Michelle McLean's Blog, page 50
October 28, 2010
Query Chat Tonight! and How to Write a Non-Fiction Query
Today's the day!! Join us at the Operation Awesome Blog at 9pm EST/8 CST for a LIVE query chat with the Queen of Ninja Queries herself, the awesome Ms. Elana Johnson.
In honor of our query talk tonight, I thought I'd repost an article I did last year on How to Write a Non-Fiction Query. Elana will be addressing fiction (which I know most people who read this blog write) but in case there are a few of my non-fiction peeps hanging in the wings, here's a little something for you :)
And for everyone, no matter what genre you write, DO NOT MISS this awesome opportunity to get all your query questions answered by the woman who literally wrote the book on the subject. (Seriously, she did, and it is AWESOME...you can buy it HERE) :D
Now, for non-fiction queries, even though the elements are similar to a fiction query, it's just a whole different angle of pitching your book. So, here goes.
What to include in your non-fiction query:
1. Your lead/hook
Just like in a fiction query, your opening paragraph should hook the editor or agent into wanting to find out more. But you also need to clearly state what the book is about. With fiction, sometimes you might leave out some details in order to entice your audience into wanting to read more. But with non-fiction, publishers generally buy the book before it's even written based on your proposal. They need to know specifically what is in your book in order for them to want more, so get right to the point. Don't save the best for last. Start with your strongest material. You could start off saying something like, "In a recent NYT article, it was reported that over 60% of Americans are dying to buy my book." :D You could also use a strong anecdote or comparison.
2. Supporting Material
This is where you back up your thesis (the idea for the book). You could add some preliminary details that you've researched. This is also where you would state why your book should exist. What is the need for it? Maybe mention the strong market for it. Will your book help millions of students pass their math classes? Say so. Will it teach all those frustrated mothers how to deal with fussy children? Point that out. Are the skateboarding teenagers of the world crying out for a book on cool stickers to decorate their boards with? Well this is the book they've been waiting for!!
Sell your idea and back up your claims. Just make sure you do it in a page or less :D
3. Author Bio
As in fiction, this is where you toot your own horn as loud as you can. But make sure the material is relevant. The editors and agents don't need to know how many kids you have or what kind of dog you have, unless your book is about training kids or dogs :D Do you have any publishing credits? Put them in! Degrees, special training courses relevant to your book, any other experiences that prove why you are the best person to be writing this book? Put it in! You want to show them why you are qualified to write the book you are proposing, why you are the best one for the job. So any relevant credentials you have, be they educational, professional, or real world experiences, should be included.
4. Closing
Use strong closing statements to finish off your query. Don't be shy about stating clearly what you are looking for. "I am seeking representation for this book. I look forward to your response." Don't use phrases like "I hope you like this," "I hope I'll hear from you soon." Keep it strong and confident. And be sure to thank them for their time. Being polite never hurts :)
And it is always a good idea to have a writer friend or three look over your query before you send it to help catch those embarrassing typos we all make. :)
When you are writing your query keep in mind these two things: what is the need and how does your book address that need?
This is your selling point - this is what will make a publisher buy your book. With my book, I pointed out how many students were in this country (with actual statistics), pointed out that every single one of them had to take Language Arts classes where they would be expected to write essays, and then I pointed out how much trouble the vast majority of these students have with this task.
I mentioned how other guidebooks out there tend to be too technical, hard to understand, and just plain boring and how this does nothing but further confuse and frustrate students. And then I zinged in with how my book was going to change all this. I pointed out the ways in which my book was different, mentioned specifically everything my book would contain (step-by-step instructions on how to write over a dozen different types of essays, including the SAT essay; rough draft, edited, and final copy examples of each type of essay; tips on researching, citing sources, and proofreading).
I followed it up with my bio - and since this was a weak section for me, I made sure to list EVERYTHING that could help show why I was the best person to write this book....my degrees, my personal experience with helping people with writing, my experience with my blogs, and the publications in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.
And it worked :)
Please join us at over at Operation Awesome tonight! Bring your query questions and take notes! See you there :)
In honor of our query talk tonight, I thought I'd repost an article I did last year on How to Write a Non-Fiction Query. Elana will be addressing fiction (which I know most people who read this blog write) but in case there are a few of my non-fiction peeps hanging in the wings, here's a little something for you :)
And for everyone, no matter what genre you write, DO NOT MISS this awesome opportunity to get all your query questions answered by the woman who literally wrote the book on the subject. (Seriously, she did, and it is AWESOME...you can buy it HERE) :D
Now, for non-fiction queries, even though the elements are similar to a fiction query, it's just a whole different angle of pitching your book. So, here goes.
What to include in your non-fiction query:
1. Your lead/hook
Just like in a fiction query, your opening paragraph should hook the editor or agent into wanting to find out more. But you also need to clearly state what the book is about. With fiction, sometimes you might leave out some details in order to entice your audience into wanting to read more. But with non-fiction, publishers generally buy the book before it's even written based on your proposal. They need to know specifically what is in your book in order for them to want more, so get right to the point. Don't save the best for last. Start with your strongest material. You could start off saying something like, "In a recent NYT article, it was reported that over 60% of Americans are dying to buy my book." :D You could also use a strong anecdote or comparison.
2. Supporting Material
This is where you back up your thesis (the idea for the book). You could add some preliminary details that you've researched. This is also where you would state why your book should exist. What is the need for it? Maybe mention the strong market for it. Will your book help millions of students pass their math classes? Say so. Will it teach all those frustrated mothers how to deal with fussy children? Point that out. Are the skateboarding teenagers of the world crying out for a book on cool stickers to decorate their boards with? Well this is the book they've been waiting for!!
Sell your idea and back up your claims. Just make sure you do it in a page or less :D
3. Author Bio
As in fiction, this is where you toot your own horn as loud as you can. But make sure the material is relevant. The editors and agents don't need to know how many kids you have or what kind of dog you have, unless your book is about training kids or dogs :D Do you have any publishing credits? Put them in! Degrees, special training courses relevant to your book, any other experiences that prove why you are the best person to be writing this book? Put it in! You want to show them why you are qualified to write the book you are proposing, why you are the best one for the job. So any relevant credentials you have, be they educational, professional, or real world experiences, should be included.
4. Closing
Use strong closing statements to finish off your query. Don't be shy about stating clearly what you are looking for. "I am seeking representation for this book. I look forward to your response." Don't use phrases like "I hope you like this," "I hope I'll hear from you soon." Keep it strong and confident. And be sure to thank them for their time. Being polite never hurts :)
And it is always a good idea to have a writer friend or three look over your query before you send it to help catch those embarrassing typos we all make. :)
When you are writing your query keep in mind these two things: what is the need and how does your book address that need?
This is your selling point - this is what will make a publisher buy your book. With my book, I pointed out how many students were in this country (with actual statistics), pointed out that every single one of them had to take Language Arts classes where they would be expected to write essays, and then I pointed out how much trouble the vast majority of these students have with this task.
I mentioned how other guidebooks out there tend to be too technical, hard to understand, and just plain boring and how this does nothing but further confuse and frustrate students. And then I zinged in with how my book was going to change all this. I pointed out the ways in which my book was different, mentioned specifically everything my book would contain (step-by-step instructions on how to write over a dozen different types of essays, including the SAT essay; rough draft, edited, and final copy examples of each type of essay; tips on researching, citing sources, and proofreading).
I followed it up with my bio - and since this was a weak section for me, I made sure to list EVERYTHING that could help show why I was the best person to write this book....my degrees, my personal experience with helping people with writing, my experience with my blogs, and the publications in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.
And it worked :)
Please join us at over at Operation Awesome tonight! Bring your query questions and take notes! See you there :)
October 27, 2010
Third Time's the Charm...I Hope
REMINDERS: Tomorrow's the day!!! Join us tomorrow night at 9 pm EST on the Operation Awesome Blog for a live chat on queries with the fabulous Elana Johnson!
And next week, Monday November 1st, join in a Logline Blogfest hosted by Steena Holmes - check out her post HERE for details :) See my post from yesterday HERE for help with writing loglines/hook lines.
All right, NaNoWriMo is literally just around the corner. Who's playing this year? *raises hand*
Once again, I'm going to attempt it. Now the last two years I ended up moving in November (yes, both years...I move a lot) :D In 2008, I was just moving into a new house (literally, we moved in Nov 1), and in 2009, I was packing because we were moving out of our house in Dec.
And guess what, there is a very small, slight possibility we might just be moving again....in November....AGAIN. Argh. We haven't decided if we want to keep renting the lovely house we are in now, or buy a place near by. If we do buy, we'll be moving next month. Oy.
However, I do have a laptop this year, so there is really no excuse for not being able to participate, moving or not. Right? Riiiiiight ;-)
I haven't been able to use my little potato man word counter much since I've been editing instead of writing new material, but I think I'll break him out for NaNo :D Here he is in case you haven't seen him before:
I have him sleeping right now, as we haven't started yet, but you can make him do different things :D Very fun widget. Head to Writertopia if you want to snag him :)
And here's a link to some gorgeous NaNo wallpaper calendars. I've used the big manor house one the last two years. I think I might go Old World this year...though there is just something about that manor house pic that I LOVE. Plus it fits my story...I might need to print some of these out and just have a bunch of calendars all over the walls :D
Ooo and here's the link to the thread on the NaNo site where everyone posts calendars. I've just spent 30 minutes there, downloaded 6 of them, and still don't know which one I want to use :D *sigh*
Does anyone else have any links to fun NaNo stuff? Calendars, wallpapers, word count widgets, etc? Does anyone have a calendar that has the funny sayings on every day? :D
Come friend me if you are playing along this year! I'm michellemclean over there :D
And next week, Monday November 1st, join in a Logline Blogfest hosted by Steena Holmes - check out her post HERE for details :) See my post from yesterday HERE for help with writing loglines/hook lines.
All right, NaNoWriMo is literally just around the corner. Who's playing this year? *raises hand*
Once again, I'm going to attempt it. Now the last two years I ended up moving in November (yes, both years...I move a lot) :D In 2008, I was just moving into a new house (literally, we moved in Nov 1), and in 2009, I was packing because we were moving out of our house in Dec.
And guess what, there is a very small, slight possibility we might just be moving again....in November....AGAIN. Argh. We haven't decided if we want to keep renting the lovely house we are in now, or buy a place near by. If we do buy, we'll be moving next month. Oy.
However, I do have a laptop this year, so there is really no excuse for not being able to participate, moving or not. Right? Riiiiiight ;-)
I haven't been able to use my little potato man word counter much since I've been editing instead of writing new material, but I think I'll break him out for NaNo :D Here he is in case you haven't seen him before:
I have him sleeping right now, as we haven't started yet, but you can make him do different things :D Very fun widget. Head to Writertopia if you want to snag him :)
And here's a link to some gorgeous NaNo wallpaper calendars. I've used the big manor house one the last two years. I think I might go Old World this year...though there is just something about that manor house pic that I LOVE. Plus it fits my story...I might need to print some of these out and just have a bunch of calendars all over the walls :D
Ooo and here's the link to the thread on the NaNo site where everyone posts calendars. I've just spent 30 minutes there, downloaded 6 of them, and still don't know which one I want to use :D *sigh*
Does anyone else have any links to fun NaNo stuff? Calendars, wallpapers, word count widgets, etc? Does anyone have a calendar that has the funny sayings on every day? :D
Come friend me if you are playing along this year! I'm michellemclean over there :D
October 26, 2010
Tutor Tuesday - How to Write a Logline/Hook Line
UPCOMING EVENTS: Thursday the 28th, join us on the Operation Awesome Blog for a live chat on queries with the fabulous Elana Johnson! 9 pm EST.
Monday November 1st, join in a Logline Blogfest hosted by Steena Holmes - check out her post HERE for details :)
So, since we've got a fun logling blogfest coming up, I thought I'd prepost a post I did last year on How to Write a Logline/Hookline.
It is important to remember that every story is different. Some will need a little more information, and others can get the point across in three words or less. Well…maybe a few more than three words, but you get my drift.
First of all, what is a hook line/logline?
A hook line is exactly what it sounds like – a line that will hook someone into wanting to read your book. It is basically the same thing as a logline, which is a one line summary of a screenplay or script (I'll use the terms interchangeably so just go with it) :) They can run two or three lines, but no more than that.
Why do you need one?
Your hook line, like a logline, takes a story full of complex plotlines and high-concept ideas and breaks it down into a simple sentence that can be quickly and easily conveyed to a wide range of people. Your hook line is your first pitch in getting someone interested in your book. It can be used as the first line in your query letter, to help hook the agent into reading the rest of the letter and requesting information. And it is especially useful for those pitch sessions at conferences or lunches. When a prospective agent or editor asks you what your book is about, your hook line is your answer. Because it is a simple line or two, it is also handy for those family dinner parties when Grandma asks what your book is about.
How do you create a hook line/logline?
This is actually easier than it sounds. You do not need to condense your entire book into one sentence. But you do need to give enough information that the agent/editor/curious acquaintance you are addressing gets the gist of your book and is interested enough to want more.
Elements of a Hook Line
• Characters – Who is the main character? What does that main character want? What is his/her main goal?
• Conflict – Who is the villain of the story? Or what is the main obstacle to the main character obtaining their goal?
• Distinction – What makes your book different then all the rest? What is the unique element of your story that makes it stand out? Is your book a romance between a young man and woman? What makes them different?
• Setting – for a novel, adding a little about the setting, time period, and possibly genre (if it's not obvious) is a good idea. For example, the hook line for my book, which is an historical romantic suspense, could begin "A young woman in Victorian England…".
• Action – Your hook line needs to have action, excitement. For example, which hook line catches your interest more?
1. A woman has an affair and runs off with her new beau.
2. A neglected wife and mother has a torrid affair with an ex-con and kidnaps her children as she flees across the country with her lover.
The difference is the inclusion in the second example of action and description words. The woman becomes a "neglected wife and mother." She has a "torrid" affair. The beau is an "ex-con," implying a world of danger and crime. She doesn't just run off, she "flees," kidnapping her children in the process.
Examples:
Here are a few examples of loglines from well known movies. (Yes, I know we are creating hook lines for a book, but the concept is the same, and examples of loglines are easier to find). :D
• When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an insane and corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge. (Gladiator)
• In a future where criminals are arrested before the crime occurs, a cop struggles on the lam to prove his innocence for a murder he has not yet committed. (Minority Report)
• A 17th Century tale of adventure on the Caribbean Sea where the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow joins forces with a young blacksmith in a gallant attempt to rescue the Governor of England's daughter and reclaim his ship. (Pirates of the Caribbean)
• A young man and woman from different social classes fall in love, must outwit her abusive fiancé, and find a way to survive aboard an ill-fated voyage at sea. (Titanic)
• A comedic portrayal of a young and broke Shakespeare who falls in love with a woman, inspiring him to write "Romeo and Juliet. (Shakespeare in Love)
• An archeologist is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
For your own hook line, you need to decide which elements best convey what your story is about. It is interesting to see how adding different elements affects a hook line. For example, take a look at these two movie loglines.
1. After a twister transports a lonely Kansas farm girl to a magical land, she sets out on a dangerous journey to find a wizard with the power to send her home. (logline by Brian A. Klems, found at http://blog.writersdigest.com/qq/What...)
2. Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets, then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again. (Log Line attributed to Richard Polito of the Marin Independent Journal, who writes humorously sarcastic briefs for the paper's daily TV listings)
Both of these loglines are for the film Wizard of Oz, but they each give the film a distinctly different tone. Personally I like the second one best :D but the first probably gives a better idea of what the film is about.
It might take a little while to get your hook line perfected, but if you stick to the main elements of your story (the main character, the villain or conflict, what is unique about your story, and spice it up with a little action), your hook line should almost write itself. Just to show you that ANYONE can do this, (because if I can do it, anyone can), the hook line for one of my books is below.
A young woman in Victorian England is swept into an illicit affair with a semi-reformed thief and must find a legendary necklace to ransom their lives from a corrupt lord.
Can you spot the elements?
• Characters – a young woman and her love interest who is a semi-reformed thief.
• Conflict – a corrupt lord (the villain) is threatening her life and the life of her love interest unless she can find a legendary necklace.
• Distinction – my story is not just a romance, but has a big dose of suspense and mystery thrown in. The love interest is not a typical man but a thief, and while the romance comes in with the affair, it is an "illicit" affair (implying something out of the ordinary, something forbidden).
• Setting – Victorian England. And the description of the story gives obvious clues to the genre – young woman = YA; Victorian England = historical; illicit affair = romance; a treasure hunt/mystery and lives threatened = suspense….Genre = YA historical romantic suspense (though that is really long LOL In queries, I would either say YA historical or YA romantic suspense and let the blurb get the other elements across).
• Action – instead of saying my story is about a girl and guy who fall in love and search for a necklace, I describe the love story as an "illicit affair;" the necklace is "legendary," the lord is "corrupt," the love interest is "a semi-reformed thief."
All these little elements help make the hook line more exciting, more interesting. And that is what will help hook the interest of potential agents, publishers, and readers.
Now you try :D And be sure to head to Steena's blog for details on the blogfest! :)
Monday November 1st, join in a Logline Blogfest hosted by Steena Holmes - check out her post HERE for details :)
So, since we've got a fun logling blogfest coming up, I thought I'd prepost a post I did last year on How to Write a Logline/Hookline.
It is important to remember that every story is different. Some will need a little more information, and others can get the point across in three words or less. Well…maybe a few more than three words, but you get my drift.
First of all, what is a hook line/logline?
A hook line is exactly what it sounds like – a line that will hook someone into wanting to read your book. It is basically the same thing as a logline, which is a one line summary of a screenplay or script (I'll use the terms interchangeably so just go with it) :) They can run two or three lines, but no more than that.
Why do you need one?
Your hook line, like a logline, takes a story full of complex plotlines and high-concept ideas and breaks it down into a simple sentence that can be quickly and easily conveyed to a wide range of people. Your hook line is your first pitch in getting someone interested in your book. It can be used as the first line in your query letter, to help hook the agent into reading the rest of the letter and requesting information. And it is especially useful for those pitch sessions at conferences or lunches. When a prospective agent or editor asks you what your book is about, your hook line is your answer. Because it is a simple line or two, it is also handy for those family dinner parties when Grandma asks what your book is about.
How do you create a hook line/logline?
This is actually easier than it sounds. You do not need to condense your entire book into one sentence. But you do need to give enough information that the agent/editor/curious acquaintance you are addressing gets the gist of your book and is interested enough to want more.
Elements of a Hook Line
• Characters – Who is the main character? What does that main character want? What is his/her main goal?
• Conflict – Who is the villain of the story? Or what is the main obstacle to the main character obtaining their goal?
• Distinction – What makes your book different then all the rest? What is the unique element of your story that makes it stand out? Is your book a romance between a young man and woman? What makes them different?
• Setting – for a novel, adding a little about the setting, time period, and possibly genre (if it's not obvious) is a good idea. For example, the hook line for my book, which is an historical romantic suspense, could begin "A young woman in Victorian England…".
• Action – Your hook line needs to have action, excitement. For example, which hook line catches your interest more?
1. A woman has an affair and runs off with her new beau.
2. A neglected wife and mother has a torrid affair with an ex-con and kidnaps her children as she flees across the country with her lover.
The difference is the inclusion in the second example of action and description words. The woman becomes a "neglected wife and mother." She has a "torrid" affair. The beau is an "ex-con," implying a world of danger and crime. She doesn't just run off, she "flees," kidnapping her children in the process.
Examples:
Here are a few examples of loglines from well known movies. (Yes, I know we are creating hook lines for a book, but the concept is the same, and examples of loglines are easier to find). :D
• When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an insane and corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge. (Gladiator)
• In a future where criminals are arrested before the crime occurs, a cop struggles on the lam to prove his innocence for a murder he has not yet committed. (Minority Report)
• A 17th Century tale of adventure on the Caribbean Sea where the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow joins forces with a young blacksmith in a gallant attempt to rescue the Governor of England's daughter and reclaim his ship. (Pirates of the Caribbean)
• A young man and woman from different social classes fall in love, must outwit her abusive fiancé, and find a way to survive aboard an ill-fated voyage at sea. (Titanic)
• A comedic portrayal of a young and broke Shakespeare who falls in love with a woman, inspiring him to write "Romeo and Juliet. (Shakespeare in Love)
• An archeologist is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
For your own hook line, you need to decide which elements best convey what your story is about. It is interesting to see how adding different elements affects a hook line. For example, take a look at these two movie loglines.
1. After a twister transports a lonely Kansas farm girl to a magical land, she sets out on a dangerous journey to find a wizard with the power to send her home. (logline by Brian A. Klems, found at http://blog.writersdigest.com/qq/What...)
2. Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets, then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again. (Log Line attributed to Richard Polito of the Marin Independent Journal, who writes humorously sarcastic briefs for the paper's daily TV listings)
Both of these loglines are for the film Wizard of Oz, but they each give the film a distinctly different tone. Personally I like the second one best :D but the first probably gives a better idea of what the film is about.
It might take a little while to get your hook line perfected, but if you stick to the main elements of your story (the main character, the villain or conflict, what is unique about your story, and spice it up with a little action), your hook line should almost write itself. Just to show you that ANYONE can do this, (because if I can do it, anyone can), the hook line for one of my books is below.
A young woman in Victorian England is swept into an illicit affair with a semi-reformed thief and must find a legendary necklace to ransom their lives from a corrupt lord.
Can you spot the elements?
• Characters – a young woman and her love interest who is a semi-reformed thief.
• Conflict – a corrupt lord (the villain) is threatening her life and the life of her love interest unless she can find a legendary necklace.
• Distinction – my story is not just a romance, but has a big dose of suspense and mystery thrown in. The love interest is not a typical man but a thief, and while the romance comes in with the affair, it is an "illicit" affair (implying something out of the ordinary, something forbidden).
• Setting – Victorian England. And the description of the story gives obvious clues to the genre – young woman = YA; Victorian England = historical; illicit affair = romance; a treasure hunt/mystery and lives threatened = suspense….Genre = YA historical romantic suspense (though that is really long LOL In queries, I would either say YA historical or YA romantic suspense and let the blurb get the other elements across).
• Action – instead of saying my story is about a girl and guy who fall in love and search for a necklace, I describe the love story as an "illicit affair;" the necklace is "legendary," the lord is "corrupt," the love interest is "a semi-reformed thief."
All these little elements help make the hook line more exciting, more interesting. And that is what will help hook the interest of potential agents, publishers, and readers.
Now you try :D And be sure to head to Steena's blog for details on the blogfest! :)
October 25, 2010
Blog Chain - Writer Diner Confessions
UPCOMING EVENTS: Thursday at 9 pm EST - Live Chat About Queries With Elana Johnson on the OA Blog!!
Monday Nov 1st - Logline Blogfest judged by me :D Head to Steena Holmes's Chocolate Reality for details!!
[image error]
Time for the old blog and chain ;-) This round's topic was chosen by the marvelous Michelle Hickman, who wants to know:
If you could dine with any author, and I do mean any whether alive or dead (yes, we're going into the realms of time travel - but hey, we have science fiction writers on this chain so we can always ask for them to write up the time machine specs), who would you want to dine with? And if you can ask them for advice on one writing element you feel you might be struggling at, what would it be?
Good question :D
While there are quite a few authors I would LOVE to sit and chat with, I think I'd really have to pick Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain). Holy cow, just going by his quotes, he'd be an absolute riot to hang out with. To be honest, I don't think I'd ask him anything specific (he's already shared a ton of sweet writerly tidbits -see below). I'd just sit back and soak up his awesomeness.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from him:
Only presidents, editors and people with tapeworm have the right to use the editorial "we."
When you catch an adjective, kill it.
Don't say the old lady screamed - bring her on and let her scream.
All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very"; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
See why I love the man :D
Be sure to go back to Laura's blog and see who she wants to hang with and catch Shaun's tomorrow to see who's brain he'd like to pick :)
Who is on your dinner party wish list?
Monday Nov 1st - Logline Blogfest judged by me :D Head to Steena Holmes's Chocolate Reality for details!!
[image error]
Time for the old blog and chain ;-) This round's topic was chosen by the marvelous Michelle Hickman, who wants to know:
If you could dine with any author, and I do mean any whether alive or dead (yes, we're going into the realms of time travel - but hey, we have science fiction writers on this chain so we can always ask for them to write up the time machine specs), who would you want to dine with? And if you can ask them for advice on one writing element you feel you might be struggling at, what would it be?
Good question :D
While there are quite a few authors I would LOVE to sit and chat with, I think I'd really have to pick Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain). Holy cow, just going by his quotes, he'd be an absolute riot to hang out with. To be honest, I don't think I'd ask him anything specific (he's already shared a ton of sweet writerly tidbits -see below). I'd just sit back and soak up his awesomeness.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from him:
Only presidents, editors and people with tapeworm have the right to use the editorial "we."
When you catch an adjective, kill it.
Don't say the old lady screamed - bring her on and let her scream.
All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very"; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
See why I love the man :D
Be sure to go back to Laura's blog and see who she wants to hang with and catch Shaun's tomorrow to see who's brain he'd like to pick :)
Who is on your dinner party wish list?
October 24, 2010
Operation Awesome Contest Winner!
First off, a big huge THANK YOU and WELCOME to all our wonderful previous and new Operation Awesome followers! I've been having a blast with the OA gals so far :D
We made it to 188 followers, which means we have 35 new followers, which means.......7 BOOKS!!!!
And the winner of those 7 books, picked by the ever handy Random.org is *drumroll*................
KRISTI!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
Shoot me an email at authormichellemclean(at)yahoo(dot)com with your address and I'll get your books sent out to you. :D
Thank you so much to everyone who followed me over to the OA - I'm sure you'll love being there!
We made it to 188 followers, which means we have 35 new followers, which means.......7 BOOKS!!!!
And the winner of those 7 books, picked by the ever handy Random.org is *drumroll*................
KRISTI!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
Shoot me an email at authormichellemclean(at)yahoo(dot)com with your address and I'll get your books sent out to you. :D
Thank you so much to everyone who followed me over to the OA - I'm sure you'll love being there!
October 23, 2010
Last Day to Enter!
Last day to enter the Operation Awesome Blog follower contest! Entries will be taken until 11:59pm TONIGHT.
To enter, be or become a follower of the Operation Awesome Blog and leave a comment on THIS POST FROM SUNDAY or THIS OTHER POST FROM SUNDAY.
:D
We are up to 185 followers, which means I will be giving away 6.4 books! (translated to 6 books and a collection of short stories or a novella :D ) Only 3 more followers and we have an even 7 books!
Winner will be announced tomorrow both here and on Operation Awesome!
To enter, be or become a follower of the Operation Awesome Blog and leave a comment on THIS POST FROM SUNDAY or THIS OTHER POST FROM SUNDAY.
:D
We are up to 185 followers, which means I will be giving away 6.4 books! (translated to 6 books and a collection of short stories or a novella :D ) Only 3 more followers and we have an even 7 books!
Winner will be announced tomorrow both here and on Operation Awesome!
October 22, 2010
Friday Funnies - How to Write a Book by Jackson Pearce
Today's Oh So True And Totally Funny Video brought to you by the ever Awesome Jackson Pearce - if you don't already follow her blog or subscribe to her youtube videos, you sooooo should! Oh, and buy her books too :D
And Reminder!!!! Entries for the Operation Awesome Blog contest close tomorrow! If you haven't posted a comment on my Sunday post from here or at OA, do it today! Or...tomorrow :D
And Reminder!!!! Entries for the Operation Awesome Blog contest close tomorrow! If you haven't posted a comment on my Sunday post from here or at OA, do it today! Or...tomorrow :D
October 21, 2010
Forty Word Thursday
It is worth mentioning…that the creative power which bubbles so pleasantly in beginning a new book quiets down after a time…Doubts creep in. Then one becomes resigned. Determination not to give in…keep one at it more than anything.
— Virginia Woolf
— Virginia Woolf
October 20, 2010
Give Yourself Some Credit
(REMINDER: Stop by the Operation Awesome Blog and become a follower for a chance to win a ton of books and a possible gift certificate! We are up to 4.6 books that I'm giving away already! (I will of course round up to the nearest book since I wouldn't want to send someone just part of a book) ;-) To enter, be or become a follower on the OA Blog and leave a comment on THIS POST or THIS ONE on my blog. Contest ends Saturday!)
One of my favorite quotes on writing is from Steve Martin, who said:
I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.
I think we, as writers, can get so caught up in the revising and querying and never-ending quest for perfection in our work, that we don't give ourselves the credit we deserve for accomplishing the huge task of actually WRITING.
Before I actually sat down and tried to write a novel, I had no idea the amount of work that went into it. I had this idea in my head that I'd sit at my computer for a month or two, crank out the novel, go through it a couple times to check for typos, and that would be it. I'd have an incredible book ready for publication. So when I finished my first book, it was a huge celebration. I was so excited. I felt so PROUD.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd spend weeks, months, and even YEARS agonizing over the exact right word. I had no clue that there were all these little "rules" I should follow, like trying not to use adverbs, finding ways around using the passive "was", cutting unnecessary dialogue tags, swearing off info dumps, building story and character arcs, and on and on and on.
I knew how to write. I've always been good at writing. But I had no real idea how to CRAFT my stories.
The problem was, now that I knew that writing a story involves so much more than just WRITING a story, I began to focus on everything I still needed to do instead of giving my self credit for what I had already done. Sure, I still got an excited thrill writing THE END on a first draft. But part of me was heaving a big sigh as well, because I knew it was just the beginning.
Yes, my first drafts are generally nothing more than guidelines for the "real" book that will be revealed after I cut or rewrite nearly everything. But I need to remember how AWESOME it is that I can get a first draft out at all. There are so many people out there who sit down to write a novel who quit four chapters in. Or who finish the book but never look at it again, never revise it, never edit, never rewrite over and over again.
And most of the writers I meet do this. They focus on everything they still need to do, which is good and necessary, but we need to remember to give ourselves a little pat on the back for accomplishing the massive task of taking a huge stack of blank paper and turning it into an amazing possibility.
Do you do this? Do you forget to give yourself credit for your accomplishments?
Your task today - give yourself a pat on the back...'cause you know you deserve one :)
One of my favorite quotes on writing is from Steve Martin, who said:
I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.
I think we, as writers, can get so caught up in the revising and querying and never-ending quest for perfection in our work, that we don't give ourselves the credit we deserve for accomplishing the huge task of actually WRITING.
Before I actually sat down and tried to write a novel, I had no idea the amount of work that went into it. I had this idea in my head that I'd sit at my computer for a month or two, crank out the novel, go through it a couple times to check for typos, and that would be it. I'd have an incredible book ready for publication. So when I finished my first book, it was a huge celebration. I was so excited. I felt so PROUD.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd spend weeks, months, and even YEARS agonizing over the exact right word. I had no clue that there were all these little "rules" I should follow, like trying not to use adverbs, finding ways around using the passive "was", cutting unnecessary dialogue tags, swearing off info dumps, building story and character arcs, and on and on and on.
I knew how to write. I've always been good at writing. But I had no real idea how to CRAFT my stories.
The problem was, now that I knew that writing a story involves so much more than just WRITING a story, I began to focus on everything I still needed to do instead of giving my self credit for what I had already done. Sure, I still got an excited thrill writing THE END on a first draft. But part of me was heaving a big sigh as well, because I knew it was just the beginning.
Yes, my first drafts are generally nothing more than guidelines for the "real" book that will be revealed after I cut or rewrite nearly everything. But I need to remember how AWESOME it is that I can get a first draft out at all. There are so many people out there who sit down to write a novel who quit four chapters in. Or who finish the book but never look at it again, never revise it, never edit, never rewrite over and over again.
And most of the writers I meet do this. They focus on everything they still need to do, which is good and necessary, but we need to remember to give ourselves a little pat on the back for accomplishing the massive task of taking a huge stack of blank paper and turning it into an amazing possibility.
Do you do this? Do you forget to give yourself credit for your accomplishments?
Your task today - give yourself a pat on the back...'cause you know you deserve one :)
October 19, 2010
Tutor Tuesday - Beginnings
One thing that is just as important in non-fiction as in fiction is a beginning. No matter what you are writing, whether it be a paper on the history of plumbing or a fast-paced thriller novel, you've got to get your beginning right.
Beginnings should introduce the topic at hand, let the reader know what they are about to read. Are you writing an essay on the history of donuts? You better have a thesis sentence in your opening paragraphs that lets the reader know that right up front. Or maybe you're writing a romantic suspense novel. Somewhere in that first chapter, the reader should what type of book they are reading. Meaning, that beginning needs to introduce both the romance and the suspense.
This doesn't mean you need to lay all your cards out on the table. For non-fiction, you usually are more open about what you are discussing, but even here you can hold back a little, give the reader a hint of what your arguments are, but save your big slamdunk winning evidence for the body of the essay or paper. (Though for non-fiction, you'll generally want to list your arguments from strongest to weakest instead of saving the best for last).
And for fiction, you can definitely keep a few surprises in store. But by the end of the first chapter, the reader should know what the main problem is, the issue the MC will be struggling with throughout the book, and by extension, they should know what type of book they are reading. For example, if by the end of the first chapter, the MC, who is a titled young lady who lives in Victorian England, has met a cute boy and seen a ghost, I have a pretty good idea it's going to be a paranormal historical with at least a hint of romance.
Beginnings can be difficult to nail and are something I always struggle with, especially in fiction. My first chapter NEVER ends up being my "real" first chapter. For non-fiction this isn't as much of an issue because you can, and should, come right out and say "this is what I'm discussing and here are my main arguments."
But it can still be difficult to get that opening exactly right. In fact, while in line edits with my soon-to-be-published book on writing essays and term papers, my editor and I ended up adding a whole new first chapter...because there was important information my readers need that I had buried in the middle of the book instead of showcasing right from the start.
So take your time on your beginnings. The beginning is what hooks your reader, no matter what genre you may be writing. It's worth it to get it right.
How do you do with beginnings? Are they easy for you, or do you, (like me), spend more time on them than the rest of the book put together? :)
Beginnings should introduce the topic at hand, let the reader know what they are about to read. Are you writing an essay on the history of donuts? You better have a thesis sentence in your opening paragraphs that lets the reader know that right up front. Or maybe you're writing a romantic suspense novel. Somewhere in that first chapter, the reader should what type of book they are reading. Meaning, that beginning needs to introduce both the romance and the suspense.
This doesn't mean you need to lay all your cards out on the table. For non-fiction, you usually are more open about what you are discussing, but even here you can hold back a little, give the reader a hint of what your arguments are, but save your big slamdunk winning evidence for the body of the essay or paper. (Though for non-fiction, you'll generally want to list your arguments from strongest to weakest instead of saving the best for last).
And for fiction, you can definitely keep a few surprises in store. But by the end of the first chapter, the reader should know what the main problem is, the issue the MC will be struggling with throughout the book, and by extension, they should know what type of book they are reading. For example, if by the end of the first chapter, the MC, who is a titled young lady who lives in Victorian England, has met a cute boy and seen a ghost, I have a pretty good idea it's going to be a paranormal historical with at least a hint of romance.
Beginnings can be difficult to nail and are something I always struggle with, especially in fiction. My first chapter NEVER ends up being my "real" first chapter. For non-fiction this isn't as much of an issue because you can, and should, come right out and say "this is what I'm discussing and here are my main arguments."
But it can still be difficult to get that opening exactly right. In fact, while in line edits with my soon-to-be-published book on writing essays and term papers, my editor and I ended up adding a whole new first chapter...because there was important information my readers need that I had buried in the middle of the book instead of showcasing right from the start.
So take your time on your beginnings. The beginning is what hooks your reader, no matter what genre you may be writing. It's worth it to get it right.
How do you do with beginnings? Are they easy for you, or do you, (like me), spend more time on them than the rest of the book put together? :)
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