Killing Me Slowly: Queries

If you've ever written a query, you know how painful they are. Summarizing your 80,000 word book in 250 words is no easy feat. Plus you have to make it interesting!

Ugh.

Nonetheless, I spent last week working on my query for Underland. Which put me in a terrible mood.

                             

Which is also why I didn't do a blog posts.

The words were not flowing. At least, not the way I wanted them to. So I turned to the Internet, the familiar of writers all over the world. I typed in "examples of successful queries," and boy did I get a lot of results! Mixed feelings at this. Yay, success! Boo, my query sucks!

                                      

But I didn't give up. I kept reading and writing and taking frequent breaks to mope. Not the best method, I know. Though, through the negative bits, it was a learning experience that I can now pass on to you. And lucky you, you get only the positives...

How To Write a Query Letter (According to Emily Layne):

1. Don't look at your book for awhile (this way you'll only remember the important parts).
2. Read examples of successful queries on Query Shark and Agent Query Connect.
3. Write your entire query before you go psycho-analytical on it.
4. If you start to get frustrated, take a break.
5. If you really like your query and think it's perfect, take a break.
6. Give it to someone to review. A lot of websites offer free query critiques.
7. Edit then let it lie for a few days.
8. If you read it again and like what you see, you're ready to hook an agent. Good luck!

A long list, I know. But a query letter is the most important thing you'll ever write--besides the manuscript of course. Except the only way your MS will see the light of an agent's eyes? That's right, your query.

                                 

So take the time, and make sure it's perfect!

Oh! And don't forget about my contest going on. A $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble could be yours!

Vlog #1: Who is Emily Layne?

What's the Point?

Last weekend I did something I'm not proud of.

Okay, PAUSE. Pull your mind out of that dark place it no doubt went to. What I did wasn't illegal or immoral. All right, all right...a little immoral. Or "not nice" is the term I'd prefer to use.

Last weekend I was at a Barnes & Noble with my three younger sisters, and I happened to see a book. But not just any book. This novel was a young adult twist on "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." And the writing was really, really good.

                                       

I will admit that I wallowed.

I collapsed in front of the shelf and stared at the book in  my hands: traditionally published, pretty (if slightly creepy) cover, and four stars--FOUR STARS (do you have any idea how hard that is?!)--on Goodreads.

                                          

In this moment I questioned my WIP, "Underland," and the very framework of why I wanted to be a writer.

My youngest sister snatched the book out of my hands (title which shall remain anonymous) and put it back on the shelf. She then covered it with other novels. Out of sight out of mind, right?

Except I felt really guilty about it. I  mean, what if that small act had cost the writer sales? She didn't deserve that! So, days later, due to my guilty conscience, I checked her book out at the library. Currently it's sitting on my nightstand, waiting to be read.

And I will be reading it. Why?

Because, after my brief plummet into despair, I realized something monumental.

                        

So maybe her book is already published. And tons of people like it. Okay, so it has a similar premise to mine,  being based off the same classic.

                                           

But you know what? I love my book, my characters, the world I built for them. Weirdly, I find myself missing (yes, actually missing) them when I'm not writing. I owe it to Jenny, Hatter, March, the Duchess, Dory, Theodora... I owe it to them to keep writing.

And I owe it to myself.

Sweat

You probably didn't notice, but I was MIA on Thursday (my usual blog post day). Why? I had a little accident with soap and my laptop keyboard.

                           

Major woops.

But I am now typing to you on a brand new laptop. I am also much poorer than I was a few days ago.

Moving on.

When was the last time you went for a run? Lifted some weights? Worked up a sweat?

                                         

(So many gifs of guys freaking out. You can probably tell what an impact my computer damage had on me...)

Not only is working out great for your body, it does wonders for the imagination. There's probably a big scientific study behind inspiration and exercise being linked. Something about endorphins and increased blood flow.

All I know is that is works.

And no, pinning exercises on pinterest doesn't count.

Okay, it's not like while I'm running I'm struck with brilliant book ideas or plot solutions. That happens after. Running wakes me up and somehow gives me the focus/creativity I need to write.

So have you been feeling stumped lately? Blocked? Take my advice. Lace up your tennis shoes and get outside. Run, walk, it doesn't matter.

Just get your blood flowing.

Ouch, That Hurt

Finishing your book is awesome.  The feeling of euphoria when writing that last line? Ah! Just thinking about it makes me shiver.

And editing. Editing's pretty cool. Tweaking here, adjusting there. Pounding that lump of clay until it actually looks like a young adult twist on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Or whatever your book happens to be about.

Then the beta readers swoop down with their red pens and opinions.

                                  

That dialog you thought was so clever?

Ah-ah. Sorry, it doesn't make sense or jive with the character's personality. 

The grammatical errors you thought you suffocated with spell check?

Sorry, again. "Passed" and "past" are not the same thing.

Okay, so your beta readers probably aren't so blunt and annoying. But their job is still the same: critique/tear into your manuscript. And it hurts. A LOT.

I've entered this stage of the writing process. Let me tell you: ouch! Last night I passed out my Draft 1 Version of Underland to my sisters. Minutes later they found a missing word. Then an hour later a grammatical error.

Yes, they're being incredibly helpful by telling me.

YES, IT MAKES ME WANT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT EVERY TIME THEY DO!!!! Internally, of course, because I like my hair. Instead I kind of just sit and glare.

                                  

Then  I snap out of it and realize what they're saying is much needed criticism. My problem is that I take it so personally. Even something as simple as a typo.

Which is why every time I receive a comment I don't like I do the following:

1. Take a deep breath
2. Take another deep breath
3. Let it all out
4. Smile and say "Thanks so much, please just write that down for me"

Honestly, it's easier said then done, but I'm working on it.

A writer has to be humble and willing to accept criticism if he wants to improve. So that's what I'm doing.

A. Little. At. A. Time.

                 

Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.

My Plan of Attack

According to Pat Benatar, "love is a battlefield."

                                    

Which, I suppose, in some way it is. Especially in the paranormal YA books. Except I think there is a much more difficult, frustrating battle: The Editing Wars.

Why not just "War," you might ask? Well, there are lots and lots of battles involved. Like the Battle of Plot Points and Skirmish At Adverb Ridge. Toward the end of the Wars you might find you have at least 15 different drafts of your novel saved somewhere on your computer. Right now I have 8. And I just started editing.

                                      

Yuck.

When editing, it's incredibly important to step away from your manuscript. For at least a month. Seems like a horribly long time, doesn't it? The urge to finish your book and throw it out there for publication is so strong. Resist, resist! The time away allows you to come back with fresh eyes. It makes a huge difference.

So, here's my plan of attack in chronological order because I am a fan of organization:

09/08/2014 -- Finish Draft 1, send to beta readers
BEGIN PLOTTING SEQUEL & WRITING QUERY LETTERS
11/01/2014 -- Receive feedback from betas, start editing like mad
11/15/2014 -- Finish Draft 2, review
12/ 01/2014 -- Final check for any formatting errors
12/02/2014 -- Send out query letters

                                      

Pretty simple and to the point. This process and its length varies from author to author. But the one constant should always be a beta reader. Their input is invaluable. If you don't have someone you can trust to honestly critique your work, consider joining an online writing community like Critique Circle. It's amazing what another pair of eyes can pick up.

Updates

Remember me? I know it's been awhile.

Which is why this post is reserved for updates. Okay, okay. It's really a selfish post where I tell you all the amazing things I'm doing. Fun, right? Don't worry; there are only two updates so it shouldn't take long.

Let's get started.

Update Numero Uno... I finished my book!

Hold on, let me say that again with more textual excitement.
I. FINISHED. MY. BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

                                    

The stats came in as follows:

82,428 Words
29 Chapters + an Epilogue
1 Character Death

Now I'm traversing the dangerous pathways of editing. It takes such a different mindset to edit a book than it does to write one. Luckily I've found a few tricks to this perilous journey. They're all on my Writer Resources page. Make sure you check it out. Plus, Thursday I'll be doing a post all about editing and my plan of attacking the monster with my red pen.

 Update Numero Dos... I'm starting a vlog!

For those of you who don't know, a vlog is a blog in video form. Pretty simple. Every Friday, starting September 19th, I'll post a video on here and on my YouTube Channel. (Yeah, I put the hyperlink there so you'll subscribe!) The vlogs will only be 1-2 minutes in length and will focus on pretty much anything, but mostly writing/reading related stuff. I'm pretty excited to branch out to a new platform of social media.

                                           

And because I'm so excited, there is totally going to be a contest! So visit often to check out the status on that too.

Hmm. I suppose that was more like three updates.

You didn't mind, right?