N Is for Noah

Any Noah Lukeman fans out there? For those of you who don't know, Noah's an agent, but also a published author of a few gems. Check out: "The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile"; "The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life"; "How to Write a Great Query Letter" (a free Amazon Short); "A Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuation"; and "The Art of Punctuation". I have the first three books listed here and love them.

Now, Noah has informed me he has a blog where he'll answer questions from writers. Check it out here. How great is that? One more agent willing to give back to the writing community. Yay!

If you've read some of Noah's books, which was your favorite and why?

Conniving Cops Caught on Tape

Imagine this. You’re driving along, minding your own business, when your cat jumps out the window of your car and runs across the street. You slam on the brakes, worried about your kitty, when the car behind your smashes into your rear. Pretty easy to see the blame should be on the driver of the second vehicle because he was following too closely, right?

Well, what if you’d had little bit to drink? Should that affect the outcome? The driver in the second vehicle was still driving too close behind you. What about the fact that he was a cop? Does that mean the blame should automatically be on you? After all, you were drinking and driving…

I don’t condone driving under the influence at all, but falsifying police reports is a crime, too. This scenario actually did happen in south Florida. Four Hollywood police officers are on administrative leave pending further investigation. There’s a chance they may go to prison because one of their own cameras recorded them plotting to frame the drunk driver for the accident. They changed the story saying she swerved in front of the officer at the last second.

Sgt. Pressley, the officer who allegedly plotted the revised version of the story, said: "Well, I don't lie and makes things up ever because it's wrong. But if I need to bend it a little to protect a cop, I'm gonna."

Read the full story here.

What’s your take on this?

They Didn't Really Say That, Right?

As writers, we often borrow from real life situations to create believable stories. It’s good practice to listen to people speaking in order to create realistic dialogue. How do they get their message across? What word choices are used? But in doing so, you may encounter some crazy comments. This morning, I read an article titled “You Said What?!” by Rachel Zupek that lists 43 not-so-normal responses in job interviews. Here are a few gems:

-What kind of computer software have you used?
Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it.

-What are your weaknesses?
I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you.

-Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it.
I stole some equipment from my old job and I had to pay for its replacement.

This article is too funny to pass up. Read it here.

Have you heard any hilarious comments or questions lately?

Don't Stress Over Genre Classification

Recently, I had a discussion with a few writers about how to classify a particular manuscript. Was it a romantic suspense, suspense with romantic elements, or romance with some suspense? This is tricky because romantic suspense is a genre with a wide variety of stories. There are those that begin with a killing; some that start light and fluffy, but are interrupted with some sort of suspense; others that show a little humor mixed in with the suspense; and the list goes on. This particular classification really depends on the publisher. I’ve read romantic suspense novels that were at least 60% romance and 40% suspense (or less), but they were still considered r/s in the publisher’s mind. Sometimes, the scale is tipped even further. Certain publishers call a book a romantic suspense, when their competition has similar books out as romance with elements of suspense.

Considering all this, the author of the story was stressed. She didn’t know under what genre she should place her novel. After reading agent Jessica Faust’s post today, I think we can all rest a little easier. She says it doesn’t matter so much under which genre you put your story because that’s not what’s going to get it accepted or rejected. Agents simply like to know what your vision is for the book. If you said your story was a cozy mystery, but the agent felt it was better classified as a general mystery, she’d just re-categorize it. So, relax. Write the story, call it what you believe it to be, and let the experts go from there.

Have you been stressing over the classification of your book? What do you use as a guide when choosing the right genre for your manuscript?

Know Your Genre's Word Count

Have you done your homework? Lately, I’ve been noticing the progress bars on blogger sites and have wondered if everyone is aware of the expected word count for their genre. Jessica Faust from Bookends blogged about this last week. Here’s a recap:

-For the most part, 80K is a good number. It’s a little long for YA, but she thinks you can still pull it off.

-Mystery: 70-90K

-Romance: 80-100K (except category, check their specific listings)

-Fantasy or SF: 80-125K

-YA: 50-75K

-Women’s Fiction and others: 80-100K (even up to 125K for literary work)

There you have it. Are you on the right track?

To All Ye Scribblers Out There

Yay! We have an award for our scribbles. Thanks to Heather Sunseri and Jeannie Campbell for honoring me with the Superior Scribbler Award. I'm tickled!

According to the "rules":

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Congratulations go to:

*The Blood Red Pencil

*Patricia Stoltey

*Tess Hilmo

*Rene Miller Knudsen

*Elizabeth Spann Craig

Check out these blogs. They're great! Have a great weekend everyone!

When Do Agents Stop Reading?

If you haven't already read agent Jessica Faust's post today, you should. She talks about different things writers do when querying that cause her to stop reading. Agent Janet Reid did the same thing a few years back. Here's her link.

So, if you don't want an instant rejection from these agents or others (many will feel the same as these two), check out the lists.

Do you know of any other agents out there with a similar list?

Kill the Pain and Up the Pace Part 2

Yesterday, we talked about three pace killers. Here are some other elements to consider.


DIALOGUE AND NARRATION: There should be a nice balance between dialogue and narration. Sometimes, it’ll be 50/50. Other times, one will dominate and then the other. That’s fine as long as you change it up. Keeping the story at a 50/50 ratio becomes too predictable. Having too much dialogue or narration for long periods can tire the reader.

DIALOGUE ON ITS OWN: Dialogue tags slow down the pace, so use them sparingly. Also, if you want to speed up the pace, keep the dialogue short. Reading extended paragraphs of dialogue is like listening to a long winded person talking. At some point, you tune them out.

DESCRIPTION OVERLOAD: Settings and descriptions should be a intertwined in the story through action, thoughts, and dialogue. Stopping the story to dump a description of the setting is no longer the norm.

PLACEMENT OF PLOT TWISTS: If plot twists aren't placed in the correct spots, you may discover a sagging middle. If there aren’t enough turning points, the reader may feel there was no substance to the story.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Make sure all conflicts are resolved, but in a timely manner. Too soon and the end drags. Too late and the reader isn’t satisfied.


The bottom line is this. Many things affect the pace of a story: too many lines in a paragraph; too many paragraphs in a scene; too many scenes in a chapter; too many chapters; too many long sentences; too many short sentences; too many pages in a scene; and the list goes on. Learn to identify them. Kill the pain and up the pace!


Which pace killer does your story suffer from the most?

Kill the Pain and Up the Pace Part 1

Does Your Story Suffer from Pace Killers? Is your narration putting your readers to sleep? Do your actions scenes tire out your readers? Pacing is very subjective. What might thrill one reader could cause another to stop reading. However, there are a few elements that’ll ruin the pace every time.

BACKSTORY: Beware of the backstory dump. Yes, your story needs SOME backstory, but it should be hidden in the dialogue, action, and introspection. Weave it in a little at a time and remember you may need to know everything about your characters, but the reader doesn’t.

INTROSPECTION: When used properly in deep POV, introspection can bring a story to life. However, it’s often overused. The reader doesn’t need to know every single thing the character’s thinking just as you wouldn’t want to hear everything that crosses the mind of the person sitting next to you on the bus. Also, be careful where you place introspection. Don’t be predictable by starting every chapter or scene that way and don’t place it in the middle of a high action scene. Keep it real. He wouldn’t be thinking about her beautiful eyes while he’s fighting for both of their lives. Save that for slower scenes.

INFORMATION SWAP: Sometimes writers use this technique to avoid backstory dumps, but the effects are similar. Having two characters sitting at a coffee shop discussing their pasts. Something else must happen to liven up that scene. Maybe they get interrupted by someone else, which can cause conflict. Perhaps there’s some sort of distraction, like a robbery or a waiter who trips and knocks the dessert tray on one of the characters. Another option is to have the characters doing something as they have this exchange, but even there, it should be limited or you’ll be accused of adding too much information.


Tune in tomorrow for part 2.

Have you read a story that suffered from pace killers?

Quiz Time! Analyze Your Handwriting.

What does your handwriting say about you? Take this quiz to find out. Here's what I found out about myself.



-I'm logical and practical. I guard my emotions. (Okay, I'll accept that.)

-I'm well-adjusted and adaptable. (Thanks.)

-I'm spontaneous and relaxed. I find it easy to express myself. (Don't all writers?)

-I have an open mind and enjoy trying new things. (That depends.)

-I'm a people pleaser and I seek compromise. I avoid confrontation. (Ugh! Yeah.)

-I'm intellectually probing and like to study new things. (Hell ya!)



What did the quiz tell you about yourself?

Poor Pup

A 12 week old Chihuahua named Smokey was speared in the brain with a metal grilling fork. I can't believe he survived. Read the full story and view the incredible pictures here.

In a strange way, this reminds me of an incident I experienced with a young hamster I had. I went to pick him up and noticed something was really wrong. His eye was bulging out of its socket. It wouldn't have taken much for the eye to fall out and I didn't want that to happen. I rushed him to the nearest vet, who couldn't do anything for him. He said the eye could be removed and the hamster would live a normal life. What? I almost lost my breakfast. I didn't want him to be without an eye. Instead, I sped all the way to the animal hospital, a half hour away, praying the eye would stay put. There, the doctor preformed surgery. By the time I brought my hamster home, he was back to his normal critter self.

Have you ever had a close call with a pet?

DON'T FALL FOR IT!!!

Occasionally, something happens in the real world that I know wouldn’t be credible in fiction. Watching the news this morning, I came across another one of those situations. Apparently, someone has been calling hotel guest while they slept. Barely awake when they answer the call, the guest is shocked to hear there’s a major gas leak in the building. They are then instructed to do crazy things like “take the iron and smash the window”. Did any of the guests obey the caller’s demands? You bet. Between being half asleep and not questioning whether the person on the other end of the phone was really the manager, they got suckered in. The guests followed the prankster’s commands, costing hotels beaucoup bucks. Even a sheriff’s deputy fell for this ruse. Not only did he toss the mattresses out the two storey window, he considered doing the same with his children. Poor guy. He must’ve been embarrassed once he realized what had happened.

This post is for any of you travelers out there. Be aware of this prank and don’t fall for it.

Do you have any unbelievable stories to share?

Escape from Writer's Block

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? Many writers will tell you, it’s not fun. But how do you escape this agonizing situation? Here are six ideas to help you get unstuck.

-Small steps: Work on a small, easy part of your project. Can you revise a scene or rework some dialogue?

-Freestyle it: Set a timer for ten minutes and write about anything, preferably not something having to do with your story. This will stimulate your creative juices, so you can hopefully get back on track.

-Take a walk: Sometimes, the nastiest part of writer’s block is anxiety. We begin to believe the worst of our writing and think we’ll never write another word. Taking the time to remove yourself from the situation and calm down can sometimes help.

-Write someplace new: A different surrounding can often put you in the right frame of mind to create again.

-Write junk: Allow yourself permission to write without editing. Respect the first draft as a FIRST DRAFT. It won’t be perfect. Remembering that can get you writing again.

-Shift your focus: If you truly can’t get a word out, try working on something that helps develop the story. Interview your characters. Review your plot outline. Have a character journal about their feelings.

If all else fails, maybe you need a day off. Even the pros have to do this occasionally. Don’t beat yourself up. You’ll be back on the keyboard (or notebook) before you know it.

Do you have any quick fixes for writer’s block?

Manuscript Theft Part 2

Yesterday, we talked about the risk of manuscript theft. Does this mean you shouldn’t show your work to anyone before you have an agent? No. In fact, it’ll work to your benefit to have some trustworthy people read enough of it that they’d be able to vouch for your work in court, if the need should ever arise.

Another concern is that agents who also write may steal your book. That’s not likely. The publishing world is fairly small. Agents are aware how important it is to maintain a good reputation. If the word got out they’d stolen an author’s story, their career as an agent would be over.

Can someone steal your idea? You bet. You can’t copyright an idea. However, don’t be so naïve as to think your idea is unique and has never been done before. What makes your story different is your style, voice, the combination of characters, and the arrangement of the plot. The basic idea has been done over and over again. In fact, if I were to give ten writers the same subject to write about, they’d deliver 10 different stories.

By the way, don’t think once your published you’ll be safe from this problem. Nora Roberts, for example, has sued over the illegal use of her work.

Do you have anything to share on this subject?

Manuscript Theft Part 1

Is manuscript theft really a problem? I’d say for the most part we don’t have to worry about our entire manuscript getting stolen. It happens, but rarely. Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect yourself as much as possible.

Keep copies of your story. This means all versions and every change. That way, if you ever have to go to court to prove the story was yours, you’ll have something concrete to show. Some people go as far as mailing a copy of their finished manuscript to themselves. This only works if you don’t open the package once you receive it because the idea is to have the parcel inspected in court. Once it’s been determined the envelope or box hasn’t been tampered with, it will then be opened before the judge. At that point, you’ll prove that particular version of the story was written before the postal date.

Some writers have their work copyrighted, but that gets complicated. Your story automatically becomes copyrighted the moment you write it and then the publisher files for a copyright on your work once they buy it (or so I’ve been told). Other writers have also said paying to have your book copyrighted is a waste of time and money since there are other ways (as mentioned above) to prove you’ve written the work. Also, some say this comes across as amateurish to agents and editors.

Another way to protect yourself is to watch who you give your unpublished book to. If you’re letting the whole town read it, there’s a possibility someone might decide to take advantage of the situation and use the work as his own. One tricky thing about this is he’ll have to have some knowledge of the publishing industry so he knows to query agents or publishers. He wouldn’t get very far by simply sending the whole manuscript to an agent without a request for a full.

Come back tomorrow for part 2.

Have you been or are you now nervous of this happening to you?

Does Blogging Help Sell Books?

Lately, there's been some talk amongst bloggers about whether or not it's worth blogging. Are we really getting what we want from it? Will people actually buy our books if we mention them on our blog? What I've read in a few places is that not many people will. Infact, some agents say the amount of traffic you get on your blog won't influence your sales' numbers because a high percentage of your followers won't go out and purchase your book anyway. Oh, yeah? Take a look at Nathan Bransford's blog. Over three hundred people commented and many of them said they learned about the book their reading from a blogger they follow. So, keep blogging people. Get your name out there!

While we're on the subject, what do YOU get from blogging?

Sniff, Sniff.

Yesterday was a really sad day for me. I had to put my bunny to sleep. I’ve had him for 12 years (which is unheard of in the bunny world). But he was old. He’s been blind for a few years and had other minor health problems. However, when he no longer had control of his hind legs, I realized it was time. A bunny who can’t hop or stand isn’t a happy bunny. It was to the point where he’d fall onto his side and couldn’t move back onto his tummy. He basically stayed in one place whether it was to eat, drink, or “go potty”. Anything else meant pulling himself along with his front paws.

I wished he could’ve gone on his own, but he was a stubborn bunny. Even the veterinarian had a hard time doing the deed because his skin was so tough it bent the needle. Darn bunny just didn’t want to go.

I questioned my decision over and over because I didn’t want to play God. However, the bedsores and urine scalding were enough for me to accept this wasn’t the quality of life he deserved. The veterinarian agreed. There wasn’t anything more we could’ve done for him. I have to keep reminding myself of that because I feel so guilty.

Have you ever had to go through the loss of a pet?

Questions to Ask a Potential Agent Part 2

Here are some more questions to ask a potential agent before signing with them.

5) In the event of illness or death, what provisions have you made for continued representation? What if the agent has a sudden emergency and will be away from the office for an undetermined amount of time? What if he/she were to pass away? Who would take his/her place to ensure you continue to get paid or that your book doesn’t end up sitting on a desk for the rest of your career? Unfortunately, life happens. You need to know the agent has a plan in case something awful occurs. This is a business relationship. You need to protect yourself.

6) Can I contact a couple of your clients who write in the same genre I do? Most agents will be glad to let you interact with a client or two. Of course, they won’t send you to someone who may not be happy with them, but you can still get an idea of what kind of agent he/she is by chatting with a current client. How has this agent helped them with their career?

7) Will other people in your organization be handling my work at any time? Sometimes, you might sign with a big agent, but then his/her assistant is the one who ends up representing you. How would you feel if this were to happen?

No matter what, if you’re uncomfortable with an answer the agent gives you… DON’T HIRE THAT AGENT!!! There are other agents out there. Maybe it’ll be a while longer before you get an agent, but don’t settle. A bad agent is worse than no agent.

Are there any other questions you’d like to ask a potential agent?

Questions to Ask a Potential Agent Part 1

Are you agent hunting yet? Here are some questions you should ask an agent BEFORE you sign with them.

1) How do you approach career planning? Every agent is different. You want one that will fit with your style and expectations. How does the agent in question go about building your career? Is he/she looking for a career author? Do you have more than one book in you? If you write in multiple genres, will this agent be able to represent all of them? If not, you might want to reconsider. Having two agents isn’t the ideal situation.

2) What are your strengths as an agent? How much (if any) editing will he/she provide? How confident is the agent? All agents should be able to talk about themselves in a professional manner. How they answer this question can tell you a lot about their personality and whether or not you’ll click.

3) How involved are you in the developmental stage of your clients’ work? Some agents will shop anything you give them. Others will go over future ideas with you and help you decide which book would best fit your career plan. Some will assist you in writing your proposal and some will edit your manuscript before it’s sent out. The most important part of this conversation is to discover what kind of working relationship you’ll have with the agent. You don’t want to assume he/she will do all of this because not everyone does. Every agent is different.

4) What is your communication style? Does the agent prefer phone or e-mail discussions? How often should you expect to hear from the agent? What kind of response time do they anticipate after you’ve left a message for them? Some writers need to chat with their agents on a regular basis while others are content focusing on their writing. What kind of client will you be? Will this agent accommodate your style?

Come back tomorrow for part 2.

Have you thought about questions you'd ask an agent or were you planning on saying yes to the first one who offered representation?

Is it Query Time?

Is your query ready to go? Find out. Go to agent Janet Reid's second blog called Query Shark. There, you can have your query critiqued by a professional. She even lets you re-submit. So, what are you waiting for? Hop, hop. Get to it!

Another great site for those ready to query is Agent Query. Check out my post on AQ here.

Do you know of any other great blogs or articles on queries?

Congratulations!

I forgot to announce the contest winner before I left for vacation. Congratulations to Sarah Jensen for coming up with our romance critique group's name. We're called Rumored Romantics! Sarah, e-mail me with your book choice and address so I can send it out to you.