Showing posts with label success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label success. Show all posts
July 8, 2011
Neil Gaiman: Advice to Authors
Sometimes, the best advice a success-driven, unpublished author can receive is from a successful, published author. Neil Gaiman, the acclaimed author of American Gods and Coraline (among many others), offers advice to authors on the subjects of getting published, writing comics and editing.
July 7, 2011
Query Shark
So you've finished your novel, it's beautifully polished and you've written the best query letter that has ever existed. Are you sure? Query Shark might have something to say about that. With her constructive criticism, unparalleled wit and honest intentions to help querying authors, Query Shark is an invaluable resource for writers who are beginning this scary process.
If you read through (every single post on the blog, as noted by the Shark), you may begin to realize that your first attempt is not your best. Neither is your second nor your third. Have you written your query in first person? Do you use rhetorical questions? Are you addressing the agent as 'Dear Person I'm Pretending to Know Very Well, but Really Don't Know At All' or 'Dear Agent.'? If you find yourself nodding your head, then please close this blog now and head over to Query Shark and have a look at the lucky folks who have had their queries posted from the chum bucket.
I've written my query letter four different times and I'm still not satisfied with it. Reading Query Shark has helped me prune away my unfailing ability to ramble, showcase the wrong aspects of my novel and telling instead of showing. With each new blog post, I learn something new from the Shark. We believe you will, too!
If you read through (every single post on the blog, as noted by the Shark), you may begin to realize that your first attempt is not your best. Neither is your second nor your third. Have you written your query in first person? Do you use rhetorical questions? Are you addressing the agent as 'Dear Person I'm Pretending to Know Very Well, but Really Don't Know At All' or 'Dear Agent.'? If you find yourself nodding your head, then please close this blog now and head over to Query Shark and have a look at the lucky folks who have had their queries posted from the chum bucket.
I've written my query letter four different times and I'm still not satisfied with it. Reading Query Shark has helped me prune away my unfailing ability to ramble, showcase the wrong aspects of my novel and telling instead of showing. With each new blog post, I learn something new from the Shark. We believe you will, too!
Absolute Write
If you intend on submersing yourself in the community of writers, the best place to start is by joining a local writing group or an online writing group. One of the most professed online writing groups around (and actually noticed by lit agents/editors/publishers, too!) is Absolute Write.
This forum is your gateway to advice on topics ranging from genre, grammar and writing interest to self-publishing, work-for-hire and a proclaimed 'writing lab.'
I cannot stress to you how important it is to fully submerge yourself in the publishing industry. Twitter, Blogger, Tumblr and yes, even forums, are a major player in your reputation as a serious author. As we've learned, agents (those admirable people who represent you to the key players in the business) are looking for writers who can produce a following and those who are willing to throw themselves into the mix of social networking.
This is the way of the future and Absolute Write is a terrific beginning step!
This forum is your gateway to advice on topics ranging from genre, grammar and writing interest to self-publishing, work-for-hire and a proclaimed 'writing lab.'
I cannot stress to you how important it is to fully submerge yourself in the publishing industry. Twitter, Blogger, Tumblr and yes, even forums, are a major player in your reputation as a serious author. As we've learned, agents (those admirable people who represent you to the key players in the business) are looking for writers who can produce a following and those who are willing to throw themselves into the mix of social networking.
This is the way of the future and Absolute Write is a terrific beginning step!
Bent on Books
The Bent Agency has an incredible blog that you can find fantastic tips and wonderful anecdotes. Jenny Bent is a very talented agent but two of my all time favourite posts aren't actually written by her. Instead she had two of her clients write for the series - How I Got My Agent.
How I got (the right) agent. At last. In spite of everything.
From Spreadsheet to Book Deal
Not only are they amazing stories to read, they also give us all hope that someday, that will be us. And let's be honest, we are writers. We can use every bit of positive energy we can find.
How I got (the right) agent. At last. In spite of everything.
From Spreadsheet to Book Deal
Not only are they amazing stories to read, they also give us all hope that someday, that will be us. And let's be honest, we are writers. We can use every bit of positive energy we can find.
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