannot stop it.
Now there is some speculation on whether or not you should actually say the work is a mix of blah and blah, but it worked well for me. It has been said that it’s better to say that the book will appeal to readers of blah and blah instead. I’ll leave that up to you.
As I look as this, I realize I’ve come close to doing one of the no no’s in the industry. You NEVER want to refer to your book as a “fiction novel.” It’s redundant. If it’s fiction, then yes it’s a novel. If I were still querying, I would try to reword that first sentence to make it better, but as they say, “hindsight is twenty-twenty.”
Now onto personalization. If at all possible, thoroughly research the agents you want to submit to, then, and only then, submit to them. With the research you’ve obtained you want to add one or two sentences to your query so they know you’ve done your research.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find enough information on my agent (at the time) to really personalize it, but here’s an example of something you could do.
Since you represent such and such author’s book, TITLE HERE, which is similar to mine, for these reasons (list 1 or 2 reasons), I hope you’ll agree my book is a good fit for your list.
There are, of course, other ways to do it. For instance, reading their guidelines and mentioning that since they are looking for such and such book, you think that YOUR BOOK would be a good fit.
Or you read in such and such interview that they were looking for, or they said something.
The potential here is limitless and, if you do your research, this should be the easiest part of the query.
Tomorrow, will be on your bio and the closing of the letter. Until then, Ciao!
Hello and welcome back for another installment on my query letter writing “workshop.” Please remember that all agents are different and what works for me, may not work for you!
So, now onto the next part of your letter. They synopsis. So you’ve drawn in the agent with your hook and they want to keep reading and find out what’s going on with your book.
This is the most difficult part of the letter for me. Because you want to give the agent enough to realize what the plot is, but not so much you give it all away. Basically, you want to have a back of the book blurb here. You also want to end this on a hook. And in this particular synopsis you don’t want to give the ending away. Make it sweet and simple, yet fascinating.
Grab the agent’s attention and make them want to read the pages you’ve included or make them want to request them if they only have the query.
However, avoid using rhetorical questions. Agents tend to frown on it.
Most people say the synopsis should be no more than a paragraph, but it’s probably okay to have two if you absolutely need it. Try for one though, if you can. Remember there’s still more you need to include in letter besides the book stuff, and you only get a page to do it.
Here’s an example of the synopsis I used for Mirror Image:
After coming home from the hospital, Jackson starts showing up in reflective surfaces — mirrors, puddles, windows, you name it. Lily, fearing others will think she’s crazy, keeps the visions to herself. After all, they’ll just go away if she ignores them, right? Not if Jackson has anything to say about it. And it isn’t long before he convinces her he’s real. The more time she spends staring into her mirror, the more she realizes she’s falling in love with a boy her family and friends insist is nothing more than shadows in her mirror and the hallucinations of her healing head injury.
As you can see that even though my story is written in first person, past tense, the synopsis needs to be in third person, present tense. Always. I can’t think of any exception to that rule.
Also, note there’s a lot of my character’s voice in this. Lily is funny and a smart alec, but she has a romantic side, too. Not to mention a bit of stubbornness. If I’ve done this part right, you can see all this.
This is what you strive for. You want to SHOW the agent what your book is about. If it’s a comedy don’t just say it’s funny. Show that in your letter.
Okay, tomorrow, the details about your manuscript and personalization.
As promised here’s day one of my Query letter writing “workshop” for my secret agent contest. Since it’s the beginning, I figured it was only fitting to talk about beginnings.
Keep in mind there is no secret formula to writing queries, all my knowledge comes from my own writing and what I found worked for me. Each agent is different, and each agent will want different things.
Also, keep in mind that while you want to catch the agent’s attention, you don’t want to be gimmicky. Avoid using colored paper, glitter, or sending cookies or anything else with the letter. It should be just as professional as if you were writing a cover letter for a job interview.
Margins should be 1” wide all around and the letter should be no longer than one page, single-spaced. Don’t forget to include your contact information somewhere in your letter. Usually below your signature.
In normal circumstances, it’s important to do some research before submitting, don’t just carbon copy everyone in the writing business. Personalize each query to each individual agent and send each query separately.
Now onto the first paragraph. Some like to say why they’re querying right here, but I don’t agree. The top of the letter is valuable real estate! You want to make it as eye catching as possible. And most agents know why you're querying them. You want them to offer representation!
So, I suggest opening your book with your hook.
Since the query for Mirror Image is what eventually got me my agent (along with the manuscript pages) I’ll use that as an example:
“You'd think imagining a handsome stranger in your rearview mirror, crashing through a guardrail, careening into murky waters, and then being rescued by the same imaginary boy--who gives his name as Jackson--would be bad enough. But for seventeen-year-old LILY BAKER, that’s just the start of her problems.”
As you can see, I only give a little bit of information here, but it’s enough to capture said agent’s attention and hopefully make him/her keep reading.
That’s the goal here folks, is to make the reader (whomever it may be) to keep reading.
Here’s another example of a hook. This is one from my new WIP.
"For EMILY BRIAR the rules are simple: life is short, death is never-ending and absolute, and second chances are almost never given. But when teenagers start walking around without their souls, that’s all about to change."
Do you see something interesting about the names? Names in the synopsis and query are in all caps the first time they are mentioned, as is the title of the MS.
Also, it’s important that you double, even triple check your query for spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors. Even have another person read it to make sure it’s perfect. Nothing turns people off like errors in your query and it’s a good way to get an auto-reject.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about the synopsis of the query.
It's that time again! Here's a little excerpt from my newest WIP. It's very, very rough, but I thought I'd give you a hint at what's to come. :D
I tapped a sheaf of papers—which was all that was left to do after my latest transport—so the pages lined up, and placed them off to the side to bring to the file clerk, even in the Otherworld there was paperwork. I adjusted my stapler on the corner of my desk so the edges matched up, spending almost five minutes making sure it was perfect. Then I slipped my pen in the drawer, and preceded to organize my already organized files, going so far as to make sure the files in the alphabetized folders were also in alphabetical order.
This wasn’t done to make sure my workplace was tidy; it was a way of stalling. Just after I’d transported her to her final destination, I’d received a message from Azrael—my boss, “Meet me in my office when you’re done,” and I’d been a nervous wreck since.
That wasn’t at all the way it was supposed to happen. Usually, I got a ‘good job’ when I handed in my paperwork—if he was around. If I’d done really well, I might have even gotten a handshake, but I’d never gotten called to his office. And especially not the second I’d returned from Elysia. In fact, I’d only ever been to his office once. The day I’d arrived.
Almost no one went to his office, unless you were a member of his Assembly or you did something very, very wrong. I was not a member of his Assembly.
When I caught myself straightening the pencils in my drawer so the tips all faced the same direction, I forced myself to get up and go to Azrael.
His office was similar to mine—as were all the offices—except it was bigger. A lot bigger. But then when you where in charge of every single reaper in the Otherworld it only made sense.
The walls of his office were a fawn color and had wainscoting along the bottom, while my walls were a dingy yellow, as if they had suffered through years of smoking. His desk was beautiful rosewood, while mine was a dented, brown, metal military surplus. He had a beautiful Turkish rug over Mahogany hardwood floors and I had threadbare carpet over concrete.
I stepped into the anteroom, which was a smaller, cozier version of his office. It was where he did his more informal discussions with those in the higher circle. Those that had gone beyond just a simple collector or transporter. Candlelight lit the room, giving it an even more homey feeling.
As modern as the Otherworld had become, it still didn’t run to modern conveniences such as electricity. There really wasn’t any need. Reapers didn’t need the comforts humans did. Cold, heat, light, dark. None of that mattered to us. If we were lucky enough to be given an assignment that meant becoming corporeal, than it would. We would feel the same humans did, but that was rare and only given to the most trusted reapers. An experience I hoped to gain one day.
I grinned when I saw Azreal’s hound sleeping in the center of the Aubusson rug. One massive eye opened, then the rest followed suit. His tail waged, and three tongues appeared from behind rows of razor sharp teeth. I knelt down to scratch his belly with both hands, laughing when his leg started kicking. For a dog that had three heads and was larger than myself, Cerberus was as gentle as a lamb. With people he liked anyway.
“Whose a good boy? Huh? Whose a good boy?” One of his large heads lifted and his tongue slurped up the side of my face. “Eww!” I exclaimed, laughing, and trying to wipe the slobber off with my sleeve. “Keep that up and we won’t play Frisbee later.” His tail thumbed heavily.
A throat cleared behind me and I jumped up to stand at attention, trying not to show my embarrassment of having been caught by the man himself, playing with his dog. Cerberus whined, stood, and went to his master—who gave him a few strokes behind the ears of one of his heads—before going to curl up in the corner.
“Emily, it’s wonderful to see you again. I don’t get to nearly enough,” Azrael said, and took my hand to shake it. He gestured to the couch behind me. “Please have a seat.”
My nerves settled slightly as I took a calming breath. We weren’t going to his office, which meant I wasn’t in trouble. I sat, but didn’t relax completely; I’d still been summoned. That was never a good thing.
He waited until I sat before doing the same, and then steepled his spidery thin fingers together. He propped them under his chin and then leaned forward to rest his elbows on his thighs, studying me, while I watched him. His dark hair and pale skin glowed under the lamplight. His eyes locked onto mine and stayed there, not even blinking.
When I started to fidget from the intensity of stare, he smiled. “Yes, I do believe I was right about you.”
That threw me for a loop and I blinked. “Sir?”
“When I brought you on board.” His smile grew. “I saw something in you. The others did not agree, but you have proven me right time and time again. As you well know, there aren’t many that were in your position that are offered what you were. I am quite proud of you, Emily.”
I blushed and looked down at the hands I’d clasped in my lap. “Thank you.”
He stood up, drawing my attention back to him. “There is a request I must make of you.”
Knowing better than to interrupt, I waited for him to continue. He walked across the room to shut and bolt the heavy door, sealing us into the room. A feeling of dread settled over me.
“You did well with your latest,” he said, returning to seat.
“Sir?” The abrupt change of subject confused me, but did nothing to expel the dread that was creeping into every corner of my being.
“The woman. With the heart failure.”
“Mrs. Crous?” I asked, stupidly, my eyebrows winging up.
He gave me an indulgent smile. “Yes, you would know your charges name. You always do.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That case could have been very difficult.”
I gave a soft snort. “How so? It was just a standard C & T.”
He shook his head. “There is no such thing as standard, Emily. But yes, sometimes they are easier than others.” He stared of into space again.
I waited him out, being careful not to say anything. Whatever was on his mind was big and it was bad. Worry and little prickles of panic tickled my nerves.
“We have a problem,” he said, with a sigh. “A big problem. And I need your help. I’m making you a part of the Assembly.”
“M-me?” Ohmigosh.
“Yes. I’m afraid you’re the only one it can be. I trust no one else.” His eyes hardened when he said it, stopping me from asking any more questions. He tossed me a file folder he’d pulled out of thin air. It never cease to amaze me how he could do that. “Study that.”
With a slight hesitation, I flipped it open and read through it. The only sound was the rustling of pages and Cerberus’ light snore. When I finished I looked back up, my brows furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“There’s been an influx of ethereal activity in the past six months, but no one can find the source. We’ve monitored it, but it wasn’t until a girl died and Cera, who’d been assigned to her, came back without the girl’s soul. Because there wasn’t one to collect.”
Shock poured over me. “She sold her soul?”
He shook his head and sighed. I worried I’d disappointed him, but it was sadness etched onto his face. “No. Worse. Read it again.”
I read through again, carefully this time. Going over a few pages several times just to make sure I was reading correctly.
“Someone stole her soul?”
He gave me an indulgent smile. “I knew it wouldn’t take you long,” he said, rubbing a hand over his eyes. It was the only outward sign of agitation I’d ever remembered seeing on him. “Yes, and she’s not the only one. I’ve had three more reapers come back empty handed.”
“Why? Who?”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “There is no good reason and that’s what I’d like to know.”
“What do we do?”
“I can do nothing. It’s you that’s going to have to do it.”
I almost swallowed my tongue. “Me?”
“I need somebody I trust to go to the Corporeal world—to become corporeal.” He watched me as the news sunk in. “You will try to find out who is doing this and why. We also need to find everyone who’s missing a soul, so we may return it to them after we get it back from the creatures that have taken them and you have to do it quickly.”
“Why?”
“The longer a human is without their souls the less chance we’ll be able to get the body to take it back and the more chance that someone is going to realize they’re living, talking, and eating with living, breathing zombies.”
I burst out laughing. “Zombies? What like those horror flicks that humans are always watching.”
His mouth tilted up a little in the corner. “Yeah, a little, but they’re not like that exactly. The voodoo definition is a more accurate description.” His lips went back to the straight line he’d held before. “But this isn’t a laughing matter, Emily. We don’t want any more innocents dying without their souls. And I don’t want you to lose yours.”
My heart leaped into my throat. “What do you mean?”
“Demons and reapers don’t get along because Reapers impede the demons need to corrupt innocent souls. They can’t harm a soul as long as we are they to courier them to the Otherworld. If a demon knew you were there—especially the one that’s the cause of all this—the results could be disastrous.”
“But why me? Surely you have someone who’s been around longer, someone who’s dealt with this kind of thing before. Someone who isn’t here as a punishment.”
“Because you’re the only one I trust.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”
“Because in life—and death—despite your…mistake, your soul is pure. You have a kindness that knows no bounds, and most importantly, you still remember what it’s like to be human.”
Last week I was writing my FAQ page and I came to the question about routines and I realized I didn’t really have one. But as a SAHM and an author I realized how important it was for me to get one.
But that may be easier said then done. Not to mention that last week was spring break, so that meant DD and DS were stuck together in our tiny little house 24/7 for over a week. I have contest entries to judge AND for some masochistic reason, I decided to try and write for script frenzy. Needless to say I have been extremely stressed out and if it hadn’t been for my year pass to the Orlando Science Center I would probably be bald and rocking myself in the corner.
So, I wanted to talk today a little about routines. Every one says in order to be successful you have to have one. So I went back over my day and found I did have a routine. Not much, but one that works for me.
I get up every weekday morning to take DS to school, then I check my email, play around on the internet until DS and DH wake up, and then make breakfast.
After DH goes to work, I play with DD until lunch and then naptime. Here’s where I get 3 lovely, blissful hours of writing time. This means that if I’m on a role, I can easily pump out a chapter. If not, well then there’s a lot of staring at my screen and yelling at my characters to “just do something.”
Then it’s off to pick up DS from school, lord over him to complete his homework and chores, and greet DH when he comes home from work(this last part is extremely important. :D If I don't great DH when he gets home from work, he get's extremely grumpy).
After dinner, when the kids are in bed, that’s when I get to read or write, depending on what’s nagging at me the most. It's usually a little of both.
Weekends are left for the family. So I usually don’t write. If the story is flowing really well, then yes, I’ll write, but for the most part I need this time to recharge.
So, do I have a routine? Yes. But it’s very, very lose and open to interpretation. What does this mean? I’m not sure, to be honest. :D But I’m thinking it works for me and that I should keep doing it.
And I’m going to say the same for all of you. If the “routine” you have is working for you, don’t change it because someone tells you you have to. Each writer, mom, dad, boss, whatever, works the way they need to. Which is the best way for them. Find a pattern that works for you and stick with it.
So, I want to know, what’s your routine? And does it work for you?
I don’t know if a lot of you have seen my posts lately, but I’m finally out on submission.I say finally like it hasn’t been a blink of an eye since I found my wonderful agent.But I want to clear up a few misconceptions I’ve been noticing lately.First, my agent isn’t my agent because I paid her.In fact I will never pay her.She will pay me—in a matter of speaking.
The way an agent works is she looks through her (used loosely.There are wonderful male agents as well) slush pile (the stack of unsolicited manuscripts, partials or query letters they receive) to find something that interests her.Usually it’s with a query letter so we’ll start there.She reads the query letter and decides she likes it enough to read more.
Now with my agent she had the first 50 pages and my synopsis, so she was able to keep going.From the query she read my first 50, determined she liked it, and then read my synopsis. Since she liked that as well, she asked for the rest.After reading the rest, she offered me representation.
When I accepted, she sent me her notes.I edited my MS based on those notes and sent it back.Then she read it through again, sent me her notes, and I edited it again and sent it back.This process can keep going for awhile folks, but in my case it’s stopped here and we moved onto submission.Now it’s in her hands and I feel a little awkward.
Why?Because it’s a little like the querying process to find an agent, but it’s in someone else’s hands now.She’s doing all the work.Researching where and who to submit to, when to nudge, perfecting the pitch letter, etc.I’m perfectly confident she’s going to find me the perfect match for my MS, but it’s hard relinquishing control like that.But that’s why you want your agent to understand you, your MS, and love your MS as much as you do.
So you may have noticed I have not once mentioned money exchanging hands.And that’s because it hasn’t.I have not paid her a single penny.She is essentially working for me for free.
How does she get paid, you may ask?Well, she gets paid when I do.When a publisher makes an offer it’s usually offering an advance and then a royalty off the cover price of the book.Since my agent will make 15% of everything I make, including the advance, it’s in her best interest to get the best deal.
The publisher will send her a check with my advance; she takes her 15% and then gives the rest to me.It will be the same with royalties.So as you see, I never pay her anything.
As you might have guessed that is why agents are so picky.They are essentially working for free until your MS sells.If it doesn’t sell, then they don’t make money.So they need to find MSs they fall in love with so they can champion it properly.
So, how can you make sure yours gets picked up?Write a good book, get feedback on said book and edit appropriately.Research agents thoroughly and query widely. Be patient.In the meantime, write a new and better book and start the whole process over again.Eventually you will get picked up.
I hope this shed some light on agents and how they work.So how about you?What’s your experiences been like?I’d love to hear from you.
Tomorrow, contests.What they’re about and how they can help you in your career.
~JA
If you’re an agent, editor, or author and would like to do an interview or guest blog with me please contact me at j.souders (at) jasouders (dot) com
She is actively involved with Romance Writers of America (RWA) and its special interest chapter Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FF&P) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.)
Lynn has both an undergraduate and graduate degree in the mental health field and has enjoyed applying that unique knowledge to developing interesting characters. She is a member of two online critique groups, comprised of both published and unpublished authors, specifically focusing on fiction for the younger adult. In addition, she enjoys volunteering in her church bookstore.
When Lynn’s not writing, she spends time enjoying the Arizona sunshine by road biking with her husband of thirteen years and going on five-mile jogs with her loveable Shetland Sheep dogs. She always makes time to read a good speculative fiction novel, her favorites being Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, PC Cast, and Stephanie Meyer.
Lynn, thank you for joining us today. First I’d like to congratulate you on not only winning the Write Your Name Across the Sky Author Contest for 2009, but also securing a publishing contract AND obtaining a wonderful agent!
JS: When did you begin writing, and did you always envision being an author?
LR: I didn’t really start writing until a few years ago. Way back, around 2002-ish I had a little idea and did a little jotting down (by hand) in a little notebook on lunch breaks. But I was totally just goofing around. I lost the notebook, never really gave it much thought after a while.
See—I’d never wanted to be a writer. Heck, I hated reading, how could I ever be a writer, right?
Yeah. Blame the not liking to read thing on graduate school…ugh, reading all those textbooks would kill anyone’s desire to read EVER again. Just kidding (well, sort of.)
No. It was back in summer of 2007 that I decided to get Light of Truth (first book ever) on the computer. Finished it November 2007 but had NO clue what to do next. So, I joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) in May 2008 and got into my first crit group.
After that, the stories flowed, and I’ve written 13 novels since then.
JS: What have been the most rewarding aspects of being a writer?
LR: Meeting so many amazing people has to be the first one. The second would be, learning a new skill. I never took a writing class or anything before I started writing, so I learned as I went (as evidenced by the first couple books, which will probably never leave the shelf…LOL.) There are a bunch more rewarding aspects, but the last one I’ll mention is how much fun I have losing myself in the worlds and characters I create. It’s so much fun to laugh and cry with them and torture them with crazy obstacles to overcome!
JS: The most challenging?
LR: Hmmm, not really sure. I don’t see much of anything that’s challenging, probably because I never really expected it to go anywhere. I guess the waiting can get tough sometimes. There are often long waits associated with agents, editors, and even contest results.
Oh—wait—I thought of one. . . A challenge is the cost of it all. Money-wise, it’s expensive to go to conferences and buy learning-the-craft books. It can get costly. So I’d say that was a challenge.
JS: Tell me a little about Violet Midnight.
LR: It’s the fourth book I ever wrote and one of my favorite characters. I even had Emma host my blog for a week recently. She’s just so fun. Tough, yet broken. Oh, but can she kick some demon butt!!
The easiest way for me to describe the book is to share the back cover blurb with you. Is that okay?
The blurb:
Three years ago, Emma Martin awoke in a hospital, forever changed. Her brown eyes turned violet, and she had a mysterious tattoo on the inside of her wrist. With the help of Gabriel, a mentor turned love interest, she discovered she was a hunter of the undead. After he’s brutally killed by the very evil he trained her to vanquish, she rejects her calling and seeks out a new life.
Emma pursues a normal existence by attending college. Hiding her unique powers proves difficult because the mystical tattoo on her wrist burns when evil is near, and the heat does not dissipate until the evil is vanquished.
When Jacob Cunningham witnesses Emma using her powers and isn’t afraid, the walls she’s erected around her come crashing down. Her draw to him is intense, but she’s not sure she can trust him with her secrets or her heart.
JS: Can you tell us a little more about how you conceived the story of Violet Midnight?
LR: Much like how I came up with all my novels, I woke up one day with an idea. Maybe it was a dream that I didn’t remember having, but I just woke up one day and started writing. It’s been that way with almost all my novels.
The writing starts with what’s called a mind map. It’s just like an organized form of free thought. In the center of the page I had “Emma Martin” in a circle, then started drawing lines out from it with ideas, obstacles, etc.
As I wrote, the rest just kinda fell into place. J
JS: When you write, do you always know where you are going, or do your characters lead you in their own directions?
I RARELY know where I’m going with a story. My characters pretty much drive my stories.
LR: What advice do you give to budding writers?
Write on. Yep—I often put that down when I comment on blogs or Facebook status’ because it’s true. Just write on. Keep going. When you’re waiting for a response from an editor/agent/whoever-write. When you’re waiting in the doctor’s office-write. When you’re waiting—okay, you get the idea. Any free moment you find-write. J
JS: What were some of your favorite books when you were growing up?
LR: Ahhh—I hate this question. J I see it asked all the time on blogs and such, and technically, it’s a really great question. But for me…I really don’t have a favorite, because I didn’t grow up reading. I watched a ton of movies, though. Like all the sci-fi and paranormal-type movies. Probably where a bunch of my ideas started percolating, huh?
Heck, I read Frank Peretti’s book, “This Present Darkness” and “Piercing The Darkness” April of 2006 and that’s when I really started reading.
After Peretti, I fell in love with Ted Dekker’s books, and then found Charlaine Harris, PC Cast and Stephanie Meyer. So I really don’t have a long track record of reading, that’s for sure.
JS: What's a typical day like for you?
LR: I’m a creature of habit, that’s fore sure. Get up around 5-ish, do a quick Bible devotion, go running or biking, do some writing, go to the day job (write over my lunch break), then come home and cook dinner for me and my sweet hubby, then write the rest of the night.
I’m sooooo boring—ask anyone.
My weekends pretty much look the same, but instead of going to the day job, I write. J
JS: How long does it generally take to write one of your novels?
LR: About 7-21 days, depending on the circumstances. When I was unemployed for four months, I wrote four novels. Each took about 7 or 8 days. But that’s writing full-time. When I’m working a day job, it takes about two to three weeks, depending on how full my weekends are.
Now remember, that first draft is a mega rough draft. The real fun starts during the edits. J
JS: How many have you written?
Fourteen
LR: Can you tell us more about your journey? (How did you find out about the contest? How did you find your agent? How long you’ve been writing, etc.)
I found out about the contest on the FF&P loop (Romance Writers Association’s Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal group). So, I checked it out, sent in my entry, and let me tell you NO ONE was more shocked than me to see Violet Midnight won!
Seriously.
I still can’t believe it sometimes and I’ve even seen the book cover for Violet Midnight!!
Within three days of learning about the contest win, I signed with Super-Agent Cari Foulk from Tribe Literary Agency. I found TribeLit by following them on Twitter. I loved what they and some of their authors tweeted about, so I queried her. My writer friend, Frank Redman, was represented by her as well. So it all came together through a query and a referral!!
JS: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
LR: Write on!
No, seriously, thanks for interviewing me. This was fun.
Thanks again for taking the time for this interview and good luck with your first book. Make sure to keep us all informed so we know where and when to buy it!
If anyone is interested in doing an interview with me, please feel free to contact me at j.souders (@) jasouders (.) com.
