Writers in the Storm

by Charlotte Carter

I’ve authored more than 50 books. You’d think by now I would have a pretty good handle on how to write them.

 Sometimes not so much.

 I received a massive TWO PAGE revision letter on my November Love Inspired release, Big Sky Family. Yikes!

The worst part is that my editor, Emily Rodmell, was RIGHT! I really hate that.

I had totally messed up one scene and should have known better. My hero and heroine were determined not to talk to each other; I had to whip them into shape. Emily didn’t even mention all the typos I’d let slip through.

Emily did what editors are supposed to do: she made my book better. I appreciate that and readers will too.

In the process of transitioning from writing secular romance to inspirational romance, I’m also learning words/phrases NOT to use, at least in a Love Inspired.

• Do not mention the heroine’s ‘rear end.’
• A person cannot be ‘ticked’ off.
• Kisses are not sensual.
• You may not say, “What the ---”
• A character may not be referred to as a ‘blow hard.’
• You can’t say ‘In heaven’s name . . .”
• Characters may not pray for ‘signs’ of what they should do.
• Characters are not allowed to ‘swear’ under their breath.

I’m not required to explain why the above is so; neither is the editor. Them’s the rules!

Nonetheless, next time you get a revision letter, or your critique group gives you a hard time, smile. It may be the best thing that could happen to you.

Books that leave you smiling
 from Love Inspired
   Big Sky Reunion, 4/2011
   Big Sky Family, 11/2011
www.CharlotteCarter.com

 

Stalking Hunting Agents  by Laura Drake
(Part 2 in a series - click here for Part 1 or Part 3)

Finding an agent takes time, so it’s best to start the process before you’re ready to submit.

When you get tired of writing for the day, or editing, take a half hour and work on submissions. It utilizes the right side of your brain, and refreshes the left. At least it does that for me.

Where to Hunt Agents

Here are helpful websites I’ve found:

www.guidetoliteraryagents.com  - from Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest fame.  Wonderful research site. He also interviews new agents, who are hungry for clients. New agents are a great starting place for the unpublished author.

www.agentquery.com – good search engine
www.1000literaryagents.com/literary-agents-us.php
www.literaryagents.com/agentlist.html ·

everyonewhosanyone.com – An odd, aggressive guy who prints personal editor and agent email addresses (which they may not want you to have.)  WARNING: proceed with caution with this info. It could hurt more than it helps.  At least look at it though. He includes his rejections from the agents/editors, and he’s hilarious.

There are lots of great sites out there – if you know of some I’ve missed, please post them in the comments section.

IMPORTANT! 

Predators & Editors -  pred-ed.com/pubagent.htm - Before querying any agent, check out this website. There are scammers in every field, and you need to run everything through a filter. P&E is the most trusted site out for this.  In case you’re new to submitting – here’s a rule.  NEVER pay an agent to read your submission!

Some agents are now editing and acting as publicists for hire, and the practice may eventually become the norm as the new model of publishing emerges, but I’d be cautious, and understand exactly what you’re getting into.

Organization's not your thing?  Right-brained?  Does the thought of keeping track of all this make you queasy?  Never fear.  I have a solution for you.

Writers Market.com – It has a huge, up-to-date database on agents.  It costs $40/year and is worth every penny.  I used it for my first submission experience, and it was wonderful.  It has all the tools needed to find and agent and track submissions, plus items the others lack.  First, search by genre, then narrow the quest.  I found the following criteria invaluable:

• % of clients that publish in fiction
• # of clients – of those how many were new authors
• If member of AAR
• Submission guidelines
• How long it takes for response.
• Agent/agency websites
• When they were established

One of the best things about Writer's Market is the “Query Tracker.”  Select the agent to submit to, note the date, and when you should hear back.  After that date, it posts a reminder, so you can follow up.

Simple, organized, unintimidating.

Agent Etiquette

DO: Follow agent’s blogs and follow them on Twitter. Not only is it a good way to “know” an agent, they also post excellent craft and market advice.  Most agents have links to other agent’s blogs.

DO NOT:

• Follow them into bathrooms at conferences, or on their way to work
• Call them
• Show up at their offices.

The above will not only spook the prey and earn you a bad name; it could get you arrested!  And have you seen how people look in mug shots?  You thought your driver’s license photo was bad.

TIPS:

• If an agent doesn’t state that they rep what you write – don’t bother.  You’re wasting time.
• Research agent submission guidelines and follow them – to the letter.  Irritating an agent makes an impression, but a bad one.
• It helps to know something about the agent and can reference it in the query intro.  Research the authors the agent represents.  Read their blogs.  It will help you connect and catch their attention more than “Dear Agent.”
• Which reminds me – don’t ever write “Dear Agent.”
• If you don’t know anything about them, don’t fake it.  They’ll know, trust me.  Just launch into your hook, instead.
• Remember your business panties from Part 1. A submission should be businesslike. At first contact, I always use the agent’s last name: Dear Ms. Agent.
• Be sure the query is crisp, short, and correct.  This is your first and only shot at catching their attention.
• Double and triple check every word before you hit ‘send.’  It’s hard for them to think you’re sincere and professional if you misspell their name.
• Agent's response guidelines are almost always on their website.  If they say they’ll respond in 4 weeks, and it’s been 8, send a polite follow-up email.  Here’s mine:

I put in the subject line "Query Follow up YYY(Title)"

Dear Ms.XXX:

I sent the below query for my novel, YYY, on 12/18.  I hadn't heard back from you, so I'm just following up.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

If the agent requested a partial or a full submission, and they’re a couple weeks beyond their self-imposed deadline, I send the following:

Requested Material Follow-up YYYY (Title)

Dear Ms. XXX (may or may not be on 1^st name basis at this point)

I sent the partial/full manuscript you requested of my novel, YYY on Dec. 12, and haven’t heard back from you.  I know you’re very busy.  Could you just give me a timeframe so I can manage my expectations?

Thanks for your time and consideration.

• Many agents (sadly) are now simply not responding if they’re not interested, and you’re to assume rejection.  I hate this, but can live with it, as long as they state that in the submission guidelines.

Share with us all your submission tips and experiences!

Next up in The Great Agent Search: Organizing this mess.

by Laura Drake
(Part 1 in a series - click here for Part 2 and Part 3)

You finish your book.  You type “The End.”  You edit, you revise, and you polish.

You’re done!  You dance, you gush.  You love the world.  In a few days, you come down from the high, clean the tulips from between your toes, and look ahead.

What the heck do I do now?

Who do I submit to?  How do I do that?

How do I keep track of it all?

First, don’t panic.  This isn’t brain surgery.  All you need is a couple of tools to succeed.

First: Business Panties. –

At work, when one of us doesn’t want to do something, we remind each other to put on our Big Girl Panties.  You must put on your business face.  I know, it feels like you’re putting your baby in a “most beautiful” contest, and Simon Cowell is the judge.

All the creativity and muse-courting won’t help you in this phase. In fact, I believe it’s why so many people hate, avoid, and fail the whole submittal process.  They don’t realize you use a whole different side of your brain for submitting than you did when you were creating the book.  So send your muse on a well-earned trip to Disneyland.  The skill set you can learn, but you’ll have to put aside the soft creative cocoon and switch to business mode.  Because this isn’t about what a heart-stopping novel you’ve written.  This is about business.  You have to look at this as you selling a product.

Sell?

If you’d wanted to do that, you’d have majored in marketing instead of taking all those English classes, right?  Wrong.  Who better to sell this?  You just spent a year or more of your life writing this book.  Who believes in it more than you?

“But I can’t sell!” you say.  “I couldn’t even make money on a lemonade stand when I was a kid.”  Do you have a husband?  Kids?  A job?  Have you ever convinced someone to do something your way?  Then you can sell.

Does the thought of pitching your book make your mouth dry and your hands shake?  Does even emailing a query make you queasy?  Me too.  Do it anyway.  As Oprah says, “Fake it ‘til you make it.”  You don’t have to be brave.  It’s okay to be afraid.  On the inside. 

Can you do this?  You can’t not do it -- because you want your book in print more than you’re afraid.  Otherwise you wouldn’t be still reading this! 

So put on your business panties and read on.

Submission Toolkit –

Writing the Query –

There is a ton of great info out on the internet, so I’m not going to try to write it better.  The best short explanation I’ve found comes from Jane Friedman of Writer’s Digest in her query series, There Are No Rules.

THE 5 ELEMENTS OF A NOVEL QUERY
Every query should include these 5 elements (but not necessarily delivered in this order):

• Personalization (where you customize the letter for the recipient)
• What you're selling (genre/category, word count, title/subtitle)
• Hook (100-150 words is ideal)
• Bio (sometimes optional for uncredited fiction writers)
• Thank you & closing (plus any important notes)

What's in the very first paragraph of the query?
This varies from writer to writer, from project to project. You put your best foot forward—or you lead with your strongest selling point. This might involve:

• A referral from an existing client
• Met at a conference or pitch event (your material may or may not have been requested, but if your material WAS requested, you're not really writing a query anymore; you're writing a cover letter)
• Compelling hook that matches what an agent recently expressed interest in
• Personalized intro that smartly and genuinely identifies why your work is a good match for this particular agent or editor
• Excellent credentials or awards (e.g., MFA from a school that an agent is known to recruit clients from, first prize in a national competition with thousands of entrants, impressive publication credits with prestigious journal or New York publisher)

Many writers don't have referrals or conference meetings to fall back on, so usually the hook becomes the lead for the query letter.

Other writers start simple and direct, which is fine: "My [title] is an 80,000 supernatural romance."

Does personalization really make a difference?
Yes, if it's done well. If you're vague in your personalization (faking it), then you'll appear insincere or lazy.

Remember, your query is a sales tool, and good salespeople develop a rapport with the people they want to sell, and show that they understand their needs. Show that you've done your homework, show that you care, and show that you're not blasting indiscriminately.

So write that query.  Polish it all shiny.  Read it out loud for awkward sentences.  Then read it to everyone who will sit long enough to listen.  They’re probably going to say they love it.  Watch their faces.  Dig deeper to what they’re not saying because they don’t want to hurt your feelings.  These are your potential readers, and if they’re not captivated by your query, an agent sure isn’t going to be.

Remind yourself that this is not a feel-good exercise.  You get one shot at this.  You may have written the next Pulitzer Prize winner, but that year of work counts for nothing if your query doesn’t hook an agent.  They’ll never read it!  I make the case that this is THE most important thing you’ve ever written, so make every word golden.

Next Up: Where to find an agent, and how to approach them (without scaring them!)