Slow, steady, race to the mountain

I always complete my query the same time I start a new novel, presently for my first novel query, which I'd revised so many times I honestly have lost count, week ago I figured another revision for ECLIPTIC DREAMS. Writing a great query is hard, I have books, internet research about the said topic, and I have concluded its part luck, right moment etc if a agent/publisher request to see more. However,I believe following the query formula will make the chances much better, now this is the info I have researched from a variety of sources that I basically mushed into one so that I can understand it it may be different for each aspiring writer but for me this helps me out when structuring my query and since I am a visual learner I will show the formula.

Constructing a Query Letter

The 5 parts of a query letter are as follows:
1. A Tag line/Headline whatever you call it basically you want to grab the attention of the agent/publisher
2. The concept Don't tell agents you'll be the next big author first of all that's conceited and your going in bull shit territory and likely they'll delete your query and send you a nice email rejection or if its a hard copy query letter they'll toss it so fast in the recycling bin
your headline/tag line should be the continuation of your concept

lets use Harry Potter for example.

Headline: How can an 11 year -old wizard defeat a powerful dark lord...when he doesn't know that he's a wizard?


I don't think agents and publishers want to know that you'll sell the same amount of books as J.K Rowling, James Patterson or Stephenie Meyer. They want to make that judgement for themselves that your novel will sell period. Its the same as writing show them don't tell them. For my paranormal romance I took the advice of the various research and remember my query is still in rough shape but for demonstration purpose's here is the rough draft of my tag line, (which I am still debating whether I should use in my query.)

Seventeen year-old Elizabeth McKenzie must conquer a sadistic faceless figure in her dreams but how can she do that when she can't accept its real?



Insert agents name

My query should look something like this when I start to draft it

After Elizabeth McKenzie Grandmother Mary tells her she is moving to Cove, Arkansas she begins to get nightmares involving a faceless figure, Elizabeth theory concludes the dreams only started because she's stressed about moving but the figure tells her she's not dreaming and divulges about an vague impending fate and that she is part of a royal linage.

So working with this rough concept idea I will continue to pack the image so to speak of my MC and the conflict of the faceless figure and the mystery surrounding her impending fate and the consequences that will happen due to her choosing to deny her dreams are in fact real.

3.Bio

Be very brief they don't want to know that all your immediate families love your book or how many contest you entered and came close to winning unless you came first place don't ever mention that. What you can mention is obviously any other books that were published or any writing credentials that will show them that you have experience as writer, dedicated to the business etc and the obvious never lie, the literary world seems big when you are querying but its quite small agents, interns, editors and other authors talk and you never know if someone might catch on to that lie that will blow up in your face and ruin your chances as a credible writer so if you have no experience that's cool we all have to start from somewhere.

4.The pitch

Keep it short and identify the target market that will buy your book for me I have mentioned two authors that fans of their series may appreciate my novel.

5.Close your Query Letter I never write thank you for your time honestly my time is just as important as their time I work full time and a Mom so I value my time as well. I reiterate that I had followed their submission guidelines i.e enclosed is the first three chapters, synopsis whatever they asked for is what they'll get, or I'll say something on the lines at your request I can forward the full manuscript or chapters etc and of course my contact info like email, website agents are big on an writers having a blog/website. I don't do a lot of SASE for me its expensive since I am mailing from Canada to the US so the email submissions are perfect but if I do send one or two SASE I make sure that I follow the guidelines close to perfection and make sure as well it will be no cost to the agent.


Final note

I have seen a lot of bestsellers get a ego that is the size of the earth, those authors I don't support because as easy as someone rises they may come crashing down just as fast so be humble and don't lose who you are, in the early stage keep in mind you want an agent/publisher as a partner that will support you throughout your long term writing career it is about all the parties involved benefiting from the partnership.

Photo inspiration of main characters

Elizabeth Rose McKenzie MC (inspiration fits both of these individual)

Stephen Phillip Fitzgerald Main love interest (inspired by both of these individuals)

Lauren Murphy Bestfriend(both these images inspire the character more especially the hairstyles)

Derek Conners (best friend)This inspiration looks a tad older than seventeen years old but the features is what I was inspired by

Phaeus(The Antagonist)

Mary Barnett (MC maternal grandmother)

Images source: Google images

Turning off the negative switch.

So everyone has heard the buzz about Amanda Hocking and her rise to fame and to be honest I wish that was me then something happened I started thinking "If the traditional route doesn't work I could try her way." Reality hit me like a bag filled with bricks.

Each writer route whether it may seem like fate or whatever an individual will precieve it to be, the fact is what happened to Amanda Hocking was destined to be her route and is a special experience just for her,it doesn't mean I or you cannot use that option but the chance of that outcome happening the same way is slim to maybe none, so the solution is to gain knowledge know your goals from the get go in regards to how you are going to hone your writing, and what route your going to use to get there and believe the impossible that if you dedicate time and effort to hone your craft and never give up what do you have to lose? In addition, know that the biz is changing writers have many options to choose which route will work for them. My route is as follows:

*Polishing my novel with my editor extrodinaire Lynnette Labelle
*Reading everything I can on writing
*Refusing to think about negative views about other writers/authors route and appreciating their works in order for me to learn from them even if the books may not be my cup of tea
*Dedicating time to spending quality time with my family
*chilling out don't think too much about the biz it will still be there years from now, it may be modified to meet the demands of our changing world but I will still have a chance of executing my dream.

So what is your route? How do you plan to get there?

To be or not to be? The question for writers

I got inspired to write this blog after checking out Mandy Hubbard blog

What is Happiness? Best selling authors might be happy maybe because their investment with their publisher worked out well, dedicated fans support the author but another question crossed my mind everything in life is never a middle ground becoming a bestseller although I am nowhere close to knowing what that feels like I can only guess it comes with a lot of pressure.

As of late I am unagented but Mandy also made me think of that possibility if and when that happens I think it'll be just as hard and and I will have to be knowledgeable about many things in regards to the publishing biz so that I have a positive relationship with my agent. If I get published more thinking happens regarding my career, and then if the book that I loved for so long will it sell? But the main focus for me right now in my early stages of pursueing my publishing dream many things will be out of my control the only thing that is within my control right now is my willingness to learn and consistently working at honing my craft.

Exhale

October 26th 2010 I decided to go on a query hiatus to polish my novel, it was a gruelling decision I felt like I was giving up, I was defeated, but then I realized I had not enabled myself to learn, to hone the craft of writing a good enough novel.

I went to my local library and got all the books I could get on writing, then purchased a few books, the best book I got so far that has been giving me plenty of knowledge is WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL by Donald Maass. Funny story when I was querying every agent because I was so eager and was still in a fog that I knew what I was doing, I queried Donald I don't blame him for my swift rejection reading his book I know why now. In addition, to feeding my knowledge about writing I acquired a new editor and learned a horrible lesson research,is so important not just for agents/publishers but editors too,finding a editor that one: loves your story and is a good person that wants your success and not your money.

In addition I got critiqued by the amazing Roni Loren she enabled me to see my first five pages with fresh eyes so to speak and I was able to acknowledge I was not ready to query because my novel was not organized well, the plot had so many holes, the momentum lagged and other issues, I made the typical mistake beginner writers make querying too soon.

I also connected on twitter which is a blessing and a curse I get to meet talented authors, writers and agents but it is addicting so its another thing I have to balance or else I wouldn't get any writing done.

I also let myself take deep exhale and stop freaking out about getting an agent I do want that but however long it takes my first priority is polishing my manuscript, the journey is rough no doubt about it but I can't see myself not writing so if that is the glimmer of hope that keeps me going I will run with it and hope it leads me to my dream coming true, and all I can do as well is be myself no matter what happens.

Social Networking

It has been about a year and a half since I started on various social networks the major addiction though is twitter it really takes a lot of will power to get off the darn thing. However, it has come very useful meeting amazing agents, gaining knowledge about the literary business and connecting with other authors/writers which is amazing because whether a writer is a beginner, intermediate, published we as a community share the same emotions scared one minute about meeting deadlines or nervous about querying or disappointed about rejections. Being able to distract myself on Twitter makes the journey less stressful I don't feel so alone, the best tweets I read is when a writer that I follow let the world know he/she got an agent or getting published and sometimes that was made possible because another writer referred their agent to that writer or their blog, that has to make an aspiring writer like myself optimistic. The last point is that social networking has to be authentic don't follow other writers thinking you'll get a referral fake will be exposed and if another person feels that way then your positive networking will falter be genuine, be yourself.

ROCK GODS--KINGS OF LEON

What a night for a dance, you know I'm a dancing machine.
With a fire in my bones, and the sweet taste of kerosene,
I get lost in the light, so high I don't wanna come down,
To face the loss of the good thing that I had found.

(Woo hoo hoo, woo hoo hoo)

In the dark of the night, I can hear you callin' my name.
With the hardest of hearts, I still feel full of pain.
So I drink and I smoke, and I ask you if you're ever around,
Even though it was me who drove us right in the ground.
See, the time we shared, it was precious to me,
But all the while, I was dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)
Born to run, baby, run, like a stream down a mountainside.
With the wind at my back, I don't ever even bat an eye.
Just know it was you all along who had a hold on my heart,
But the demon and me were the best of friends from the start.
So, the time we shared, it was precious to me;
All the while, I was dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

And I told myself: "Boy, away you go..."
It rained so hard it felt like snow.
Everything came tumblin' down on me.
In the back of the woods,
In the dark of the night,
The paleness of the old moonlight,
Everything just felt so incomplete.

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)