The Writer's Journey

Hello Lovlies,

I've never really talked much about my querying process, but I was interviewed the other day on here by fellow writer, Beth Fred, which got me thinking. I've been striving toward my goal of getting an agent and published for quite some time on and off. At least since spring of 2009. Wow. Spring of 2009. Granted in between that time I've graduated high school, visited colleges, gone to college,  and have managed to get about 4-5 internships under my belt. Now, I'm a second semester junior--probably a senior credit hour-wise by now.

But it is interesting to see where I've ended up since then. Was I really ready to get published at the age of seventeen? Probably not. Was I really ready for all the rejection I faced? At first no. Now, when one comes shooting into my inbox I think, "Pass me a Milano cookie and let's shoot off two more queries." Let's face it, this is a business of thick skin. Build it up and wear it proud. I've made plenty of mistakes--like thinking my work of YA genre fiction was literary HAH. My professors would laugh me out of the room if I EVER mentioned that. Even querying agents with a ridiculously LONG query. Luckily mine is about 3 paragraphs now. Short, sweet, and to the point. In fact, I think I'm a pretty darn good query writer. (Or so I think lol)

My point is we're all going to make mistakes along the way. We're all going to find our moment to shine. The writer's journey is all about finding your place in the literary world. I just have to say--the publishing industry as a whole has been awesome. Am I happy I discovered it? Yes--I don't have the words. To everyone on Twitter, YALitChat, and just about every writer's blog out there. We're here. We're listening to your words. And I for one hope for only the best for all of you.

For those who are always striving. Always pushing forward even after rejection. Don't worry. You'll make it as long as you never give up.

So I raise a glass of apple cider (not yet 21) to my fellow writers who through everything--the hardships and the struggles--are STILL here and still trying. Now, THAT's something to be proud of.

Let's make 2012 our YEAR!

Lotsa love guys,

Liz <3

Cat's Don't Dance's OUR TIME HAS COME says it better than I ever could.

 

Putting Together a Book Trailer

Hello Lovelies!

It has been quite some time since I've posted. Ironically, I've been blogging the last 10 weeks for a marketing research company. Technically, their new website is about to come up, but they have 9 of my posts ready and in the queue for when the blog finally launches. I'll be posting when the time comes!

Today though, I figured I'd talk about putting together a book trailer. As some of you know I've been helping out Stacey Darlington, author of Athena's Curse, with publicity efforts, and of course, her official book trailer. The beauty of a book trailer is the fact that there is either limited or no animation. Instead, it relies on the mood created by the music and images chosen for the piece.

Step 1. Decide the mood you wish to convey. Eerie? Adventurous? Romantic? Terrifying?

Step 2. Decide aesthetically how to convey this mood. For example, would cartoons work? Black and white illustrations with sparse colors, like what I used for Stacey? Or would photoshopped images and photos create a better impression and aide you with the mood you wish to convey? It's really a matter of preference. Also consider what is easier and readily available to you.

Step 3. Do you have a program that you can build this trailer on? Or know someone who does? Figure out what it is capable of before you jump in. Mac has iMovie, not too sure what Windows has.

Step 4. Create a storyboard. This can be as elaborate as a giant poster or as simple as a few thumbnail (miniature) sketches that contain the general idea you want on each slide/scene.

Step 5. This step goes hand-in-hand with Step 4. Consider the copy (words) to go along with each frame. Remember keep this short and minimal. You know those tag lines and elevator pitches we use whenever we go to a conference? Keep it to that length.

Step 6. Once that has been decided, get started on those pictures/drawings/illustrations or what have you.

Step 7. Choosing the music. This step can really be done at any point in the process. Some prefer to know what kind of music they are using beforehand so that they know what works as they created the images. Others, like myself, wait towards the end once we have the idea on paper. Remember to choose royalty free music or music you or a friend composes themselves. Here are a couple sites my tech-savvy cousin recommended I try:

http://incompetech.com/

http://freepd.com/

Step 8. The last step is putting it all together using a simple program. My advice: If you don't have a lot of knowledge keep things as simple and clean as possible. Simplicity can oftentimes have a greater impact than those trying to clutter a screen with extraneous details. Trust me. Keep it simple.

Below is the trailer for Athena's Curse. Hope you guys like it!

MG Tidbits

Hello all,

After some prodding for more reading material *Ahem Mary**Cough Cough** I've decided to try to update more frequently. Perhaps once a week? But I'd also love to know what kind of topics interest you all the most?

Anyways, lately I've been reading a lot of great MG manuscripts and I felt that perhaps a few "what makes MG middle grade" tidbits would be worth reading. Obviously, these are just my opinions I've formed after reading some MG manuscripts for an agent.

1. Word count doesn't seem to matter very much as long as it doesn't top 60k. Just about every MG manuscript I've read has been less than 60k. Hell, I just read one in verse that was 12k, yet its target audience was Upper Middle grade. Focus on writing a great story. Worry about word count later...though I'd say for this genre--short is best.

2. Shorter manuscripts actually make, at least my self and the agent I read for, a bit happier...only because when having 5 or 6 manuscripts on your plate a short one seems refreshing. Also, from blogs I've read, it makes an agent more likely to request it.

3.MG is NOT writing about one's childhood with an adult's wisdom and perspective already in place, in fact any novel who's protagonist is a child, yet the story is told from the perspective of an adult looking back is in fact an ADULT novel.

4. Upper MG readers are at the point in their lives when they are pushing away from Mommy and Daddy. Trying to find the individual lurking beneath the surface. They do NOT like being talked down to. Protagonists mirror this want to be an individual and break free. This is the age where Mom and Dad are nothing but embarrassing...so interlaced words within the story that try to teach a child a lesson will MAKE them put the book down. Let's face it, it sounds preachy.

5. Hard and fast rule for both MG and YA NEVER talk down to the reader. They are much smarter than adults give them credit for.

Upper Middle Grade vs. Middle Grade

So I've started a middle grade novel. I'm only 8k in though, but hey its a start. Anyway, I was curious about what you could get away with in a middle grade. -Like kissing etc. Apparently a kiss scene I wrote seemed too steamy for some readers on the Writers Digest Community..go figure?

I also wanted to know the difference between middle grade and upper middle grade. So I emailed Mary Kole, an associate agent at Andrea Brown Literary. Her blog: www.kidlit.com has proven itself a great read.

Her response was that as long as their is no boob touching or below the belt stuff it should be fine but to wait to see what an agent says.

Now about Upper Middle Grade vs. Middle Grade: Basically, she said that the main character can even go up to the age of fifteen depending on the type of story and the character's maturity. She said this was because kids like to read characters older than them. So if the main character is 15 most likely the kids reading would be 12-13.

Hopefully, this'll help some of you middle grade writers out there :]

Critique Groups & SCBWI

Have any of you writers found your own critique groups? Critique groups can be great or they can suck. It just depends on which one you join. :] I have been a part of an online critique group and let me tell you with their advice my writing has definitely improved. I understand plot more, POV, tension, etc. A writer is always going to need someone to read their book and a fellow writer can point out something that you yourself probably don't realize because you've been working on this one manuscript for so long that you may miss something or not understand how someone reading it for the first time would feel.

Even online you can find a critique partner who is willing to edit your entire book. If any of you are interested I'm head of the YAWR (Young Adult Writers Rock) group at www.key-publications-network.socialgo.com The site has a multitude of other genre groups as well-horror, fantasy, sci-fi, & romance to name a few.

I also understand some people are weary about joining an online group and having your baby posted online or sent in an email. That's fine. You can always try to search for a critique groups near you. Chances are a google search with the words "writers critique group" and your location may bring up some possible groups that you would be interested in.

For those interested in all things kids books, well I looked up the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and turns out they have dozens of critique groups in the state of Florida. Chances are they'll have some in your area as well. :]

I'm not sure if you have to be a member, but I've decided to go to a local meeting here in the next few weeks. I'll see how it goes.

Good luck!

MG and YA Word Counts

I was just browsing through the archives of the Guide to Literary Agents blog and discovered this post on Word Counts for all sorts of novels and seeing how Word Counts can be an issue when it comes to YA and MG and I figured you all may enjoy a peek. Even those of you who don't write YA or MG...he has a list of different genres and word counts. I'll just give you the gist of what he said.

First off for Middle Grade(ages 8-12): 20,000-40,000- BUT if your novel is geared toward say 12 year olds and you have a 13 or 14 year old protagonist then the book should be between 32,000-40,000 instead of the low 20k.

Now YA: 55,000-69,000 he says is a great range. I know there are many writers that pull out the Harry Potter card, stating that it was over this word count. Well yes, but the first book wasn't all that long and by the time the others came out Rowling made her publisher A LOT of money.

Here is the exception. Fantasy. I can just see you fantasy writers jumping for joy. Fantasy can be longer because it involves world-building etc. But not much longer-

Be careful because extremely long novels make an agent think that a writer does not know how to edit themselves. We wouldn't want that now would we?

Also, for YA try not to go lower than 47K...and yes WAKE was 32,000k but it was an exception.

You can try to be the exception, but if you follow these rules for your first novel-you give yourself a better shot at breaking into the business. Check out his post if you want more, but I'm pretty sure I summarized the gist of it.

http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/CategoryView,category,Word%20Count.aspx

Good luck fellow writers!

Why Do We Write?

So why do we write?

Is there some driving force in our minds that just snaps on at a specific time in our lives and makes us fall in love with the written word? Why do you write for your particular genre?

I know why I write for the YA and MG genres. Usually, you write what you love to read. I love reading YA books and MG as well. Why? Because there is something different about them, something secretive. Innocent perhaps? Children are more willing to take in the story. Writing about tweens and teenagers and their struggles just feels most comfortable. When we were young these books (YA MG etc) created a whole other world for us to be a part of. I loved reading the Baby Sitters Club, Animal Ark, The Shadow Children Series, Harry Potter, and the Lioness Quartet.

Somewhere, buried beneath these intricate, funny, sad, dangerous, and loving stories was always a lesson. But these were never told in a preachy way. They were underlying themes within the book. You either got them or you didn't, but if you did, it felt as though the novel had opened your eyes just a bit more to the world.

Parents and adults complain about how violent shows, movies, and video games can be and believe children will grow up without regard for most values and human life.

Books teach us values; love, ideals, courage. As children our minds are impressionable, but when we read about characters who we can identify with and learn to understand their struggles, faults and beliefs-we learn.

You ask why I write for the the YA and MG genres. Well, its because books can save children. That's it. Simple as that.

Love Plots 2

I think I'm going to take a fellow writer's advice and stop fighting my characters on who I want to end up with whom. In her words she said to let the characters tell the story, because let's face it they are the driving force. They are why readers even care. So I guess when one declares his love for my witch girl, I'd better listen...

Thing is...who loves her the most?

Hello All!

Well, this is my first blog post. I suppose I should probably tell you about myself. Well, my name is Elizabeth and I am an aspiring writer. I am also a freshman in college and a Creative Writing Major. I have completed a YA fantasy novel, which I just sent off to an agent today! *SQUEAL* I'm giddy! I'm also working on a YA romance, a YA urban fantasy, and am trying my hand at a Middle Grade (MG) fantasy. :]

I'm also an artist, hence the picture at the top of my blog :] Sadly, I couldn't seem to get the format right, but I'll keep trying.

Basically, this blog will be about writing, especially for young adults (YA), anything to do with the YA genre (as in book reviews, interviews and more), and anything that pops into my head really. Comments are always appreciated. Feel free to stop by read, comment, or just chat. I'm always interested in meeting fellow writers. :]

Happy Writing!

Liz