Writer's Retreat in the Grand Southwest

A Room of Her Own Foundation is sponsoring a writer's retreat for women this coming August 10-16, 2009. The deadline is fast approaching, so if you're interested, get you're on-line application in by midnight, March 5th.

IF the idea of wandering the grounds of Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico isn't enough to inspire you, maybe the fact that you'll be discussing the craft of writing with professionals in the publishing field will. Joining the retreat this year will be Rita Dove, Pulitzer-prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, so get your applications in!

Bransford's First Paragraph Challenge

Wanna have some frivolous fun? Wanna win a partial critique? (or query critique or 15 minute phone call with an agent?) Well, then, this is the post for you!

1. Go to Agent Bransford's blog.

2. Read the rules of his contest.

3. Post first paragraph of your WIP in the comment section.

3b. Do not post any snarky comment or nit-picky question about rules.

4. Do all of this before 4pm Pacific Time, Thursday, December 11th.

5. No angst. See rule 3b.

Since many of us have already posted our first paragraphs sometime in the past year for good old fashioned peer review, this is a natural second step! Woo Hoo.

Novel in Query Land

Life shrinks or expands
in proportion to one's courage.
~Anais Nin

I live exuberantly, joyfully, and expansively: I sing out loud, though off-key, chomp into ripe peaches with gusto, juice running down my chin, and wink happiness at strangers. I charge into sensory experiences, luxuriate in velvets and cashmere, and sink into violin and cello solos. I love life.

Oddly enough, I tend to be a private creature by nature, nursing my thoughts, my joys, my pains in silence. Tending to my blog, then, becomes a balancing act, as I rush to share as much as I can ... without sharing too much. I'm sure many of you find the same tugs of shyness and brashness flirting with one another, and I've been impressed with the levels of forthright professionalism and vulnerable humanity I find in so many of your blogs.

In sharing one's writing journey, one can choose between so many shades of positive, negative, or neutral. I am choosing to share one of each, today, in an effort to be a little less private and a little more open about this journey so many of us have embarked upon.

My Query Tally:
1. I have sent four queries out within the past 3 months.
2. I have received one "no, thank you", two requests for the first 10 pages, and one non-response.
3. Out of the two requests for the first 10 pages, I have received one "no, thank you" and one request for the next 60 pages.

And so the journey continues. I have begun work on my next project, so my brain registers the news, both good and bad, but carries on with a fairly even keel. I do, however, allow myself secret smiles now and then and hope for the best. I am wishing you all the very best on your projects as well.

Peter T. Masson: up & coming

[Note: This is a continuation of a series of posts on up-and-coming authors. Whether newly published, in the process of selling a manuscript, or still looking for an agent, these are authors who -- through word-crafting, plot-building, or sheer poetry of action -- have captured my mercurial and selective attention.]

A struggle of faith, a war of destiny: Peter T. Masson's second novel, The First Coming, takes a religious question and works it into a classic thriller. When a Chicago policeman, mired in the ashes of a bad marriage and a dead end job, stumbles across an extant Jesus wandering the streets like some homeless man, he finds himself in the midst of a millenia-old battle. The twist? Satan himself is fighting to keep Jesus alive, thereby thwarting any hope for the future of a redeemed world.

A character-driven narrative packed with action and spunk, Masson's novel is engaging, succinct, and descriptive. He draws the reader in without subterfuge, giving us a protagonist we can empathize with, and maintains a break-neck pace interlaced with precious moments of clarity and contemplation. The First Coming is that winning combination of wit and valor, action and relationships, crisis and hope, but even better, it's the midnight read you can't put down.

Masson is currently looking for an agent and can be contacted at p-ter at hotmail dot com

Publish My Book: Steps You Can Take

Note: This posting is a continued conversation on the topic of Agents & Publishing.

So, what now? It's really a matter of choosing a course and following through. If you're determined to get published, you must commit to the following steps:

1. Write the best novel you can. I can't tell you how many people I talk to who have a great idea or have just written the first fifty pages. Stop talking and write. There's too much competition out there to simper over what you're going to do. Just do it.

2. Do the research. Who repesents your market? Who's accepting unsolicited manuscripts? There are so many good resources out there already (on-line: AgentQuery, Writer Beware, ForWriters, Writers Write & book form: Guide to Literary Agents, Literary Marketplace, Writer's Market to name a few), that I'm not going to repeat it all here.

3. Do the research part II. Think you're done? Not by half. Once you find a sizable agent list, research them. Visit their websites and find out exactly what they want. If they're looking to publish urban fantasy with a steampunk edge and you're writing high fantasy, look elsewhere. Tailor everything you do in your query to each specific agent. Yes, that means that you might be doing a great deal of editing and work. That's okay. That's your job.

4. Do the work. Write a darn good query letter. Again, this means doing your homework, discovering what a query letter is supposed to accomplish, and perfecting your work of art.

• Reminder: Different agents require different things. Look up their requirements on their website. They may ask for a query letter, a synopsis, or a chapter outline, an ounce of blood or DNA proof that you're not a child of the antichrist. Give it to them.
• Note: If agents have no unsolicted manuscripts written on their site, that simply means that you need to write an effective query letter. Don't strike them off your list.
  

5. Send off your queries in batches of ten (see previous post on this strategy).

6. Don't stop -- Keep writing. Just because you've written the next best thing since LiveScribe doesn't mean you rest on your laurels. Nope. Instead, you keep on a' truckin'. You write. After all, it's what you do.

Agents 201: Do I Need an Agent?

Part II of III on understanding the world of agents. The content for today's post has been gleaned from the ever-so-gracious Jody Conrad, author of When Goliath Doesn't Fall.

Are agents necessary? Having a reputable agent represent you is like having Coca-Cola represent your unknown, brown, chemical syrup. Without an agent's well-respected name representing you, the the chances of a publishing house seeing your brown liquid as anything but brown liquid are slippery at best.

Authors can get published without agents, it's just sometimes more difficult, especially for a first-time-author, to get the attention of a busy publishing house. It's easier for a publishing house to rely on the trusted name of an agent they already know sends them good referrals.

Agents do three things:
1. Help you get your foot in the door of the publishing world.
2. Negotiate the finer points of a book contract (i.e. % of advance, basket-accounting, etc).
3. Provide market tips and strategies, keep an eye out for further placing your work, and give general encouragement.

Why is it so hard to find an agent? All that said, agents are sometimes just as hard to 'win-over' as publishing houses. They have to really believe in your work to take you on because taking you on means they are endorsing your kind of writing which, in turn, reflects on them. Too, besides a percentage of your advance, they only get paid if your book does well; a risk for them. So, they weigh whether your writing is worth putting their time and effort into tweaking, representing, and pitching to publishing houses. In essence, their agency's name is on the line.

When you keep that in mind -- that an agent takes a risk by associating with you, an unknown -- it starts to put things in perspective. And a bit of perspective is like a twist of lemon: it keeps things real while giving you mouth-watering insight into the life of others.

Query Letter: Five Steps Toward Publishing

OK: I'm guilty of it myself. I've toiled hours over my query letter. I've perfected it. I've tweaked it. I've buffed it. In fact, my query letter is a work of art, right up there with coffee ice cream.

And then I've sat on it. For six months.

Next step? GUILT. If I'm not out there beating the bushes for an agent, then how will Ceilyn see the light of day? I'm certainly not going to be hit over the head and dragged off by the hair to some publishing cave. So I decide to send out the query letter.

Retrieving the somewhat squished and wrinkled pages is the easy part. Determining the agent is pretty simple, too. Head held high, I mail off my one query letter. I'm still awaiting the results.

So -- if you were wondering -- this is the wrong way to do it. If you've taken even one class in statistics, you'll know why. Elizabeth Lyon, author of The Sell Your Novel Toolkit, pleads with us writers to do it the right way, the kinder, gentler, smarter way, the Lyon way.

The Lyon Way:
1. After you've perfected your query letter, send it out to ten agents.

2. Keep track of how many agents request your manuscript. A successful query letter nets 30%, or three out of ten requests.

3. If "successful," send out individualized letters to scores more agents. Increase your odds.

4a. If your query nets you zero, then your query letter is a failure.

4b. This is the good news: you haven't been rejected; just your query letter.

5. Re-write your query letter. Repeat steps 1-5.

If you have successful query letter stories or even "don't do what I did" stories, please share them! Are there better methods out there? Must-read books on the subject?

Agents 101

Disclaimer: I am not an agent, nor do I have an agent myself. These are simply insights I've gleaned as I've listened in on the writing world. If you've anything to add, please post!

Via conferences, the Internet, and conversations, I've heard friends, Romans, and countrymen discuss their various books and agent experiences. It occurs to me that there are not only some common themes, but also common misconceptions. This is Part I in a series of III that attempts clarification of the Agent World.

1. Agents are human, too. Although it may seem as if they're the gatekeepers, warding you off from the inner sanctum of the Published Ones, they're all very human. They have hopes, dreams, and desires, just like you. And, oddly enough, their world doesn't revolve around you. My point? Don't take their idiosyncrasies personally. You don't know if Agent X has just found out that her mother has cancer or if Agent Y has just broken up with his girlfriend of nine years. Cut them some slack, and they're more likely to cut you some.

2. Agents want your book to be "The One." In a sense, agents are the gatekeepers. It's their job to search out the next great American novel or the next epic fantasy, and they are Desperately Seeking Susan or David or Theo. If you've done your job and sculpted that literary "intersection between art & commerce" then you're on the right track. But, if you're mewling about an agent just not appreciating your artistic execution of Banana Drying In Lavender's Window, then take a few minutes (or days) to re-evaluate. Then look for a different agent or start a different project, but don't blame your lack on the agent.

3. Agents want to work with you. More important than getting an agent is finding one who complements the person you are. If you're willing to take suggestions and/or guidance, the relationship will be mutually beneficial. If you are so "principled" that you refuse to bend on anything, you've already limited your success. Your agent wants to be excited about your project, brokering the best possible outcome for you. If your personality prevents any of that, then you best look for a different agent or an altered attitude.

Five Top Books for Aspiring (or Established) Writers

Straight from the horses' mouths: last week I was fortunate enough to be in the audience when a group of agents and editors opined on their favorite writing books, offering a coveted glimpse into their messy, chaotic, or serial-killer-neat-and-tidy minds. The truth is, of course, that they're all looking for the next Harry Potter or even A Million Little Pieces (it did sell, didn't it?) with the twist of the century. Well, make it a little twist. Witty and clever, but little. It needs to be recognizable enough that the audience laps it up, buys advance copies, and blogs ad nauseum about the cleverness. Too different, and it's a snoozer. This is all encouraging for those of us who write, of course, because we've all read Ecclesiastes, and it was bloody depressing to realize that there was "nothing new under the sun" way back when we were all starting out. Joy comes in the morning, however, and with it came these book recommendations. I list them here for you: The top five books on writing for writers...

1. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers literally had me writhing. At least my toes curled and I kept saying, "Ouch," as chapter after chapter critiqued yet another one of my cherished writing habits ('Tom Swifties' for one). I have two suggestions for potential readers: (1) bypass "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" completely if you have a delicate ego; (2) if you do read it, stock up on several different colors of magic markers and keep your manuscript nearby. It will soon be streaming with color." By E. A. Lovitt starmoth

2. The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler "As a fan of Joseph Campbell and amateur writer, this book really appeals to me. It is more than just a how-to for aspiring novelists, it is a how-to for life. It is geared toward the writing of novels and stories with human drama and interaction, which makes it a bit more specialized." By Kort Kramer

3. The Sell Your Novel Toolkit by Elizabeth Lyon "Elizabeth Lyon's new book, Sell Your Novel Toolkit, provides a detailed roadmap for producing a well qualified query letter, synopsis and tips to manage that all important marketing strategy." By dhanselmo

4. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott "I'm hooked on Lamott. She slaps me in the face with her startling revelations, nudges me in the ribs with her unpredictable humor, and prods my frozen little writer's hands back into action with warm compassion. This book won't solve the mechanical aspects of my writing, or lead me on the path of structural excellence, but it will spark my creativity, free my characters to be true to themselves, and, ultimately, shake me from my doldrums back into the writing mode." By Eric Wilson novelist

5. The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner
"This book is about what motivates writers (and editors) and gives you some insight on how the system works. Lerner talks about different kinds of writers - some rely on instinct or "natural talent", others are driven by anger, hope, or any other emotion. She encourages writers to be brave, to take a chance, but to recognize likewise if you've gone too far over the edge (it's a cliff, after all!). Lerner encourages writers to do their thing. She oozes confidence between the lines that a reader can't help but be caught up in." By Phome

Must-have Book: Blake Snyder's Save the Cat!

Kudos to Blake Snyder who has written the definitive work on storytelling of this decade. Don't get me wrong, you still have to own Joseph Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces, and you should still have a dog-eared copy of Christopher Volger's The Writer's Journey. But Blake Snyder is where it's at today. And ignore the secondary title on his book that says, "The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need," because this is a book for anyone who wants to tell a story. Period.

Instead of rushing out to see The Dark Knight like everyone else, I spent the weekend at PNWA. On Sunday, Blake Snyder spoke -- and, frankly, he rocked my world. My first novel flipped open, pages fluttering, all there in my mind's eye. Parts I didn't even know I had floated together, spinning mid-air like some mystical puzzle piece. The scenes I didn't even know were missing snapped into place, perfect fits. I came home to buy the book. (I think every book store was sold out of his books in all of Seattle. I got the last copy available in Lewiston yesterday, and it looks like I'll have to buy Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies on-line.) Ceilyn's Calling will be a tighter, more solid first book because of this experience. And even though I have that exciting agent lure of "Send me the first three chapters and the synopsis" beckoning, I'm taking time out to make sure I've followed all fifteen beats of Blake Snyder's beat sheet. Becoming a master-beater takes time, don't you know.

BookStop Literary Agency & What They're Looking For

Looking for an agent? The BookStop Literary Agency specializes in children's books (picture and up), middle grade, and young adult. Both founder Kendra Marcus and agent Minju Chang are interested in hyphenated American characters, specifically Asian- and African- and Hispanic or Latino, and anything quirky, unique, or 'smart' will land you their attention.

When Ms. Marcus says, "BookStop is always thrilled to find manuscripts with unforgettable and vivid voices," she means it. They've published a poop book and another about a baby crocodile who just wants to eat a child.

In a nutshell: Kendra knows the voice she's looking for and she's very specific about it. If your story doesn't "sound" like the child in her head, she'll make no bones about it...and spare no feelings. Minju, on the other hand, is soft-spoken and kind, almost apologetic about not wanting to see your work. Although I didn't find anyone at the PNWA conference who had their work requested by BookStop Literary Agency, it doesn't mean they're not "actively seeking." And, after all, I didn't have the chance to talk to everyone regarding his/her experience with this agency.

Pacific Northwest Writers Association

For any writer who needs exposure, tips, an agent, or just a shot in the arm, PNWA's summer conference kicks butt. From big name authors to down-and-dirty, roll-up-your-sleeves kinds of workshops, this conference delivers what it promises: a chance to belong to the writing community.


Link Elizabeth Lyon, author of The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit, offered invaluable advice, going over query letter do's and don'ts. I definitely recommend her book(s). Email me if you want some of her notes.