Theresa Jacobs's Blog, page 19

Real Writers Rejected and Accepted

We always see the examples of the now famous authors and their rejection letters. But how do you cope with working your butt off every day – plus take care of family – and then get rejected?

We may receive many simple “Not at this time,” responses. Which bums us out, but it’s not heart-wrenching.

And lots of plain no replies, which in this industry is acceptable.

However, you may find some editors will take the time to respond – learn from them!

Here are a few of mine.

1 – Thanks, not for me. Do please watch your sentences, they are either disjointed or rambling or both.

2 – Everything needs attention, including punctuation. Apostrophes are important, use them correctly. Indent your paragraphs by using the TAB key, it looks better and makes the editor’s life easier, too.

3 – When submitting work, first impressions count. The layout isn’t as precise as it could be and the work doesn’t feel as if it’s been revised, or that daughters’ would surely have been picked up. Right? You get one chance to impress an editor, don’t blow it by sending out unchecked, unrevised work.

5 – thanks but no. Can we go back to two basic things here – First, dangling participles, the words ending in -ing which you use to start paragraphs and a lot of sentences. Write them out. If you even think you want to use one, such as – for example – Running, he… – change it to He ran. You do this a lot and it doesn’t always work as a sentence. I delete them from all work that I accept. Second, go back to the SHOW DON’T TELL lessons – check it out on the internet, loads of sites, loads to read. This story is entirely TELL. We hardly ever see how Christopher feels. Write the story from HIS POV, not the narrator. Every time you write Christopher or he, you are TELLING.

4 – I’m afraid your story didn’t make the final cut this time. We hope you’re able to find another home for it, and look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

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Yes, that was only a FEW – and believe it or not mixed in between these rejections have been these!

 

1 -It’s a yes from me. She’s a good writer, and her interest in ****** is a plus. We don’t have anyone currently covering ****** Happy to see the site continue to grow.

2 – You did a great job and are a very talented writer! Can’t wait to see the new one! To take an idea and develop it that quickly and make it interesting is amazing! Thanks for sharing your gift with me.

3 – This is the Editor-in-Chief of ******* writing to personally thank you for working with us so professionally and efficiently. I was extremely impressed with the amount of work you put into your final edits.

4 – So, with that said, we are very excited to have you as one of the authors participating in our upcoming anthology.

5 – Your creativity is impressive! I look forward to reading more.

I can’t take credit for all the acceptances alone – especially the edits! I have to thank all my first draft readers. #JacquelineLeahy, #AimiePagendam, #DavidKummer, #SusanLeighton, my old original team member (hope you’re well) #ZaneDowling.

AND the biggest thanks goes to my newest editing assistant #Toneye, without your services some of these stories would not have made the second cut. I bow to you SIR.

If you need editing, covers, or horror promotions – see here:

http://www.theboldmom.com/editing-formatting-cover-art-and-promoting-services/

Or If you have rejections and acceptances you’d like to share, please add them to the comments and we can all lift each other up.

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Happy writing folks, Theresa

 

Write this, that, and the other!

Keep your writing life interesting. Why bind yourself to only writing novellas or novels? Branch out, get your name far and wide. Take chances, you never know what’s going to be your big break if you never try.

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Write for anthologies

Contests

https://shortfictionbreak.com/the-vacation/

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Apply to magazines

https://1428elm.com/author/tjacobs/

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Flash fiction

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bys94diEPDLrLUVob2VrazFBUDQ/view?usp=sharing

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TV scripts – what?
Ya I said it go for it (top secret)

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If you sell one or two small pieces a month, that’s cash flow, and putting your name under new eyes too.

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Can’t forget blogging – and guest blogging

 

I have a few fun projects in the works, however, they’re always confidential but if you stick with me, you’ll learn about them as they come to fruition.
Share your fun ideas to keep your writing alive.

Winning with writing and life

Hi all, I made a quick vid today for speed. Not too long and no blah blah – to the point.
I’d love to hear your biggest heart breaks with writing and how you spun them into positives too. Please share your comments. Thanks for watching. Theresa

Win 1 0f 5 Audible Codes for Kept

https://kingsumo.com/g/rnw65a/win-1-of-5-free-audible-codes-for-sci-fi-novel-kept

CLICK THE LINK FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN AUDIBLE OF KEPT!

JOIN WITH YOUR EMAIL AND GET A FREE PDF OF THE BOOK  TOO!

WIN WIN WIN 

FYI for those who know I only post on Sat’s I had a rough week, so this giveaway cheers me up. PLease add to my joy and share share share.

Thank you Theresa

Featured Author Melanie P. Smith

Please give Melanie a warm welcome, check out our interview, give a like or a share, and become a stalker.

 

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How long have you been writing?

I’ve actually been writing all my life.  It has taken many forms over the years.  In college, I put aside my fictional writing to focus on term-papers and other assignments.  In my job, I used my writing skills for web development, awards citations and annual reports.  In 2015, I returned to my passion and published my first novel.  And the rest, I guess you could say… is history.

I wrote a fun blog about this very topic.

https://melaniepsmith.com/how-it-all-began/

Are you traditionally published, or self-published?

I am an Indie (or self-published) author.

If self-published when/why did you take that route.

I decided to go the Indie route because I like the idea of having complete control over my work.  I decide the plot, the cuts, the covers and the marketing strategies.  I’m fairly picky about what I want; so, it seemed like the best fit for me.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing energizes me.  When I’m forced to take a break for too long, I miss it and cant’ wait to get back.  It’s everything else that is exhausting (web updates, marketing, networking, etc.)

How many hours a day do you write?

I don’t have a set writing schedule.  Some days I write for hours at a time, other days I can only dedicate an hour or two.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I rarely read book reviews these days.  When I published my first novel, I read them religiously but I found I was second guessing myself too much.  I actually prefer personal contact with my fans over written reviews.  My favorite fan is ten and she loves my Warrior Series.  I had the honor of meeting HayLee for ice cream one day and I think our time together was as special to me as it was to her.  I will occasionally skim through reader comments if I’m actively promoting a certain novel; but, I don’t dwell on them anymore.

What is your favorite childhood book?

As a small child, I loved the Boxcar Children.  Eventually, I progressed to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries.  In my teen years, I devoured anything by Agatha Christy.

Who is your favorite author and have you ever tried to emulate them?

I have many favorite authors, there are so many truly incredible stories tellers to choose from.  But, if I had to pick just one, Nora Roberts would be at the top.  She is truly talented and I admire the way she can develop any character, in any story so the reader feels like they are hearing from an old friend; someone they’ve known for years.   Her vivid descriptions draw you into the story and make you feel like you are actually there, experiencing the events first hand.

I consciously work to develop my stories to achieve this same feeling of familiarity.  I also work hard to describe my scenes using all the senses to make the reader feel like they are smelling the flowers, tasting that hot dog, hearing the crowd roar or swiping that bead of sweat from their brow on a hot day.

 

Is there anything you want us to know about you or your books?

I currently have multiple projects in the works.  In addition to my third criminal suspense novel, I am working on a new Immortal Trilogy.  The release date for book one – Divergence – is still unknown but I’m having a lot of fun writing about a group of Demi-Gods and their rivals; the Titans.  In the meantime, check out my other books.  My Warrior Series is a complete paranormal romance collection that consists of seven books and two novellas.  My brochure has detailed information, book links and eBook trailers.  Be sure to check it out.

http://geni.us/Warrior

I’m also participating in a multi-author anthology this fall.  The entire collection consists of psychological horror stories written by amazing authors.  It is sure to be dark, disturbing and will certainly go bump in the night.

Additional Brochures

http://geni.us/SuspenseBrochure

http://geni.us/FictionBrochure

Website

http://geni.us/mpsmithpublishing

Facebook

http://geni.us/MPSFacebook

Twitter

http://geni.us/MPSTwitter

Instagram

http://geni.us/MPSInstagram

Pinterest

http://geni.us/MPSPinterest

YouTube

http://geni.us/MPSmithYouTube

Amazon Author

http://geni.us/melaniepsmith

Goodreads

http://geni.us/MPSGoodreads

Barnes & Noble

http://geni.us/BNMelaniePSmith

iTunes

http://geni.us/iMelaniePSmith

 

Thank you Theresa Jacobs.

 

 

 

Giveaway Results

Thank you all who participated in the chance to win $25.00 Cash and receive a free book.  The Winner has been contacted to accept their prize. (Of course, I won’t share their email[image error]

The end results of a three-day giveaway were 1878 contestants.

215 Email Subscribers to my author email (12 unsubscribers) and yes there will be more as time goes on,  but still worth it.

102 Free book downloads.

1023 Visitors to my Blog with 95 Subscribers.

2580 social media reshares.

It was a fun experiment and helped me learn some features in my MailChimp. Never hurts to have fun and try something new. Hope most of you stick around to share some fun blogs or be here for the next giveaway!

Thank you all, Theresa

 

Want $25.00?

Enter to win $25.00 Cash and join the mailing list for a free book https://kingsumo.com/g/wolx7w/win-2500-cash-usd

Yes, that’s my blog for today. Ends Tuesday and I ‘ll do a follow up on how it went, if it worked for signups to my mailing list, how many entries there were. And tell you why I did it.

Theresa

Author Interview: Theresa Jacobs

Hey I did an interview with some unique questions. Read and enjoy …PS my new novella is Free for the next five days, so perfect timing too. Check it out and give a like to two!

Today I have the honor of welcoming Theresa Jacobs to the blog. She’s introducing us to her newly released novella, The Cimmerians.

Welcome, Theresa. I’m so pleased you could join me. Let’s talk a bit about your writing.

If Oprah invited you onto her show to talk about your book, what would the theme of the show be?

Halloween, and that would be awesome. She’s like the daytime Johnny Carson for breakout artists.

How did you get the idea for the novel?

Well, this one began as a short story, and I include it as a freebie in the back of the book. Sometimes when I’m on my computer I’ll catch a shadow in my peripheral vision, but when I turn to look there is nothing there. One time when it happened I just thought what a good creepy ghost story that could be. So I wrote a short. Then…

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How to write multiple stories at once.

Or, at least, how I do it. Okay, not literally at the same time.
I found that I have done this since I began writing seriously, while I was working on edits with my first novel, I was writing another.
But editing one and writing one are two different things. On many occasions, I am writing two completely separate novels.

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It’s not hard, and it’s not confusing, as people tend to ask when they inquire about what I’m working on.

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Those of you who have followed me since the beginning know I am writing a sports figures biography, (it’s a secret until it drops – summer 2018). This is setting up meetings and talking and note taking. Next, I sit down and write out what we discussed. Draft one is complete, now we’re fine-tuning the details, and draft two will be done shortly. A project as such doesn’t take up much free time, as I can’t sit and write creatively for hours on end, I can only put into what it needs.

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That leaves me plenty of creative time. I wasn’t sure what to write next, and I like to flip through my notebooks and see what idea’s I’ve jotted, or shorts I’ve written that could be expanded. I had written a two-page story entitled Wife N’ Death, which many readers commented they would love to see as a novel. Bingo. I began this novel and it’s in the works.

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Simultaneously, an idea that my dad created for a story keep niggling in the back of my mind. His tale has espionage and intrigue and intelligence and is a challenge for me. One evening I decided to just get the beginning in, the easy part. And it snowballed into a grander idea, with added characters and plot lines.

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I write the bio Sundays after my meetings. I write my creative horror when I’m in the mood for light spooky fun, and I write my dad’s novel when I’m feeling bored and in need of deeper thinking. (There is also flash fiction, articles, and a tv show at all times in progress too.)
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Sat mornings I write this for you

Bust out of the writing mold

Aren’t you tired of reading, or even seeing, the same old formula? The Hero always wins, the guy gets the girl. Two people met, they fall in love, they have a big fight, they make up and ride off into the sunset.

 

If you read the structures, and plot outlines, and writing for mainstream, they all tell you the same thing. Stick to the formula. Or you’ll hear if you want to make it as a writer, you must do these things, don’t deviate.

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Well, I say screw that!

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Why not have someone else ride in and save the day?

 

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Kill the Hero

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Hero saves the girl – or vise versa-  but they loathe each other. Or feel more like relatives. Or just bff’s for life.

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Two people meet and fall in love meet other people and break up. Shake up the audience.

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Sure, we all want to root for the good guy, but in life, they don’t always come out on top. Why should in they in fiction?

 

So far Game of Thrones has been the best example of all of the above.
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I am loving this formula and trying to keep my books away from the norm. Sure, one of them has two teens in love, and they stay together through thick and thin. But I wrote that one twenty years ago and didn’t know any better.

Now I aim to write, creepy, interesting, or unique stories. Some that haven’t been told before and other’s that may have but with a twist.
How do you bust out of the norm? Share your ideas’ or drop your titles.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Theresa-Jacobs/e/B01BAS13T2