Writers’ Cave
I’ve done a lot of research on writing and the publishing industry, and I wanted to have a special section on the site dedicated to sharing this information with my fellow writers. I’m no expert, but I have learned a lot in the past couple of years!
I’ll be adding to this over time so please check back for more updates!
On Queries
A lot of writers don’t like coming up with a query letter, but I actually think they’re kind of fun. It’s a great way to get to the heart of your story, and I like reading how the back cover of my book might sound! Hopefully one day I’ll have a back cover copy to call my very own.
I think the most important thing to keep in mind when trying to write a query is to limit the focus. Novels usually have a lot going on in them. Main plots mixed in with character development, relationships and many other possibilities. It’s very tempting to want to mention all of this in a query letter. To me, every single bit of it is important. Unfortunately, mentioning all the plot threads would become cumbersome in a short, two paragraph overview.
So, just ask yourself these questions: What is the most important thing happening? What are the most important aspects and events related to that? How can those be explained without sounding like a list of events?
On Pitches
I had a good experience with pitching so I’m pretty fond of it. That being said, it wasn’t that easy for me and my nerves were pretty much all over the place. Writers are notoriously introverted, clinging to seclusion and quiet in order to get the words on the page. Personally, I can’t write with a lot of distractions so I spend a lot of time alone with only my laptop as company.
However, I believe attending conferences and participating in pitch sessions can be very useful to a writer. You meet other writers, speak to agents and learn more about the craft and business. During pitches, you get instant feedback. No matter what happens, I think the experience is more than worth it.
So, what makes a good pitch? Brevity. Like any good query letter, you really need to narrow the focus. But even more so. I’ll even go so far as to say three sentences max. Mine was that long, but I felt it was a little too lengthy. The idea is to be as short and punchy as possible. I also think it’s a great exercise because once you get to the publishing stage, you’ll need to be able to provide these quick pitches for publicity and promotion purposes. Might as well start learning how to do that now.
Some more things to keep in mind:
1. Do your research. I got the best responses when I mentioned having read a client’s work. It shows you picked the agent for a reason and you know what she sells.
2. Be prepared to ask questions. Every single agent asked me if I had any questions. Unfortunately, I did not and felt a little embarrassed when I didn’t have any to ask.
3. Be prepared to answer questions. I got many questions about how long I’d been writing, if I was a member of any writing organizations and what other books in the market I enjoyed.
On Plotting
One of my favorite things about writing is figuring out what is going to happen in the story. Part of this I do with pre-plotting, and part of this I discover as I go along. No matter when or how I figure this out, I find it very useful to keep track of where the story has been and where it is going for consistency purposes, reminders, revisions, etc.
For this, I use Digital Post-It Notes. Here’s an example of one of my plotting boards. This one was created for the sequel to Teen Ghost. Each color represents a plot thread.
I highly recommend this program. You can try it out on a 30-day free trial to see if it works for you. If so, it’s only $10 after that. Not bad for a great writing tool you can use over and over again for each book you write.
Alternatively, you can plot using this method with an actual bulletin board or poster board with traditional, paper Post-It notes. I think both work great, but I’m more likely to use a program on my laptop than something I have to make room for in my apartment.