The reworking of the query is complete, and now I have gone through the entire manuscript, making minor changes here and there. I found a few typos, which still amazes me after how many times it has been read. I also modified several lines of dialogue.
So the time has come to submit my manuscript to the two agents from Backspace who had requested the entire thing. I am also submitting to two other agents I met there. I will also begin sending to agents who were not present at Backspace.
Now I am hoping for a phone call as opposed to a quick email response!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Writers Group
After reworking my query and the opening few pages based on feedback from the Backspace Conference, I had been eagerly awaiting my opportunity to read some of the update material to my writers group. Last night was the meeting, and it went well.
The group has become quite large, so the time allotted for reading your work and receiving feedback is quite limited. Therefore, I was only able to read most of the first two pages (single spaced). Many in this group had heard the original prologue and opening chapters. Before reading these pages, I explained that I had dropped the prologue.
The reaction was basically that they liked the original opening, but that this one was even stronger. They told me that the dialogue was very good and the action started quickly enough.
There were a couple of very minor suggestions, plus one suggestion that I think is a terrific idea, turning one phrase of dialogue into something a little more that can reveal something about the world I am introducing. I am working now on that change!
The group has become quite large, so the time allotted for reading your work and receiving feedback is quite limited. Therefore, I was only able to read most of the first two pages (single spaced). Many in this group had heard the original prologue and opening chapters. Before reading these pages, I explained that I had dropped the prologue.
The reaction was basically that they liked the original opening, but that this one was even stronger. They told me that the dialogue was very good and the action started quickly enough.
There were a couple of very minor suggestions, plus one suggestion that I think is a terrific idea, turning one phrase of dialogue into something a little more that can reveal something about the world I am introducing. I am working now on that change!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Opening Pages
I have heard from sources about getting published that an agent might stop reading after the first line, and if they get past that, then they need to want to read past the first paragraph, and then the first page or two. So the opening pages need to dazzle. They need to hook the reader so that they can't put it down.
This is easier said than done.
I have re-written my opening to CROSSING THE WILDERNESS many times now, and that does not include my discarding of the Prologue entirely. The problem is finding the right balance between getting right into the action versus giving a sense of who the main characters really are. Something exciting needs to happen quickly, but if the characters seem one-dimensional, you have not accomplished your task.
Feedback I received at the Backspace Conference regarding my opening fell very much along these lines. On the first day, the agents felt that the first pages included too many venue changes and brought in the name of a throw-away character needlessly - too confusing for the opening page. So that night I changed the scene so that the two main characters no longer eat in a cafe before going to the bar (where the action begins), and I cut out the dialogue in which they mention a cute bank teller.
The 2nd day the critique was that the main character was not edgy enough and the dialogue was too boring and inconsequential for the first page. And as for the dialogue, I realized that I needed to change it so that a strong clue was given that this is an alternate-history United States. Originally, my prologue provided that context, but the prologue is gone.
So now it's back to work on another rewrite...
This is easier said than done.
I have re-written my opening to CROSSING THE WILDERNESS many times now, and that does not include my discarding of the Prologue entirely. The problem is finding the right balance between getting right into the action versus giving a sense of who the main characters really are. Something exciting needs to happen quickly, but if the characters seem one-dimensional, you have not accomplished your task.
Feedback I received at the Backspace Conference regarding my opening fell very much along these lines. On the first day, the agents felt that the first pages included too many venue changes and brought in the name of a throw-away character needlessly - too confusing for the opening page. So that night I changed the scene so that the two main characters no longer eat in a cafe before going to the bar (where the action begins), and I cut out the dialogue in which they mention a cute bank teller.
The 2nd day the critique was that the main character was not edgy enough and the dialogue was too boring and inconsequential for the first page. And as for the dialogue, I realized that I needed to change it so that a strong clue was given that this is an alternate-history United States. Originally, my prologue provided that context, but the prologue is gone.
So now it's back to work on another rewrite...
Monday, November 7, 2011
Agents and your Opening 2 Pages
The Backspace Writers Conference includes two sessions during which a pair of agents listen to your opening two pages. Here is some of what I learned:
- start with the main story, not a prologue
- make sure you start at the correct spot, with action or some hook that propels the reader past the first paragraph
- don't waste any space in the first two pages on boring dialogue or backstory that can come later
- be careful of switching the Point of View (whose head are we inside?) - keep it consistent
- make sure you show, don't tell when letting us get to know a character!!!!
Agents and Query Letters
Based on feedback from the Backspace Conference, here are some do's and don'ts on writing query letters:
DID NOT LIKE:
DID NOT LIKE:
- word counts over 100,000 words
- too wordy, too much detail - get to the point
- using any cliches
- using language that is too flowery, too metaphorical for a query, "over-written"
- storyline simply does not make sense
- weak, useless adjectives, like "she was beautiful"
- including personal info that is not in any way relevant
- stories that are mostly flashbacks
- bizarre, non-traditional format, like a press release style
LIKED:
- word counts from 80,000 - 99,000
- show the conflict that drives the story
- introduce main characters in a way that is brief but that makes them interesting
When reading my query for CROSSING THE WILDERNESS, the two agents stopped me and praised my letter, saying I should send them the entire manuscript. It was quite a thrill, to say the least!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Social Networking and Web Presence
Every agent seems to say that you should have a strong web presence. They refer to having your own web page, having a blog, using twitter, using Facebook, etc.
But then you also find out that if your blog does not have hundreds of thousands of followers, an editor will not care about it. So what is an author to do?
The first thing to know is that a negative web presence is far worse than an absence of web presence! What I mean is that if you write about how some agent is an idiot for not "getting" your idea or not liking your opening, then you are shooting yourself in the foot. And if you post nasty comments of embarrassing photos on Facebook, that will also work against you. Every agent or editor WILL google your name before taking you on, and if you are associated with negative postings, your value will drop.
So how do you get 100,000 followers on on your blog or Twitter? Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that out.
As for having a web page, it is like having a home for your readers or potential agents/editors to find out about you. I currently have a page on Publishers Marketplace (
in addition to this blog, but I will need a standalone web page as well. And you should, too!
But then you also find out that if your blog does not have hundreds of thousands of followers, an editor will not care about it. So what is an author to do?
The first thing to know is that a negative web presence is far worse than an absence of web presence! What I mean is that if you write about how some agent is an idiot for not "getting" your idea or not liking your opening, then you are shooting yourself in the foot. And if you post nasty comments of embarrassing photos on Facebook, that will also work against you. Every agent or editor WILL google your name before taking you on, and if you are associated with negative postings, your value will drop.
So how do you get 100,000 followers on on your blog or Twitter? Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that out.
As for having a web page, it is like having a home for your readers or potential agents/editors to find out about you. I currently have a page on Publishers Marketplace (
| http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/davekritz/) |
Self Publishing
The agents at the Backspace Conference gave advice concerning self-publishing. One theme was that should you decide to self-publish, make sure you do it right - get a professional editor to go through the manuscript, hire someone professional to do the cover art, etc.
Go into it with the understanding that 99.9% of those who self-publish will not sell more than a few dozen copies at most.
The most important point was that once you publish something, you now have a sales data track record. And a bad sales track record will kill your chances to ever get the book published by a major publishing house. For example, if you do not sell tens of thousands of copies of your self-published book, it will go on your record as bad sales data, and it will come to haunt you in the future.
Go into it with the understanding that 99.9% of those who self-publish will not sell more than a few dozen copies at most.
The most important point was that once you publish something, you now have a sales data track record. And a bad sales track record will kill your chances to ever get the book published by a major publishing house. For example, if you do not sell tens of thousands of copies of your self-published book, it will go on your record as bad sales data, and it will come to haunt you in the future.
Advice from Agents
During the panel discussions at the Backspace Conference, there were some useful tidbits. Here are a few:
- Editors are looking for an author that they can make into a "brand." For example, everyone knows that when you buy a John Grisham novel, you know it is probably going to be a certain type of legal thriller. You need to be able to write more of the same type of book.
- More and more, they are looking for works that are "voice-driven." Having a strong voice is critical yet so hard to do.
- Promising to do promotional work or other things is completely irrelevant. Saying that you "will do" this or are "willing to do" that mean nothing to an editor - they want to know what you have already proven. For example, if you have a very successful blog (100,000 followers) or a radio spot or a magazine column, that they care about.
- Agents are looking for a book with all three of these:
- great premise
- great voice
- great page-turner
- Must not want to put it down, pace is critical
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Prologues
I have discovered from speaking with many agents at the Backspace Conference that as a general rule, agents despise prologues. They will tell you that unless the prologue is absolutely positively essential to the plot of the story, drop it. It seems that historical fiction is the one genre in which prologues sometimes make sense, but still only sparingly.
The other lesson is that when sending out a query and the first x pages to an agent, sending the prologue does not make sense because it usually does not involve the main characters of the book and might have a very different style than in the real story.
For my book CROSSING THE WILDERNESS, I had written a prologue. I love the prologue, and I believe it is helpful in giving the reader a sense of what my alternate history world is all about. But I now know not to send it out to agents - I will start with chapter 1.
The other lesson is that when sending out a query and the first x pages to an agent, sending the prologue does not make sense because it usually does not involve the main characters of the book and might have a very different style than in the real story.
For my book CROSSING THE WILDERNESS, I had written a prologue. I love the prologue, and I believe it is helpful in giving the reader a sense of what my alternate history world is all about. But I now know not to send it out to agents - I will start with chapter 1.
Making the Most of the Backspace Conference
This conference is tremendously helpful in 4 major ways:
1) You get direct feedback from agents about your work. In most cases you will receive constructive criticism, and sometimes they will make suggestions about your plot or characters that they believe will make the book much more appealing. The most frustrating aspect of this is that you will often receive conflicting advice from different agents, and it is up to you to discern which suggestions are right for you. If you are very lucky, one of the agents critiquing your work will ask you to send them something after the conference.
2) Speaking with agents so that you can query them after the conference. This one is really important! After the panel sessions, the agents on the panel (sitting behind a long table on the dais) will usually stick around for 15 minutes. Be quick. Get up there and approach any agents on the panel who might be a good fit for your type of book.
What I do is politely say that I am wondering if it would be appropriate for me to query them on my project, and then I briefly give them a pitch as to what my book is all about. I did this with 12 agents, and only one said that he did not feel that he would be the right person to represent my book. For the others, I asked what, precisely, I should send. The typical answer was to send the query plus 50 pages or 3 chapters. One agent wanted me to send the query plus one special scene from the book - I liked that.
The key here is that after I spend time improving my query letter and my manuscript based on suggestions I received from the agents, I will be able to email these agents directly with a subject header that says something like "Follow-up from Backspace Conference." I know that these emails will be read and treated more carefully than simply one of hundreds of other emails received each week.
3) Learning more about the industry. During the panel discussions, the agents talk about their business and how they work with authors and editors.
4) Meeting other authors. This is a good opportunity to find others like yourself and with whom you can perhaps form writers groups. We all need to receive feedback from non-friends and non-family members!
1) You get direct feedback from agents about your work. In most cases you will receive constructive criticism, and sometimes they will make suggestions about your plot or characters that they believe will make the book much more appealing. The most frustrating aspect of this is that you will often receive conflicting advice from different agents, and it is up to you to discern which suggestions are right for you. If you are very lucky, one of the agents critiquing your work will ask you to send them something after the conference.
2) Speaking with agents so that you can query them after the conference. This one is really important! After the panel sessions, the agents on the panel (sitting behind a long table on the dais) will usually stick around for 15 minutes. Be quick. Get up there and approach any agents on the panel who might be a good fit for your type of book.
What I do is politely say that I am wondering if it would be appropriate for me to query them on my project, and then I briefly give them a pitch as to what my book is all about. I did this with 12 agents, and only one said that he did not feel that he would be the right person to represent my book. For the others, I asked what, precisely, I should send. The typical answer was to send the query plus 50 pages or 3 chapters. One agent wanted me to send the query plus one special scene from the book - I liked that.
The key here is that after I spend time improving my query letter and my manuscript based on suggestions I received from the agents, I will be able to email these agents directly with a subject header that says something like "Follow-up from Backspace Conference." I know that these emails will be read and treated more carefully than simply one of hundreds of other emails received each week.
3) Learning more about the industry. During the panel discussions, the agents talk about their business and how they work with authors and editors.
4) Meeting other authors. This is a good opportunity to find others like yourself and with whom you can perhaps form writers groups. We all need to receive feedback from non-friends and non-family members!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Backspace Day 1
So much to talk about. There were two agent panels, a query reading, a manuscript-opening reading, and another agent panel.
First the quick reactions:
I participated in the Commercial Fiction group. My query was the 2nd to last to be read. The two agents ripped into most of the queries, nut their suggestions were insightful and helpful. Some of the queries were in great need of work (more later). The agents requested the first 5 pages from one of the authors, but nothing from most.
When I read mine, they stopped me after the first two paragraphs and declared that they already read enough to request the entire manuscript! So I was given the business cards of both agents.
The afternoon reading did not go as smoothly for me. The next two agents did not like my opening two pages. They felt that it started off too slowly, the dialogue was too stilted between best friends, and the scene changes to too many venues in 2 pages.
It was useful feedback and I will make changes.
More to come...
First the quick reactions:
I participated in the Commercial Fiction group. My query was the 2nd to last to be read. The two agents ripped into most of the queries, nut their suggestions were insightful and helpful. Some of the queries were in great need of work (more later). The agents requested the first 5 pages from one of the authors, but nothing from most.
When I read mine, they stopped me after the first two paragraphs and declared that they already read enough to request the entire manuscript! So I was given the business cards of both agents.
The afternoon reading did not go as smoothly for me. The next two agents did not like my opening two pages. They felt that it started off too slowly, the dialogue was too stilted between best friends, and the scene changes to too many venues in 2 pages.
It was useful feedback and I will make changes.
More to come...
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Backspace Tomorrow
I am trying to prepare for the writers conference tomorrow in NYC, but am still without power and heat. I am at a friend's house using his printer (and wifi). This is not the ideal scenario, but I am making do.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
In the Dark
I haven't had a chance to do any blogging lately - that's because we lost power Saturday morning in the storm and still have no power or heat. Hopefully things will be back to normal by Thursday, when I head to the Backspace conference.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)