Now that I've signed a contract and I have a publishing company backing my novel Second Chance, the natural thing to do after publishing book is to publish a second one. There's just one problem. I have a bunch of drafts lying around, and no idea which one I want to experiment with next.
So, since I have conveniently managed to write mock query letters for these projects, why don't you guys help me pick?
Wacky Wednesday: Agent Query
Not only does Agent Query have some really useful tips for querying here, the website is also a really great forum for getting others to help you rip your queries apart--I mean, help you fix them so they're way better than what you could've done on your own.
Check out my experience with putting a query letter for Facades on Agent Query here. I was only able to get two responses, but that was because I didn't invest enough in helping other people with their queries. Usually, people will return the favor if you critique their queries. Plus, if you critique people's queries, you're likely to get better at editing your own. At any rate, it's worth a shot, so I definitely recommend checking it out for those of you who are getting ready to query or enter contests such as #Pitmad.
Share your query stories below if you have any! I'd love to hear from you.
Check out my experience with putting a query letter for Facades on Agent Query here. I was only able to get two responses, but that was because I didn't invest enough in helping other people with their queries. Usually, people will return the favor if you critique their queries. Plus, if you critique people's queries, you're likely to get better at editing your own. At any rate, it's worth a shot, so I definitely recommend checking it out for those of you who are getting ready to query or enter contests such as #Pitmad.
Share your query stories below if you have any! I'd love to hear from you.
Toolbox Tuesday: Naming Characters
One of the most difficult parts about writing can be naming characters. There's a lot that a name says about a person. It highlights uniqueness, personality, and so much more. Point is, the names we give characters are very important, so it's a good idea to play around with a few ideas before deciding on a name for a character.
Here are just a few tips for naming characters (more to come in another Toolbox Tuesday):
That's it for now! So, was this a helpful Toolbox Tuesday? Have tips on naming characters? Please share below!
Here are just a few tips for naming characters (more to come in another Toolbox Tuesday):
- Try to vary the amount of syllables in the characters' names. (Unlike my name, Jelsa Simone Mepsey. Yeah, don't do that.) A mixture of short and long names often makes for a very good character name. For example, Shane Christopher Kerrick sounds much better than Shane John White. A variation of syllables makes a name more interesting, and flows much better.
- Keep a database of names you like. I've met people before with unique names (such as Gracelyn) and written them down for future use. Sometimes you'll meet people with names that are a little different, but enough different so that it would make for a very good character name. Also, having a database of names you already know you like is much easier than looking through baby name websites and sifting through hundreds of names.
- Keep a database of last names as well. I especially encourage keeping lists of different last names by ethnicity. I know I personally have a tendency to write a lot of white characters, but I have been trying to diversify my cast, and I encourage other writers to attempt to do the same.
- Ask other people if the names sound good! Chances are, if a lot of people like the name you gave a character, so will your readers.
That's it for now! So, was this a helpful Toolbox Tuesday? Have tips on naming characters? Please share below!
Music Monday: Another instrumental
Remember those things called instrumentals that I wrote once upon a time? This one is called Tears. For those of you who are familiar with Waffles, he was with me when I recorded the song. If you know enough about music, you'll notice that he raises his head during the only major chord in the song, which I thought was pretty cool.
Anyway, enjoy this, and I hope it's inspirational in some way!
A Quick Update
Finals are over, and now I'm turning my room inside out to clean it because it's driving my fellow house-mates crazy. In between that, I'll be trying to catch up on blog posts, so stay tuned for more of those in the near future!
I haven't been completely slacking, however. I'm excited to announce that I've had 15+ blogs sign up to participate in the cover reveal for Second Chance, and more than half of them plan to review my novel as well! So that's very exciting, and I have a lot of work to do writing guest posts for their blogs as well.
Thanks for joining me on my writing journey; I wish you the best of luck with yours as well if you write, or if you're a reader, enjoy the multiple journeys we writers so enjoy putting you on!
I haven't been completely slacking, however. I'm excited to announce that I've had 15+ blogs sign up to participate in the cover reveal for Second Chance, and more than half of them plan to review my novel as well! So that's very exciting, and I have a lot of work to do writing guest posts for their blogs as well.
Thanks for joining me on my writing journey; I wish you the best of luck with yours as well if you write, or if you're a reader, enjoy the multiple journeys we writers so enjoy putting you on!
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