Last night, I attended my first ever Works in Progress event at Hugo House in downtown Seattle. Hugo House, as billed by the sign on the side of the building located in Capitol Hill, is a place for writers; ANYONE who wants to write is welcome, previous publishing credits not required. HH is a fantastic local resource for Seattle authors; they offer classes and lectures, bring in guest speakers, and like last night, offer open-mic type nights twice a month to anyone who is looking for a place to read their work and be heard by a very positive audience. If you go to their website here, and check out Works in Progress, there is a big note that this is not a Critique; strictly Non-Judgemental listening...and hey! There's booze! That sentiment was enough for me and off I went.
I had no intention of putting my name in one of the two mason jars on my first visit; the first jar capping out at 12 names; promising those authors who showed up early that they would get the chance to read; and the second jar for everyone else time permitting. Just listening is fine too; which is what I did; but that didn't stop me from having butterflies for every single other person who went up to share their work. It's a very brave thing to stand in front of a microphone on a hot August night and (Welcome to Seattle; no A.C.) present something inherently personal to a crowded room full of strangers. But perform they did; to kind, uproarious applause. There's a lot of writing happening in Seattle; poetry, prose, fiction, essays...some finished, and some definitely not....ranging from the political to historical to sci-fi.
I surprised myself last night with my gut reaction to the evening. For the longest time, I've been adverse to communing with other writers...maybe out of a sense of competition, or insecurity about my own work. Back when I was writing my first book, I felt such a strong sense of competition with not only other writers, but the whole world... that I couldn't watch T.V. or even read new books; overwhelmed by the possible dread of seeing something that too closely resembled a plot line I was working on-- that would have just been soul shattering. I had cut myself off from everyone and all other media so I wouldn't stop creating...for fear that I would be derailed and stop altogether. This was also at a time when I felt like my work was a life raft...and quitting would have been very, very bad for me.
So maybe there's been a change since completing Lost Souls; published or not; I know I've done something big; and continue to do something big with my work on Hellbound and Equinox. I don't feel the need to compare myself anymore. In my mind, I've already won, and now I can go out and enjoy other work and getting to know other writers.
It was incredibly thrilling just to be there feeling the energy of all these other people that have the same passion that I do. At no time did I feel bristly or like I wasn't smart enough to be in the room. I got to know a few of the people around me-- a lot of first time visitors as well. There was one guy who had written a beautiful poem that he was gearing up to present that evening, another boy who hadn't written anything in over 2 years, but was hoping for inspiration; and a woman about my age who also writes speculative fiction-(!!!)-- and we had fun chatting during the break. Through my nerves, I didn't get her information, but I'm hopeful she will attend the next one and we can make a connection then. Everyone was fun and engaged and open...creating a really cool atmosphere for creative growth. So positive in fact, that maybe I might be mustering the courage to go back in two weeks and present myself...maybe.:)
Get to work!--and, Bonne Chance!
Showing posts with label writer resource. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writer resource. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Dead Zone
So, as I've mentioned before, I am currently in the process of pursing literary agents/small publishing houses to publish Lost Souls. When I started writing the manuscript almost 2 years ago, this stage felt like a million miles away...something I would need to worry about in the very distant future. But several drafts later and feeling WAY more confident about my work...here we are, ready to shove it out there and see if anyone bites. A both hopeful and terrifying prospect. As August is just around the corner, the dreaded "Dead Zone" month for anyone who is attempting to sell their work...as everyone is either on vacation/checked out from work....I think we can see this coming publishing hiatus as an opportunity to hone some important skills and work on that sales pitch before Autumn rolls around.
Like many other writers who have navigated the murky waters of publishing, I am realizing quickly that I enjoyed writing the book more than I am enjoying trying to sell the book. But, it's all part of the journey, and I don't want to shortchange my hard work, so I'm giving it a go. Also like me, I'm sure there are many of you out there that have gotten to the point of- "okay, I have this great book...now what?" I started my research in a fairly obvious place...with the 2015 Guide to Literary Agents. You can pick up a copy at any major book retailer or online. I learned that if you want your manuscript to even have the chance to be read by one of the big publishing houses, you need to have an agent. And finding that agent is very much akin to going from general meet and greet to serious relationship.
First of all, your query letter is everything. This is your initial handshake..."hi, nice to meet you" if you will. Most agents do not even want to see your manuscript unless they are intrigued by your query letter....so it's key that you put together a letter that you feel really solid about. The letter should not be longer than a page and consist of 3 parts: Intro, pitch, bio. You intro should include who you are and what you've written...if it's genre fiction say which genre and give a word count-- and then if you have a schmooze factor- this is the place to do it. If you've seen this specific agent speak at a conference, or if you've been recommended by another one of their (hopefully published) clients, or why you think the two of you would be a good fit to work together. Personally, I'm not a big schmoozer, so my intro is fairly straight forward...which may be to my detriment in the end, but you have to do what you're comfortable with.
The second part of the letter is the most important- your pitch. This is specifically what your book is about-- the key characters, plot points, why your target market is going to want to buy your book. I like to think of this like the inside book jacket-- what people pick up when they're browsing at Barnes and Noble, read, and decide if it's going in the shopping cart. Meat and potatoes, people- make it sing.
The third part is where you would give a little info about yourself...if you've published anything previously, or any other experiences related to writing. This section is very important if you are a non-fiction writer...as agents and publishers want to know what sort of credentials you have to write about your subject matter. As a general rule, it's better not to over-elaborate in this section. If you have no previous credits, just don't say anything.
I'm have a link to a great list/post by the very talented Erica Verrillo... of paranormal romance agents for any other authors who are in my genre-- you can check it out here....I then thought I'd end with a Top 5 List of Dos and Don'ts when querying agents.
DO:
1. Query a specific agent at a specific agency who represents the type of material you write
2. Keep the tone professional, and for the love of Pete...PROOFREAD!!!! Double check the spelling of the agent/agency name
3. Focus on plot when pitching fiction
4. Always check the agency's submission guidelines-- maybe they only want to see your query, maybe they want to see the first 50 pages of your manuscript...maybe they only accept snail mail submissions-- do your homework
5. My favorite: Keep pitching despite rejection!!!:)
DON'T:
1. Mention this is your first novel...they don't need to know that. Other stuff they don't need to know- personal information that doesn't have anything to do with the book-- like if you have 3 Yorkshire terriers at home that love to cuddle or you are an amazing orchid gardener
2. Say how long it took to write the book-- they don't care. Some writers churn stuff out in a matter of months, others years. (Harper Lee, anyone?) They also don't care if it's been professionally proofread, loved by your peers, or already has a copywrite. Cool story, bro....moving on
3. Don't send anything they didn't ask for...manuscript pages, flowers, character sketches, whatever. Only a self-addressed-stamped envelope (SASE)-- if they ask!
4. Mention previous rejections-- that's a rule for agents, first dates, life
5. Follow up with a phone call...if an appropriate time has passed and you haven't heard back...follow up the same way you queried- most likely by email.
I think it's also important to remember...agents are people too. They are not omniscient, ( even though they may want us to think they are), and they have their good and bad days just like everyone else. The person on the receiving end of your query isn't looking to say 'no'...they're looking for that next AMAZING project that's going to be wildly successful. That could be your book! So keep polishing, keep trying, and do it your way...keeping a few helpful tips in mind.
Bonne Chance!
Like many other writers who have navigated the murky waters of publishing, I am realizing quickly that I enjoyed writing the book more than I am enjoying trying to sell the book. But, it's all part of the journey, and I don't want to shortchange my hard work, so I'm giving it a go. Also like me, I'm sure there are many of you out there that have gotten to the point of- "okay, I have this great book...now what?" I started my research in a fairly obvious place...with the 2015 Guide to Literary Agents. You can pick up a copy at any major book retailer or online. I learned that if you want your manuscript to even have the chance to be read by one of the big publishing houses, you need to have an agent. And finding that agent is very much akin to going from general meet and greet to serious relationship.
First of all, your query letter is everything. This is your initial handshake..."hi, nice to meet you" if you will. Most agents do not even want to see your manuscript unless they are intrigued by your query letter....so it's key that you put together a letter that you feel really solid about. The letter should not be longer than a page and consist of 3 parts: Intro, pitch, bio. You intro should include who you are and what you've written...if it's genre fiction say which genre and give a word count-- and then if you have a schmooze factor- this is the place to do it. If you've seen this specific agent speak at a conference, or if you've been recommended by another one of their (hopefully published) clients, or why you think the two of you would be a good fit to work together. Personally, I'm not a big schmoozer, so my intro is fairly straight forward...which may be to my detriment in the end, but you have to do what you're comfortable with.
The second part of the letter is the most important- your pitch. This is specifically what your book is about-- the key characters, plot points, why your target market is going to want to buy your book. I like to think of this like the inside book jacket-- what people pick up when they're browsing at Barnes and Noble, read, and decide if it's going in the shopping cart. Meat and potatoes, people- make it sing.
The third part is where you would give a little info about yourself...if you've published anything previously, or any other experiences related to writing. This section is very important if you are a non-fiction writer...as agents and publishers want to know what sort of credentials you have to write about your subject matter. As a general rule, it's better not to over-elaborate in this section. If you have no previous credits, just don't say anything.
I'm have a link to a great list/post by the very talented Erica Verrillo... of paranormal romance agents for any other authors who are in my genre-- you can check it out here....I then thought I'd end with a Top 5 List of Dos and Don'ts when querying agents.
DO:
1. Query a specific agent at a specific agency who represents the type of material you write
2. Keep the tone professional, and for the love of Pete...PROOFREAD!!!! Double check the spelling of the agent/agency name
3. Focus on plot when pitching fiction
4. Always check the agency's submission guidelines-- maybe they only want to see your query, maybe they want to see the first 50 pages of your manuscript...maybe they only accept snail mail submissions-- do your homework
5. My favorite: Keep pitching despite rejection!!!:)
DON'T:
1. Mention this is your first novel...they don't need to know that. Other stuff they don't need to know- personal information that doesn't have anything to do with the book-- like if you have 3 Yorkshire terriers at home that love to cuddle or you are an amazing orchid gardener
2. Say how long it took to write the book-- they don't care. Some writers churn stuff out in a matter of months, others years. (Harper Lee, anyone?) They also don't care if it's been professionally proofread, loved by your peers, or already has a copywrite. Cool story, bro....moving on
3. Don't send anything they didn't ask for...manuscript pages, flowers, character sketches, whatever. Only a self-addressed-stamped envelope (SASE)-- if they ask!
4. Mention previous rejections-- that's a rule for agents, first dates, life
5. Follow up with a phone call...if an appropriate time has passed and you haven't heard back...follow up the same way you queried- most likely by email.
I think it's also important to remember...agents are people too. They are not omniscient, ( even though they may want us to think they are), and they have their good and bad days just like everyone else. The person on the receiving end of your query isn't looking to say 'no'...they're looking for that next AMAZING project that's going to be wildly successful. That could be your book! So keep polishing, keep trying, and do it your way...keeping a few helpful tips in mind.
Bonne Chance!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Searching for...
Just received a really great resource from friend/former teacher Marilyn Ludwig. She is a published author and you can find her most recent book here.
The article she sent me was a list of the Top 20 Publishers for New Authors. As I stated before, I want this blog to be an open conversation about issues concerning writers, and I am curious to hear if any of you out there have experiences with the publishers listed. I know I will be sending queries to a handful of them in my next round. Here's the link:
TOP 20!
Thanks, Marilyn!
BC
The article she sent me was a list of the Top 20 Publishers for New Authors. As I stated before, I want this blog to be an open conversation about issues concerning writers, and I am curious to hear if any of you out there have experiences with the publishers listed. I know I will be sending queries to a handful of them in my next round. Here's the link:
TOP 20!
Thanks, Marilyn!
BC
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