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The Synopsis Writer
I hate writing a synopsis. Here’s why: 1) There are no uniform specifications for a synopsis. Every agent has their own requirements. 2) There are no uniform specifications for a synopsis. Every agent has their own word count. 3) There are no uniform specifications for a synopsis. Every agent has their own idea of what they expect—but seldom share that vision with others.
When an agent does decide to impart his or her wisdom to us, some say create an abbreviated outline; others state The Way is paved with prose. Some decide a single page will suffice; others are happy to read two. Most claim 500 words is the max; almost as many s
The Rejected Writer
A literary agent sent me a long, lovely email recently. It began by saying, “It isn’t easy saying no.” I can attest to the fact that hearing it is no warm and comfy hug either. But it’s part of the game. If we are going to pitch our work to traditional agents and publishers, we have to be prepared for rejection. It is a rare and lucky novelist whose work is picked up on the first pitch.
Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected 30 times. J.K. Rowling suffered through 12 rejections of Harry Potter. Dr. Seuss took a hit on his first children’s book 27 times. Even Herman Melville's masterpiece, Moby-Dick, was turned
The Query Writer
So, you’re ready to pitch your novel to a literary agent, eh? According to most agents, there are three things they will eye carefully before deciding if they want to learn more about you and your project: your query letter, your query letter, and your query letter.
It’s like location, location, location in real estate. No one will buy it if it isn’t located in the neighborhood they want. That’s why I spent an entire blog (The Pitch Writer) explaining how to develop a target list of prospective reps for your work. If you don’t have that yet, read no further. The following will be a waste of your time until you d
The Pitch Writer
If you are a novelist planning to self publish, you can stop right here… or maybe not. Eight years ago, after months of pitching my first two novels into what felt like the Black Hole of agents who never responded or politely declined, I became impatient. Decided I preferred writing stories to writing query letters. Self-pub, here I come! And that worked for me. For a time. Then along came THE ONE: the novel that felt like it deserved more than I alone could give it.
So. I’m back in The Land That Time Forgot, querying agents and looking for the person who will see the same promise in Are You Listening? that I do. You may write TH
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Glad to have you back. I hope that this year will see you able to turn those rough times from last year into blessings for this year.