Advice Column? I think NOT...

I was contacted recently by a very nice stranger who heard I had a book being published and wanted advice, tips, pointers on how to go about getting the same results with his. He'd completed his novel and started the query process. And while I'm not about to start an advice column for obvious reasons, I did want to toss out some of the things I suggested.

I fired off my favorite and most extraodinary blogs: Janet Reid, Nathan Bransford, Kristin Nelson, etc., gave him some pointers on what to look for in self edits and pointed him to some awesome sites like Agent Query and Query Tracker. I covered everything I could think to cover in the way of helpful tips. Except MY OWN BLOG!! Complete #der moment.

We exchanged a couple of emails and I did my best to keep him motivated, but warned him about rejection and keeping a thick skin. Of course the most common rejection possibilities were named, but I thought seriously about mentioning the thing I think most seasoned writers want to mention and don't, which is this: Be cautious of the way you perceive your very first writing project.

It's our BABY. We nurture it, we're attentive, we pet it even. Passersby must shield their eyes from our beaming smiles. And we have much to express pride over! We completed a novel! How many people get to say that? Ok, don't mention slush piles here please. My point is, it is WONDERFUL. But is it? Is it so mind blowing awesome agents will scrap over it? Query it to big houses who'll offer advances?

In most cases, no. On closer inspection, it's riddled with newbie mistakes. While mistakes won't prevent a good agent from seeing a true work of art, they will keep us from gaining that much needed experience of spotting them and eventually avoiding them altogether. So while it's a catch 22, it's all part of the learning process and elevates us to that coveted seasoned status.

Wherever you are in your novel journey, the one thing to remember, to keep reminding yourself even through the lows is to remain positive. Stay upbeat and when inspiration wilts, seek it in places like the sites mentioned above. You'll not only glean their encouragement, but their knowledge as well. Good luck and happy writing! :D

Sea...Definitely Sea

I was recently tagged in a blog award post by my #1 blog fan (You guys gotta do some serious commenting to keep up with this gal! :D ) @carolinaciucci  She asked some great questions and I'm breaking the rules here by not posting the rules and tagging more peeps. But I love these questions, so they are blog fodder today and I'm paying forward the love to the lovely Carolina. Thanks, Dahling... 

1.      What was the first book you fell in love with?

      Those cardboard books for toddlers I cut my teeth on. The stories that involved peril, chases and damsels ready to be devoured really got the drool going. Literally. LOL!! So I guess it's not that big of a surprise that I love short stories. I had a collection of fairy tales when I was a child. The book was bigger than I was and I'd sit immersed in the scariest tales with the most horrible illustrations for hours. My favorite works in later years were Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, Edgar Allen Poe's Tell Tale Heart, and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. I thrived off the angst and torture involved. Creepy makes me smile, what can I say?

2.      Who’s your ‘feel good’ author?

      I'm an author junkie. Any author can make me feel good because I love to see a fresh solution to a fatigued enigma. Really, who can sit down and write a story that's never been written before? No one. Who can write a story using a new perspective with a crazyfresh slant to it? Everyone has different ideas, methods of reaching that same point B. I want to see it for myself and until I have time to read everything everyone's ever written, I won't be satisfied.  : )

3.      Winter or summer?

      No brainer. SUMMER.

4.      Which is/was that one school subject you have nightmares about?

      Trigonometry. Enough said.

5.      Number one literary crush?

      Janet Evanovitch.  HOW does she come up with this stuff? *reaches down* *picks up jaw*

6.      Do you have any obsession? If so, details are requested.

      I'm obsessive by nature so I'm easily fascinated. When I become fascinated, I need to know everything from A-Z about the subject. I usually spend 2-3 weeks learning all I can about it, then move on to the next wonder.

7.      Sea or mountain?

      Sea, SEA, SEA!!!!!

 8.  What do you think about books being made into movies?

      I'm usually a tad disappointed by movies of books I've read, but if we're talking about MY book, YES, PLEASE!

 9.   E-readers: yes or no?

      Yes. E-readers might threaten the sale of print books, but nothing will replace holding a book in my hand and I will always continue to buy print books. I would hope others will too, but I won't give up my e-reader. No way. It allows me to carry a thousand books in my purse without throwing my back out. And we all need to carry a thousand books around with us everywhere we go right? Yep! : )

A Fairy Tale Come True...

Fairytales are lovely things. They turn books into dreams and little girls into dreamers. They give us fairydust-tinged awesome and princesses in far away lands.

Today's post is all about fairytales because of my lovely and beautiful Twitter friend, Stephanie Alexander.

She's just as wonderful as she seems and I adore her. She's here to tell us about her book, The Cracked Slipper. Hi Steph and welcome! So what's all the buzz about?

When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle. 

Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor’s eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matters worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.
Eleanor can’t resist Dorian’s honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people’s love can’t protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love.
The Cracked Slipper is a book club friendly fairytale retelling in the vein of Gregory Maguire, with a dash of romance. Set in a pseudo-renaissance, corset-and-petticoats enchanted kingdom, The Cracked Slipper brings a magical twist to women’s fiction.

To grab a copy for yourself, click here! Check out Stephanie's blog for the story behind why she wrote Cracked Slipper. It's VERY cool and one of the reasons I bought it!  Also follow her on  Twitter where you too can crush on the gorgeousness that's Steph.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Steph. Good luck with The Cracked Slipper! We can't wait for more so we wanna see you back here with your next published story! Happy Friday!

Once Upon A Prize Package...

Not very long ago, in a far away eland, sat a girl...following Tweeps
she found under an enchanted #amediting hashtag. The girl searched the foggy forest high and low for the perfect contact. She looked and looked until she came to @inkyelbows

The girl raised an eyebrow, mesmerized by such a name. Her fingers hovered over the magic mouse, twitching with excitment. Unable to resist the siren's song, the girl clicked and watched, amazed as sparkling fairy dust exploded and rained down upon her.

She was @inkyelbows 's 16,000th Follower!!!!

And this is what the lovely Debbie sent her.

The plain and boring girl was instantly transformed into a beautiful blogging princess and lived happily ever after...

Thank you Debbie for the lovely, hand drawn card!! You can find Debbie's blog here . Check her out and show her some Friday love!!!

Welcome Julie Anne Lindsey, author of BLOOM

Today, I have the HUGE honor of welcoming my online bestie, Julie Anne Lindsey. She's not just a best friend, she's a mentor. She's fueled my fire for this crazy writing career from the very start, kept me informed on the latest education, blog tips, and Twitter peeps. She taught me how to critique (smileys and hearts welcome), outline, write a synopsis and how to be there for my writer buds. Best of all, she's gigantor leaps ahead of me in this business so I learn more from her each day. You see why I'm so excited! Cartwheel breaks were necessary just to write this intro! *controlled breathing* *soothing thoughts* Oh, cram it. We all know there's nothing controlled or soothing about me. *CARTWHEEEEEEEELS ALL AROUND*

Julie's let The Write One in on her BLOOM blog tour and we're so glad she did! If you don't already know her, (this is near impossible, but I'll include the IF scenario for good measure), you're missing out on pure sunshine. And here she is...

Thank you SO MUCH Val! I can’t believe I’m on my first blog tour! SQUEEE! It’s really real! OMG *fans face* And guess what else? I have a secret. The heroine in my debut novella was inspired by y-o-u! Yep. Truth. You.

Loud & Exuberant is Funny!

I love a good romance. Who doesn’t? What I don’t love is a heroine who’s too demure. Too proper. Too snorey. When I sat down to write my first sweet romance, I knew I had to create a woman who would make readers smile. I mean, no one was getting nekkid in this book, so I had to amp it up another way, right?

I like loud and exuberant. Big personalities make me smile. I wanted my heroine to have one. I was working up the details of a fun and sassy heroine when a story of Valerie Haight (your blog hostess extraordinaire) came to mind. She fell over a coworker! Literally fell on them. AT work.  LOL I still laugh. And she and I both get ourselves into messes by speaking first and thinking later.

I couldn’t help wonder what a decent hero might do if faced with the likes of Val and I? It was this course of thought that led to my first sweet romance heroine. Cynthia Potter was born.

In Bloom, my heroine Cynthia says what she means…at the moment… and causes a problem or two as a result. She’s feisty. I like her. She puts her foot in her mouth – a lot. Gets caught kissing someone she didn’t intend to kiss.  (Who hasn’t been there? LOL) And makes an embarrassing discovery of biblical proportions. ß that’s a Bloom joke. LOL Ahhh, she’s a woman after my own heart.

Writing sweet romance has opened up a whole new world for me. There isn’t going to be a big physical consummation to strengthen or solidify the relationship between her and hero. So, the story has to captivate. The chemistry has to zing! The banter has to Zip! The “Kiss her already!” moments have to get you. In a sweet, the whole book leads up to the all important confession, “I love you.” In sweet romance, the fun is in getting there.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet & sassy heroine , I hope you’ll visit Honey Creek. It’s a beautiful place where anything can happen. Kick off your shoes, relax into that porch swing and cuddle up to a steamy hot toddy. Taking a trip to Honey Creek is as easy as Amazon : ) See you there!

Bloom by Julie Anne Lindsey

In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future…

Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one.  Now Cynthia’s come home, and these two hardened hearts can’t stop arguing. If they’d only take a break long enough to find some common ground, they might be surprised to find love can grow anywhere.

If they’ll let it, love will find a way to Bloom.

*Bloom is book one in my new Seeds of Love series.  I’ll be planting those seeds all year.

About Julie:

I am a mother of three, wife to a sane person and Ring Master at the Lindsey Circus. Most days you'll find me online, amped up on caffeine & wielding a book.

You can find my blogging about the writer life at Musings from the Slush Pile

Tweeting my crazy at @JulieALindsey

Reading to soothe my obsession on GoodReads

And other books by me on Amazon

What's In A Book?

It happens to every author at some point in their writing career. We all stop and think commercially once in a while and we find ourselves asking the question, "What makes a great book?"

I'll wait while you envision miniature purple fire-breathing dragon faeries, non-sparkly vampires, or ripped and oiled hotties defending their fair maiden's honor. And thank goodness those dragonish things were miniature, right?

This, much like everything in the publishing biz, is subjective. For some, genre's where it's at. Others read anything that showcase the author hitting the sweet spot on pacing, plot or character/world building. For others, structure and/or conflict resolution could make or break the deal.

Whether or not grammatical nuances affect your opinion of a book, I think it's safe to say after polishing occurs, the layering of the novel is key. If the supple vixen travels through the entire book to find her prince, the job of getting her from Point A to Point B was done. But if she defends her magical heirloom amulet from centuries old spell-crazed wizards while slipping through the clutches of the evil King who wishes to marry her, that's not only done, it's sublime.

The reader comes away with a deeper sense of satisfaction at the resolution, even if (and because) he/she is dragged through the ringer right alongside the MC. The stakes are higher, there is more to fear/worry/dread. The more emotion you pull from your reader, the longer he/she will remember your book. And if you cause enough trouble, they might remember you and your book for life.

Whaddya say we shoot for that lifelong fan, eh? Leave a comment here and let me know what your idea of a great book is.

The "P" Word...PATIENCE In The Waiting Game

Waiting is a given in this biz, but that doesn't make it any less of a drag. We want what we want and we want it yesterday, right? 

I know firsthand because I redefine "impatient" every single day. But children and writing teach patience. So whether you're potty training or querying a saga, there's a process one must follow...all the while utilizing-you got it-patience.

I've heard so many people question whether or not it's okay to email the agent/editor inquiring about status. The truth of the matter is, agents wait too! They're waiting on responses from editors and publishers and just as we're counting the days hours minutes since we received that auto reply, rest assured, they're playing the waiting game too.

How we handle ourselves during this lull is crucial. Emailing said agent fourteen times a day earns us the big red CREEPER stamp. Not following up after that six weeks might prove fatal if the agent somehow never received the query.

One thing's certain, there is much to be done while we wait. The most important thing is to keep writing. If you land an agent and sign a contract, guess what he/she's going to want from you? MORE of your awesomeness. And that awesomeness needs to be completed, polished and ready to query by the time you finish edits on your first book. If you're lucky enough to have polished manuscripts just lying around, there's marketing to be done. *eyegleam* Platforms, social mingling, and expanding your knowledge on the ins and outs of the publishing biz is all very important and will play a key role in the success of your novel. You can also keep your mind off the mouse with articles. Submit to awesome sites like WOW! Women On Writing or check out QueryTracker for the latest agent scoop.

Whether you're subbing sublime or tossing Twitter Glitter, keep at it! Keep moving toward your goal. You WILL get there...unless you give up. And 'round here, giving up's not an option.

Now go ROCK that writing bug and make sure you come back here to report your successes!! :D

I recently dusted off an unfinished manuscript because I had visions of melting in a pool of sweat and tears while botching  pitching it this summer.

Problem: The story was based on a vision. Not a dream, but an image I had just before sleep of a barefoot girl tiptoeing down a hallway, the light playing in her red hair. She was frightened and unable to turn away from some faceless terror. She crept forward and I was intrigued. So I wrote. Without motivation. I ended up with 10K words and a handful of characters that also lacked direction.

Solution: Outline. To those of you that know I'm a pantser thru and thru, you know how devastating this must've been for me. I also didn't just wake up with the outlining light bulb above my head. No way. Several good friends mentioned outlining to help me figure out where my characters were headed and why. I resisted. For weeks. But alas, I pounded one out and I'm amazed at the results.

Now, I'm adding to my ms with a purpose and a passion. It's only a page of bullet points, people. No fancy schmancy here. And although I don't expect to stick to the outline word for word, I've gotta say, the manuscript sparkles because of it! The striking difference it's made is fantastic! This story was once was a park stroller. Now, it's a marathon runner sprinting for a prize!

If ever you find your story lacking motivation, I suggest looking into an outline for a change of pace. Also yet another SO to my critty pals who made me do it. Tee hee. Thanks, gals...and guy.

Writer Support

This writerly stuff. It's HARD!

I'm not saying I know what you're going through or that I have it rougher than you. I don't even pretend to know what literary battles you face. I just know anytime we choose to tackle an endeavor that's worth the end reward, we tend with strife and sometimes acquire a few battle scars.

I'm here to tell you to keep your chin up, keep marching on and don't forget to smile.  :D

Gaining organizational tools, inspiration and a few belly laughs won't hurt either. I'm good at some of that so feel free to vent here. And I'd be willing to bet you'll be received with open arms anywhere inside the writing community. I've got a slew of internet buds who've been awesome to me!

So, just in case you're struggling, stumbling or just sighing, DO give us a shout. We can lend you a hand, a smile, or a word of encouragement. Use us. That's what we're here for.

Welcome Jennifer Gracen of Jennifer Gracen Copy Editing & Proofreading Services

Today's post is for those writers who have ever thought of hiring a copy editor. I've often wondered about this topic myself, so I decided to nab someone knowledgeable to give us deets on copy edits and ask why we should consider them.

Enter Jennifer Gracen -- aka Twitter’s Head NaNo Cheerleader and proud #Pubwrite member, aspiring author, and now the principal member of Jennifer Gracen Copy Editing & Proofreading Services. The website for that is: http://jgce.wordpress.com/

I'll wait while you shield your eyes from the awesome...





The uberawesome Jenn Gracen


Anyone who’s come across her online quickly senses the amazing spirit Jennifer exudes, especially in her daily tweets. In the fall, she was raucously cheering others on to keep writing during NaNoWriMo; in general, she cheers and supports others at any opportunity. This lady ROCKS awesome and she's perfect Twitter Glitter. Upon tweeting Jenn and soaking up her phenomenal bubbling personality, I had some questions about her latest venture, and she's graciously agreed to take time out of her hectic schedule to answer them here.

THANKS AND WELCOME, JENNIFER!!! *cheers* *claps* *whistles*
 *Jennifer blushes, gives a little bow and a grin, and sits down for the questions*

Q:  What are copy edits and why should we, as writers, look into this before seeking publication?
A: Sure, start me off with a two-part question! Just kidding. Okay, ready?

Part One: A copy editor, put in simplest terms, corrects things. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, use of past/present tense, you name it -- whatever I see that is incorrect and needs fixing, I fix it. Copy edits make your work cleaner, tighter, and smoother to read.

Part Two: This is just a basic fact: ALL writers need their work copy edited before seeking publication. I cannot stress how important it is, especially now when self-publishing has exploded. One of the biggest complaints people have with self-published authors, and we’ve all heard it, is how many books are put out there without having been edited, and it shows. When someone publishes a book that hasn’t been copy edited, the mistakes are sometimes so numerous, or so glaring, that it makes the reader wince. Not only do errors distract a reader while they’re reading, which you never want to do; it also makes the author seem unprofessional, like they didn’t care enough about how they presented their work. They didn’t take the time and effort to make sure it was as close to perfect as it could be. And it just kills me, both as a writer and as a copy editor. Having your work copy edited is just a basic must-do if you’re serious about your work being seen. End of story.

Q:  So you have a BA in English.  *swoons with jealousy* How has it helped you in this endeavor?
A: Swoons with jealousy? Haha! Really? Um… truthfully, I don’t know how the degree has necessarily helped me in this endeavor, beyond being part of what got me my first job as an editorial assistant. A BA in English was a major requirement for that, and that got my foot in the door to work in the publishing industry. One of my tasks for that job was proofreading; when my boss saw I was really good at it, had natural eagle eyes for it, she arranged to move me into the copy editing department, and it took off from there. And I loved my job, but I stopped working full time when I had my first son to stay home with him. Since then, I’ve done copy editing sporadically on a freelance basis – I have many friends and acquaintances who are writers, and I love helping fellow writers. But now my two sons are bigger, in school full days, so recently I realized I had the time available to pursue copy editing again with a stronger commitment.

Q:  Copy editing vs. Content editing. What are the differences?
A: Well, like I said before, copy editing is just to clean up the mistakes. Content editing is a whole different animal, at least to me. A content editor often can do copy editing too, but the content part is where she/he reads the work and tells the writer what doesn’t work in the story, or even in a paragraph, etc. -- what needs to perhaps be changed and how to do that to make the work better. I’m not a content editor. Not only am I uncomfortable telling a writer what to change, I’m not always sure how to change it for the better, come up with valid alternatives. My eyes and my brain just don’t work that way. But copy editing? Hell yeah. I can spot a mistake as if it were dipped in neon, they just pop out at me -- and that’s my strength.

Q:  I read on your site that you write contemporary romance and romantic women's fiction. What WIPs do you have and where are you in the process of publication?
A: I’m a writer first and foremost. I wrote for most of my life, but didn’t get serious, or write anything worth a crap, until two and a half years ago. In that time, I’ve written three full length novels -- two contemporary romance and one romantic women’s fiction, or women’s fiction with romantic elements, whichever label you prefer. I am currently seeking agent representation and am neck deep in the query process, all that fun stuff that every author hoping to be traditionally publish must endure. I’ll endure. I’m tough stuff.
My author website is: http://jennifergracen.wordpress.com/  It’s a separate entity from my copy editing business.

Q:  How did you become Head Cheerleader for NaNoWriMo? That seems like a highly coveted and esteemed position! (and it makes me smile BIG)
A: Hahaha! Um… I basically volunteered myself, threw myself at the masses. Really! Okay. This takes explaining.

I did NaNo in 2009 and 2010. In ’09, I had ONE friend who did it with me, and we cheered each other on. I was possessed; I hit the 50K mark in 24 days, well before the mandated 30 days. In ’10, I had 3 friends doing it with me, and we were a great support team for one another. Again, coincidentally, I hit the 50K mark on Day 24. The huge difference after that was in March ’11, I joined Twitter. And it’s going to sound crazy, but that changed my life, in several ways. It had the most impact on me as a writer. I met SO many writers on Twitter, from all genres, and all over the country, all over the world! The writing community on Twitter is amazing. They are the most talented, smart, cleverly funny people I have ever met, anywhere. And on top of that, they’re all very supportive of one another. I’ve gotten unbelievable support and cheering on there. So, when NaNo was coming, I felt like… I wanted to give something back to all those people, all the writers who had buoyed my spirits and made me feel understood and yes, validated, as a writer. What do I do well? I make people feel good. I make them smile, and laugh, and I support my friends endlessly. And that’s what writers need to get through something like NaNo, especially the newbies.
So one day, I basically just threw it out there on Twitter: “Hey folks! Need cheering on during NaNo? I’m your gal! I’ll cheer you on. Here’s my virtual pompoms *shake shake* so let me know if you want some support.” I didn’t know how it would be received, and that maybe my handful of writer Tweeps in the #pubwrite group would answer. But the response was unreal! So many people on Twitter responded, it was overwhelming. And then when fellow Tweep @LynMidnight got a hold of me, and started her own NaNo oriented website, touting me as the Official NaNo Head Cheerleader? It just snowballed. So that’s how I became the Twitter NaNo Head Cheerleader. And I loved doing it. I’m a very social person, passionate, open, exuberant, supportive… it was a fun gig. I met great new people, and I felt like I helped some people a drop, like in my own tiny way I gave something back to the Twitterverse at large. All good.

Q:  And because I'm a passionate person and adore favorites, what's your favorite part of the editing biz – what do you like best about it?
A: What I like best about copy editing is when I give someone back their work, all cleaned up, and I can tell they appreciate what I did. And then sometimes, when something I worked on gets published, I feel like, “Hey! I had a teensy something to do with that wonderful finished project.” With copy editing, I contribute in a positive way to something I care deeply about – writing. And I fulfill a need, and that makes me feel good.


If you don’t follow Jennifer on Twitter… first let me check you for fever. *hand on head* Second, you can find her here @jennifergracen or @JGCopyEditing, or on Facebook, or either of her websites, or email Jennifer directly at jennifer@spellcheck70.com

Writing Buddies

Do you have a writing buddy? Someone you can bounce ideas off, send pages for critique, trade suggestions and questions about the tricks of the trade, blogs, and agent/editor crushes? If the answer is no, put down the coffee and grab a notebook cause you're gonna wanna get this.

A writing buddy is just that, someone to tell you what you wrote stinks. Or is fabulous! Or is meh. He/she will help you get through those long nights of edits or give you the feedback you need to decide if the ms is worth pushing out or roasting marshmallows over. Your writing buddy is someone you connect with, who gets you and everything you're going for.

More than that, your writing buddy is the one that'll most likely pick you up when you fall flat on your face, dust you off and feed you dark chocolate until...wait, that's my writing buddy. And you can't have her, she's all mine!  :D

My writing buddy does more for me than tell me if I've semicolon'd myself to death or if I mistyped a name and now the MC's lover is actually her step-father. Ewww. She's the one who yanks me out of the narrow-minded gopher holes I stuff myself into and gives me the proverbial swift-kick-in-the-bum to make me see the big picture. Hey, I'm detail oriented. My gopher holes are organized and color coded, thankuverymuch.




Me - Distracted by swirley hearts after cartwheeling

 My writing buddy is Catherine Thackery and you know her on Twitter as @CathThackery. She's The One, people. She answers my 1 a.m. texts, sends me pages when I'm in a page emergency, DM's me while I edit till the wee hours of the morning. She keeps me awake, tells me to sleep, doesn't let me forget to eat (as if...) and pulls me back when I cartwheel out of control. Best of all, she pushes me forward and keeps me moving toward my goal of publication. I am blessed in a GINORMOUS way to have discovered her and I hope you have or find a buddy half as awesome as she is.




Disciplined Cath writing her nineteenth novel


It can be tough to put yourself out there (ok, it's not tough for me, but I know you shy people exist), but to find someone as amazing as Cath, you just have to. If you're in need of a writing buddy, make it a point today to find common ground with someone. Twitter makes this possible through hashtag searches or contact the regular that hangs out on your favorite agent blog. If you both pine after the same agent, chances are you'll have MUCH to discuss. There are a million ways to make contact, but the hardest part is always that first hello. After that, it's all twinkly writerly bliss. Good luck and make sure you get back here and tell me and Cath all about it!

Okay, now you can get back to your coffee. Pour one for me. And Cath. Look how hard she's working!

Six Tips No Writer Should Be Without

Lately, friends who've decided they'd like to pen a story have come to me for writing tips. Yes, me...the easily excitable cheerleader. Hey, don't LOL yet! Countless hours scouring blogs and writing workshops and conferences have awarded me a few good pointers. So I'm sharing them with you today.

*Disclosure: I'm an unpublished (until December!) cartwheeler who gets all bubbly over just about anything. (Please see yesterday's post.) Even so, it hasn't been all sunshine and roses. This writing thing is HARD and don't let anyone tell you different. But...the last time I checked Websters or Dictionary.com, hard doesn't equate to impossible.

I gave this list serious consideration because I wasn't fortunate enough to run across a post like this in the beginning stages of my zany writing journey. Without being overwhelming, I wanted to pass on the advice I heard most often from agents/editors, the kind of thing you need to know BEFORE you start typing. These tidbits should cut edit time in half.

For fiction works, start by completing your story. Focus on that first and research how to go about querying an agent as you write. I've NEVER heard of agents taking on incomplete works from a debut author. 

1. DO NOT USE adverbs in your writing. "The road to hell is paved with adverbs." ~Stephen King, On Writing. This is a must-have book for anyone interested in learning the craft of writing, by the way. I'll wait while you head over...
2. No head hopping. Omniscient point of view is no longer acceptable. If you start the chapter in Alex's POV and want to jump to Jane's POV, start a new chapter OR separate with ***. 
3. Just say no to passive tense. He was doing=He did. She was walking=She walked. 
4. Resist said tags. He said/she said is tired and worn out. Give action of who’s saying what to clue the reader in to who’s talking.
5. Condense your words: Pare down, no fluff.
6. Show, don’t tell. He was sad=telly. A single tear trailed down his cheek=showing.

Keep these things in mind while writing and you’ll avoid wading through muck to find your story during edits. J Blogs are a GREAT way to find out what everyone else has already learned. Here’s the link to Janet Reid's blog, an awesome New York agent who’s the best of the best in Thriller. http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/

And you can always find more advice, cartwheels, pep talks, e-hugs, etc. here! GOOD LUCK AND WOOT! What fascinating writer tips would you like to share? I'd love to hear.  

So Much Greatness...

Today, I'm bubbling with excitement for several friends whose book sales are skyrocketing. My face is split in a wide grin for crit friends whose manuscripts sit in my inbox. I have soooo much to say and I can't wait to get my comments and questions back to them. I wear a rosy glow on my cheeks because of a Twitter bud, who remembered me last night and sent me the story I've inquired about for months now, prompting him to "Sub that thing already!" 

I want to list them all here but to do that would take FOREVAH so sadly, a summation is necessary.

The condensed version is this: If you're a writer with plans for publication, there is much to bubble about!!! I'm a simmering pot of happy today thinking about perfect timing for following this crazy dream of being an author. In the age of Twitter, e-readers and Kindlegraphs, it's plain to see we are on the cusp of HUGE changes in the way we can sit down and read a book. I mean, has anyone NOT heard of the new Coliloquy books? Tawna Fenske will change the way we read a novel. She's always rocked awesome so it's only fitting that hers will be my first Coliloquy book purchase.

So if you're one of the lucky ones smack dab in the middle of this crazy awesome rollercoaster writing biz, take heart. There are BIG opportunities headed your way!!! Keep plugging along, keep that excitement bubbling and if you need cartwheels and/or a pep talk, pat on the back, e-hugs, or smiles...you know where to find me. (ever e-where!!!! LOL)

Edits and Angry Bulls

It's Friday! I wish I could say I'm headed to a sunny beach to warm my ray deprived self, but alas, I have a date with the ole desk this weekend. Duty calls and lately, it's calling a little louder. My determination is set. I've stocked the cabinets with the strongest brew I could find. Calendar has been cleared and husband, kids and dog are bound, gagged and locked in the closet. Kidding. I would never do that to the dog.

With every set of goals comes a higher bar, right? A higher standard to which we must rise to. This is just a high bar. High equates to thrills and bars usually equate to adventure (for me), so how can I go wrong? Don't answer that.

I've made a decision and when I set my mind to something, I go for it with the energy of an angry bull on steroids. So wish me luck, please stand back to avoid excess injury, and...does anyone else hear pounding?

What's Your Game Plan?

You've written a book! It's landed an agent! You're going to be published!!! Eyes are wide. Emotions are high. Family and friends are astounded and congratulate you! This is so exciting!

So once it's published, how will you get it in front of your audience? If crickets are chirping, it's time to get a plan. I have a very organized, very driven friend who's about to have her debut novel published. When I asked her what was next in line for her, she shared with me her marketing strategy.

And my jaw hit the floor.

I stared at a page and a half of people and places she'd outlined to contact regarding signings, speeches, etc. and it literally opened the strategy door for me. I hadn't thought this far ahead. AT ALL. I still cartwheeled in my happy bubble of excitement over writing the book! I spent the last year building my following here and on Twitter and Facebook, but hadn't given much thought to what my first steps would be after the book was published.

Queries are hard. Synopses and bios are hard. Pitches, conferences and simply finding time to write is hard. But don't let them dominate your career process. Think beyond the borders of obtaining the contract. Map out your plays because when it's all said and done, marketing is the one thing that's going to sell your hard work. 

So what's your plan? What great tips would you like to share with us here?