Dee Romito's Blog, page 11
October 15, 2014
How to Add Depth to Your Protagonist
Guest post by Angela Ackerman
I love it when a great story idea grips me. Often, it starts with one small thing…a sound or a flash image. Sometimes I’ll get both, something utterly sensory that sends a thrill through me, like the ominous flutter of a plastic grocery bag caught in a tree branch on a windy day. Immediately I’ll start to “know” things. There’s water nearby. A dead body lays in the reeds, a teenage girl. A boy with find her, one who has lost the ability to speak. Snippets trickle...
October 8, 2014
Query.Sign.Submit. with Roseanne Wells
Roseanne represents adult, young adult, and select middle grade fiction, as well as nonfiction. See her guidelines for more specific interests.
She responds to queries that she’s interested in. When an author queries, they will receive an email stating the time frame for requesting more material. It can vary, but she tries to keep it to 8 weeks or less. If you have not heard from her by then, it’s a pass.
To connect with and learn more about Roseanne . . .
October 6, 2014
Teen Speak - Mad
Back to Buzzfeed posts, the word “mad.”
Do not use this.
Rarely will a teenager use this in today’s day and age.
Maybe it happened in the 80s, but not today.
I’m sorry, Buzzfeed post, you are mistaken.*
But, to explain, the Buzzfeed post says “mad” can be used in a sentence such as: “Yo, Sarah is, like, mad chill. She’s one of the coolest chicks I know. I want to ask her to prom.” I’m sorry, but no one says “mad chill” anymore. No one even says “chill” anymore unless telling someone...
October 1, 2014
Query.Sign.Submit. with Anna Roberto
Anna is an Associate Editor at Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. She is interested in picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction. Her nonfiction tastes are very selective. She loves realistic contemporary, suspense, sci-fi, and LGBTQ.
To connect with and learn more about Anna . . .
Anna will be sharing her insight on the SUBMIT phase, from the editor side of things!
What do you love most about your job? Was it in your career plan or did it happen along the way?
Easy. Collabo...
September 24, 2014
Query.Sign.Submit. with Paula Stokes
Paula is the author of VENOM, BELLADONNA, and STARLING (writing as Fiona Paul), THE ART OF LAINEY, the e-novella INFINITE REPEAT, and five more books coming from HarperTeen and Tor Teen. She is represented by Jennifer Laughran at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
Connect with Paula . . .
Website
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Goodreads
Now for Paula’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!
QUERY
What advice would you give to querying writers?...
September 17, 2014
Query.Sign.Submit. with Kat Ellis
Kat is the author of BLACKFIN SKY, available in the UK from Firefly Press and in the US from Running Press Teen! She is represented by Molly Ker Hawn of the Bent Agency.
Connect with Kat . . .
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Tumblr
Goodreads
Now for Kat’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!
QUERY
How did you keep track of your queries?
I made up a nifty spreadsheet with columns showing the name of the agent, agency, stated response time...
September 11, 2014
Query.Sign.Submit. with Carly Watters
Carly represents Literary and Commercial Fiction, World Literature, Women's Fiction, Literary Thrillers, LGBT, New Adult, high-concept Young Adult, high-concept Picture Books, and up-market nonfiction in Health, Wellness, Memoir, Humour, Pop Science and Pop Psychology.
She responds to all queries when they come in to let you know they were received and when it’s a pass.
To connect with and learn more about Carly . . .
Now for Carly’s insight on querying, signing with a...
September 8, 2014
Teen Speak – I Can’t Even
I CAN’T EVEN
Now this is definitely a phrase I hear quite often, because I can’t even. I mean, it makes complete sense, right? Sometimes, there are just no words to describe what you’re trying to get across, hence why you simply blurt, “I can’t even.”
It’s definitely used when it comes to fandoms. According to the Buzzfeed post, teenagers use it when it comes to talking about swim practice after school and studying for a math test. In my experience, this would wind up with someone dropping...
September 3, 2014
Teen Speak – Familial Terms
FAMILIAL TERMS
These terms are on the way out, I think, but
occasionally I still use them because…well, because they’re easier, I guess.
The first word I want to discuss is “fam.” In short, it stands for “family.” I use this because the little voice in my head is lazy and so are my fingers. I don’t say it aloud, though, mind you.
In a sentence, it could look like: “I can’t hang out tonight. The fam is going out to dinner.”
Another familial term is “’rents.” In my opinion, this is als...
September 2, 2014
Five Questions with Marieke Nijkamp of DiversifYA
Marieke is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, and proud-to-be geek. She wants to grow up to be a time traveler, holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies, and is more or less proficient in about a dozen languages.
In the midnight hours of the day she writes young adult stories (ranging from contemporary to fantasy) as well as the occasional middle grade adventure, and all her stories have a sprinkling of wonder to them. Website ~ Twitter
1. What is DiversifYA?
DiversifYA...
