A recent contest sponsored by Fangs, Fur and Fey (Urban Fantasy Novelists) asked writers to submit a 300 word hook for their book. The entries (which were capped at 250) were divided between judges. Slowly the results have trickled in. There are probably 50 of the hooks posted along with the judges feedback. It's quite interesting to read them. It's even more interesting to read comments made on top of the judges comments--mostly by other writers.
A friend of mine was preparing his entry the week before, so I went to check it out. I was surprised to find they had a mystery/thriller category. I entered with my thriller, but it hasn't been posted yet (#35 for those dying to know).
12 finalists will advance to the next round and have their first 5 pages posted and critiqued on the website. Then one winner will be selected to have an agent (Rachel Vater from Lowestein-Yates) read 50 pages with feedback.
I don't think I have a chance namely because I took my "hook" to my critique group and they lovingly told me it had to be rewritten. So I rewrote it and emailed it to the group the next day. Half loved it, the other half didn't. But the deadline was looming and I sent it anyway.
Regardless of my woes, it has been really cool to read each hook (90% fantasy novels) then read the judges comments. Check it out, you might learn something too.
http://community.livejournal.com/fangs_fur_fey/
Friday, April 20, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Why I Write
I recently offered some writing survival tips for moms (and it will work well for dads too) in the recent issue of the Mom-Writers Literary Magazine.
http://www.momwriterslitmag.com/GuestFeature8.htm
And just this past week, Randy Ingermanson posed the question in his new blog: "What Drives You to Write Fiction?"
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com/blog
Good question. For me the answer can be summed up: Because I love to read fiction. I love a good story. Characters who may or may not be like me. The hills and valleys of excellent prose. It has to do with an interest in the human cognitive--what makes a person/character do what s/he does?
Non-fiction is interesting too, yet nothing is more relaxing than reading a fascinating novel. But whether I'm writing a 95,000 word novel, or a non-fiction essay, writing is something that absolutely feeds my soul.
To quote myself from the above MWLM article: "I breathe easier when I write. It rounds out my identity even when I’m writing this article and have no idea if it will ever be read by another person. I reap joy and fulfillment . . . and incredible busyness so that by ten in the morning I am left literally breathless with all the things I want to accomplish."
Now the question becomes to my fellow commentators--why do you write?
http://www.momwriterslitmag.com/GuestFeature8.htm
And just this past week, Randy Ingermanson posed the question in his new blog: "What Drives You to Write Fiction?"
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com/blog
Good question. For me the answer can be summed up: Because I love to read fiction. I love a good story. Characters who may or may not be like me. The hills and valleys of excellent prose. It has to do with an interest in the human cognitive--what makes a person/character do what s/he does?
Non-fiction is interesting too, yet nothing is more relaxing than reading a fascinating novel. But whether I'm writing a 95,000 word novel, or a non-fiction essay, writing is something that absolutely feeds my soul.
To quote myself from the above MWLM article: "I breathe easier when I write. It rounds out my identity even when I’m writing this article and have no idea if it will ever be read by another person. I reap joy and fulfillment . . . and incredible busyness so that by ten in the morning I am left literally breathless with all the things I want to accomplish."
Now the question becomes to my fellow commentators--why do you write?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Finding an Agent
The question of a writer's lifetime: "How do I get a literary agent?"
I'm still on that quest, but I have some cool friends (James Dashner and Jeff Savage, to name two) who have agents. Unfortunately I don't write in their genres, so I can't bum an introduction.
But I've become more serious about looking for an agent. I just need to start writing some queries and sending them. Easy enough? No.
I actually met two really neat agents at a recent writer's conference. One was even interested in one of my manuscripts. She read the entire thing, then suggested some edits. So while I wait for my "real" book to come back from my publisher with my edits, I'm rewriting my unpublished thriller. I was kind of dreading it. The work. The drudgery . . . but I surprised myself today and found that I'm actually really enjoying it. I love the characters. I love the plot. I love the freedom that writing something newish brings me.
My first task is to develop the characters further. So I took the plunge and started putting together character sketches. I read about how to do it several years ago, but I've never actually done it. And I'm developing some cool threads by doing this.
Another task is to refocus the main hook. Yeah, that's a mountain to climb. I chose a few to consider, but as I've started rewriting, it's changed somewhat. I'm excited about it, so I hope that it will be a slam dunk.
Finally, I'm working on descriptions. I read a few national thrillers and of course, like always, I started getting bored with all the details. I guess that's what the reader wants. So that's what I've got to work on. Four different ways to describe a sidewalk. I'll just have to look at it as a challenge. The story can't all be action and dialogue, we've got to know what they are wearing, right? And how long the hair is. Well, I'm going to compromise. I'll add description as long as it doesn't slow the pacing.
Sound fair?
Meanwhile, I've started reading Miss Snark as of yesterday. Very interesting. Most of it is common sense, but some things have been surprising. She also has links to other agent/editor's blogs. I can see myself wasting a lot of time browsing. I'll have to find a good balance.
I'm still on that quest, but I have some cool friends (James Dashner and Jeff Savage, to name two) who have agents. Unfortunately I don't write in their genres, so I can't bum an introduction.
But I've become more serious about looking for an agent. I just need to start writing some queries and sending them. Easy enough? No.
I actually met two really neat agents at a recent writer's conference. One was even interested in one of my manuscripts. She read the entire thing, then suggested some edits. So while I wait for my "real" book to come back from my publisher with my edits, I'm rewriting my unpublished thriller. I was kind of dreading it. The work. The drudgery . . . but I surprised myself today and found that I'm actually really enjoying it. I love the characters. I love the plot. I love the freedom that writing something newish brings me.
My first task is to develop the characters further. So I took the plunge and started putting together character sketches. I read about how to do it several years ago, but I've never actually done it. And I'm developing some cool threads by doing this.
Another task is to refocus the main hook. Yeah, that's a mountain to climb. I chose a few to consider, but as I've started rewriting, it's changed somewhat. I'm excited about it, so I hope that it will be a slam dunk.
Finally, I'm working on descriptions. I read a few national thrillers and of course, like always, I started getting bored with all the details. I guess that's what the reader wants. So that's what I've got to work on. Four different ways to describe a sidewalk. I'll just have to look at it as a challenge. The story can't all be action and dialogue, we've got to know what they are wearing, right? And how long the hair is. Well, I'm going to compromise. I'll add description as long as it doesn't slow the pacing.
Sound fair?
Meanwhile, I've started reading Miss Snark as of yesterday. Very interesting. Most of it is common sense, but some things have been surprising. She also has links to other agent/editor's blogs. I can see myself wasting a lot of time browsing. I'll have to find a good balance.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Fabulous Writer's Conference
Last weekend I attended the 2007 LDStorymakers Writers Conference in Provo, UT. I went as a presenter, a boot camp instructor, the writing contest chair, and representing my editing company. I think it was one of the best organized conferences I have attended. Thanks to the conference organizers (Julie Wright, Josi Kilpack, and BJ Rowley), every minute was put to good use. The speakers were wonderful and the workshops were great. Brandon Sanderson came and spoke to our group (he's the next big thing in Fantasy)--even though I don't read much fantasy, let alone write it (or even really understand it all)--I came away more motivated. This guy wrote 6 books before he got one accepted by Tor. He gave some great advice that I'd like to pass on. The following are not direct quotes:
1. Learn the business side of publishing. In other words, go to writers conferences and meet those agents and editors. Get to know the people who are behind the desks and making the decisions.
2. Write every day (well, 6 days a week). He writes 10 pages a day.
I don't know if he really told us to write that much, but that's what he does. He was so passionate and determined to write every day that he found a job that would let him write while he worked. He signed on for night duty at a local hotel and he wrote every night for 5 hours.
3. It took him 4 years of publishing to finally make enough money to turn writing into a full-time career.
Some of us might think that all we need is one book deal, then we're set. But Sanderson made it clear that it's a growing process. He has several books under contract (like 10). So his plate is full.
Another thing I found interesting was that Brandon kept sending each new manuscript to the same agent--because that agent was encouraging and gave him great feedback. So when Brandon got Tor to pick up one of his books, he called that agent. Of course that agent was ready to represent that book. Something is better than nothing. And the editor at Tor who picked up the book? He was someone who Brandon met at a . . . writer's conference--and the editor sat on the book for 18 months before he read it and called Brandon back.
So if you want to be a published author you must have the following three virtues:
1. Persistence
2. Patience
3. And Several Manuscripts Ready
And by the way, next year Annette Lyon and I are the conference directors . . . so get ready to rock and roll.
1. Learn the business side of publishing. In other words, go to writers conferences and meet those agents and editors. Get to know the people who are behind the desks and making the decisions.
2. Write every day (well, 6 days a week). He writes 10 pages a day.
I don't know if he really told us to write that much, but that's what he does. He was so passionate and determined to write every day that he found a job that would let him write while he worked. He signed on for night duty at a local hotel and he wrote every night for 5 hours.
3. It took him 4 years of publishing to finally make enough money to turn writing into a full-time career.
Some of us might think that all we need is one book deal, then we're set. But Sanderson made it clear that it's a growing process. He has several books under contract (like 10). So his plate is full.
Another thing I found interesting was that Brandon kept sending each new manuscript to the same agent--because that agent was encouraging and gave him great feedback. So when Brandon got Tor to pick up one of his books, he called that agent. Of course that agent was ready to represent that book. Something is better than nothing. And the editor at Tor who picked up the book? He was someone who Brandon met at a . . . writer's conference--and the editor sat on the book for 18 months before he read it and called Brandon back.
So if you want to be a published author you must have the following three virtues:
1. Persistence
2. Patience
3. And Several Manuscripts Ready
And by the way, next year Annette Lyon and I are the conference directors . . . so get ready to rock and roll.
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