I wanted to wish everyone happy holidays. As a present to all of the writers out there, I am allowing you 12 hours of no writing time. Of course, if you have editing to get done, pour yourself an egg nog, spike it appropriately and edit away.
And to the writer that sent me the full, I want to talk in a day or two.
Happy Holidays!
Scott
GRE Word of the Day
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
BLOG FLOG!
This one goes out to all those people who have forgotten what the holidays are about. Remember there is a reason we are celebrating and family is important. If you have forgotten the real reason for celebrating, you might want to think about the line from Sense and Sensibility. If you can't think of something good to say, talk about the weather. But please remember, when you do this, keep it to yourself and stay out of the way from those people that are really celebrating.
As for me, I am celebrating with my family and nothing is going to stop me from focusing on that.
Monday, December 21, 2009
How do I know when a book is good?
A lot of authors will ask agents what they are looking for in a book. Of course we have heard the same answers time and time again. "I love a good story with great characters and a great voice." Ugh, I hate hearing that answer and I know all of you do to. It really doesn't give you much to shoot for.
One thing to remember is that we really don't know what we are looking for. Sure, I have a list of genres I would love to see come in that are amazing, but just because you write it, doesn't mean you have what we are looking for. So the question comes down to - what is it that catches my eye when I read a submission.
I think Shauna Summers of Bantam Dell made a great comment at a conference once. She described those perfect books as "stories with characters that seem like they are your neighbors." She said that you didn't refer to these people as characters in books but really dealt with them as if they were real people. The settings and the story worked the same way.
For me, I want a story that I can't help but tell people about when I read it. I want to pick up the phone and call all of my friends every time I read a great passage or even a single sentence. My wife gets annoyed at this because I will often bug her repeatedly with a great story. This is that thought of not wanting to put the book down. It has hooked you so much that you want to keep reading.
Now, hooking a reader does not mean the action is so intense or that you are leaving me with a lot of questions. It is just that voice that really shows you were writing from the heart and not just telling a story. I think that too often, writers are so hung up on the plot of the story that they forget that this should be really a living breathing document.
For me, characters are also the same way. I want characters that I want to hang out with. I just got back from Borders and saw the latest Highlander installment from Janet Chapman. First of all, if you haven't had a chance to meet her, she is amazing and very thoughtful. This is one genuine writer that really has a passion for her writing. And guess what, that passion comes out in her writing. But secondly, this series is great because you have fallen in love with this highlander clan living in the present day. From the first book, I was hooked. This is just a fun group of people that you want to hang out with.
I am reading a submission right now that still has me hooked. I hate reading submissions like this during the holidays because I have so many other things going on and I simply can't sit down all day and read the dang thing. But I am still relishing the story.
I am sorry to say there is no formula for what I look for. It is all in the voice. Some of the time you will have it and sometimes you won't.
If I don't get back to you before the holidays, have a great time but if you are writer, keep working. Even a little bit of work each day will be worth it.
Scott
One thing to remember is that we really don't know what we are looking for. Sure, I have a list of genres I would love to see come in that are amazing, but just because you write it, doesn't mean you have what we are looking for. So the question comes down to - what is it that catches my eye when I read a submission.
I think Shauna Summers of Bantam Dell made a great comment at a conference once. She described those perfect books as "stories with characters that seem like they are your neighbors." She said that you didn't refer to these people as characters in books but really dealt with them as if they were real people. The settings and the story worked the same way.
For me, I want a story that I can't help but tell people about when I read it. I want to pick up the phone and call all of my friends every time I read a great passage or even a single sentence. My wife gets annoyed at this because I will often bug her repeatedly with a great story. This is that thought of not wanting to put the book down. It has hooked you so much that you want to keep reading.
Now, hooking a reader does not mean the action is so intense or that you are leaving me with a lot of questions. It is just that voice that really shows you were writing from the heart and not just telling a story. I think that too often, writers are so hung up on the plot of the story that they forget that this should be really a living breathing document.
For me, characters are also the same way. I want characters that I want to hang out with. I just got back from Borders and saw the latest Highlander installment from Janet Chapman. First of all, if you haven't had a chance to meet her, she is amazing and very thoughtful. This is one genuine writer that really has a passion for her writing. And guess what, that passion comes out in her writing. But secondly, this series is great because you have fallen in love with this highlander clan living in the present day. From the first book, I was hooked. This is just a fun group of people that you want to hang out with.
I am reading a submission right now that still has me hooked. I hate reading submissions like this during the holidays because I have so many other things going on and I simply can't sit down all day and read the dang thing. But I am still relishing the story.
I am sorry to say there is no formula for what I look for. It is all in the voice. Some of the time you will have it and sometimes you won't.
If I don't get back to you before the holidays, have a great time but if you are writer, keep working. Even a little bit of work each day will be worth it.
Scott
Sunday, December 20, 2009
BLOG FLOG!
This one goes out to all of those writers that aren't thinking when you send submissions to the agents! Remember, it is Christmas time, the lines at the post office just plain suck! So, when you send a manuscript to us, wanting delivery confirmation and a signature, you are not getting on our good side. I don't want to stand in line for this.
So for you, here is your Blog Flog!
So for you, here is your Blog Flog!
Look, if you want to know if your story makes it, just use tracking. Check it out on your computer! Please, no more signatures!
Scott
Saturday, December 19, 2009
BLOG FLOG!
I get this one!
Remember to order tickets to small community theatre production early next year. Thought we could get the tickets at the door.
Woops.
Scott
BLOG FLOG!
I was talking to a writer yesterday and asked her how her writing was going. She was doing the NaNoWriMo. She fell off the pace but when the stress of writing decreased, she felt she was writing much better. So it was time to check in again.
She has not been writing. She had all of these "reasons" why she hadn't gotten back to the story.
So for Ms. Leslie, you get the first Blog Flog!
Scott
She has not been writing. She had all of these "reasons" why she hadn't gotten back to the story.
So for Ms. Leslie, you get the first Blog Flog!
Get back to writing, NOW!
Scott
Friday, December 18, 2009
When is a Project Dead
It is an unfortunate fact that some stories just are not going to sell. As much as you might have enjoyed writing the story, it still comes down to the fact that the story has to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right editor for it to sell. You can even agressively market the story to the editors with everything you have and it just won't sell.
Now what?
There are times when the story is simply a dead project. It is time to shut the door on that project and move on. As tough as that might sound, it is a truth that you have to deal with. Too often though, I talk to writers that keep going back to the story in an effort to make it better - to make it more marketable. While this is a noble effort, it is simply a waste of time.
I always think of situations like this as comparable to cooking. No matter how much you do to the food on the stove, no matter how many different spices you add to it, if the meat is ruined or burnt, there is nothing to save it. We just throw it out.
But, there is a positive side to this. Take the story, put it on a shelf and give it some time. Maybe, when you are marketing another story, the old one can come back to life again. There are countless times when an editor will pick up that lost story after you are writing some other material and throw it into the contract.
So, how do you know? When you have sent it to all of the houses would take your project and the comments are all rejections, move on. Remember, I did say all the houses that would take your project. As you know, I am a firm believer that your story has a limited number of places it can go.
Oh, and before I close, let me recommend to not simply throw it to a POD publisher or someone you aren't going to be happy with. Sure it will get printed, but if someone later shows some interest in your work, you are out of luck with throwing it into that contract mix. I know many of you say, "but I have the rights", however, it isn't as easy as you think.
Scott
Now what?
There are times when the story is simply a dead project. It is time to shut the door on that project and move on. As tough as that might sound, it is a truth that you have to deal with. Too often though, I talk to writers that keep going back to the story in an effort to make it better - to make it more marketable. While this is a noble effort, it is simply a waste of time.
I always think of situations like this as comparable to cooking. No matter how much you do to the food on the stove, no matter how many different spices you add to it, if the meat is ruined or burnt, there is nothing to save it. We just throw it out.
But, there is a positive side to this. Take the story, put it on a shelf and give it some time. Maybe, when you are marketing another story, the old one can come back to life again. There are countless times when an editor will pick up that lost story after you are writing some other material and throw it into the contract.
So, how do you know? When you have sent it to all of the houses would take your project and the comments are all rejections, move on. Remember, I did say all the houses that would take your project. As you know, I am a firm believer that your story has a limited number of places it can go.
Oh, and before I close, let me recommend to not simply throw it to a POD publisher or someone you aren't going to be happy with. Sure it will get printed, but if someone later shows some interest in your work, you are out of luck with throwing it into that contract mix. I know many of you say, "but I have the rights", however, it isn't as easy as you think.
Scott
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