I’ve been reading a lot of first pages over the past couple of months. A lot, a lot, a lot. (My best guess is around 300, so while I am prone to exaggeration sometimes, when I say “a lot,” I mean it.) And here are some (made-up) examples of problems I see over and over. […]
With QueryKombat right around the corner (and PitchWars coming up soon after that), here’s a glimpse into things I do (and do not) want to see on your first page. Do: Show us your character’s awesome voice. I want it to sound like they’re talking to me directly (without them actually breaking the fourth wall […]
Once upon a time, I was Defender of the Prologue! I was thinking about getting a cape and a badge and everything. I didn’t understand the war on prologues at all. I’d open a book, and go, “LOOK! THIS BOOK GETS A PROLOGUE! WHY CAN’T I HAVE ONE??* Yet, everywhere I looked, agents would say […]
Spring has utterly failed to….er…. sprung in the northeast (that sentence would make sense if it were warm and/or not snowing…). The weather outside may still be frightful, but inside – the writing contests are almost here! #NestPitch submissions open on Wednesday. I’m reading slush for Team OneBasket, headed by the amazing and talented SC […]
As some of you may be aware (since I’ve mentioned it roughly 11,000 times), #PitchSlam and #NestPitch are fast approaching (details on Twitter). I’m reading slush for NestPitch and hosting PitchSlam, which means that I’m crazy. I mean… that I’ll be reading a LOT of pitches and first pages in April. A lot, a lot, […]
A few months ago, I stumbled across an article questioning a historical fiction author’s responsibility to write stories that are factually accurate. (I give no opinion on this particular issue, other than to note that, when I was 12, virtually all of my knowledge of the Civil War came from historical romance. In high school, […]
Today marks the announcement of which entries were chosen for Sun vs. Snow (see them on http://michelle4laughs.blogspot.com/ and https://chasingthecrazies.wordpress.com/). I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to mentor three amazing entries for #TeamSnow. With several great contests coming up in March – May, there’s something I though I should address. One thing that comes up a […]
One thing writers tend to hear a lot these days is, “You have to have a platform.” While that’s more true of non-fiction writers than fiction, many agents want their clients to have some internet presence: whether it’s a blog, a Twitter account, Google +, a Facebook author page, or whatever. Most people agree that […]
Happy Martin Luther King Day, everyone! With Sun vs. Snow rapidly approaching, I thought I’d put some of my prior contest advice posts in one handy place for you. (Side note: This is the contest where I met Michelle Hauck, and I got amazing feedback on my first page as an alternate, which lead to […]
Last week, I found myself completely stuck on a scene I needed to add to my work in progress. In order to distract myself, I sent out a tweet, suggesting we write the scene by committee. And, here’s what I got from the Amazing Twitterverse (mixed up a bit): Why? Because sometimes, when you’re […]
The past 365 days have absolutely flown by, in large part due to some really amazing things that happened. When January 2013 arrived, I was alone in my publishing journey, with no one but my very closest friends having any idea I’d decided to write a book. I’d never heard of QueryTracker or Critique Partners. […]
There, I’ve said it. No, I’ve proclaimed it! “Using the word said over and over is boring!” She shouted from the rooftops. “Using said over and over is boring!” She ejaculated. (We should really go back to using this more.) They say it’s OK to break the rules once you know and understand them, and […]