Adventures in Writing

Something Surprising

 Everyone always says to have patience when querying.  I hear it everywhere, but I guess even that didn't prepare me for what happened this week.  On March 29th, I sent out one of my first queries for the newly revised manuscript that I'd been working on.  After two months without a response from this particular agent, I took the non-response as code for 'Thanks, but no thanks'.  

I move on, researching new agents and querying new ones every few weeks.  April, then May trickled by, during which several agents ask for partials and/or fulls.  As I wait for responses on those, I continue to work on other projects and research agents and agencies that I feel might fit with my completed manuscript.  Now, after four months, I get the most surprising email from the agent that I queried back on March 29th, requesting a full.  This was almost four months to the day of the original email.  I had all but crossed them off as a rejection.  

I guess the lesson here is to just keep on keepin' on, because if you're sitting on pins and needles the whole time, you're butt will get mighty sore.

The first page

 One of the writing blogs I follow is actually a blog written by an editor, or rather an editor's assistant.  This week Moonrat posted about the importance of the first page: 

“Just briefly, because I am up to my tailbone in manuscripts....when I read submission after submission after submission--which, let's face it, is everyday--my mind starts to dull...and this is making me cranky...The reading gets faster, and the disappointments stack up more quickly.

...There are different ways to create a crappy first page. Boringness. Cliche. Too many fancy schmancy words. Immersing your audience too quickly into the action. Immersing them too slowly...Yeah, I know, it's basically impossible to win at this game. But YOU MUST TRY.  Above all things, YOU MUST BE SPECIAL. Assume whoever is reading your submission is going to be in a terrible mood when they look at page 1. You just don't have until page 2.”

The funny thing is, I read through the comments to this post and someone commented the following:  “I think this is a good illustration of the difference between an editorial/agent type reader and my own reading tastes.  I frequently find myself incredibly annoyed when everything explodes on page 1...most of those books that I pick up in the book store and the first page explodes like that... I put it back down and find something else.”

So I ask:  As a reader are you much more like the first or second opinion?  Does that change if you were writing instead of reading?  I find that as a reader I'm willing to hang with a book for the first chapter.  After that I might put it down to change a diaper or some other wonderful domestic diva task and I may never get back to it. (Unless it's a book club book 'cause then I'm stuck.  See, I have this thing about finishing my assignments...and evidently book club books are assignments in my world. What?  I'm a rule follower.  Really, I am.  Fine!  Don't believe me.)  

As a writer, I guess right now I'm about the same.  My first chapter hopefully grabs the reader but I can't say the first page is a sheer work of genius.  It's something to consider though.

5 Stages of Querying

Okay, so I follow this writers' blog pretty intensely, called the Guide to Literary Agents.  It has guest bloggers covering subjects ranging from successful queries to how I got my agent to new agent alerts.  I've found it very helpful in my industry education thus far.  Recently, Anne Gallagher did a guest spot on the five stages of querying.  It was so spot on, that I had to reblog it.  My only adjustment was that I never really had a full #1 issue.  I hoped what I wrote was good, but I never believed it was earth shattering.  For those querying soon, or are in the process...you are not alone.

#1) Conceit – This is the beginning of the query experience in which you are convinced that any agent would be a fool to turn you down. You know deep in your heart this is the most fantastic book ever written and every agent who reads your query will request a full, (or at least a partial) immediately. And your mother, husband/wife and BFF beta's said so. 

#2) Fear – This second emotion is harder to contain as it encompasses a variety of anxieties at the same time: Is the query strong enough to get a request? Is the manuscript good enough? Have I revised enough? Did I find all my typos? Did I say everything I was supposed to say?  

#3) Bargaining – This is when you’ll do absolutely anything if an agent requests any part of your manuscript: Spend more time with the kids, your mother-in-law, the PTO. You’ll keep up with the laundry, dishes, dust bunnies. You’ll remember to make breakfast, pay the bills, feed the dog. And you’ll pass up the new shoes you saw last week at the mall … you swear, if you could only get a request. 

#4) Depression – This is how far you’ll actually sink before you start climbing up from the pit of despair. Some frequent comments in your head will be—“My query sucked, the agent will hate it. My book sucks. Why am I doing this? I can’t write a book. No one would read it anyway, it will never sell.” At this point, you must remember you do have family and friends who love you and care for you. Step away from the chocolate, get out of your sweats, take a shower and go for a nice long walk. A little fresh air never hurt anyone. 

#5) Acceptance – And this last stage is when you realize, the query is out, agents are looking at it, you gave it your 100% best shot and there is nothing more you can do. So relax. And I won't tell you not to check your e-mail account fifteen times a day because I know you will, (I do, too) just try and get it down to three. Breakfast, lunch and before bedtime.

I Wrote a Book: Part Two

I've gotten this question quite a lot lately:  "So what is your book about?"  In an effort to answer this questions I will post a part of my query letter.  The purpose of a query letter is to introduce your book to the agent in a form similar to a book's jacket cover synopsis.  Here is mine query paragraph describing the essence of my book.

There isn't much Kate Donovan hates more than to draw attention to herself, and yet that's just what she does when she foils an attempted high school shooting; a feat made possible through Kate’s ability to read minds.  The ensuing glances and pointed thoughts from her fellow students invade and bombard Kate, shaking her like a rag doll.  For this and many other reasons, Kate has spent years striving for a life inconsequentiality, but the shooting changed all that.  

Kate’s life grows even more troubling when Alex, a mysterious stranger, appears.  He reveals that he shares Kate's ability and that she is in serious danger.  Alex explains that Kate’s mother, a woman she hardly remembers, could Read too and that she was murdered by assassins that target Readers.  These killers will return for Kate to either recruit or kill her.

Alex offers to teach Kate the skills she’ll need to survive and Kate accepts with the hope that she can return to her normal life afterward.  Once immersed into the world of Readers, Kate finds that nothing is as she expected.  She is forced to trust without Reading and is asked continually to stretch her ability into realms she couldn’t have envisioned.  Kate comes face to face with the truth behind her mother’s death and the betrayal nearly kills her.  Yet, in the end the choice remains with Kate.  Who will she be:  one who will hide––or one who will stand and fight?

So would you read a book like this?  Would your daughters or sons?

 

Plotting and What Not To Do and Fledglings

I recently came across an series of postings on PLOT by Author Laini Taylor.

Second thing:  Author, Rachelle Alpine gave some advice on WHAT NOT TO DO during the query process.  I'm really working on #1.  

And finally, I found this cartoon and I am sooo feeling like this right now.

 

Query Stats

I thought I'd post some query statistics to allow anyone who actually reads this to see what I'm up against in getting published.  The following are stats from one agent who represents my genre.  She's a good agent and I'd love to work with her, so I am sending her my stuff today, but clearly I have my work cut out for me.

In the first three months of 2010, we received 1,297 queries...of those queries, we requested partials on 20 manuscripts...Out of those 20 partials, we requested 3 full manuscripts, all of which are currently under consideration. I didn’t sign any new clients in the first three months of 2010. Still, just to get a full request? We’re looking at only .2% of all queries received.

Yikes!  That's rough.  And that's only the first step.  If/When I get an agent, I still need to get a publishing house to be interested enough to invest in me.  Double yikes!

 

 Yup.  It's a bit like that.

Patience

I don't know what these chickens are waiting for, but I can relate.  Ask anyone––I hate waiting.  I've been postponing a trip to Walt Disney World because paying to wait in lines is like getting a hot poker in the eyeball.  So have a chuckle or two at my expense while I wait some more.  I'm nice like that.

 

A Query Minefield

Where am I in the publishing process?  Well, I'm in the querying stage.  Querying simply means submitting work.  

I began researching agents seriously about August of last year.  I first searched out the literary agents that accepted my genre (Fiction/Young Adult) and then compiled a short list of those that I was most excited about.  I included all their submission guidelines in my little spreadsheet––I love spreadsheets–-they make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  

The reason I felt a spreadsheet was necessary is because every agent has a slightly different guideline for submitting.  Some want just a query, while others want a query, synopsis and 50 pages of the manuscript. Some agents will only accept email queries and others only take snail mail.  Most refuse to accept attachments, but a rare few require that your sample pages come attached.  Querying is like walking through a mine field.  One wrong move and...REJECTED!

But some may ask, what is a query?  Essentially, it's a cover letter introducing you and your manuscript to the agent.  The biggest and hardest part of the query is the "jacket-cover' blurb that condenses your 250+ page book down into 250 words.  Say it with me...EEK!

My best advice for writing a query is this:  Write the very best query you can and then put it away and a week or so later, start again with a blank slate.  Refine that version and then put away again.  After three or four times, pull up all the queries and see what works in each.  Try submitting that new and best version to a forum for comments, like on Absolute Write.

But don't settle for my measley advice.  Google is your friend.  There are tons of agent blogs that will post successful queries or really UNsuccessful ones.  Take a look and see what the agents like.  I submitted my query to an agent blog for posting and comments.  I didn't really think anything would come of it.  But my query actually got picked to be posted.  My query is the second one of the two posted––the query signed D.W.  I got some good comments but didn't actually get the agent's advice. That was disappointing but still, I bettered by query with the experience.

Literary Agents are like College Degrees

Some of my family and friends have asked why I'm submitting my manuscript to a literary agent, instead of directly to the publishers.  I will offer my opinion and links to a few more reputable sources.

So, why are literary agents necessary?  Short answer:  Because literary agents act as gatekeepers to the publishing houses. 

 
A longer answer:  Getting an agent is like getting a college degree.

 
 In today's world, it's unlikely that you'll be successful without one.  Some say, "well, so-and-so got published without an agent."  Yes, I know.  And there are examples of people that are extremely successful without a college degree, but as you will agree, these people are the exception, not the rule.

There's a certain vetting process that happens while obtaining an agent.  The process is frought with mindless hoops, but in the end you (and your manuscript) will come through smarter and better prepared.  Publishers will see that you've done what it takes to get your "degree", proving that you might be someone they would "hire". 

I hope this answers your questions.  Where am I in the process?  Well, I'm still the geeky freshman at the back of the Publishing 101 class.  I hope I pass.