Sign-ups for Week 3 Query Contest

Here it is blogfesters!  If you have a query that you'd like some input on and a chance to win a query critique or a first 5 page of your manuscript critique from someone who knows her stuff...read the rules and sign up below when you are ready to post your query. 

If you'd like to get in on the rest of the blogfest fun as well, which will be a first 200 words of your manuscript contest judged by agent Kathleen Rushall, then click on the button above, read more, sign up and come have fun with us!

Now for the rules of week 3....

Week 3

Query Critique Contest

Rules:
I think this one is pretty self explanatory. If you are ready to query then we are ready to help.

-Visit my blog starting Saturday and sign up in the linky I provided below (when you have your query up) so others can visit your blog and give HELPFUL advice on your query.    You will have until Monday to post it and hop around others blogs.

-We will hop around giving our input until Tuesday.  Please try to visit others and help them out too.

-Tuesday take your polished query and email it to me deanabarnhart@gmail.com

-Wednesday I will pick the top 5 or 10 depending on number of participants and post on my blog

-Friday, Lora Rivera will pick a winner and he/she will get a choice of a query critique or a first 5 page critique.

One thing about Lora and her critiques...
She may not be an agent anymore, but she still thinks like one. She has told me her critiques are very thorough, therefore I believe they are extremely beneficial!

Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Week 2 Wrap-up and Week 3 Here We Come!

Well folks, we are half-way through our little blogfest.  Are you having fun yet?

So far we have thrown out our writing questions to the blogosphere and we have put our writerly minds together and come up with a most interesting story about a peculiar girl named Dio who loved a rotten-egg-smelling-Grandoolex-spaceleaper.  Did I get that right? 

It was an absolute blast watching a story come to life and getting to know some of you blogfesters even more.  We have some serious talent is all I'm sayin'.

If you've come to read the masterpiece that is The Rocky Tale of Dio Franklin, don't worry I have it, but it did end up being 28 pages double spaced on Word, so I gave it a home in my Pages section.  Go here to see what happens when a bunch or writers are told to link a story together through blogs in a 24 hour period.  Good times!

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Now for the grand prize of week 2.....

MARCIE BRIDGES

You have won a double query critique from Rach Harrie over at Rach Writes.

Enjoy!

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Blogfest News

Week 3 is right around the corner and for those ready to query, this week is designed for you!  Sign-ups for the Query Contest, judged by once an agent, always a writer, Lora Rivera, will begin Monday!

Here is a refresher of the rules for this portion of the fest....

Week 3Query Critique Contest

Rules:
I think this one is pretty self explanatory. If you are ready to query then we are ready to help.

-Visit my blog starting Saturday and sign up in the linky I provide so others can visit your blog and give HELPFUL advice on your query. 

-We will hop around giving our input until Tuesday.

-Tuesday take your polished query and email it to me deanabarnhart@gmail.com

-Wednesday I will pick the top 5 or 10 depending on number of participants and post on my blog

-Friday, Lora Rivera will pick a winner and he/she will get a choice of a query critique or a first 5 page critique.

One thing about Lora and her critiques...
She may not be an agent anymore, but she still thinks like one. She has told me her critiques are very thorough, therefore I believe they are extremely beneficial!

Sound like a plan man?  Alright then, I'll see you Saturday:)

Until then...

Keep writing.  Keep learning.

Story Chain

For the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent blogfest, week two is all about creation and the story chain.  There is still time to sign up for week three (query contest) and week four (agent pitch contest)

If you'd like to follow the story chain for wk 2 here go the list is here and I will be posting the final version on Friday.

Marcie's part

"Yes," every thing's in order," Tony sighed.  He looked toward me with that, 'I'm so sorry' expression.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

A cough garbled up what Tony said next, but Dio heard.  "Your parents, they drowned on their vacation in Istanbul.  I'm so sorry to have to tell you like this.  I have been working very hard to get you in a good home, and Sandy, well, she is like a second mother to you."

Dio glanced through tear stained eyes toward Sandy.  "Is this true?"

"I'm sorry Butterscotch, but it is."

Suddenly Dio hated that nickname.  It stung her like slap to the face, but what she hated more were the next words that came out of Sandy's mouth.  "Tony has brought your bag.  You're going to Europe with me."
Juliana's part

Blogfest Story Chain Assignments

Here we go folks.  Your assignments are below.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  If you need more detailed info on the rules of times etc.  Please go HERE.  But just so you know all times below are in US Eastern time zone.
Pretty please post by the time beside your name so we can keep the chain going.  If, by the time the next poster is to go and you haven't posted, you will be forfeit from the chain.

After reading the responses about the story I have decided to not do the copy/paste method.  I would, however like the person posting to put the link of the poster ahead of them before their post and the link the person after them, at the end of their post.  (Jen, since you are on Twitter you don't have to do that:)  That way we will have a chain and if a person wants to go to the beginning, the links will take them all the way through. If someone does forget to do this it is no biggie, just go back to this post and click on the link.

Here is an example of how your post will look.

Link of poster before you.....

Your post.....

Link of poster going next.....

Make sense?

Friday I will post the complete story on my blog.  I will also announce the winner of the double critique given by Rach Harrie from Rach Writes

Good luck and have a blast with it.  The main thing to remember is this is FUN and we are hear to meet awesome new writers and get our creative juices flowing.  

So....let the story chain begin! 

Nata - Tuesday Evening
Introduce us to the main character and pick whether you would like the story in 1st person or third.
Your words are: pickle, savage, red

Fiction and Film - 5AM
Please tell us what the MC's goal in life at this point of the story is.
Your words are: subconscious, ache, terrified

Andrea Mack - 6:30 AM
Let us know what the MC's flaw is (the thing he/she tries to work through throughout the story).
Your words are: justify, bookcase, nostril

Meghan Kirkland - 7:45 AM
Fill us in on some back story if you could, but try to weave it in instead of just telling us.
Your words are: scrumptious, bed, grass

Shelly Brown - 8AM
Introduce us to a love interest.
Your words are: erratic, boggle, zombie

Catherine Johnson - 8:30 AM
Write what you want, but show us, don't tell us about it.
Your words are: big toe, Cadillac, baby.

Marcie Bridges - 8:45 AM
Begin a scene that will change the direction of the story.  Surprise us:)
Your words are: funny, Europe, fuzz ball

Deana Barnhart - 9:00 AM
Create something that will change the MC's life.
Your words are: cough, butterscotch, drown

Juliana Brandt - 9:30 AM
Expand on the thing that will change the MC's life (from the poster above).
Your words are: booger, shampoo, weasel

Frost Lord - 9:45 AM
Give us some conflicting emotions the MC is dealing with.
You words are: planet, guitar, flower

Callie Kingston - 10AM
Is MC's goal different from before? (2nd poster talked about this)  If so, tell us what it is now, if the same, give us more info about it.
Your words are: buck, ironing board, sleep

Angelina C Hansen - 10:30AM
Create a subplot (anything will do)
Your words are: suffocate, sell, shut up

J. Ro - 11AM
Write what you like, but don't use any adverbs (ly words) when you do.
Your words are: Science fiction, cramps, snag

Nicole Zoltack - 11:30AM
Give us a scene with dialog.
Your words are: butt cheek, towel, mustard

Loralie Hall - 12PM
Give us a scene with action
Your words are: awesome, dress, flake

Been there, done that - 1PM
Make the reader sad
Your words are: pixie, spike, larva

Amy Kennedy - 1:30PM
Weave some back story in (the 5th poster did this also if you want to look at it).
Your words are: kiss, delve, bruise
 
Weaving a Tale or Two - 2PM
This is the middle of the middle of the story.  Help the MC gain all the knowledge she needs to take her through the rest of the story.
Your words are: get, safe, muddle

Lindy - 2:45PM
With the knowledge MC has gained (see post above) help him/her make a plan to get what he/she wants
Your words are: bank, t-shirt, salt

A.E. Martin - 3PM
Try to make the reader feel happy
Your words are: ride, suggest, spray

Christina's Writing Buzz - 3:15PM
Have the MC interact with someone or something.
Your words are:tv, chest, brace
 
Suspending Disbelief - 3:30PM
Have the MC understand something they didn't before.
Your words are: Texas, flip flop, argue

Jamie Ayres - 4PM
Expand on the post before yours, but add dialogue
Your words are: hissy fit, drawer, ghost

Rachel Dillon - 5PM
Take the previous post and continue building tension toward the crisis.
Your words are: type, blood, jacked up

Lora Rivera - 6PM
This is the crisis point.  Give it to us!
Your words are: cliff, shout, tooth pick

An Alleged Author - 6:30PM
Take the last post and continue witht he crisis
Your words are: chalice, cage, papers

KP Simmon's Musings - 7PM
Take the last two posts dealing with crisis and bring the crisis to an end
Your words are: strapped, knee, kill

Word by Word - 8PM
Have the MC make a plan as we gear up to the climax
Your words are: retreat, shell, diaper

Margaret Fieland - 9PM
Give us some subplot closure (the 13th poster started a subplot).
Your words are: jail, concubine, heave

Taylor Roseberry - 9:30PM
Show us a serious moment
Your words are: moon, plant, fight

Robin Weeks - 10:30PM
Start the climax of the story
Your words are: song, prejudice, string

Angie Cothran - 11:30PM
Continue the climax from the above post
Your words are: Velcro, pastel, jumble

Melodie Wright - 12AM
Begin wrapping up the story after the climax (from above to posts)
Your words are: blue, seldom, carriage

The Neophyte Writer - Thursday 8AM
End the story
Your words are: shackle, base, tender

Week 2 Blogfest Story Chain Times

Happy Tuesday my lovely blogfest buddies!  Before I get to the times for everyone to post their portion of the story chain, I had a couple of things to run by you:

-The person above your name is the person that will be posting before you.  The person after your name will be posting after you.  These are your story chain buddies and I thought it would be great if you all could get to know them as well as write with them:)

- The time beside your name is not the exact time you have to post.  As long as you post your portion of the story AFTER the person above you and BY the time listed beside your name...you're perfect.

- If the person before you has not posted by the time they have beside their name for some reason, then they will be forfeit from the story chain and you will go to the person above them.  Do as you would before: read their post, then do yours.

- The times below are all in Eastern Time Zone US.  Please let me know if you have questions to how this relates to your time zone.  I've been learning a lot about it through this little blogfest:)

- The time beside your name is not set in stone. If your time doesn't work shoot me an email or comment below and tell me what will.

- Later in the day I will be posting the words and dilema for your portion of the story so stay tuned for that.  I should have it ready by 5PM eastern time.

I think that's it!

Now without further ado...

Nata - Tuesday Evening

Fiction and Film - 5AM

Andrea Mack - 6:30 AM

Jen Daiker - 7:30 AM (Twitter acct)

Meghan Kirkland - 7:45 AM

Shelly Brown - 8AM

Catherine Johnson - 8:30 AM

Marcie Bridges - 8:45 AM

Deana Barnhart - 9:00 AM

Juliana Brandt - 9:30 AM

Frost Lord - 9:45 AM

Callie Kingston - 10AM

Angelina C Hansen - 10:30AM

J. Ro - 11AM

Nicole Zoltack - 11:30AM

Loralie Hall - 12PM

It Had to Happen - 12:30PM

Been there, done that - 1PM

Amy Kennedy - 1:30PM

Weaving a Tale or Two - 2PM

Lindy - 2:45PM

A.E. Martin - 3PM

Christina's Writing Buzz - 3:15PM

Suspending Disbelief - 3:30PM

Jamie Ayres - 4PM

Vicky Bruere - 4:30PM

Rachel Dillon - 5PM

Lora Rivera - 6PM

An Alleged Author - 6:30PM

KP Simmon's Musings - 7PM

Kathy Stemke - 7:30

Word by Word - 8PM

Margaret Fieland - 9PM

Taylor Roseberry - 9:30PM

Novel Thinking - 10PM

Robin Weeks - 10:30PM

Angie Cothran - 11:30PM

Melodie Wright - 12AM

The Neophyte Writer - Thursday 8AM

Busy Busy Busy

I will be hard at work making schedules for the week 2 story chain which I will be posting tomorrow.  So for today, I won't be posting--well, unless you count this little blurb about why I won't be posting. 

If you are signed up for the story chain, meet me here tomorrow for the deets.

If you aren't signed up for week 2 of the blogfest and you want to be, go here and get to it.

If you have no clue what the heck I'm talking about, go here, learn about, it and if you love it, sign up and get started.

Until next time...
Keep writing. Keep learning.

Winner for Week 1 and Sign-ups for Week 2

How smart do you think I am now?  After visiting each of the 50 blogs who signed up for the week one shindig, I'm pretty darn smart...or extremely frazzled.  Take your pick.  I learned one very important thing.  How much I still have to learn!  Thanks to everyone who participated in week 1 and made my brain churn that much harder!  I seriously love you guys:)

And now it's time to do a little dance for the winner of our first critique giveaway! 

Catherine Johnson

Yay for you!  Email me, Catherine, and I will get you and Margot Finke connected so you can collect your very valuable winnings:) 

As for everyone else who commented, you will not walk away empty handed.  Margot is giving each of you a pdf of her new children's adventure!  Be on the lookout in your emails.

On to the next item of biz...

***

Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Week 2

Story Chain

Are you ready to take the blogfest into second gear by getting those creative juices flowing?  The story chain is going to get you there.  Everyone who signs up will have a part to play and we will take this story through fun twists and turns and see where we end up.

Don't know what a story chain is? 

Basically it is a story written by a chain of people.  I give you a set of things to work with in your specific chain, you write it, then the next person takes over where you've left off until we have a complete story.  Here are the specifics to this chain.

The Rules:

-Sign up in the week 2 linky below and beside your name let me know the best time for you to post your portion of the chain on your blog so I can get a list made up of who goes when.  A note on the time: You don't have to post exactly at that time, just BY that time so the next person in line can follow.  So if you want to post in the morning but your time isn't until 12pm than that is fine because it will be ready when the next person is ready.

-Today through Monday, as the sign-ups come in, I will make assignments for each participants portion of the story chain along with a time to post for Wednesday.

-While I'm working studiously behind the scenes, get to know your fellow blogmates, stop by their blogs, follow them, make connections.

-I will post the final list on Wednesday (I know I already said this but repetition is a good thing), which will have your time to post.  If the time doesn't work for you, let me know in the comments section. 

-If you miss your time during the fest then the next person in line will go when he/she is assigned and sadly you will have to bow out of this blogfest round  :( 

-The length of each post should be between 10-100 words.

How do I know what to post for my story?  Well Lora Rivera, writing buddy, fellow blogfester and  lit agent in a past life helped me come up with a splendid idea. 

Here it is:

-We are going to write a story and like any story we will have a protagonist (main character). 

-This protag will have something that he/she wants (a goal).  This will be the thing that carries him/her through the story.  These two things will be a constant throughout the story chain (the protag and the goal).

-Your part will come when I throw things out to each of you to work into the story while still trying to make the protag reach their goal.  For ex: Protag (goal)wants to make it to work on time BUT (this is the 'thing' I throw out) a car revs its engine and heads full speed in his/her direction.

-Important note: Aside from provocative and lewd scenes that are not allowed, I want this to be your individual creations, so if I send a car toward the protag and you don't want it, it will be up to you for the protag to dodge the vehicle.  Makes sense so far?  If not ask questions below:)

Alrighty then moving on...

-Along with the 'things' I throw at you, you will also have three specific words you have to use in your piece.

So let me give you a full example of an assignment I will give...

*This is only an example*

Lora Rivera
Time to post: 10AM
Protag: Johnny Appleseed
Goal: To get to work on time

Event for you to deal with: A car revs its engine and heads full speed at Johnny

Words to use: pickle, full-blown, castle 

-One more thing, everyone will see the list and times they are to post on Wednesday, so if you aren't the last person on the list, don't end the story.  I'd also like to have a crisis and climax in the mix as well so if you see your spot and think it is a good place for something like that, by all means bust it out!

-Oh and one more, one more last thing, if you want to do this through Twitter than go for it!  When you sign up just put your twitter address in the linky and still put the time by your name.  When you post on Twitter just use the hashtag #GetanAgentBlogfest so the person who posts after you will know where to look. 

How does this sound?  Confusing?  Fun? Again, I'll answer any questions.  Ask away.

***

Prize for Week 2 

Rach Harrie, Crusade guru will be giving away a double query critique! And by double I mean she will critique it not once, but TWICE. This should really get you geared up for week three...

-If you haven't signed up for the blogfest yet and you want to now, go here to sign up and let me know your blog address, twitter, if you have one (tweeting under the hash #GetanAgentBlogfest) ,and what you write. ex: YA Urban Fantasy and I'll get you signed up!

Until then...
Keep learning.  Keep writing.



I Just had to Ask...Week 1 of Blogfest

Before I get to my question I just wanted to thank all those who have signed up for week 1.  I have already been to a few of the blogs and I can't wait to get to the rest and find out your burning questions...for writing.  In my opinion, you are never to experienced to ask questions and when you stop, the learning stops too.  My hope with this blogfest is that no matter where we are in our writing journey, we will get a boost doing one or all of these mini-fests.  So I'm thrilled others out there are hungry to get those writing juices flowing like me!

If you haven't signed up for the blogfest yet.  Go here to get in on the action for week 1 and here to get your name on the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest list.

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I Just had to Ask...

Now for my question.  Well, I am asking two, one is so short a simple yes or no can answer, plus being the host and all I thought maybe I would be ok with two:)

1) I heard somewhere that double spaces in between periods are no more.  Is this true?  In writing a manuscript, do we only have one space after a period now?

2) I'm curious what others opinions are on building a platform before the book deal.  If you read my blog regularly, you know I ask many of my Firsts Fridays spotlighters what they think about it.  Now I'd like to get your opinion and find out your reasoning for why you feel it's necessary or not to build a platform before the book deal?   

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BLOGFEST DEETS

- If you are on Twitter feel free to head over and chat it up through tweets!  The blogfest hashtag is #GetanAgentBlogfest

- If you want to get your genre listed by your name in the blogfest list just leave me a comment here

- Friday I will be randomly choosing the winner of Margot Finke's critique and I will also be sending all those who commented on this portion of the blogfest a pdf of her new children's adventure book.  It is so cute!

Then there's next week!  We will be starting our story chain and I can't tell you how excited I am to find out what we will come up with.

The loverly Lora Rivera has helped me come up with a fabulous idea which I will spill the beans about on Friday.  I am also thinking I will start sign ups for week 2 on Friday so I can get started on making assignments for each person.  I will give further info on this later.  Just know it is going to be FUN!  Plus I will be giving away another fabulous critique.  This one a double critique from Rach Harrie over at Rach Writes. 

Until then...

Keep writing.  Keep learning.

Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest Week 1

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AND...

THE PARTY HAS BEGUN!!!

The Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest party that is.  I hope everyone is enjoying their hot dogs and fireworks and if you aren't in the USA, I hope you have your own special fireworks because it's time for WEEK 1 and some celebrating is in order.

Because of the holiday for some, we are keeping it simple today by simply signing up for the 'I just had to ask...' portion of the blogfest.

The Rules: 

1) Sign up below

2) Take the greatest, dumbest, weirdest...just whatever kind of writing question you have, and post it on your blog Wednesday. 

3) Head over to as many blogs as you can that are on the list and answer their question they've posted if you know the answer or can help.

4) Follow as many blogs you want to, make connections, build your platform.

Sound simple enough?  Great, because it is, and what's even better...we've got a kickin' prize just for signing up or commenting below! 

PLUS

I will be randomly picking a winner for the Week 1 Giveaway which will be a critique overview of a picture book ($30 value), or an overview of the first 3 chapters of a YA or Mid-grade novel ($55 value) from Margot Finke, published children's book author and critique extraordinaire. 

So let's get going!  Sign up below and I'll see you and your questions on Wednesday:)

Firsts Fridays: Debut Author, Katie Ganshert

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

When I happened upon Katie's blog I was instantly struck by how lovely a person she is...yes I could actually tell that from her blog!  She is the kind of person you just have to know, and after this interview I think you'll agree.  Let's get to know about Katie Ganshert and her first book deal!

Katie Ganshert is a Midwest author who loves Jesus, her family, writing, and all things romance. She’s super thankful God gave her a husband who suffers through romantic movies, loves talking with her girlfriends about God, life, and books, and is often spotted around town walking her dog, pushing a stroller, and reading all at the same time. She graduated from the UW-Madison (go Badgers!) with a degree in education, which she used for four years before deciding to work from home as a mother and writer.

DB: Katie, thanks so much for letting me interview you today!

How long did it take from the point you decided to take writing seriously until you landed your agent?

KG: I started writing seriously when I was pregnant with my son—the summer of 2008. At the time, I’d written two novels. I’d even sent out some query letters. But I didn’t get serious about publication until that summer. That’s when I started reading craft books, agent and editor blogs, finding critique partners, entering contests, joining writing organizations, and carving out specific time to write each day. I got The Call from Rachelle in November of 2009. So it took a little over a year.

DB: So already you are defying the whole seven years to get published average.  It really can happen readers:)

Could you tell us a little about your agent, Rachelle Gardner, and her agenting style?

KG: Rachelle is an agent for WordServe Literary Agency, writes an incredibly helpful blog I recommend for all writers, and has this magic wand that enables her to juggle a million plates at one time. At least, that’s my theory. She loves Starbucks and Ghirardelli dark chocolate raspberry squares. She’s super fun to chat with on the phone, gives excellent advice and guidance, responds to emails with super sonic speed, and is an amazing deal-maker. I’ve loved partnering with her as I travel this journey. 

DB: She sounds fabulous!  If anyone thinks so too, you can check out Rachelle's blog here.

I see you have many books you have either completed or are working on.  Could you tell us a little about the book your agent found a home for?

KG: Rachelle recently got me a two-book deal with Waterbrook Multnomah, the Christian division of Random House. My first book, Wildflowers from Winter, comes out in May, 2012, with the second to follow in April, 2013. I’m currently working through content edits for Wildflowers from Winter with my amazingly talented editor, Shannon Marchese.

Here’s the blurb for Wildflowers from Winter:

Bethany Quinn grudgingly leaves the big city and returns to her small Iowa hometown to check on her sick grandfather and offer condolences to her newly-widowed, estranged best friend. It shouldn’t take longer than a week to clear her conscience and find some closure. But she wasn’t counting on Evan Price, the ruggedly handsome, strong willed man living on her grandfather’s farm. He challenges everything she’s worked for, and brings her face-to-face with a dark secret that’s chased her for the past sixteen years. With Evan’s assistance, can Bethany find freedom in the very town that held her captive for so long? 

DB: You've got me hooked!  Who doesn't love a ruggedly handsome man and a flawed woman:) 

How do you go about plotting your stories, coming up with ideas…basically how are your stories born?

KG: I have no idea where my ideas come from. Sometimes it’s something as simple as listening to a song and the message of it grips my heart. Sometimes it’s the vague outline of a character, or a single line of dialogue that plays through my head. I capture the spark and blow on it until it becomes something more. Like for Wildflowers from Winter. The entire novel was born because the first line popped into my head and wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it down. So once the words were there, I kept asking what-if questions until I had a concept for a novel. Once I have a concept, I turn into a psychotic plotter. I cannot write by the seat of my pants. It gives me ulcers. I have to feed an idea until it grows big and strong, with lots and lots of structure. Once it’s ready, I’ll start the rough draft.

DB: Do you set goals as a writer?  If so what are some current ones you have now?

KG: All the time. I am a huge, huge, huge fan of goals. Not just setting them, but writing them down. There is something about the act of penning the words that brings weight to the goal. Right now, my two major goals center around revisions. The first is to finish my content edits by mid July. The second is to revise the rough draft I completed in May and send it to my critique partners by the end of August.

DB: I couldn't agree more with the 'writing them down' aspect.  It definitely makes the goals more real.

Is there any advice you can give writers out there who have not yet landed an agent or a book deal?

KG: Keep on, keeping on. Continue learning the craft. Continue learning the business. Continue writing great books. And continue putting yourself out there. If you want to make it as a published author, rejection is part of the game. So is waiting. Don’t let either defeat you. Get back up, dust yourself off, and persevere. It’s the one quality that binds every single published author. They persevered. Oh, and if at all financially possible, go to a writer’s conference! Invaluable networking opportunities. Not to mention, flat-out fun.

DB: And who doesn't love fun?  Which brings me to my last question.

Just for fun…

Can you tell us something we just have to know about you?

KG: I’m terrified of black birds. Geese make me nervous too.

DB: Well there you go.  Black birds do have those little beady eyes and all:)

If you haven't gotten enough of Katie (I told you.  You just want to know her don't ya?) then check out Katie's Blog, Twitter, and Facebook

***

Just a little FYI to my Firsts Fridays lovers out there...

Katie will be the last interview for the month of July due to the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest.  Join us back here August 5th where I am going to have New York Times best selling author JULIE KAGAWA!  She wrote the Iron Fey Series and her new book, The Iron Knight is coming out 10/25/11.

Until next time...
Keep writing.  Keep learning.

I Need Help ... Judging Help!

UPDATE: You all are fantasic!  I've got the judges I need thanks to your help:)
Hey all!  Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest begins in 5 DAYS!!!  Can you believe it?  I can hardly wait.  We've got 64 blogfest buds who you can check out here.  Head over and get to to know them, follow them, LOVE them!

So here's the thing.  WEEK 4 of said blogfest is going to be fabuloso with Literary Agent Kathleen Rushall hosting the First 200 Words Pitch Contest (YA, MG and PB only since that's all she accepts...sorry to everyone else).  BUT--this is where you come in--I have to get this long list of contestants down to 10 (or 5 depending on the number of entries we have). 

I NEED HELP... Judging the contest, that is.  Here's why...

- I've gotten to know many of you through the blogosphere and I don't want my pickings to seem bias in any way.

- It's going to be a lot of work and I'd simply love some help.

SO

If you aren't planning on participating in the WEEK 4 blogfest contest (you can be a part of the other weeks), would you be willing to help a girl out?  Leave a comment below with your email address if so.

If not, I'd love to hear about a time when you in desperate need of some help and you turned to your blog buddies or writing pals to get it.

Until next time...
Keep writing.  Keep learning.

Motivation

For me, motivation to write comes in many forms. 

Some examples:
- There's something about sitting in a dark theater with a hundred or so people, all of you ready to watch a new story unfold on a screen as big as a house.  The thought just makes me giddy with the motivation bug. 

- When I read a book in a day because I can't put it down, because the words sing to me like the most addictive siren song I have ever heard, I want to do nothing but write something that may move another in the same way.

-I'm also an observer of people.  Watching the interactions of a husband and wife shopping together or a group of girls out to dinner is magic to my writing juices.  Wondering where they came from, what they are talking about and what they plan on doing in their future...well, it's inspiration in its purest form!  To me.

- I was reading someones blog the other day and the way they came about their inspiration inspired me too. 

So as you can see, tons of ways I can be motivated to write.

What about you?  What gets you excited to create another page, and another, and another until you have thousands of words and your own masterpiece?

Firsts Fridays: Literary Agent Kathleen Rushall

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

I know I say this every Friday, but boy have I got a Firsts Fridays treat for you!  Especially for those participating in the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest.  Why you ask?  Well Kathleen Rushall is only the judge of the first 200 word novel contest and a literary agent to boot. 

She is experiencing some pretty cool firsts as she is a fairly new agent and recently made the move from Waterside Productions to Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.  So without further ado let us get to know the lovely Kathleen Rushall.

DB: What kinds of manuscripts are grabbing your attention these days?

KR: First of all, thank you so much for featuring me on your blog! I’m so excited to be here and to participate in the July Agent Blogfest – really looking forward to seeing what creativity shines through on the 200 word limit pitches. So, this first question is a bit tricky because I love the variety I see in my queries. I appreciate a wide range of stories from science fiction and magical realism to contemporary humor and supernatural thrillers. That being said, right now I’m finding myself especially attracted to Southern gothic, edgier YA like thrillers or mysteries, and am always on the hunt for an authentic, truly compelling historical fiction or character-driven multicultural book. For picture books – I want quirky!

DB: Your so welcome Kathleen, thank you for being here and for being a judge for the contest!

The writing industry seems to have a million and one ways to concoct the perfect query letter.  Is there such a thing and if so what is your idea of the perfect one? 

KR: I think Andrea Brown said it best: “The perfect query letter is like the perfect skirt: long enough to cover everything but short enough to excite.” I love that line! For me personally, the perfect query demonstrates the author’s research (why did you choose me to query?), plot points and character intro (what’s the hook, why do I care about these characters - why do I want to open your sample?), and a brief bit about the author (relevant information – are you a member of SCBWI or any writing groups, published before, writing experience, etc.). Bonus points if you can cite comparable books already on shelves and why yours is different. Easier said than done, I know, but keep trying, research what a good query is like, and look at examples – it will help so much!

DB: Yes, it is easier said than done, but it's nice having some ideas laid out before us.  Writers can really work with what you gave us.  And I am loving Andrea Brown's quote!

Formatting a manuscript is a big concern for beginning writers.  What are the key points to know about it, and will format make or break an acceptance from an agent? 

KR: Format won’t make or break an acceptance – but it will get you that much closer to having an agent read your sample material. With so many queries to wade through, you don’t want to make it even the teeniest bit more difficult for an agent to read your work. If she/ he likes your query enough to open your pages, of course you want them to download or open properly. The simplest way to go is a doc file – not docx.  This is because it’s the version of Word that everyone can read (regardless of whether the recipient has the latest version of Word or a Mac or a PC or what-have-you). Additionally, this is the easiest file to open on an e-reader. Many of us are reading our queries on Kindles, iPads, or Nooks – so take that into account. Other than that, this is where research comes in – each agent will usually specify on their website profile or blog what format they prefer. Be smart about what your sample or manuscript is saved as – always put your last name and the title of your work in your document’s name.

DB: So good to know, I think I send things in docx.  Not any more:) 

Can you share with us a submission pet peeve you have? 

I think this is a pet peeve for all agents/editors, but please don’t submit things outside of my scope. This goes back to doing that pesky homework. If you have written a poetry collection or short stories for adult readers, I’m not your girl. The agent who will best represent your work is one who truly believes in it, so you want to only query agents that you know have the potential to love this kind of story.

DB: Got that people, do your homework.

Should a writer worry about trends before beginning a writing project? 

KR: Trends are not something to worry about. Any agent will tell you – do not write for a trend. The trendsetters certainly didn’t – write a book that YOU love and are proud of creating. That being said, trends are something you should be conscious of, just so you know your book’s marketability. For example, even if you didn’t write for the vampire trend, but you wrote a book with vampires you are excited about– it’s going to be a really tough sell right now because people are weary of those nightwalkers (no matter how fantastic it is).

***

Ooo, I know you all are wanting more...and I have more, but I am going to hold onto it until the week of the contest.  Give us something to really get excited about.  Kathleen's advice keeps on getting better, so get a pen and paper next time you come so you can take notes. 

If you are dying to know more about Kathleen right now or you can't wait until the contest for her to read your goods, head here to learn her submission guidelines and more about what she is looking for.

 If you are interested in signing up for the contest she will be judging, go here for the details.

Until next time...
Keep writing.  Keep learning.

Gearin Up to Get an Agent Blog List and Blathering

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

I have put together a list of participants for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest for everyone.  So far we have 52 people entered and the number continues to grow! 

After today's post you can find the continually updated list to the left under the Pages section.  I figure now would be a great time to go ahead and get to know your fellow writing pals who signed up, follow them if you'd like, see what their about, build friendships, the choice is yours. 

As for the blogfest start date, we will be kicking things off here on the Fourth of July.  I know if you're in the US you may be busy setting off fireworks and all so don't worry, we're going to keep day one pretty low-key.  We'll basically do the sign-ups for the 'I Just Had to Ask...' portion of the fest and I will be giving further details. 

This is just a suggestion...If you want to stay up to date on when and how things will be happening you may want to sign up for email notifications which you can find on the right sidebar under the About Me section.

And as you check out your names and notice there is something you'd like to change, let me know and I will get it added.  I'd like to put the genre you write and any other links you may like to connect through, so let me know in the comments section here. 

It's not too late!  If you still want to sign up, you can.  Just go here,read what it's all about and sign up with your email and blog address in the comments section.  Then grab the button on the right sidebar and post it on your page.  Tada...you're entered!

And now I give you the names so far.  Drumroll please....

Juliana Brandt

Robin Weeks

Rebecca Bany

Shallee McArthur

Theresa Milstein

Kristi Bernard

Lori M. Lee

Mandie Stevens

An Alleged Author

Pk Hrezo

Moody Writing

Christina Mercer

Shiela C Blank

Lisa Ann

Ashley Nixon

Marcie Ann

Callie Kingston

Brent Wescott

Anne-Mhairi Simpson

Mary Chrapliwy

Kathy Stemke

Karen Cioffi

Catherine M Johnson

V. Furnas

Donna Perugini

Sarah

J.C. Martin

Fiona Faith Maddock

Amanda

Emily Rittel-King

Alex Villasante

Nancy Thompson

Andrea Mack

T.D. McFrost

fOIS in the City

Nata

Rachelle Allen Dillon

Shelly Brown

Christine Danek

Lindy

Cynthia A Patterson

Amy Kennedy

Alaisdair

A.E. Martin

Meghan Kirkland

Alexia Chamberlynn

Angie Cothran

Donna Weaver

A.D.A.N.

 

Amanda Milner

Lora Rivera

Melodie Wright

Well folks, TWELVE DAYS left!  I hope you're getting ready!!

I Feel Famous!

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

I'm not one to gush or anything but...ok, I'm going to!  I had my first interview and my first guest post all in the span of a few days.  I feel so special!

If you want to check either of them out or the blogs of the lovely ladies who are the cause of all this giddiness on my part, then by all means do.

Emily Rittel-King has been a writer for awhile now and has recently restarted her blog, Get Busy Writing, after a small hiatus.  With this new beginning she is doing Blogger Mentor Mondays and I am her first interview!  If you want to read what I have to say or go over and check out the awesomeness that is my pal, go here.

Debbie Maxwell Allen from Writing While the Rice Boils saw some specialness in my post about adverbs and decided to guest post me.  Pretty cool!  You can check it out here.  On any given day Debbie posts the most helpful advice for writers.  I kid you not!

I frequent both of these blogs and you should too...not just because they noticed me, though that is outstanding in an of itself:)


So happy Monday everyone, happy writing and editing and any other writing goals you have too.  Oh and guess what???  It's almost July...Blogfest time!  Are you getting those queries and novels prepped?  If you don't know what in the world I'm talking about just click on the link at the top of this post, or the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest button on the right sidebar.  The numbers keep on growing, it is going to be a blast!

Firsts Fridays: Rockin Debut Author Jennifer Hiller and ARC Giveaway!

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

It's that time again and boy have I got a Firsts Fridays doozy for you!  If you don't know Jennifer Hiller yet, what are you waiting for?  This girl is fab squared, just check her out (sadly I couldn't get her pic to download so I opted for her killer --no pun intended-- book cover instead).  Head over to her blog to check out her beautiful face and much more.

Jennifer was born in Toronto, which is where she spent the first three decades of her life. When her husband was offered a transfer to Seattle, she didn't know which would be worse: leaving Canada or moving to the West coast. She spent her first few months on American soil bemoaning her existence and writing her first novel. Now nicely settled in the Pacific Northwest, the only thing she misses — other than family and friends — is snow.
A member of International Thriller Writers, she's always been drawn to dark fiction, even though she sleeps with the lights on when her husband isn't home.

DB: Congrats on your debut novel Creep!  Can you tell us a little bit about it?


JH: Creep is a psychological thriller about a popular college professor who is stalked and terrorized by her teaching assistant. (Hey! I think I actually remembered my elevator pitch for once!)

DB: Ooo that really is creepy! 

Can you tell us about the process for Creep being born, from the first write to becoming a debut author?

JH: I started writing Creep back in the summer of 2008. I woke up with an idea about a serial killer and thought I’d bang out a short story. What I ended up with was a first chapter. Five months later, I had a completed first draft. With the help of a workshop I took through Gotham Writers in NYC, I revised the heck out of it, and ended up with a pretty polished seventh draft by the fall of 2009. I was ready to start querying, but I was terrified to jump in, even though I had written a query letter and had a detailed spreadsheet with a couple hundred agents I’d researched all ready to go.

I queried close to one hundred agents over a three-month period, sending out my queries in batches of about twenty each time. Half the agents rejected me. Ten requested. One offered. I blogged about getting The Call here: http://www.jenniferhillier.ca/2010/02/call_08.html.

My agent and I worked on another two rounds of revisions for Creep before going on submission on April 30, 2010. My book sold exactly two months later. And now, a year later, the book is about to come out! Creep will be available in stores on July 5, 2011.

I still can’t believe it all really happened.

DB: I honestly never tire of hearing these amazing stories.  Talk about motivation!

How do you go about writing?  Are you a plotter or a pantster and how long did it take you to finish the novel?

JH: On my own, I wrote seven drafts, which took fourteen months. Another two revisions with Victoria took an additional three months. I’m a pantster, but I’d love to be a plotter. As fun as it is to write a first draft organically (I love surprising myself!), second drafts are a nightmare for me. Once I get into the third draft, though, it’s fun, because by then the story structure is in place and it’s just a matter of making the prose as polished and shiny as possible. For my final draft, I print out the entire manuscript and read the whole thing out loud to myself. And I always edit with a purple ink pen.

DB: Did you read that readers?  Even the successful ones have draft after draft. 

What do you think has helped you develop your talent enough to become a published author?

JH: Workshopping helped a lot. I got my work ripped to shreds many times over, and while the feedback wasn’t always easy to take, it made my writing so much stronger (and my skin that much thicker). I also read extensively in my genre – I’m a huge fan of thriller authors like Jeffery Deaver, Chelsea Cain, and Greg Iles – and so I felt I had a good idea of what type of book would be marketable. In the end, I wrote the book that I really wanted to read.

DB: Can you tell us a little about your query letter and where you learned the most about queries?

JH: I spent a lot of time in Absolute Write’s Query Letter Hell forum reading and absorbing as much as I could about queries. I also read Janet Reid’s Query Shark blog religiously. In the end, though, I don’t think my query letter was all that strong – queries are ridiculously difficult to write! I tried out three different versions, and you can read them all here: http://www.jenniferhillier.ca/2010/03/which-query-got-me-my-agent.html. (Hint: Version A, which was actually the second version I sent out, was the one that piqued my agent’s interest).

DB: Now see, I thought that was pretty good:)

Do you have any fun plans for the debut of Creep?  If so, how can we find out how to be a part of them?

JH: I’ll be at ThrillerFest in New York the same week that Creep is released (July 8 and 9) as part of the Debut Author’s Breakfast panel. Afterward, I’ll be signing books alongside my fellow debuts. I’m excited and nervous! I was at ThrillerFest two years ago when Creep was somewhere between the third and fourth drafts, and I can’t believe I get to go back this summer as a debut novelist. It’s so surreal… but in an amazing and wonderful way.

DB: I love it!  I couldn't be more excited for you:)

Who is your agent and how do you like that working relationship?

JH: I’m repped by Victoria Skurnick of Levine Greenberg. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the woman  kicks ass! We’ve been working together for over a year now and have developed a really strong relationship. She’s been in the publishing business a long time, and her advice is always spot-on. Plus she makes me laugh. I’ll be meeting her for the first time at ThrillerFest, and I can’t wait to give her a big fat hug for all her hard work.

DB: That gave me cold chills Jennifer!  You get to finally meet her!

Just for fun…

What is something we just have to know about you?

JH: Hmmm… not that this is a big secret, but my favorite movie of all time is The Princess Bride. I can find a quote from that movie to suit any occasion. I’m always surprised when someone tells me they’ve never seen it. INCONCEIVABLE!

DB: Haha...well I HAVE seen it.  I get your obsession!

JH: Thanks so much for having me, Deana! Since my book doesn’t come out for another two weeks, I’d love to offer one of your blog readers an ARC of Creep. I’ll do a random drawing for anybody who comments below, winner to be selected on June 21^st.  

DB: How cool is that?  Even I can be suprised at my own interviews!