Authonomy update: 93 :)
Nathan Bransford, an agent with Curtis Brown, is doing a contest this week. Basically he asked for his blog followers to send in a query and the first 30 pages of their manuscript. He randomly chose five (I didn't make the random cut. Bummer.), and posted them on his blog for voting.
It's a lot harder than it seems, and I don't think I will sign up to be an agent any time soon.
All five queries are good. One completely stood out to me. But I would have a hard time choosing.
Tomorrow he is posting the 30 pages of each, and then he is having a discussion about what they discover on Thursday.
He is an agent that I would love to work with, but I'm obviously waiting until after Thursday's discussion before sending a query his way.
If you want to follow the contest: http://blog.nathanbransford.com
I can't get it to link, but you can also click on his name on the Blogs I Like list.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
obsession
Must. Stop. Obsessing. About. Authonomy.
Seriously, I'm not sure I can continue at this rate.
Reading, reading, reading, backing, backing, backing, commenting, commenting, commenting.
Lather, rinse, repeat. As needed.
A friend of mine who made the editor's desk told me that during the month she was in the top five, she read one book every 15 minutes for 18 hours a day. That's like....hmmmm....a lot of books. (I'm an English major...work with me here.)
However...
Pearl is at 115!!!
Yea!
I am at about minus...hmmmm....a lot of money for the hours spent ratio.
But...
Pearl is at 115!!!
Going. Back. To. Read. More.
Seriously, I'm not sure I can continue at this rate.
Reading, reading, reading, backing, backing, backing, commenting, commenting, commenting.
Lather, rinse, repeat. As needed.
A friend of mine who made the editor's desk told me that during the month she was in the top five, she read one book every 15 minutes for 18 hours a day. That's like....hmmmm....a lot of books. (I'm an English major...work with me here.)
However...
Pearl is at 115!!!
Yea!
I am at about minus...hmmmm....a lot of money for the hours spent ratio.
But...
Pearl is at 115!!!
Going. Back. To. Read. More.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
getting into the game: the pitch
Authonomy's website has been down for most of today. Bummer. Pearl was at 146 before the site crashed. We'll see if it catches any momentum when the site gets back up.
So, I've been messing around with my pitch (the blurb that catches the attention of readers, making them want to crack open the book), and I'd love some feedback. So put on your 12-18 year old girl helmets, and step up to the plate...please! :)
The following is my tagline. What does it say to you? Does it work?
What if your prince is really a Norse god, and the end of the world is ruining your happily ever after?
Next is the current pitch:
When you're a seventeen-year-old Montana ranch girl, you can handle pretty much anything. Right?
Well...unless it's the hot guy who moves into your sleepy town and propels you into the turbulent world of Norse mythology -- a place where gods reign, giants destroy, best friends lie, and worlds end.
Oh, and where love between humans and gods is forbidden.
Which is a problem.
Especially when you discover what your best friend has known his entire life....
This is the previous pitch:
Mia Holden' Montana life is pretty average. She downhill skis, rides horses, dates (and breaks the heart of) the town rodeo champ, and hangs with her best guy friend, Tait. Ordinary. Until Iven Taylor moves into her sleepy town and propels her into the turbulent world of Norse mythology. A place where gods reign, giants destroy, best friends lie, and worlds end. Oh, and love between humans and gods is forbidden. A dilemma. Especially when Mia discovers what Tait has known his whole life.
Which one works better? Do either of them make you want to open the book and read? Any comments/suggestions would be most welcome!
Next I'll upload the book and ask for the same thing! :)
Just kidding!
So, I've been messing around with my pitch (the blurb that catches the attention of readers, making them want to crack open the book), and I'd love some feedback. So put on your 12-18 year old girl helmets, and step up to the plate...please! :)
The following is my tagline. What does it say to you? Does it work?
What if your prince is really a Norse god, and the end of the world is ruining your happily ever after?
Next is the current pitch:
When you're a seventeen-year-old Montana ranch girl, you can handle pretty much anything. Right?
Well...unless it's the hot guy who moves into your sleepy town and propels you into the turbulent world of Norse mythology -- a place where gods reign, giants destroy, best friends lie, and worlds end.
Oh, and where love between humans and gods is forbidden.
Which is a problem.
Especially when you discover what your best friend has known his entire life....
This is the previous pitch:
Mia Holden' Montana life is pretty average. She downhill skis, rides horses, dates (and breaks the heart of) the town rodeo champ, and hangs with her best guy friend, Tait. Ordinary. Until Iven Taylor moves into her sleepy town and propels her into the turbulent world of Norse mythology. A place where gods reign, giants destroy, best friends lie, and worlds end. Oh, and love between humans and gods is forbidden. A dilemma. Especially when Mia discovers what Tait has known his whole life.
Which one works better? Do either of them make you want to open the book and read? Any comments/suggestions would be most welcome!
Next I'll upload the book and ask for the same thing! :)
Just kidding!
Monday, April 12, 2010
the query process
Pearl Edda is rising on the Authonomy Charts. Today it's at 151. I'm hoping to get under the 100 mark soon. Yea!
I sent four query emails today to different literary agents. It's quite the process.
First, I go onto a site called Query Tracker (http://querytracker.net). It brings up a list of agents who are interested in my genre (Young Adult Fantasy) and who accept unsolicited queries.
Once I find an agent who looks compatible (who knew there were so many agents out there?), I go to their agency website and nose around to see if they are truly a potential fit.
Then, I search his/her name on a site called Preditors and Editors (http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/pubagent.htm). This site is designed to weed out those agents who are shady (preditors) and recommend those who are excellent (editors). I look to see if the agent is recommended and if he/she has any other distinguishing accolades.
Then, I go back to the agent's website and look at the submission guidelines. They're all different. Some want just a short letter with the pitch and a bio. Others want to see a few pages. Each email needs to be tailored to the specific agency (and make sure you don't add anything to what they want).
Finally, I put it all into an email and send with a prayer.
And then the waiting begins....
On another note, today is Britta's 9th birthday! On the charts for good parenting, I allowed her to wear eyeshadow and liner to school. :)
I sent four query emails today to different literary agents. It's quite the process.
First, I go onto a site called Query Tracker (http://querytracker.net). It brings up a list of agents who are interested in my genre (Young Adult Fantasy) and who accept unsolicited queries.
Once I find an agent who looks compatible (who knew there were so many agents out there?), I go to their agency website and nose around to see if they are truly a potential fit.
Then, I search his/her name on a site called Preditors and Editors (http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/pubagent.htm). This site is designed to weed out those agents who are shady (preditors) and recommend those who are excellent (editors). I look to see if the agent is recommended and if he/she has any other distinguishing accolades.
Then, I go back to the agent's website and look at the submission guidelines. They're all different. Some want just a short letter with the pitch and a bio. Others want to see a few pages. Each email needs to be tailored to the specific agency (and make sure you don't add anything to what they want).
Finally, I put it all into an email and send with a prayer.
And then the waiting begins....
On another note, today is Britta's 9th birthday! On the charts for good parenting, I allowed her to wear eyeshadow and liner to school. :)
Monday, April 5, 2010
authonomy
Okay. So here's the deal.
I've posted part of Pearl Edda on Authonomy. It's a website put out by Harper Collins for authors to upload their writing and get feedback from fellow authors.
The uber cool thing is that when my book gets placed on others' virtual bookshelves and receives comments, its ranking gets higher. Once it reaches the #1-5 slot and stays there until the end of the month, Harper-Collins will take a look at it.
Right now it's at 178 (it started at about 1500, so I'm stoked). I've also received 232 comments on it.
Now...I could use your help.
Would you be willing to register at the site, shelve my book and comment on it? If you want to read it while you are there, that is awesome too.
The following is a short blurb:
When you're a seventeen-year-old Montana ranch girl, you can handle pretty much anything. Right?
Well...unless it's the over-the-top gorgeous guy who moves into your sleepy town and propels you into the turbulent world of Norse mythology -- a place where gods reign, giants destroy, best friends lie, and worlds end.
Oh, and where love between humans and gods is forbidden.
Which is a problem.
Especially when you discover what your best friend has known his entire life....
It's geared for 12-18 year old girls, but I've had older (both male and female) people read it and they've liked it.
Click on the novel cover on the left to get to the book online.
Thanks!
I've posted part of Pearl Edda on Authonomy. It's a website put out by Harper Collins for authors to upload their writing and get feedback from fellow authors.
The uber cool thing is that when my book gets placed on others' virtual bookshelves and receives comments, its ranking gets higher. Once it reaches the #1-5 slot and stays there until the end of the month, Harper-Collins will take a look at it.
Right now it's at 178 (it started at about 1500, so I'm stoked). I've also received 232 comments on it.
Now...I could use your help.
Would you be willing to register at the site, shelve my book and comment on it? If you want to read it while you are there, that is awesome too.
The following is a short blurb:
When you're a seventeen-year-old Montana ranch girl, you can handle pretty much anything. Right?
Well...unless it's the over-the-top gorgeous guy who moves into your sleepy town and propels you into the turbulent world of Norse mythology -- a place where gods reign, giants destroy, best friends lie, and worlds end.
Oh, and where love between humans and gods is forbidden.
Which is a problem.
Especially when you discover what your best friend has known his entire life....
It's geared for 12-18 year old girls, but I've had older (both male and female) people read it and they've liked it.
Click on the novel cover on the left to get to the book online.
Thanks!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
beginnings
Writing a novel is like reading a book that you can't put down.
Ever.
Thoughts, characters, action constantly swirl in your head until they are put on the page. But, even after the words meet the paper, sentences still need tweaking, voices need adjusting, descriptions need brilliance.
Eventually, the swirl melds together and the story becomes cohesive. And interesting. And gripping. Hopefully.
I didn't start out to write a novel.
Like anything creative, Pearl Edda, began as a thought, a whim, a whatif. As I dabbled with a couple paragraphs that I had written a few years ago, the whatif grew, exponentially. It came into its own.
And took over my life.
For a year.
I wrote when I had the time. And mostly when I didn't have the time. I would write into the night, my eyes barely focusing, and then I would wake up with moments of clarity. Those "ah-ha" times that seemed to come sporadically, but were ultra precious.
My characters would have conversations in my head. While I was nowhere near my computer. Frustrating. Especially when I was driving. Or needing to be listening intently elsewhere.
Like to my children. Or my husband.
Several God moments happened along the way.
The evening before my laptop crashed, I listened to the still, small voice that told me to email to myself the fifty pages that I had written.
Walking into a place that I had not been for awhile and seeing a friend whom I had not seen in a year, the first thing she tells me is that she has been teaching Norse mythology as a grad student, and would be happy to help me with this project. And she gave amazing feedback.
Choosing a Norse god who has a story, but not much written about him, enabling me to create his character.
Joining a writer’s group of wonderful, wacky people with enormous insight, brilliant minds and off-beat humor.
Having uber-cool friends who were willing to read the first draft. And the second. And the third.
Being able to write at a wonderful bed and breakfast in Montana and actually immerse myself in the very setting of my characters.
So, a novel has been born.
Pearl Edda.
Ever.
Thoughts, characters, action constantly swirl in your head until they are put on the page. But, even after the words meet the paper, sentences still need tweaking, voices need adjusting, descriptions need brilliance.
Eventually, the swirl melds together and the story becomes cohesive. And interesting. And gripping. Hopefully.
I didn't start out to write a novel.
Like anything creative, Pearl Edda, began as a thought, a whim, a whatif. As I dabbled with a couple paragraphs that I had written a few years ago, the whatif grew, exponentially. It came into its own.
And took over my life.
For a year.
I wrote when I had the time. And mostly when I didn't have the time. I would write into the night, my eyes barely focusing, and then I would wake up with moments of clarity. Those "ah-ha" times that seemed to come sporadically, but were ultra precious.
My characters would have conversations in my head. While I was nowhere near my computer. Frustrating. Especially when I was driving. Or needing to be listening intently elsewhere.
Like to my children. Or my husband.
Several God moments happened along the way.
The evening before my laptop crashed, I listened to the still, small voice that told me to email to myself the fifty pages that I had written.
Walking into a place that I had not been for awhile and seeing a friend whom I had not seen in a year, the first thing she tells me is that she has been teaching Norse mythology as a grad student, and would be happy to help me with this project. And she gave amazing feedback.
Choosing a Norse god who has a story, but not much written about him, enabling me to create his character.
Joining a writer’s group of wonderful, wacky people with enormous insight, brilliant minds and off-beat humor.
Having uber-cool friends who were willing to read the first draft. And the second. And the third.
Being able to write at a wonderful bed and breakfast in Montana and actually immerse myself in the very setting of my characters.
So, a novel has been born.
Pearl Edda.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)