Avoiding the Agent's Wastebasket

This is a simple tip for your writing, one that can keep you from the crash and burn pile of an agent/editors desk.

Read the following paragraph and tell me what's wrong.

It seemed like a good plan, a solid plan, one that would solve a lot of problems. But I wasn't entirely sure it would work, even though it was my plan. The others were not supportive, downright nasty in pointing out the possible problems with the plan I'd put forth. The real problem though wasn't that it was a bad plan, but that it wasn't any of their plans.

Do you see the . . uh . . problem with this paragraph?

It seemed like a good plan, a solid plan, one that would solve a lot of problems. But I wasn't entirely sure it would work, even though it was my plan. The others were not supportive, downright nasty in pointing out the possible problems with the plan I'd put forth. The real problem though wasn't that it was a bad plan, but that it wasn't any of their plans.

This of course is a very obvious issue I've highlighted here, but doubling up on your words can get away from you without you even realizing it. And don't just think that it's about doubling up on your words only in a single paragraph. I try to make sure that a specific word/words don't show up more than once a page if I can help it. When you double up on words it looks as though you don't have a vocabulary which is very bad if you're supposed to be a writer. (have you noticed my use of the word double?)

And for pity's sake, don't send your ms to an agent with this weakness (note I did not use problem) on the first page, that is unless you want an immediate launch of your precious baby into the wastebasket.

Agents, Editors and Publishing Oh my!

This is a quick post with a link to an interview and not just any old interview, but one with me! My very first of hopefully many, I was asked a bunch of questions about my agent, my journey in my writing and a little about my writing too.

The interview was by CJ Gosling, a good friend and writer who's debut YA Fantasy, The Guardian is launching this week.

So click on the link, I think it was pretty cool to be interviewed and I hope you like it. :)

Loving your WIP a little TOO Much

The idea for this post came to me in a flash of inspiration late last night. A good friend has given me a small calendar of daily inspirational quotes and the one for today is -



"He who is not impatient is not in love." Italian proverb.



This is how I feel about my writing. I want so badly for others to be able to pick it up in the bookstore, because I'm in love with the story, that I get impatient. I want to rush through the stages, write the books as fast as possible and allow the masses to have at them.



But while impatience can drive you, it can also screw you up. Let me give you an example. My husband asked me to marry him on our first date. It almost ended the date and our relationship right there. It freaked me out. Was he serious? He was sure I was the one, so he saw no need to wait. I needed a little more time. We worked it out, but it was a little dicey.



It's the same with our writing. In our impatience, we send out queries too early, minus editing, minus revisions, because we love our manuscript, why wouldn't an agent see how great it is?



Love your WIP, but take your time. Don't let your impatience end what could be a beautiful, long lasting relationship cause you pop the "Will you agent me?" question too early. In the end, it will make for a far better manuscript and from there, a far better contract.

Agents Response

I would cut and paste the agent's most recent response, but it was short and to the point so I'll keep it brief.

She will be sending me a draft agency agreement by Tuesday and is looking forward to representing me. For some reason, she thinks I'll be fun to work with.

Did I mention that I have an agent in all but signature? And no, I'm not telling you her name until the ink is on the paper. Call me superstitious, but I'm waiting for the fat lady to sing.

Yes I'm excited, elated, happy and freaking out all at the same time. Still waiting for someone to jump out from around a corner and yell, "Psych!". So until that happens, I'm going to be happy and smiling and writing.

Pitch Smitch

Next week I leave for the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference (PNWC) in Seattle for five days. Five days of learning, networking and, *gulp* pitching. Yes, the dreaded “P” word. We writers tend to do better with the written pitch (query letters) than with the oral pitch, funny enough. There’s a reason we’re writers and not actors. The nerves, the sweat. The practicing. Oh, I pity my clients over the next week as they are about to be bombarded with “Shannon’s Practice Pitch” that’s been perfected in the cab of my truck as I travel from stop to stop.

The variations of my pitch change depending on my mood. There’s the “Let’s be serious and make a deal” pitch. The, “I’m a total goof and you’re going to love working with me”, pitch. And then there’s the “I’m so nervous I think I’m going to throw up on the table,” pitch. What I’d really like to be able to accomplish is a nice combination of the three, as I’m sure that no matter how much I practice, I’m going to be nervous.

To make it even more interesting, I’m trying to get my synopsis and query letter revamped in time for the conference. Which means I’m hashing and re-hashing the things, hoping that they will be so fantabulous that there’s no way on earth any sane agent or editor could refuse my ms. I agree, they would be foolish to refuse my work, but alas, it’s been done before. . .