Query Letters

When One Door Closes, Kick Another One Open

It’s summertime soon, which means the next book in my Super Love series will be coming out. And guess what, anxiety flavored with impostor syndrome is already starting to kick in. What makes me think I can do this? How crazy do I have to be, to think I can run with the big dogs and not get eaten? My newness will shine out, a giant neon pimple, and everyone will laugh and no one will buy my book. It…

2
Read More

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Gets Artistic (While I Crash Into a Reef)

Welcome to another Insecure Writer’s Support Group day! To sign up for the Group yourself, join in on the fun and receive all the wonderful support, go here. The awesome co-hosts for the February 5 posting of the IWSG are Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson! Stop by their blogs and offer a thank-you for today. The optional question for today was: has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did…

12
Read More

The 10 Totally Made-Up Commandments of Querying

This is an Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. Since I’m currently querying and fielding nothing but rejections, I’d like to share the pain. Odds are good that some of you are in the trenches with me. The optional August question is: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey? Querying. Avoid querying, if at all possible. No, I don’t mean that. It’s just the bitterness talking. Really, what I mean is: don’t query before your manuscript…

11
Read More

How to Survive the Querying Process; Or, Being a Stubborn Ball of Rock

Grit For this post we want the grit that means courage and resolve, or strength of character. The definition that is synonymous with bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, strength of will, steel, nerve, fortitude, toughness, determination, and tenacity. All of that sounds . . . well, amazing. MUCH better than refreshing your inbox for the sixth time in five minutes and then curling into a ball, rocking and staring, because the refresh only brought you another rejection. (Not that I’ve done…

2
Read More

The Magic of Manuscript Rejections: Part 5

The Query ship sets sail again this week! In batches of three, my latest begging letter will be heading out to seas unknown, trying to lure me in an agent. My first three letters for 2018 have already garnered me three rejections. Here be monsters (if you define monsters as a vicious cycle of hope and rejection, which I totally do.) In honor of the maiden voyage of my completed manuscript (New Adult, alternate universe, with a strong love story)…

2
Read More

When One Door Closes, Kick Another One Open

Impostor syndrome has been on my mind lately, partly due to that viral thing Neil Gaiman wrote about it and also because I follow Chuck Wendig’s blog Terribleminds and he just wrote a whole article on impostor syndrome and how to deal with it. Seriously recommended, especially if you want to hear a good solid technique. What he wrote really inspired me, at a time when I needed inspiration (i.e. my very first e-book will be coming out in the next few…

2
Read More

The Magic of Manuscript Rejections: Part 5

The Query ship sets sail again this week! In batches of three, my latest begging letter will be heading out to seas unknown, trying to lure me in an agent. My first three letters for 2018 have already garnered me three rejections. Here be monsters (if you define monsters as a vicious cycle of hope and rejection, which I totally do.) In honor of the maiden voyage of my completed manuscript (New Adult, alternate universe, with a strong love story)…

1
Read More