The Art of the Query - Part One

To become a published author in today's market a writer must not only study how to write excellent fiction (and apply what they learn!) but also learn how to write for the business side of the profession.

This week I'll focus on writing the query letter. I see you out there, trembling in fear...just wait until I get to the synopsis :D hahaha then you can run for that is the source of true dread.

Anyway, query letters are simple things but often fouled up by writers. Why? Mostly because they spend so much time writing fiction that they don't research into what else is involved in the profession. When they find out they need a query letter to approach agents and editors - they just toss a letter together.

Here are some of the top mistakes to avoid:

1. Queries that run over one page. When an agent/editor asks for a query, they mean one (as in single) page. No more. Don't annoy them by sending a mini-book describing your entire novel and life.

2. Telling them what your mother, brother, sister, aunt, best friend etc. thinks of your writing. Usually family and friends are bias and heck, most moms would say your novel on odes to toenail clipping was pure poetry.

3. Telling the agent/editor how much they'll love your work. No one likes others making assumptions about them and their tastes -- agents/editors are no different.

4. Lavishing praise on your work. This is closely related to 3. Few people enjoy a boaster and agents/editors are people too (honest they are). At best they'll ignore the horns and whistles and at worst, cringe every time they see your name and run with their ears and eyes covered. Save them the bruises please.

5. Telling them how hard the novel was to write. The odds are they don't care how hard it was for you to pull that nagging story out of your head and pound it into the keyboard. Being that they work with authors they're used to a certain amount of insanity...but talking about how your characters so insisted that their story be told and kept you up for nth nights in a row...well...lets just say that doesn't strike a good note.

6. Cutting down the genre(s) they represent or publish. I never thought I'd be adding this to my list...but I recently saw a query that did just that. Something akin to "Imagine me, an adult woman writing a paranormal young adult book. I mean, come on, I'm a level headed lady..." Paraphrased, but you can see the tone. This writer obviously has no respect for the genre she's writing nor the other authors in the genre who work very hard to get their 'stuff' out there and in turn, no respect for the professionals - like agents and editors - who represent and publish that genre. Don't get me started on the insult to the readers of the genre! There would be brimstone and the blog would reek for weeks.

7. Being flippant about writing. This is another I didn't think I'd need to add. But again I was made witness to one such query, that paraphrased was roughly - "I just threw this together and decided to try my hand at publishing." Yeah. I don't think I really need to go into what sort of tone that sets.

8. Giving out your resume. Agents and editors don't want to hear where you went to school nor how many jobs you've inhabited throughout your life. Nor your divorce or kids or...you get the point. Unless it directly relates to the book at hand - say, if you're a police officer with background in criminal investigations and you just wrote a crime fiction novel - then leave it out.

9. Being overly friendly. By all means, please be nice and genteel. However, skip the "Hey Jude, want to take a look at my new novel?" type wordings unless you personally know and are on a friendly basis with the said agent/editor.

10. This is what I call writers writing smack. My kids love to do it on video games, that's annoying. Getting it in query letters from adults well...wow. What is this smack? The "I'm the next (enter any well established author out there - King, Rowling etc.)" or "My series is the next (Harry Potter or enter any well selling series here)." First it's pretentious. Do you like pretentious people? I didn't think so. Secondly, no one wants another King or Rowling or...whoever. Agents and editors want new voices, strong voices that will build an audience because the story is so darn good and unique. They don't want remakes.

*breathes*

So, there's the top ten Refrain from Doing list. The next installment will be what agents and editors DO want to see! Stay tuned and hey, aren't you supposed to be writing? Or reading? shoo. ;)

Mysteries of Pen Names

Join me on Sandy Lender's blog - Today The Dragon Wins

We're talking about the use of pen names and why some authors, like me, use them. It's been her topic for the month so please browse through the other posts and discover the shadowy world of...Pen Names!

The stories are fantastic! There are glimpses into each author's life and reasoning. Drop on by!

To add to the fun, Sandy is running a contest! Post on her blog during this month and get entered to win a FREE e-book of her fantastic fantasy novel - Choices Meant for Gods

2008 Muse Online!

It's that time of year again! The conventions are gearing up and everyone is going nuts. Now if this snoooooow would go aaaway! Can you tell I dislike the cold?

Anyway, I'm running a workshop again at the Muse Online Writer's Con. It's in October and will run from the 13th -19th. You can check out their main page here: http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/2007testimonials.htm

My workshop this year is: Magic Ink

In this we'll be discussing the ins and outs of screen writing and how it's the same and yet different from writing fiction. Assignments will be given along with worksheets. We'll also be taking apart one of my favorite movies - Practical Magic - to see foreshadowing, beginning / ending linking and other script writing techniques.

I will warn though - watching a good movie is like magic...and like a good magic show it's best watched when you don't know the tricks. Once you know the tricks the magic shows take on a different tone. Please be aware of that.

Other than that, I look forward to having you guys there! If you have any subjects you'd like addressed in the workshop - post them here or email me at raven@ravenbower.com I'll try to get all of them in!

A Must Have Writer's Workshop!

If you're an aspiring author or if you're already an author and are trying to find your way through the mess of the publishing industry and marketing...this workshop is wonderful!

ArcheBooks (a traditional publisher of trade paperbacks and hardcover books) puts on an intensive, weekend workshop for writers and authors. It used to be that you had to fly to Florida, incur the cost of flights, hotel rooms and food on top of the entrance fee to the workshop to attend it.

No more!

Now they are offering the very same workshop in digital form that you can listen to and do the work in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace and without having to shell out money for planes, hotels and eating out.

If you're at all serious about a career in the world of publishing - I highly suggest you check this out!

Click here for more info!

Weird Science

Once upon a time I was in a convo about writing and genres. Since I happen to read in all genres and have plots set for several of those genres, this question came about:

"What genre would you not write in?"

To which I answered:

"Historical fiction because I'm not a big enough history buff to pull it off. I'd flub up the dates and get letters and emails from everybody's mother's sister's boyfriend's uncle's friends that I screwed up the dates on the Civil War.

Sci-Fi too, because, as we all know I'm Techie-dense. Science and machanics are some vague, weird stuff concocted in a universe far far away from mine."

Yep. So what happens the other night? I get a neat dream complete with workable tid-bits to a Sci-Fi plot...The more I think on it, the more the sub plots are coming to light.

So, remember what I said about not writing Sci-Fi? Erase it. Now I have to go beg the muses to not....NOT go to the Historical side...

Have any of you had weird plots that are way off your genre or style come popping into being?

Skin That Smoke Wagon

Yes, a line straight out of Tombstone. That movie was fantastic and I had to steal the line from Wyatt for this post.

In my Apparitions series there's an emphasis on law enforcement and criminals. The best way I can describe them is that they're supernatural stories mingled with crime stories and honed with suspense. That said, when I first developed the series I had to learn about firearms. Can't have the Sheriff and his Deputies running around without firearms now can we?

Now I know how to take firearms apart, info on various ammo, how they handle, how to shoot (anything from semi-auto pistols to revolvers to shotguns to rifles). At Context I actually had to pack all long sleeve attire because of a bruised shoulder from rapid target shooting with the 12 guage and heavy ammo.

Anyway, I'm in revisions for book two in the Apparitions series, Windigo. Now, I've been to the ranges but always during the day. In Windigo there's a scene where my Sheriff, Trace, is firing his weapon at night. Well, we've all heard the term 'guns a blazin' and seen torrents of fire erupting from muzzles and barrels on TV and movies. Understanding that the bullet is projected out of said barrels by the force of an explosion, I figured there would be some flames, surely. But...how much? Is it really as brilliant in life as it is on the screen?

I may write fiction, but I do try to make everything as true to life as I possibly can through research and well, doing it myself. Which is perhaps why I can never end my list of hobbies or things I enjoy doing.

So in a writerly moment (you know, those times you get a wise idea and go out and do it without really thinking it through?). Lain and I were in the kitchen, it was dark outside and it went a little like this:

Lain (who knew about the scene in question): "You know, it's dark outside..."

Me: "Let's break out the Penetrator. I'd like to see what Trace would see and experience."

And so, we did - right then, right there.

(Yes, I name my stuff...almost everything. For those of you fellow Xeno heads out there, you'll know where Penetrator came from heheheh Go Ziggy!!!)

Yeah. Let me tell you...guns do indeed blaze. That thing looked like we'd fired a torch through it, not a slug. So when you see the Hollywood films they really aren't exaggerating.

On a side note...darkness does not dampen sound. Nope. Silly me, in my writerly mode of absorbing what Trace would see, feel, hear and do...forgot my ear muffs. Ahem. So if you ever get the idea to go out and really see what happens when you shoot a firearm in the pitch of night - take it from me and do wear ear protection. There are some things we writers really don't need to experience and ringing ears are one of them :)

ConClave

I haven't been able to update my web site lately due to computer issues with Lains rebellious machine. However, I'm posting this here and on my other blogs/boards.

Although I'm listed on their site and it's shown on my Events page that I'm attending ConClave next weekend - I will not be there.

That said I believe I owe you a why.

I talked to their Programming director last year about participating. Since then and after many of my emails since early this year being unanswered, it seemed to me like they dropped the ball.

Indeed, we weren't made aware of the program details until this morning...A week before the event. Ahem. And AFTER I'd already made other commitments because of the lack of responses since early this year.

After reading their program - let me say they DO have some good classes and panels. However, the panels I was stuffed on won't lose anything by my not being there. One is on Friday night, which I specified when I first contacted them I wouldn't be able to be there until Saturday. It is an interesting panel that I would have liked to participate on.

The two I was put on for Saturday...yeah. How can I say this nicely? They appeal to some. Not to me. I don't read Lovecraft...haven't since I was in high school. I'm not a big fan of his and I so do not have the time to cram in reading his work on a week's notice. So...not much I can add to that panel except to sit and go...uhmmm why did they put me here? The second, on e-book publishing...my book is NOT an e-book. It is available in an an e-book form, but Apparitions is a hard cover orginal. I don't agree with strictly e-book publishing. For me, as a reader, I want something solid. Reading a novel on a computer screen would burn my eyeballs out.

The Sunday panel on Marketing would have been a lot of fun. That is something I could have actively contributed to.

So yeah. Now see, there are other quite interesting panels and talks that I could have provided some content to.

It would stand to reason, to me, that if you want people to participate - which I'd have loved to had communications been there - maybe make sure you communicate with them and find out where they can contribute the most. This isn't just for the good of the participants but also for the Convention itself and the people paying to attend.

At least that's what common sense would tell ya.

So I won't be there and that's why - lack of communication and not wanting to pay to walk in to something I have no clue as to what is going on.

It did serve well in another respect. I now very much appreciate the time and effort put out by the other Conventions I've dealt with in providing their participants lists of panels they could willingly sign up for (instead of stuffing them on panels that the staff has no idea if the participant even fits on) or letting you know well in advance what they're thinking of putting you on and...the courtesy of - asking...

Context 20

This last weekend we attended Context 20, in Columbus Ohio. Let me tell ya, if you get a chance to attend next years (which I fully intend to) do so! It was a blast.

Lain attended the World Building Workshop, which he said was quite enlightening. They had so many good panels planned that it was often a toss up on which to attend. Often we had to split, each attending different panels and taking notes for the other.

I had the honor of sitting on a panel with fellow authors Matt Cook, Fran Friel, James Daniel Ross and Paul Melko.

We met Shawn Sine and Erin Hoffman who are endless knowledge pits on gaming and programming. I spent some time stalking Juanita Coulson on her panels. Listening to her experiences with movies while she was young was fun. Fantasy author Sandy Lender was lurking about and we enjoyed various converstations with her.

One of the most intriguing people I met there was John Dalmas. He's such a spry man with this impish glow in his eyes and an endless wealth of knowlege. Thank you John for being there and talking with us!

Jason from Apex Science Fiction & Horror Digest was there. They throw a heck of a room party, with artwork projected on the ceiling and everything.

There were so many others that we met, talked with and hung out with and many more we saw in passing. All in all, it was a lot of fun, very informative and a must go to Con for next year.