Writing Passionates discussion
Read my Story/Story Help
>
goodreads writing 2
o yea bi the way brigid wen r u adding more to shades and untitled or unkown or whichever
Mod
Mod
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/1...
Thanks! :D
Mod
Mod
http://www.goodreads.com/story/list/8...
So this is a new story that i am writing with my friend. the story is based in modern day new york. There are a group of resurrectors (people who raise dead people's spirits and then place the spirit in another person's body so they will be able to control the person) these resurrectors have taken control of high government officials and police all over the world. No one notices. Other than three young teens.
Will they be able to save the world? or die?
Please review it please!
The link:
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...
Mod
http://www.goodreads.com/story/list/8...
Mod
Hey guys I'm deleting my story Fyre, so if you want to read it read it now. I'm going to delete it tomorrow so please read it whenever you can.
Thank you!
-Cali
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/1...
Thank you!
-Cali
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/1...
Mod
Cause, I don't want anyone to plagerize it, and I'm going to have it published anyway, if I can . . . so . . .
Nope. Hopefully I'll be able to find a Literary Agnet, and publisher and all that jazz. My only problem is trying to see which one's are scandals and which aren't. And how to write a query letter . . .
Mod
yeah, you too.
I've actually found this website that gave me the full process of everything that a Literary Agent does, and what you should do if such and such happens.
I've already got a list of Literary Agents to send my book to. So maybe this will work.
Here's the web if you're interested.
I've actually found this website that gave me the full process of everything that a Literary Agent does, and what you should do if such and such happens.
I've already got a list of Literary Agents to send my book to. So maybe this will work.
Here's the web if you're interested.
Mod
Cali wroteNope. Hopefully I'll be able to find a Literary Agnet, and publisher and all that jazz. My only problem is trying to see which one's are scandals and which aren't. And how to write a query letter . . .
Have you tried to sell your book directly to the publisher. I sold my first book that way 2 times. My first publisher was an Ebook publisher and went out of business shortly after my book was released. After about 3 queries I found a new home for my book. It is now avaliable in paperback at all the usual online sites. The main reason for no agent is I don't have to share the sales with a 3rd party. The way I see it is if you're lucky you might make 1 or 2 dollars a book, some times even less, then you share that with an agent. There are plenty of sites who list publishers that take unagented submissions.
Try
I know an agent can sometimes get you a better deal or market your book in a way to even get it sold, but IMHO I'd try to sell it my self first. One more thought, If the agent has several successful clients turning out sat 2 books a year and they take you, a first time unproven author, who do you think will get the majority of her promotion efforts. Remember, they're into this to make money. It is a business. So, in short, you can spend time and money looking for someone to sell your book for you and then wait for them to find a buyer or you can sell it yourself and have it published and save about half the time.
I hope this helps some.
G W Pickle
Makes sense, i'll take that into consideration. But what about the query letter, I'm already having some big trouble with that.
Mod
Kinda, i hate writing summaries.
As for Query letters, there are several books on that topic, usually they have examples. Here is my first Query letter for SENTI. It got my foot in the door and my book published as an E book. Now it is a paperback.Raine Richards
Editor-in-Chief
StarDust Press
Dear Raine:
We talked online (The management is planning to create a sister company to StarDust Press, catering to all genre (except erotica) and I believe your science fiction book would fit in here very well. At the moment, we are "unofficially" accepting submissions, as we are still building the website and have not released the call for submissions yet. However, you may submit your manuscript to me at XXXXXX.com and I'll let you know if it'll fit our guidelines for the sister company.) about a soon to be sister publishing company that StarDust will soon launch. You invited me to submit my book SENTI, thinking it might be suitable. I would like for you to review my manuscript and consider publishing SENTI.
Major Jack Waco is one of the best starship pilots SENTI Command has. Jack has earned many medals and citations for his actions and several star systems consider him a hero. But Jack knows he’s not. Heroes don’t let most of their unit die in combat or kill the woman they love. After flying solo for ten years, Jack is now forced to train Major Maggie Wilson as a SENTI pilot. She is smart, good looking, and reminds Jack of Emma, his one true love. Maggie also has her own secret agenda: revenge on those responsible for her husband’s death. During the next three months of training, Jack and Maggie battle political conspiracy, a rogue mercenary unit, and discover a new star system. Together they have a chance to build a new world and a new life.
SENTI is my first novel and the first book in a trilogy or possibly a series. I’m also planning at least one possibly two spin-offs. I have two years of college journalism and I have worked as a photojournalist for over three years. I belong to an online writers group, “Write Corner.� I have a poem and a short story published in an online magazine, Crossroads Magic. The short story was published a second time in another online magazine The Coffee Cramp Review. The poem has just been published in the 05 March online edition of Poetic Voices.
I am sending you a synopsis, and the complete manuscript for you to review. Thank you for your time. I am looking forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
G W Pickle
I first reminded the editor of our previous conversation (on line), next I ask them to review my manuscript, then gave a basic synopsis of my story. The next thing I did was explain to them about my book and my plans for future novels in this series. I went on to talk about my writing credentials. Last, I told them exactly what I was sending.
I hope this helps you with your query letters.
G W Pickle
Mod
Rachel Vater
FOLIO Literary Management
505 8th Avenue, Suite 603
New York, NY 10018
Dear Ms. Vater,
I understand that you are looking for young adult urban fantasy: something edgy and original, with touches of humor and romance--all elements that can be found in my novel, Soul Stealer. Soul Stealer is a modern-day, urban fantasy, currently 107, 935 words in length. Like Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Soul Stealer has a modern setting, yet a traditional fantasy twist.
Eva died at the age of sixteen. She is partly bitter over her death, which makes her job as a Soul Stealer -- an undead being who releases the souls of dying people into the spirit world -- difficult. Then, suddenly, her existence is threatened by a new force: a Soul Saver, whose name is David. David, a thoughtful and sensitive seventeen-year-old, has the ability to save people with his mind. Both teenagers have been suffering as they adjust to their new “lives�, constantly discovering the extent and importance of their powers, but each considers the other an enemy-- until the night that David’s life is the one in peril, and Eva makes a dangerous choice.
As seen through the alternating perspectives of Eva and David, the story is about their struggle to understand life, death, and their feelings for each other, while countless human souls hang in the balance. Soul Stealer will appeal to readers ages twelve and up, especially those who read urban fantasies, like those of Scott Westerfeld, or paranormal romances by authors like Stephenie Meyer.
Soul Stealer is my second novel, but it is the first one that I am trying to get published. I hope that you will give it consideration, for it acknowledges an important representation of how teenagers try to make sense of the complexity and irony of life and the significance of death.
Thank you very much for your time. Enclosed is the first chapter of Soul Stealer. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Brigid Gorry-Hines
so you have the agent's address above the letter, and your own address in the upper right-hand corner. you say "dear ms./mr. blahblah,"
In the first paragraph, you say specifically why you chose this particular publisher/agent. (They represent fantasy, and your book is a fantasy... You've read a book published/represented by this publisher/agent, etc.) You say the title of your novel, what genre it is, and its length.
Now you jump right into the summary. This was the hard part for me. Originally, my summary took up, like, an entire page. But you want to get it down to as few words as possible. So write it and rewrite it until it's as short as you can get it. It depends on what the agent/publisher specifically wants, but usually they want you to describe the main characters and the basic plot: not too many details, but enough so that they understand what the book is basically about.
In the next paragraph, you want to describe the intended audience for the book. What age group is it for? Is it for kids? teens? adults? What authors would you compare your own work to? (Name authors that are fairly popular; the publisher/agent wants your book to sell, and they want to know that you think your book will be popular--w/o you saying that directly, of course.)
Next, describe your experience. Have you had your work published before? Have you written any other books before? Be honest about this; if you've never been published, then say that. It could hurt your chances, in some cases, but the publisher/agent wants you to be honest.
Lastly, add a brief conclusion, thanking the publisher/agent for their time, and that you hope to hear from them. Attach the first chapter of your manuscript so that the agent gets an idea of what your story is like.
Overall, you want to try to sound confident. You don't want to be shy in this letter, and write something like, "You probably don't want to publish my book..." Because if the publisher/agent doesn't think you believe in your own work, then they won't want to publish it. On the other hand, don't write things like, "My book is the best book in the world." because that's an opinion; don't use opinions. Try to keep it simple and concise; the publisher/agent is not only trying to find out about the plot of your book from this letter, but also about your writing style. Try to make it all fit on one page; publishers/agents have a lot of queries to read.
I hope that helps! good luck. ;D
BrigidVery good query letter. The reason I didn't include the target group and some of the other info was editor has asked for a copy of my manuscript and we had already discussed most of the things in an on line interview earlier.
The main thing is there is no one hard set, exact way to write a query letter or synopsis, as each publisher seems to have a different standard and set of rules. I'd suggest reshearching each publisher you plan to submit to and adjust each query/synopsis accordingly.
G W Pickle
wow, that should help a lot, thx!!! And I'm actually thinking of sending it to a publishing company instead, I have one in mind, but the query's the big part right now.
Mod
Mod
Mod
well, i finally broke down and posted a snippet of my fluffy story I've been mentioning, that really isn't fluffy at all. it's kinda mysterious and scary, which this is the first time i've written anything like this... anyhoo... in case anyone is interested, i only posted like four pages to see if anyone would read it... here's the link:http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...
i hope that gets you there... not that anyone wants to read it. : )
Mod
Mod
oh dear... does that mean you want more?
Mod
haha, i posted more! it's just... i can't believe it. It's not my best writing whatsoever, and I feel like I'm cheating people. *cringes* it's just a side project that now I'll have to start worrying about writing it a bit better. but, i am deeply flattered, don't get me wrong! I'll post more as long as you peoplez want it!
Mod
Mod
haha *still blushing* you people are turning me into a walking tomatoe! thank you! and there is more. i guess I don't mind posting it, i just have a hard time believing anyone really wants to read it. but i guess i stand corrected! : )
Mod
Okay, I have a question now. If I do decide to get published, then after I send in the Query letter, and possibly accept me. What do I do? Do I have to pay anyone. What happens after that?
Mod
Mod
Writing Passionates
Books mentioned in this topic
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself (other topics)The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (other topics)
i am currently working mostly on one book its called hands (I do not have it on goodreads because i dont want anyone to take the idea...)
i am also working on a story called white walls
the link:
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...
i work on that wen i have writers block for the other or want to take a break from it.
sooooooo the stories i like on goodreads are a lot of brigids my favorite is SHADES i also like reborn and i love the story she is writing with her sister UNKOWN