...query letter.
Okay, so you don't want to share your WIP. How about your query letters?
Do you have one you're particularly proud of, or a letter Agents read and then actually asked for more?
I'm still struggling. I've got about ten different versions and NONE of them work. I need the hook, but the hook is based on some back story. I just don't know how to start it.
Are you guys sick of me whining about this yet?
I am.
So...may I ask for one piece of advice from each of you, that led you to query letter success?
Please?
Thanks!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
First & Ten
A Sunday afternoon of football reminded me of our upcoming contest, First & Ten. What a great concept!
Every writer knows, in order to make the sale, they have to grab the editor’s attention quick. Those first pages are critical. Like an exciting game of football, that first chapter has to be perfectly executed and action packed. Early mistakes are not easily overcome.
With the $10 entry fee, we’re sure to have many contestants competing in our contest. Kudos to the contest committee for this brilliant idea.
Sorry for the short post, but I do have a game to watch. Go Bills!
Every writer knows, in order to make the sale, they have to grab the editor’s attention quick. Those first pages are critical. Like an exciting game of football, that first chapter has to be perfectly executed and action packed. Early mistakes are not easily overcome.
With the $10 entry fee, we’re sure to have many contestants competing in our contest. Kudos to the contest committee for this brilliant idea.
Sorry for the short post, but I do have a game to watch. Go Bills!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Exciting Industry News
Big news in romance publishing this week. For those that might have missed it Harlequin Enterprises Limited announced Monday the launch of Carina Press(TM), a digital-only publishing house that will operate independently of their traditional publishing businesses.
Carina Press will distribute ebooks directly to consumers through their web site and numerous third-party web sites. According to their press release Carina will publish a wide range of women's fiction -- romance, erotica, science fiction, mystery, family sagas, horror, thriller and more.
For writers and readers this is great news! Harlequin might pave the way for major publishers to put their money behind e-books. As a published author with Samhain and The Wild Rose Press I want the industry to grow. Harlequin has a sixty year history of providing customers with what they want. They've studied the landscape and their willingness to dive into the digital market might signal a shift away from the traditional business model.
Although I don't have a polished manuscript ready for submission, I do know that I will keep Carina Press on my wish list. Check out their web site if you want to find out more: http://carinapress.com/
Carina Press will distribute ebooks directly to consumers through their web site and numerous third-party web sites. According to their press release Carina will publish a wide range of women's fiction -- romance, erotica, science fiction, mystery, family sagas, horror, thriller and more.
For writers and readers this is great news! Harlequin might pave the way for major publishers to put their money behind e-books. As a published author with Samhain and The Wild Rose Press I want the industry to grow. Harlequin has a sixty year history of providing customers with what they want. They've studied the landscape and their willingness to dive into the digital market might signal a shift away from the traditional business model.
Although I don't have a polished manuscript ready for submission, I do know that I will keep Carina Press on my wish list. Check out their web site if you want to find out more: http://carinapress.com/
Writing Outside the Box
If you didn't make it to the Astronomicon this past weekend, you missed out on a great conference. I spoke to many of the attending authors, who were cordial and accommodating. Although at one point there was a misunderstanding (during the cross-gender discussion panel), a point was made to think outside the box when writing.
If you traditionally write from a heterosexual's POV, try choosing a homosexual POV. If most of your characters are in their thirties or forties, think what someone eighty or ninety might do or say when put in a similar situation (such as a being exposed to a new romance, landing on a new planet, solving a murder.) If you are white, try writing from the POV of someone who is Asian-American.
Or juice up your plot. Maybe a detective isn't trying to find a murderer, but trying to hide one. Maybe the sweet old aunt acts like she wants her nephew to find the love of his life, but instead thwarts his attempts because she is afraid a romance in his life will harm his acting career. Or maybe the leader of the mob has hired a hitman to go after himself because he's miserable but too cowardly to commit suicide. Think opposites.
What can you do to change things up, to help you see things in a different light, maybe get out of a rut? Think outside the box. See where you mind can go once it's been freed.
If you traditionally write from a heterosexual's POV, try choosing a homosexual POV. If most of your characters are in their thirties or forties, think what someone eighty or ninety might do or say when put in a similar situation (such as a being exposed to a new romance, landing on a new planet, solving a murder.) If you are white, try writing from the POV of someone who is Asian-American.
Or juice up your plot. Maybe a detective isn't trying to find a murderer, but trying to hide one. Maybe the sweet old aunt acts like she wants her nephew to find the love of his life, but instead thwarts his attempts because she is afraid a romance in his life will harm his acting career. Or maybe the leader of the mob has hired a hitman to go after himself because he's miserable but too cowardly to commit suicide. Think opposites.
What can you do to change things up, to help you see things in a different light, maybe get out of a rut? Think outside the box. See where you mind can go once it's been freed.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Details on WIP--24 hours early
Sorry, guys, I'm writing my blog early because I can't predict how child care provision will go tomorrow. I wanted to strike while the iron is hot.
My WIP, "Raising Kane", is the story of investigative reporter, Mallory Kane, and Public Information Officer, police lieutenant, Keenan Pollack. They come together after violence erupts during a march protesting violence against women. Mallory is assigned to cover the march for the local TV station and is among those arrested on charges of inciting to riot because the march organizers failed to apply for the necessary permits--plus several protesters are seriously injured by those they are protesting against.
As legal proceedings ensue, Mallory begins receiving threats to prevent her from testifying about what she witnessed. Uncertain of whom to trust, she shares her thoughts and fears with no one while keeping the handsome Lieutenant Pollack at arm's length.
Now if I could find the time to write!!
Siochain,
Kat
My WIP, "Raising Kane", is the story of investigative reporter, Mallory Kane, and Public Information Officer, police lieutenant, Keenan Pollack. They come together after violence erupts during a march protesting violence against women. Mallory is assigned to cover the march for the local TV station and is among those arrested on charges of inciting to riot because the march organizers failed to apply for the necessary permits--plus several protesters are seriously injured by those they are protesting against.
As legal proceedings ensue, Mallory begins receiving threats to prevent her from testifying about what she witnessed. Uncertain of whom to trust, she shares her thoughts and fears with no one while keeping the handsome Lieutenant Pollack at arm's length.
Now if I could find the time to write!!
Siochain,
Kat
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Previews...
Hello LCRW,
I would love to know what your present WIP is about. In your comment give us a blurb!
Here's mine:
Anna 'Sight' Williams works for a Private Investigation firm in which everyone has their own special talents. Anna is a profiler, and a psychic. When she touches people she has visions. This can be very helpful in criminal cases...not so much in everyday life.
Her new partner Webster, is an 'everything by the book' kind of guy who loves to argue.
She refuses to shake his hand for obvious reasons and when he forces the issue, her vision is quite an eye-opener...
Unfortunately for Sight, she gets brushed in a crowded room and connects with an evil serial killer. Her gift changes, visions come randomly. She and Webster need to find this man before he kils again. When he targets someone they know and love, time is of the essence.
Can she trust Webster to 'have her back' and not let her down? Can she trust her own gift, to tell her the truth and lead her in the right direction? Can she give herself emotionally to a man for the first time in her life, and let down her guard? Her vision shows her a happy ending...but will a serial killer put a stop to her gift, and her life...before she gets her happily ever after?
I would love to know what your present WIP is about. In your comment give us a blurb!
Here's mine:
Anna 'Sight' Williams works for a Private Investigation firm in which everyone has their own special talents. Anna is a profiler, and a psychic. When she touches people she has visions. This can be very helpful in criminal cases...not so much in everyday life.
Her new partner Webster, is an 'everything by the book' kind of guy who loves to argue.
She refuses to shake his hand for obvious reasons and when he forces the issue, her vision is quite an eye-opener...
Unfortunately for Sight, she gets brushed in a crowded room and connects with an evil serial killer. Her gift changes, visions come randomly. She and Webster need to find this man before he kils again. When he targets someone they know and love, time is of the essence.
Can she trust Webster to 'have her back' and not let her down? Can she trust her own gift, to tell her the truth and lead her in the right direction? Can she give herself emotionally to a man for the first time in her life, and let down her guard? Her vision shows her a happy ending...but will a serial killer put a stop to her gift, and her life...before she gets her happily ever after?
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Procrastination
I'm sure someone already wrote about procrastination. Yet, now that the holidays are approaching, I think I need to bring it up again.
With time becoming filled with plans for visiting family, holiday dinners, and a funeral sprinkled in, I find that I don't get to my computer as much as I had in the past few months. It's frustrating and depressing.
I've been successful in structuring a few parts of my daily life but not all. What I want most is to structure in writing time over frivolous stuff. Can I do it? I want to, I need to, so I must. Yet, determination is not my forte :(
So, what I am going to do it write out a schedule of when I want to write, as well as everything else I need to do each day. I've been doing it for a few days with some disciplines I need to maintain. It's helping me get everything done. Now, I need to add in time to write.
Will I make it too hard to maintain? I hope not. I figure an hour a day should be manageable. It's enough to get deep into the story, but not too long to block me from doing other things.
My goal? To take procrastination out of my vocabulary!
With time becoming filled with plans for visiting family, holiday dinners, and a funeral sprinkled in, I find that I don't get to my computer as much as I had in the past few months. It's frustrating and depressing.
I've been successful in structuring a few parts of my daily life but not all. What I want most is to structure in writing time over frivolous stuff. Can I do it? I want to, I need to, so I must. Yet, determination is not my forte :(
So, what I am going to do it write out a schedule of when I want to write, as well as everything else I need to do each day. I've been doing it for a few days with some disciplines I need to maintain. It's helping me get everything done. Now, I need to add in time to write.
Will I make it too hard to maintain? I hope not. I figure an hour a day should be manageable. It's enough to get deep into the story, but not too long to block me from doing other things.
My goal? To take procrastination out of my vocabulary!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Dream Big
When my grandpa was alive, I would always say that I would make the trip to Kansas to visit him, but something would always come up. Either I couldn’t get the time off of work or I didn’t have any money or what ever dumb excuse… the airport is like an hour drive away from his house and traveling would be hard cause I was too young to rent a car. There was always an excuse because I thought there would be a tomorrow to go out there at a later date. Then all of the sudden there was no tomorrow. He passed away very suddenly and there was no more reason to make the trip, my excuses were dried up and my tomorrows to visit were yesterdays of unfulfilled promises. And I felt like the worst granddaughter ever.
When I was younger I always wanted to see New York City then 9/11 happened and there’s a chunk missing that will never be seen again. I wanted to go to New Orleans forever, then Katrina hit. Beautiful cities that will never be the same and the previous experiences I wanted can never be attained like that again… not that these cities are ruined forever by any means… just that they don’t have the innocence they once possessed.
Now in my ripe old age I travel tons. This year I’ve seen Philadelphia for the first time, I’ve been to New York for the 3rd time, I leave for LA next week for the 2nd time and in January I’m going with a bunch of friends to New Orleans for the first time. I’ve decided that lack of money was a really dumb reason not to travel, really it’s not all that expensive and if you cut out some luxuries like daily coffee and fast food, it becomes more affordable. And time is negotiable, if you don’t take off from work you will drive yourself crazy.
But probably the most painful delay I’ve had in my life is my writing. Back in high school I wanted to be a writer, but I believed a teacher who said I was too creative to be any good at AP English. In college I rediscovered my love for the written word and flourished, but I let myself get caught up in “The Real World” and writing became a hobby then became a past dream. If I could get back those 5 years that I didn’t pick up my pen, that’s 5 years that I could’ve written my 1st novel instead of working on it now. Hell I could be done with my 3rd novel by now and have been published, yet I gave into that stupid voice that said be safe and content with the little you have and don’t lose yourself in your dreams.
Lose yourself in your dreams. Dream big. If this is our chance, then grab hold of it with both hands and hold on tightly. We may not know how many tomorrows we have for our dreams but we do know they are numbered.
By Konnie Collins
When I was younger I always wanted to see New York City then 9/11 happened and there’s a chunk missing that will never be seen again. I wanted to go to New Orleans forever, then Katrina hit. Beautiful cities that will never be the same and the previous experiences I wanted can never be attained like that again… not that these cities are ruined forever by any means… just that they don’t have the innocence they once possessed.
Now in my ripe old age I travel tons. This year I’ve seen Philadelphia for the first time, I’ve been to New York for the 3rd time, I leave for LA next week for the 2nd time and in January I’m going with a bunch of friends to New Orleans for the first time. I’ve decided that lack of money was a really dumb reason not to travel, really it’s not all that expensive and if you cut out some luxuries like daily coffee and fast food, it becomes more affordable. And time is negotiable, if you don’t take off from work you will drive yourself crazy.
But probably the most painful delay I’ve had in my life is my writing. Back in high school I wanted to be a writer, but I believed a teacher who said I was too creative to be any good at AP English. In college I rediscovered my love for the written word and flourished, but I let myself get caught up in “The Real World” and writing became a hobby then became a past dream. If I could get back those 5 years that I didn’t pick up my pen, that’s 5 years that I could’ve written my 1st novel instead of working on it now. Hell I could be done with my 3rd novel by now and have been published, yet I gave into that stupid voice that said be safe and content with the little you have and don’t lose yourself in your dreams.
Lose yourself in your dreams. Dream big. If this is our chance, then grab hold of it with both hands and hold on tightly. We may not know how many tomorrows we have for our dreams but we do know they are numbered.
By Konnie Collins
Monday, November 2, 2009
A letter to an Agent...
Dear Prospective Agent,
What do you want from me? I'm a good writer. Really....I am. Just because I can't write a two paragraph letter that would wow Ernest Hemmingway, doesn't mean I can't write. You just have to give me a chance. I promise you'll like it. Really.
Really.
Love,
ME
Okay, so how many of us feel like this when faced with writing a query letter. I feel like I'm stuck on the process. I have gotten critiques, opinions, read articles etc. And now I don't even want to look at my letter. (Picture me plugging my ears, closing my eyes and singing off key really loud.)
The query process is intimidating. To say the least. So tomorrow is the day. I will spend a couple of hours on it again. Take what I've learned, do a little more research and see what comes of it. (Scratch that....Wednesday is the day, my daughter does not have school tomorrow.) Hey, I wrote 2 1/2 novels, I can write a simple letter. Right?
I just hate the thought of someone passing me over because my query letter sucks.
What is your experience with Query letters? Leave a comment and tell me.
What do you want from me? I'm a good writer. Really....I am. Just because I can't write a two paragraph letter that would wow Ernest Hemmingway, doesn't mean I can't write. You just have to give me a chance. I promise you'll like it. Really.
Really.
Love,
ME
Okay, so how many of us feel like this when faced with writing a query letter. I feel like I'm stuck on the process. I have gotten critiques, opinions, read articles etc. And now I don't even want to look at my letter. (Picture me plugging my ears, closing my eyes and singing off key really loud.)
The query process is intimidating. To say the least. So tomorrow is the day. I will spend a couple of hours on it again. Take what I've learned, do a little more research and see what comes of it. (Scratch that....Wednesday is the day, my daughter does not have school tomorrow.) Hey, I wrote 2 1/2 novels, I can write a simple letter. Right?
I just hate the thought of someone passing me over because my query letter sucks.
What is your experience with Query letters? Leave a comment and tell me.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Secondary Characters
All great heroes and heroines have them, sidekicks, best friends, or lovable accomplices. Batman had Robin, the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and where would Lucy be without Ethel?
Secondary characters flesh out our writing. What better way to build back story than with a conversation between friends. “Hey, Joe, remember spring break in Cancun? Did your rash ever clear up?”
Sage secondary characters help our main characters grow and accomplish their goals. When all seems lost, who do they seek for advice? An experienced coworker? A wise wrinkled grandparent? A stranger on the bus reading the New York Times?
Add a bumbling sidekick and you’ve instantly added humor. Ralph Kramden’s life would have been uneventful without upstairs neighbor Ed Norton. Together, they made comedy history.
Lacking tension or conflict in your writing? That can be solved simply by having a best friend cross a line. Flirting with the hero, taking an important document, or any risky behavior by the secondary character will force the hero/heroine into action.
Keep in mind, too many secondary characters can bog down the story. You shouldn’t need a scorecard to keep track. Also, don’t let the secondary characters hijack the story. Remember, the action revolves around the main characters. All others have a supporting role.
Secondary characters flesh out our writing. What better way to build back story than with a conversation between friends. “Hey, Joe, remember spring break in Cancun? Did your rash ever clear up?”
Sage secondary characters help our main characters grow and accomplish their goals. When all seems lost, who do they seek for advice? An experienced coworker? A wise wrinkled grandparent? A stranger on the bus reading the New York Times?
Add a bumbling sidekick and you’ve instantly added humor. Ralph Kramden’s life would have been uneventful without upstairs neighbor Ed Norton. Together, they made comedy history.
Lacking tension or conflict in your writing? That can be solved simply by having a best friend cross a line. Flirting with the hero, taking an important document, or any risky behavior by the secondary character will force the hero/heroine into action.
Keep in mind, too many secondary characters can bog down the story. You shouldn’t need a scorecard to keep track. Also, don’t let the secondary characters hijack the story. Remember, the action revolves around the main characters. All others have a supporting role.
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