Only a few years ago, it was a huge no-no to talk openly about querying while querying. Sure, you could DM your closest writing friends, but tweeting about it openly? Hard nope. It was seen as unprofessional, a sign that the author wasn’t able to keep a level head when negotiations are taking place. You… Continue reading Should You Talk About Querying While Querying?
Tag: author
Why We Need More Books Like Jennette McCurdy’s I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED
Controversy erupted in publishing last week when child star Jennette McCurdy released her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. Ever since, I’ve seen various discussions being bounced around online. Some supportive; some not. I get it. I do. There’s lots of folks out there who cannot imagine disliking their mother so much that death feels… Continue reading Why We Need More Books Like Jennette McCurdy’s I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED
Pay-To-Play in Traditional Publishing, and Why We Need to Talk About It
A few weeks ago, I was querying when I kept coming across agent after agent who was closed to submissions except from those who they’ve met at conferences. Below that, a list of conferences was provided, where a writer could go and purchase a ticket (often in the hundreds), and then an additional ticket to… Continue reading Pay-To-Play in Traditional Publishing, and Why We Need to Talk About It
What It’s Like Going Unpublished for Five Years
My last published novel - Bad Bloods: July Lightning - released on July 24, 2017. Five years ago. That fact can feel pretty staggering some days. Obviously, more so when the anniversary comes up than other times of the year. But alas, here we are, standing at a time of reflection. Back in 2017, I… Continue reading What It’s Like Going Unpublished for Five Years
Writing (And Working) While Pregnant: Second Trimester
Writing and working while pregnant can be a lot! Here's how I managed.
Writing (And Working) While Pregnant: First Trimester
I'm pregnant! And working full-time. And writing novels. It's a lot to manage. Here's how I'm coping (and continuing to follow the dream).
Researching Literary Agents in 2022
As promised in my last post - Writing a Great One-Line Pitch for Your 2022 Query Letter - I wanted to talk about researching literary agents in 2022. Granted, I am going to start with the caveat that I only have experience querying kidlit books. More specifically YA/MG, contemporary and fantasy. So that’s where this post… Continue reading Researching Literary Agents in 2022
The Difference Between Querying in 2019 and 2022, and Why Your Well-Intentioned Advice May Be Doing More Harm Than Good.
When I signed with my first agent, it was 2019. I’d queried two manuscripts by then between 2017-2019. In 2021, my agent left the industry. I took some time off, then wrote the book of my heart, and now I’m back in the query trenches for the first time in three years. As an author… Continue reading The Difference Between Querying in 2019 and 2022, and Why Your Well-Intentioned Advice May Be Doing More Harm Than Good.
Every Detail in Science Fiction and Fantasy Doesn’t Need to Make Sense
This is probably an unpopular opinion–and perhaps a less-than-stellar writing tip–but every detail in science fiction and fantasy doesn’t need to make sense. I’m talking about characters, world building, traditions, landscapes, magic systems, etc. Granted, of course most of your story needs to. Like 95% of it and certainly the most essential parts. But every… Continue reading Every Detail in Science Fiction and Fantasy Doesn’t Need to Make Sense
Publishing Questions I Ask Myself Before I Start Writing a Book
Publishing is hard. We all know that. What makes it harder is bad timing and unclear focus. It’s easy to get lost in the art of writing long before you consider the business of writing, but at the end of the day, publishing is a business. You should have your business plan in mind before… Continue reading Publishing Questions I Ask Myself Before I Start Writing a Book
