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Posts tagged ‘agents’

Feb 18

Lessons from a virtual pitch event

Last week, I shared a bit about the rough road that kept me away from this space and I shared some tips on how to keep connected to your story when life happens. One thing I did was to keep my story running in the “background” of my mind while focusing on what needed attention in my life.

Today, I’m thrilled to share that the background work has officially moved to the foreground.

I have officially finished the latest version of my manuscript and it’s currently in my editor’s hands for some “big picture” structural help. While she works her magic on the bones of the story, I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am getting closer every day to the official querying stage where I start pitching to literary agents.

To celebrate being back and being this close to the finish line, I decided to do something a little different on the last day of January: I jumped into #Questpit.

What is #Questpit?

Read more

Jul 27

Agents and editors speak: What you should know about submitting your work, part 2

If you’re looking for an agent or editor, you’ll want to show your work in the best possible way. In my last post, I offered four tips for approaching agents and editors. Here are four more.

Note your unique skills and expertise. If have an expertise in an area that pertains to your book, say so. It might give you an edge because you’ll have a connection or built-in audience who will be interested in your book. Read more

Jul 25

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Agents and editors speak: What you should know about submitting your manuscript, part 1

You have written a draft, revised, edited, revised some more. Now you’re finally ready to query an editor or agent. Do you want to improve your chances?

Here is what you should know based on feedback from editors and agents at the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association Conference July 19-22.

Follow the instructions on their websites. You would be surprised at how many people don’t follow the submission guidelines, some going as far as using odd colors and funky typefaces. Do you want to stand out? Submit polished writing and format and send your manuscript according to their instructions. Read more

Jul 6

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Six guidelines for turning rejection into success

Rejection hurts. No matter who it’s coming from, or what part of your life it’s directed at, it hurts. As writers, we have to risk rejection if we want to see our work in print. 

What’s the best way to handle rejection? Can we turn it into something positive?

When I began submitting my poetry to literary magazines, my mentor told me I’d need to develop a thick skin and to look at those rejection slips as stepping stones: with each rejection I received, I was one step closer to getting published. Though I accumulated a bonfire-size pile of rejections, I kept writing and kept submitting. When I received my first acceptance letter, I jumped up and down in a little victory dance. All that work paid off. My second acceptance letter came the following week. Read more