As I research literary agents, deciding which to query when the time comes, I’ve noticed that some don’t accept e-mail queries. Any idea why they do this? My first reaction is that an agent who doesn’t accept e-mail queries isn’t Web-savvy, hasn’t reached the level of comfort with the Internet that I’d want in an […]
Everyone’s always talking about personal branding. And a large part of creating your own brand, or self-packaging, involves the Web. I started blogging in June 2008 when I left my job at the Houston Chronicle to travel in Africa. When I returned to the States and began writing a book, and I decided having a […]
Halfway through December already?! Only three more weeks to meet my revision goal. Links from this week: Writer’s Digest brings you: A big mistake to avoid in story openings. Since I’ve rewritten my first two chapters about thirty times, I took note. Writer Ami Spencer asks, Where does the muse come from? She links to […]
Just saw the movie, Julie & Julia. Several friends had recommended it to me, in part because Julie’s blog became a book — exactly the feat I’m trying to pull off. What’d I learn from it? Julie’s blog was successful largely because she put her soul into it. She wasn’t just writing about recipes, she […]
While we’re playing grammar police, here’s a mistake I’ve seen many literary agents complain about (and many aspiring authors make): Using the term fiction novel. It’s a novel. Why not a fiction novel? Because a novel is always fiction, so saying so is redundant. It implies that you don’t know what novel means. And of […]
I can’t stand when people tell me they’re aspiring writers. I know what they mean. They mean they’re aspiring to become a paid writer, or a published writer, or even a respected writer. But aspiring means you haven’t put your pen to paper or typed a story on your laptop. Aspiring means you’re thinking about […]
Full speed ahead on revision! Links from this week: A series from editor Chuck Sambuchino called Successful Queries gives examples of real queries that worked, letters that convinced literary agents to request more from the author. Best of all, the literary agent tells why they worked. Helpful for someone like me who’s preparing to query. […]
Now that I’ve finished a draft of my book, I need a new deadline. Or maybe I should call it a goal. Deadlines, in my mind, aren’t flexible, which is both a blessing and a curse. Missing deadlines makes me feel guilty — I am a journalist, after all — and I rarely meet the […]
If you’re a writer who uses Twitter, you’re probably familiar with The Creative Penn. She has one of the most useful feeds out there, offering links to everything writing. I got to know Joanna Penn when she interviewed me for a podcast on her blog. That’s when I realized this tech-savvy English writer had a […]
Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! My family’s celebrating Saturday, so I still have the holiday to look forward to. Until then, I’ll be busy reading these links: At Writer’s Digest, The 3 Self-Publishing Paths You Should Understand. Jane Friedman’s main point: It’s possible to self-publish for next to no money at all. How do […]