Take A Risk Tuesday: Send That Query

Take A Risk!

So, lets say you've written at least three novels, two are in the drawer but there is something about the third. Could this be the one? How do you know and when is the right  time to send that query?

1) Knowing when your project is complete is sometimes difficult. I've heard authors say, "When I stop having new scenes appear in my mind it's finished." or "When all I'm doing is changing the's to a's it's time." Only you know when your project is ready to be pitched.  

2) Hopefully throughout the process you have been working on your query and pitch. Many writers feel that these are key in making sure your novel is complete. If you can't write a good pitch or query, chances are there is something missing. See more resources here and here.


3) Research agents. Think of it like adopting out a pet or child. You would want to know that they were in good hands. That means you don't send a romance to science fiction agent. There are many resources:   Literary Rambles monthly agent spotlights, Jill Cocoran has a complete list of resources, Don't forget about Query Tracker, too!

4) Just like a resume should be tailor made to the company and what they're looking for, so should your query letter. Personalize it so the agent can easily see you have what they want. 


5) Now, here's the hard part. For perfectionists like myself, we've figured out that if we never query we never have to feel rejection or failure. We can perpetuate the dream without ever making it real. Or course, that is the key word:  REAL WRITERS SEND THEIR WORK OUT. 


This weeks challenge: Choose an agent and take the risk. Even if nothing happens, the exercise of researching, writing and sending out the query gets easier each time you do it. (That means actually pushing the send button.)

Discovery Friday

     Today I was thinking about all the cool things I have discovered through my reading, blogging and writing  this week and thought I would share them with you. Maybe you will find something useful that you can use...

Cool books:

XVI  by Julia Karr  Totally enjoying this and will review it in the near future. Suffice it to say it is awesome! 

Hero by Mike Lupika  (I hope he has a sequel) MG  One of his best. A very fast ride!

Diary of a Bad Year by J.M. Coetzee A post modern divisive chapter structure that in the end delivers a coherent plot. Talk about writing outside of the box.


Cool Blogs:  
The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment by Matthew Rush His posts are meaty writing and his blog is loaded with useful links!
A Torch in the Tempest by Christi Goddard Snarky writing with real literary pizazz!
A Writer of Wrongs by Terry Towry Terry unabashedly shares his conference experience in NY. Go Terry!
Writing YA in the Midwest by Julia Karr  Follow the journey of XVI and her other writing projects. Congrats Julia!

WIP Thursday: I know, I know, It's Friday...

     I just sat down to write this and *hic* got the hiccups. *hic* And no I haven't been drinking. *hic* Ok, this is getting an*hic*noying.  While I haven't been drinking, I have been a bit frustrated.  I took Elana's advice (check out Marieke's Musings and Operation Awesome) about writing your query letter while you are in the middle of writing your novel. What did I find out? That my last 20,000 words are mostly back story and the real story is what happens next.

The exciting part is that the "edge" I was looking for presented itself and the murky waters of my muse have cleared. Did the last few months of work mean nothing? How do I let go of something I have put so much blood and sweat into? 

First question: No, this wasn't a waste but a necessary process for me. I can accept that. It did get me to the real story, and besides, now I totally get why my MC wants what she wants. That's good, right?

Second question: Letting go is hard to do *tacky music plays* This is probably one of the most difficult things a writer does, slaying your babies for the sake of the story. The bottom line is, you can have the greatest turn of phrase, the most awesome character development, a really twisty plot but if no one is interested to turn the page and read on, what's the point.

So, I will keep my 20,000 words on the computer for reference. Then I will build a fire out back and burn those pages as a sacrifice for the better story.  I won't lie, it hurts.  It also means I am not as close to a finished novel as I thought. I have always told my children it is more about the process than the results, so I guess I will take my own advice and see that experience for what it was, a honing of my talent as a writer.

Excuse me, I think I need to go have a good cry...and no Honey, you can't fix this.
       Maybe I will have that drink, now.
Have you slayed any babies, lately?