I've come to the conclusion that I really like agents with blogs. Like, a lot. Sure, the agent researching process can suddenly take 2-3 times as long, ESPECIALLY when you come across a like-minded individual who just happens to write posts you can't get enough of. But sometimes, the company website just doesn't cut it, you know? A blog allows an agent to express his or her personality... likes, dislikes, preferences, weird habits--like drinking a 12 pack of diet orange soda everyday (which, incidentally, made me feel much better about my own escalating Diet Coke addiction)--etc. These things while seemingly completely random, silly, and irrelevant, can be very useful when writers like me are trying to narrow down which agents would be most receptive to our cause. A blog really does open a window into the agent's personality. I've read about many an agent expressing frustrations over the fact that writers send in material that is not relevant to anything they are looking for. To those complainers I have but one suggestion: get a blog.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Fingers Crossed
I found a fantastic literary agent today, Vickie Motter. Her blog: http://navigatingtheslushpile.blogspot.com/ was fantastic! She was witty, engaging and full of insightful tips for writers! It was interesting to discover her, because I've never come across an agent who was as devoted to staying in touch with writers the way she was. Most agents don't have the time (understandably) to keep up a blog like that. But she not only had one, but I could tell it was something she diligently maintained. I probably spent too much time reading her posts, but I couldn't help it! I found her "voice" (so to speak) familiar... she seemed to be someone that I would likely get along with, if we ever had the chance of meeting.
Anyway, after leaving a few comments of my own on her blog (which I NEVER do... busy people like that don't have time to read them anyway, right?!), I dusted off my query letter, made a few changes, crossed my fingers and sent her my request. I have this crazy, weird hope that she'll actually ask for more material, which I'm trying to tell myself not to do because honestly... with so many queries coming in my chances are slim to none. But I hope, hope, HOPE she'll read it and like it anyway. Its important to me to work with someone I can get along with. And--okay, you're right--I've never met her, so don't really know if we'd get along. HOWEVER, she's still the first agent to pop up that I have felt an instant connection to... well, the most connection you can have over the Internet, I suppose ( :
In other news, revising is going well. It was tough to get back into the book, as I knew it would be, but I'm finding myself settling into the comfortable groove of writing again. And--surprise, surprise--I love it! Its funny, because I think I've just recently discovered HOW MUCH I really love writing. Its so fun to influence human emotion through the written word. I love making people laugh... love to make them hang on my every word... love to hear the reaction when a hard-written cliff hanger has the desired suspense. I love it! I always knew I enjoyed writing, but coming off of a 4 month fast when I had to devote my time entirely to the study of law, its like an epiphany... I'm renewing and re-realizing (is that even a word?!) the love all over again. With that said, I sincerely hope I can get a fantastic agent SOOOOON (I'm SO impatient!) and get this project rolling in the right direction!
Anyway, after leaving a few comments of my own on her blog (which I NEVER do... busy people like that don't have time to read them anyway, right?!), I dusted off my query letter, made a few changes, crossed my fingers and sent her my request. I have this crazy, weird hope that she'll actually ask for more material, which I'm trying to tell myself not to do because honestly... with so many queries coming in my chances are slim to none. But I hope, hope, HOPE she'll read it and like it anyway. Its important to me to work with someone I can get along with. And--okay, you're right--I've never met her, so don't really know if we'd get along. HOWEVER, she's still the first agent to pop up that I have felt an instant connection to... well, the most connection you can have over the Internet, I suppose ( :
In other news, revising is going well. It was tough to get back into the book, as I knew it would be, but I'm finding myself settling into the comfortable groove of writing again. And--surprise, surprise--I love it! Its funny, because I think I've just recently discovered HOW MUCH I really love writing. Its so fun to influence human emotion through the written word. I love making people laugh... love to make them hang on my every word... love to hear the reaction when a hard-written cliff hanger has the desired suspense. I love it! I always knew I enjoyed writing, but coming off of a 4 month fast when I had to devote my time entirely to the study of law, its like an epiphany... I'm renewing and re-realizing (is that even a word?!) the love all over again. With that said, I sincerely hope I can get a fantastic agent SOOOOON (I'm SO impatient!) and get this project rolling in the right direction!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Frightening
Frightening is the word I will use today to describe how I feel about getting back to my book. Frightening because its been so long. Frightening because... what if my characters don't remember me? What if I don't remember them? Frightening because, what if I read what I've already written and hate it? So many "what if's" and as usual, the unknown is, well, frightening...
But along that line of thought, I just finished a fabulous book by a relatively new-ish writer, Kate Morton. Maybe she isn't even new... are you still a new writer if you've written three successful novels? Maybe. Anyway, I read her book called The Forgotten Garden and got completely swept up in the mysterious storyline. It was delicious! Intrigued as to why I'd never heard of her before, I Googled her (gotta love Google). I found her website, which was as equally charming and mysterious as her book. She mentioned on her website that she tries to stay involved in her work at least everyday. While admitting that sometimes she absolutely hates her work (what writer doesn't, honestly??), she said that there is a danger of slipping out of the story if you spend too much time away. She also confessed that she does not like to leave her characters where she left them "swaying aimlessly" while they wait for her to come back and give them new life.
If Kate's characters sway aimlessly if she's away for a measly little 24 hours, I'm wondering what my characters are up to now that I've been absent for about 4 months.... probably in a deep, dark, Sleeping-Beauty-esque slumber. Or dead. Either way, I suppose I'm about to find out. Time to stop putting off the inevitable and breathe new life--as Kate would say--into my sadly neglected subjects.
But along that line of thought, I just finished a fabulous book by a relatively new-ish writer, Kate Morton. Maybe she isn't even new... are you still a new writer if you've written three successful novels? Maybe. Anyway, I read her book called The Forgotten Garden and got completely swept up in the mysterious storyline. It was delicious! Intrigued as to why I'd never heard of her before, I Googled her (gotta love Google). I found her website, which was as equally charming and mysterious as her book. She mentioned on her website that she tries to stay involved in her work at least everyday. While admitting that sometimes she absolutely hates her work (what writer doesn't, honestly??), she said that there is a danger of slipping out of the story if you spend too much time away. She also confessed that she does not like to leave her characters where she left them "swaying aimlessly" while they wait for her to come back and give them new life.
If Kate's characters sway aimlessly if she's away for a measly little 24 hours, I'm wondering what my characters are up to now that I've been absent for about 4 months.... probably in a deep, dark, Sleeping-Beauty-esque slumber. Or dead. Either way, I suppose I'm about to find out. Time to stop putting off the inevitable and breathe new life--as Kate would say--into my sadly neglected subjects.
Monday, January 24, 2011
MIA
I totally lied. I'm definitely going to be MIA until--at the earliest--February 25.
Studying for the stinkin', rotten, no good, very bad bar exam takes up MUCH more time than originally anticipated.
Studying for the stinkin', rotten, no good, very bad bar exam takes up MUCH more time than originally anticipated.
Friday, December 31, 2010
And..... I'm back!
Sorry for the unexceptably long absence... studying, paper writing, finals, graduation, moving, Christmas and studying for the bar have kept me unaviodably detained for the past several weeks. But I'm back and kicking!
Today, I finally got my book out again for the first time in what felt like MUCH too long. It was weird scrolling through the pages of all that writing... it was a moment of rediscovery. I realized how much I missed writing and how much I missed my book! People keep asking me about it and I feel bad that I don't have any major updates. I have no excuse except that I've been just SO busy. Which is totally a lame excuse, right? Everyone gets busy! The thing that sets apart those that succeed from those that don't is MAKING time to MAKE it happen. Which is what I plan on doing. Unfortunatly, I still won't be able to devote astronomical amounts of time to this project, as I'm taking the California bar in February... HOWEVER... I do believe I should be able to scrape up AT LEAST a few hours every week to work on it. With any luck, I'll be up and rolling again in no time!
Mucho more updates to come!
Today, I finally got my book out again for the first time in what felt like MUCH too long. It was weird scrolling through the pages of all that writing... it was a moment of rediscovery. I realized how much I missed writing and how much I missed my book! People keep asking me about it and I feel bad that I don't have any major updates. I have no excuse except that I've been just SO busy. Which is totally a lame excuse, right? Everyone gets busy! The thing that sets apart those that succeed from those that don't is MAKING time to MAKE it happen. Which is what I plan on doing. Unfortunatly, I still won't be able to devote astronomical amounts of time to this project, as I'm taking the California bar in February... HOWEVER... I do believe I should be able to scrape up AT LEAST a few hours every week to work on it. With any luck, I'll be up and rolling again in no time!
Mucho more updates to come!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Really, truly... the last Query Revision (I hope)
I know I've posted SO many other query letters. But I really feel like this one is the last revision. And regardless if it is the "last" revision, it is undoubtedly the BEST revision thus far. Last night I had hubby help me "polish." Might I say that hubby is quite brutal when he edits. He has the sensitivity of a seldge hammer. I always have to mentally prepare myself before asking him for editiorial help. Even then, I still usually end up defensive.
BUT... I have to admit that despite my bruised ego, he DID add some invaluable advice, and we managed to pound out a really polished letter, which I think is going to work VERY well. (Fingers crossed).
Dear Agent:
I recently completed my first novel, Keepers of the Flame, the first in a trilogy to come.
In 2008, I graduated from Brigham Young University as a History Major. I am now a third year law student at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Like George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, or Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games, Keepers of the Flame explores the potential demise of a nation, as a few brave individuals struggle to right the wrongs of a power-hungry government. It follows the lives of the Halls, an influential government family, as they are torn apart by the political turmoil rippling through the U.S. government. At the heart of the conflict is Elias Clymer, an expert politician with powerful sway in Congress. Facing little resistance, Clymer and other congressmen scheme to overthrow the government; only a few are left to stand against him. Senator Thomas Hall is one such person.
Unbeknownst to Hall, the problem reaches into his own home. His oldest son, Marcus, is seeking to establish a place in Clymer’s new regime. Meanwhile, Hall’s other children, Ethan and Vanessa ("Essie"), join an underground movement set on restoring the values of freedom and liberty. In a desperate fight to stop Clymer’s plan, Ethan and Essie become entangled in an epic battle to save the country they love.
Because of the tumultuous political climate of our day, Keepers of the Flame will reach a large audience that surpasses the normal boundaries of genre. I especially hope to generate interest among the YA generation, whose increased political enthusiasm was highly influential in the 2008 presidential election.
Enclosed are the first three chapters for your review. The completed work is approximately 100,000 words. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you further.
Most Sincerely,
Julie Tuovi
December 2010 J.D. Candidate
University of Nebraska College of Law
BUT... I have to admit that despite my bruised ego, he DID add some invaluable advice, and we managed to pound out a really polished letter, which I think is going to work VERY well. (Fingers crossed).
Dear Agent:
I recently completed my first novel, Keepers of the Flame, the first in a trilogy to come.
In 2008, I graduated from Brigham Young University as a History Major. I am now a third year law student at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Like George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, or Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games, Keepers of the Flame explores the potential demise of a nation, as a few brave individuals struggle to right the wrongs of a power-hungry government. It follows the lives of the Halls, an influential government family, as they are torn apart by the political turmoil rippling through the U.S. government. At the heart of the conflict is Elias Clymer, an expert politician with powerful sway in Congress. Facing little resistance, Clymer and other congressmen scheme to overthrow the government; only a few are left to stand against him. Senator Thomas Hall is one such person.
Unbeknownst to Hall, the problem reaches into his own home. His oldest son, Marcus, is seeking to establish a place in Clymer’s new regime. Meanwhile, Hall’s other children, Ethan and Vanessa ("Essie"), join an underground movement set on restoring the values of freedom and liberty. In a desperate fight to stop Clymer’s plan, Ethan and Essie become entangled in an epic battle to save the country they love.
Because of the tumultuous political climate of our day, Keepers of the Flame will reach a large audience that surpasses the normal boundaries of genre. I especially hope to generate interest among the YA generation, whose increased political enthusiasm was highly influential in the 2008 presidential election.
Enclosed are the first three chapters for your review. The completed work is approximately 100,000 words. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you further.
Most Sincerely,
Julie Tuovi
December 2010 J.D. Candidate
University of Nebraska College of Law
Monday, November 1, 2010
Outloud Readings... ick!
This weekend I accompanied hubby on a business trip out west. We stayed with his parents and had a lovely little weekend visit! While we were there, despite my strong protests to the contrary, hubby and in laws decided to start reading my book out loud. I'm not sure why I rejected this activity so soundly... I suppose its for the same awkward, uncomfortable reason people don't like hearing their recorded voice played back to them. It just feels/sounds weird! And although I've read sections out loud to myself before (for editing purposes, etc.), I've never actually had someone sit down and read my book from page one just for enjoyment purposes.
I have to admit, that although I couldn't stop laughing awkwardly to myself for the first five minutes, after I realized they actually LIKED it, I started to enjoy it myself too. We ended up making it through a good 7 chapters! The rest of the weekend, my mother in law kept pestering us to read more, while my father in law kept trying to get hubby to divulge intricate future plot details to him. I was pleasantly surprised to get such a good reception on the first out loud read through!
On the way home, hubby and I hashed out more plot details on the plane. We came up with some really good stuff that got my mind reeling! I can't wait to get some of the ideas out on paper... and although he doesn't want me to, I'm probably going to have to dedicate the book to hubby. Without his support and willingness to hash out potential ideas with me, I fear that I would over-think the whole thing and it would be nothing more than a hot mess.
Many thanks to you, hubby! I sure love you!
I'm now looking forward to graduation in a month and a half or so... then I'll have much more time to devote to the book and publication process. I would so love to just sit and do nothing but book for a while, but a girl can only do so much while trying to study for the last semester of law school! You'll have to give me a pardon for slacking off on my book so much this semester. I vow to do better come January!
I have to admit, that although I couldn't stop laughing awkwardly to myself for the first five minutes, after I realized they actually LIKED it, I started to enjoy it myself too. We ended up making it through a good 7 chapters! The rest of the weekend, my mother in law kept pestering us to read more, while my father in law kept trying to get hubby to divulge intricate future plot details to him. I was pleasantly surprised to get such a good reception on the first out loud read through!
On the way home, hubby and I hashed out more plot details on the plane. We came up with some really good stuff that got my mind reeling! I can't wait to get some of the ideas out on paper... and although he doesn't want me to, I'm probably going to have to dedicate the book to hubby. Without his support and willingness to hash out potential ideas with me, I fear that I would over-think the whole thing and it would be nothing more than a hot mess.
Many thanks to you, hubby! I sure love you!
I'm now looking forward to graduation in a month and a half or so... then I'll have much more time to devote to the book and publication process. I would so love to just sit and do nothing but book for a while, but a girl can only do so much while trying to study for the last semester of law school! You'll have to give me a pardon for slacking off on my book so much this semester. I vow to do better come January!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Yes, a Pity Party
When I started this blog I wanted to promise myself I wouldn't use it as an avenue for frequent pity parties... "oh woe is me" "I'm not published yet" "wha, wha, wha" I didn't want to be be one of those glum schmucks who complains about not getting her way and how "its so hard... blah, blah, blah." Cause, of course its going to be hard, right? Right. But since no one is currently following this blog anyway, and because I'm super stressed out right now, and damn it, because I HAVEN'T FREAKIN' COMPLAINED IN SO FREAKIN' LONG ITS RIDICULOUS, I'm going thoroughly enjoy eating this really-bad-for-me Nutter Butter bar right now and have a pity party.
[Pity Party Rant Content has been typed, screened, censored and deleted.]
I'm going to go eat another Nutter Butter.
[Pity Party Rant Content has been typed, screened, censored and deleted.]
I'm going to go eat another Nutter Butter.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Probably my Favorite Cover to Date
A modification of an older cover, but still probably my favorite one to date, hands down! What do you think?
As a side note, my photo editing skills are obviously improving ( :
As a side note, my photo editing skills are obviously improving ( :
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Big Gulps, eh?
My aunt (the amazing former New York City editor), is editing portions of my book right now. The other day, I got a facebook message from my uncle saying he had some material to send me and wanted to know my address. I gave it to him, delighted that I was finally going to get some feedback! It'd been so long since I'd heard from my aunt, that I thought she'd forgotten about me.
Not so.
My uncle informed me that it was his fault it was taking so long to get the material to me. He said he was supposed to send it earlier, but was "trying to spare me" a little longer. Apparently my aunt is a brutal editor. He said he gets walloped every time she edits his work.
Big gulps.
Yeah, maybe now not so much "delighted" that my stuff is being returned to me as "dreading". Is it too much to ask that she might have something GOOD to say about my work?? [Fingers tightly crossed]. Stay tuned.
Not so.
My uncle informed me that it was his fault it was taking so long to get the material to me. He said he was supposed to send it earlier, but was "trying to spare me" a little longer. Apparently my aunt is a brutal editor. He said he gets walloped every time she edits his work.
Big gulps.
Yeah, maybe now not so much "delighted" that my stuff is being returned to me as "dreading". Is it too much to ask that she might have something GOOD to say about my work?? [Fingers tightly crossed]. Stay tuned.
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