I never call summer lazy and mine's kicked off with a bang. I've tumbled out of back problems and a neck brace into the arms of some Herculean yardwork, keeping up with my kids' school activities and homework (yes, even they don't have lazy summers) and putting my writing on the back burner in order to get some good-old-schooling through a madhouse of critiquing sessions with several other writers. It's exhilerating and exhausting at the same time and I learn so much I wouldn't trade the experience for many typical summer traditions. So to take 2-3 hours to read through my ever growing list of great blogs for this week's linkage was something of a sacrifice but I'm happy to say I've got the goods and here they are:
Regarding publishing:
Thinking about using a pen name or wondering what you can do with it right now? Check out this over at A Steampunk Reverie and this over at Jami Gold's blog for some great advice.
Agent Courtney shares some great tips On Professionalism and Communication with agents.
Wahoo! Kristin Nelson shares a hint that Speculative Fiction is in demand! More of an emphasis on science-fiction and horror here.
Alan Rinzler has an encouraging post about how the industry is changing and authors are calling more of the shots. Some good things to think about in this post.
Topics on Writing:
Pop over to Ready.Write. Go. for a post On Dialogue and Characterization (Or Specifically, Slang and Dialect Use).
Rachelle Gardner has a few choice words to say about Exclamation Point usage.
Patricia C. Wrede discusses characters as indivduals.
Eli Ashpence tackles Cliches and Rug-Pulling and shares her take on How to Become a Writer (8 General Steps for Beginners).
Tackling the topic of the beginning of your novel: Stephanie DeVita writes about Diving Right In, Jennifer Laughran points out a huge beginning no-no in YA novels in her post On Bordeom (which as a beta reader I whole-heartedly say amen! to), and Mary Kole has some great points and tips about The All-Important Beginning...
Then over at It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets an Agent there's a great post on endings.
For people on the agent prowl:
GLA has a new agent alert for Meredith Barnes of Lowenstein Associates. She's looking for: "a wide range of engaging fiction for all ages, including literary fiction, women’s fiction, thrillers and crime. She is open to science fiction and fantasy that has something new to offer the genres. Ender's Game is her favorite book, so we’ll leave it at that. She does not represent early readers or children’s picture books. For nonfiction, she is extremely interested in health, fitness, and spirituality nonfiction with a strong author platform and online presence. For both nonfiction and fiction, Meredith considers more than just the print possibilities. Projects that lend themselves to apps, enhanced ebooks, and other fresh ways to tell stories are especially appealing."
And they have an agent advice interview with Taylor Martindale of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She's looking for: "She is most interested in acquiring young adult fiction—specifically gritty contemporary and unique paranormal/urban fantasy. She also accepts children's picture books, commercial fiction, women's fiction, and multicultural fiction. She does not want business, political, or science books; cookbooks, or self-help."
Have a great weekend! And to my comrades-in-arms from the Speculative Fiction Group on AQC, thanks for a stellar opening weekend of the 3rd Annual Posting Marathon. It's going to be a great summer.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Interview With Angie Sandro--Newly Represented!
Instead of a blog spotlight this week I'd like to share an interview with paranormal-fantasy writer Angie Sandro, fresh from the query trenches and who recently landed an agent. I know Angie from Agent Query Connect. She's a fantastic critic when it comes to query letters, has an engaging writing style, and is a very nice person. If you're in the middle of the query process or about to begin, hopefully this interview will prove helpful and encouraging.
J.A.: How long have you been writing? What are your favorite genres to write?
A.S.: My sister recently reminded me of a story I wrote in the fifth grade, a ten page handwritten horror novel about the devil possessing a man in a haunted house. She said that story scared her so bad, she slept with the lights on for a week. I ended up passing the story around to my classmates and their response to it fueled my desire to write for an audience of more than just family. I kept writing, but not seriously until last year. On my birthday, I had an epiphany. Life is too short not to go for your dreams, and my dream has always been to get published. So I buckled down and focused on learning the craft of writing and finished three manuscripts in the YA genre. Every story I have ever written has horror, romance, or fantasy aspects.
J.A.: What are your favorite genres to read? What books have had the most impact on you?
A.S.: My favorite genres are horror and fantasy. I think the books that had the most impact on me personally were David Eddings’s, The Belgariad series. I read this series at the age of thirteen, and it was the first fantasy series I’d ever read. Before that, it was all Judy Blume and Sweet Valley High novels. I had no idea that fantasy could be so entertaining. I fell in love with this genre and moved on to Raymond E. Feist, Anne Mccaffrey, etc. Then I found Stephen King. I still read The Stand every time I catch the flu. I love his worlds.
J.A.: Aside from writing, what do you love to do?
A.S.: I love reading (I’m a book addict), bike riding, knitting, genealogy, and hanging with my family.
J.A.: What can you tell us about your agent and the process of signing on with her?
A.S.: Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary is my agent and she’s fantastic. I was reading this blog (thank you Joyce), and learned that Kathleen was accepting queries in the young adult genre. I started researching her online and found her interview with Monica B.W. on the Love YA blog, Kathleen said, “Topics of particular interest to me include reincarnation, the occult, the supernatural (not in a zombie or vampire context, more psychic, or witchy, or fey), ghosts (a scary ghost story? yes, please), and psychology.”
I thought, wow, she’s perfect! I sent her the query letter for Juju’s Child, and received a full request for the manuscript half an hour later. The next morning, she called with an offer of representation saying she “loved” the book. Her response was everything that I dreamed of finding a prospective agent.
J.A.: How long have you been writing? What are your favorite genres to write?
A.S.: My sister recently reminded me of a story I wrote in the fifth grade, a ten page handwritten horror novel about the devil possessing a man in a haunted house. She said that story scared her so bad, she slept with the lights on for a week. I ended up passing the story around to my classmates and their response to it fueled my desire to write for an audience of more than just family. I kept writing, but not seriously until last year. On my birthday, I had an epiphany. Life is too short not to go for your dreams, and my dream has always been to get published. So I buckled down and focused on learning the craft of writing and finished three manuscripts in the YA genre. Every story I have ever written has horror, romance, or fantasy aspects.
J.A.: What are your favorite genres to read? What books have had the most impact on you?
A.S.: My favorite genres are horror and fantasy. I think the books that had the most impact on me personally were David Eddings’s, The Belgariad series. I read this series at the age of thirteen, and it was the first fantasy series I’d ever read. Before that, it was all Judy Blume and Sweet Valley High novels. I had no idea that fantasy could be so entertaining. I fell in love with this genre and moved on to Raymond E. Feist, Anne Mccaffrey, etc. Then I found Stephen King. I still read The Stand every time I catch the flu. I love his worlds.
J.A.: Aside from writing, what do you love to do?
A.S.: I love reading (I’m a book addict), bike riding, knitting, genealogy, and hanging with my family.
J.A.: What can you tell us about your agent and the process of signing on with her?
A.S.: Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary is my agent and she’s fantastic. I was reading this blog (thank you Joyce), and learned that Kathleen was accepting queries in the young adult genre. I started researching her online and found her interview with Monica B.W. on the Love YA blog, Kathleen said, “Topics of particular interest to me include reincarnation, the occult, the supernatural (not in a zombie or vampire context, more psychic, or witchy, or fey), ghosts (a scary ghost story? yes, please), and psychology.”
In one day, less than 24 hours, my life changed with one phone call. This is the reason why no matter how sick and tired you are of the daily query rejects hitting your inbox—YOU CAN’T GIVE UP. Today could be the day.
J.A.: May we see your agent-winning query letter?
A.S.:
Dear Ms. Rushall,
When seventeen-year-old Malaise LaCroix finds a dead girl floating in the bayou, she crosses her mama by reporting the murder to the police. She’s naive enough to think the girl’s parents will be grateful, but Mama warns her otherwise. Of course, once folk start dying, Mala wishes she’d listened and left the girl for gator–bait.
Mala’s innocence becomes overshadowed by the pesky rumors that her aunt is an infamous New Orleans Hoodoo Queen and her mama can shrivel a guy's, well, man-parts. Even the boy Mala’s in love with is afraid to stray too close. Thing is, Mala thinks believing in magic is for weak-minded fools, until the dead girl starts haunting her.
The desperate spirit crushes the minds of those she influences and needs Mala’s latent psychic gift, willing or not, to expose her murderer. And once the girl’s father, Reverend Prince learns his daughter’s body has been drained of blood in what he assumes is a magical ritual, he sets out on an old-fashioned witch-hunt.
To keep from becoming the soul’s possession, or worse, being burned at the stake, Mala turns to the two guys whose own agendas don’t include helping an outcast such as herself—the cop she’s pined after since ninth grade that is investigating the murder and the ghost’s grief-crazed brother who uses Mala’s attraction to him as a weapon for revenge.
I was thrilled to see your interview on the Love YA blog, especially your request for something "witchy", and hope you'll be intrigued by JUJU'S CHILD, a 79,000 word young adult. Mala Lacroix is a teenage, African-American Sookie Stackhouse who gets caught up with the supernatural--ghosts instead of vampires--romance and murder. This manuscript was inspired by my rich, Louisiana Creole cultural heritage .
Mala’s innocence becomes overshadowed by the pesky rumors that her aunt is an infamous New Orleans Hoodoo Queen and her mama can shrivel a guy's, well, man-parts. Even the boy Mala’s in love with is afraid to stray too close. Thing is, Mala thinks believing in magic is for weak-minded fools, until the dead girl starts haunting her.
The desperate spirit crushes the minds of those she influences and needs Mala’s latent psychic gift, willing or not, to expose her murderer. And once the girl’s father, Reverend Prince learns his daughter’s body has been drained of blood in what he assumes is a magical ritual, he sets out on an old-fashioned witch-hunt.
To keep from becoming the soul’s possession, or worse, being burned at the stake, Mala turns to the two guys whose own agendas don’t include helping an outcast such as herself—the cop she’s pined after since ninth grade that is investigating the murder and the ghost’s grief-crazed brother who uses Mala’s attraction to him as a weapon for revenge.
I was thrilled to see your interview on the Love YA blog, especially your request for something "witchy", and hope you'll be intrigued by JUJU'S CHILD, a 79,000 word young adult. Mala Lacroix is a teenage, African-American Sookie Stackhouse who gets caught up with the supernatural--ghosts instead of vampires--romance and murder. This manuscript was inspired by my rich, Louisiana Creole cultural heritage .
J.A.: How long did you query before finding your agent?
A.S.: I began querying in 2010 on another manuscript which I ended up shelving after querying 180 agents. While I was querying that book, I began writing Juju’s Child in October 2010, and started querying it in February 2011. I found my agent in May 2011. So basically, it was a year and a half of querying agents.
J.A.: What advice would you give to those who are actively querying or getting ready to query?
A.S.: Ah, research, research, and research some more. There are many online resources like agentquery.com where you can get tips on everything from drafting your first manuscript, writing synopsis and query letters, and finding agents. I wrote about my take on writing query letters on Kate Evangelista’s blog Reads, Reviews, and Recommends: The Anatomy of a Query Letter.
J.A.: What have you learned from writing and querying that you didn't know before?
A.S.: When I started querying, I knew nothing. Not a clue about how challenging and thrilling this process can be. It certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. The key is to keep learning and growing. Connect with others who are going through the same process and learn from them.
J.A.: How important were your beta readers?
A.S.: I wouldn’t be where I am today without my critique partners and beta readers. We met during the Speculative Fiction Posting Marathon and Agent Query Connect last year, and after finishing the marathon we continued on together. We’ve grown so much as writers and as friends.
J.A.: And for fun: If you were to change one thing about the world tomorrow (big or small) what would it be?
A.S.: For some reason I’m having a hard time finding an answer that doesn’t sound like I’m in a beauty pageant asking for world peace or feeding the homeless. Which are things I would love to change about the world, but I think I’m going with my dream. Personally, I’d like to see more emphasis on developing our space program in the direction of eventually colonizing new worlds, seeking out new life….boldly going….Yeah, I’m a geek and proud of it.
We like geeks on this blog. Great dream. Thank you, Angie! It's great to be able to see the light at the end of the query tunnel. Best of luck to you and your agent as you move on to the next step in the publishing process.
Angie Sandro can be found at:
Her blog: Oh, The Things I've Learned
On Twitter: @AngieSandro
For information about Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary:
Guide to Literary Agents Spotlight (note, she has since changed agencies)
The Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC (note, they haven't added Ms. Rushall into the agent link yet but you can find out about the agency here)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Adjectives, Adverbs, and Sneaky Profanity
Purple prose, too many adjectives, relying on the handicap of adverbs: all no-no’s. We’re supposed to use strong nouns and verbs to cut back the clutter.
Instead of “She wore a dress of cloudy, gauzy, light purple material.” use “She wore a dress of lavender tulle.” Fewer words, more distinct, gets the job done.
Instead of “He menacingly walked toward her.” use “He slunk toward her.”
You don’t have to slash and burn every adjective or adverb known to man from your manuscript. They are legitimate parts of speech and have a place in writing. The overuse or misuse of them is the crime.
Then we get to a seldom mentioned tangent, profanity. Now, I’m not going to touch the “Should we use profanity in writing?” debate. I’m talking about substituting profanity for adjectives and adverbs. I’m baffled this hasn’t been brought up widely. The use of profanity is something of a sacred cow on both sides of the moral debate. So without stepping on too many toes, may I point out that using profanity as an adjective/adverb crutch is just as bad as abusing actual adjectives and adverbs?
Example: *Bleep* kids. How was he supposed to sleep with all that *bleep* *bleep* racket going on every *bleep* *bleep* morning? Today he’d confront their *bleep* parents.
One could easily stick in adjectives and adverbs for each of those profane bleeps. I've read published books where page after page I've stumbled over sentences riddled with this kind of descriptive structure. A lot of authors and writers put in profanity where adjectives and adverbs normally go. It makes for a jarring read; as annoying as purple prose.
Style issue? Sneaky writing is more like it.
A person might as easily argue that their true voice relies on the same five or six adv./adj. in order to showcase their style. Writers are often warned to watch for repetitive words. They stick out and hit the reader between the eyes. I read a book once where the writer used the two words "ostentatious" and "redundant" repeatedly (ironic, I know.) The more I stumbled over those words the more they pulled me from the narrative flow. The same thing goes for adj./adv.-like profanity. It may show the writer's natural language use but it also reveals how limited the writer's vocabulary is. I can see a character or two having this kind of voice, but unless your story is first person in that character’s head, it’s lazy writing to use profanity in place of adjectives and adverbs all through the book. Use stronger nouns and verbs. You can get the snark or anger across just fine without the profanity tactic.
Profanity as an interjection, sure. Occasional use as an adjective or adverb, as long as the situation calls for it. But watch out for the tendency to prolifically use profanity, adjectives, and adverbs with the assumption that no one can criticize the practice because it’s your style. It’s still lazy writing. No moral or ethical debate needed. I’m being strictly technical here to unmask the beast.
It's a fine line, as are most elements of writing. Be true to your style as a writer and be true to your characters' voices but watch for repetition and adj./adv. abuse. Find ways to cut down your word count by eliminating these kinds of crutches and making the effort to find better words.
Anyone else noticed the overuse and abuse of adjectives, adverbs, and profanity in what they read or write? Have any good examples of when adjectives, adverbs, and profanity are acceptable? Please share.
Anyone else noticed the overuse and abuse of adjectives, adverbs, and profanity in what they read or write? Have any good examples of when adjectives, adverbs, and profanity are acceptable? Please share.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saturday Link Special #8
Here are this week's gleanings and there are some gems in this batch:
Let's start with literary agents, for those of you on the prowl.
Michael Bourret from Dystel & Goderich updates what he is looking for, and he wants stories off the beaten track or that are hard to categorize. Sound like your current novel? Take a look and see if you might be a match.
GLA has another new agent spotlight, this one for Jessie Cammack who has joined JABberwocky Literary. Jessie is looking for: epic fantasy, YA science fiction, literary fiction. Check out the interview for more details.
Jennifer Laughran weighs on dream agents, lists, and query letters. This is a must read post if you are querying or starting to query. She has another fantastic post that gives writers a reality check. The benefits of writers teaming up together online. And on the flip side: you aren't unloved or a bad writer if you aren't on every social networking site known to man. Loved this one.
On the topics of writing and craft:
Greenwoman wrote a great post about properly researching plants for novels. All I can say is, well put.
Eli Ashpence writes about using good description when writing.
Slate contributor Noreen Malone points out the problems with overusing the em dash. And at Ready. Write. Go. Cherie talks about the difference between the em dash and the en dash.
Kidlit.com tackles Physical Cliches. (Prepare for some more revisions after reading this one!)
Agent Rachelle Gardner resurfaces some archived posts on Write Your Truth, Backstory, and Having Fun Writing vs. Getting Writing Done.
Guest writer, Sarah Allen posts in Pimp My Novel about 5 Tools to Carry in a Conspiring Universe. Good tips to make writing on the go or at any time easier.
With regards to publishing:
Author Beth Revis has an enlightening post for both teens and adults alike regarding teen writers seeking to publish.
Author Patricia C. Wrede shares her own dose of reality when it comes to Cash Flow and writing output in the publishing world.
Darke Conteur distinguishes the difference between fanfic and seeking to cash in on someone else's story.
Happy reading!
Let's start with literary agents, for those of you on the prowl.
Michael Bourret from Dystel & Goderich updates what he is looking for, and he wants stories off the beaten track or that are hard to categorize. Sound like your current novel? Take a look and see if you might be a match.
GLA has another new agent spotlight, this one for Jessie Cammack who has joined JABberwocky Literary. Jessie is looking for: epic fantasy, YA science fiction, literary fiction. Check out the interview for more details.
Jennifer Laughran weighs on dream agents, lists, and query letters. This is a must read post if you are querying or starting to query. She has another fantastic post that gives writers a reality check. The benefits of writers teaming up together online. And on the flip side: you aren't unloved or a bad writer if you aren't on every social networking site known to man. Loved this one.
On the topics of writing and craft:
Greenwoman wrote a great post about properly researching plants for novels. All I can say is, well put.
Eli Ashpence writes about using good description when writing.
Slate contributor Noreen Malone points out the problems with overusing the em dash. And at Ready. Write. Go. Cherie talks about the difference between the em dash and the en dash.
Kidlit.com tackles Physical Cliches. (Prepare for some more revisions after reading this one!)
Agent Rachelle Gardner resurfaces some archived posts on Write Your Truth, Backstory, and Having Fun Writing vs. Getting Writing Done.
Guest writer, Sarah Allen posts in Pimp My Novel about 5 Tools to Carry in a Conspiring Universe. Good tips to make writing on the go or at any time easier.
With regards to publishing:
Author Beth Revis has an enlightening post for both teens and adults alike regarding teen writers seeking to publish.
Author Patricia C. Wrede shares her own dose of reality when it comes to Cash Flow and writing output in the publishing world.
Darke Conteur distinguishes the difference between fanfic and seeking to cash in on someone else's story.
Happy reading!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Blog Spotlight #11 Beach Reads With Bite
This week I'm happy to share/introduce you to Jami Gold, Paranormal Author and her blog. Jami's blog hits the nerve center of writing and she puts a lot of thought into her blogposts regarding craft and publishing. She also shares great links, has a newsletter sign-up, and a simple, easy-to-use blog format. She's not cluttered. Her achives are easily accessible and worth going through. I enjoy the professional and personable voice of her blog. If you've been thinking about diving into blog waters and want some ideas on what a great blog looks and sounds like, jump on over and see what Jami has done.
Some gems from Jami Gold's blog:
http://jamigold.com/2011/05/do-stories-need-a-theme/
http://jamigold.com/2011/05/make-your-antagonist-a-force-for-good/
http://jamigold.com/2010/10/strong-characters-with-goals/
http://jamigold.com/2010/11/how-to-create-a-strong-character-give-them-flaws/
There's a lot more. I love it when I find great author blogs like this one.
Why are you still here? Go look at Jami's blog!
Some gems from Jami Gold's blog:
http://jamigold.com/2011/05/do-stories-need-a-theme/
http://jamigold.com/2011/05/make-your-antagonist-a-force-for-good/
http://jamigold.com/2010/10/strong-characters-with-goals/
http://jamigold.com/2010/11/how-to-create-a-strong-character-give-them-flaws/
There's a lot more. I love it when I find great author blogs like this one.
Why are you still here? Go look at Jami's blog!
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