Tag Archives: manuscript

Redrafting a Query Letter

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I’m often asked, “You’re so busy, when do you find time to write?”

Of course I reply with, “I find the time.”

I do have a full schedule, or a full plate, whichever way it’s put, I am quite the busy person. Single mom, work, college, plus a huge list of other things to add that I wish not to discuss publicly. I’ve often stated when I fit in my writing. It’s usually scribbling ideas down onto paper whenever I have a free minute, such as standing in the grocery store check out lines. Then late at night, or right before class, I’ll type them up. Usually, it helps to have a printed manuscript for me to scribble on, but I always have a notebook where I keep all my notes.

Currently, I’ve been adding the last pieces to my manuscript. A sentence or two here, cut and paste that over there… As I type this, I’m 200 words shy of making 60,000 words. Wow! Well, isn’t that enough? Apparently not! It is a young adult novel, so there is a minimum and a maximum amount of words required for a publisher to actually look into publishing an author’s book…so I’ve been told…by a couple of actual publisher’s.

I didn’t come up with that entire word count over night…I wish…It took me five, long years to come up with that amount. So, you can see, I may seem to have accomplished a lot, it just took me a long time to get here. I don’t spend all of my time on the computer, writing…though some of my relatives may think otherwise.

Honestly, after hearing other authors tell me how long it’s taken them to come up with their first manuscript for a full novel, I don’t feel so bad on how long it took for me to get this far.

I’m now at the point to where I should prepare a query letter. I have written and rewritten a query letter for this manuscript, though it just hasn’t caught an agent’s attention. It’s taken me five years to write a novel with 60K words, why should it take me so long or be so hard to write up a short professional letter? Well, it is a hard market for us authors. So hard in fact, that a query letter has to have the essentials, yet catch an agents eye for them to pick you and your manuscript. It has to be perfect.

I’ve had a few ‘maybes’, but they weren’t a definite ‘yes’. So, it was back to the drawing board, so to speak. I couldn’t understand what my query letter lacked. It had all the important details; genre, word count, title, synopsis, a little bit about me…yet, no yes’s. I had a hard time coming up with my query letter. I honestly didn’t know how to write one. I had to research and research this on the internet, through the writer’s digest magazine, even thumbed through several books on ‘how to get published’.

Until one day, I had stumbled upon a blog that proved most helpful in every way. Jane Friedman, a publishing consultant, with many years of experience, had written a ‘Complete Guide To Query Letters…’ After scrolling through this post, I finally had the understanding of how my query letter should read. It clicked. The part about her ‘Hook Instruction’ was proved most helpful to me. After having a few people read my query letter, it seems that’s what it lacked, a hook.

Now it’s time for me to go re-type my query letter, though with motivation and determination that I will have the perfect one written and sent out to all those agents I’ve picked to query.

Be sure to check our Jane Friedman’s post about, ‘The Complete Guide To Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests’. Also scroll through her other posts, you’ll find them all very helpful.

Happy writing!

Book Reviews on Amazon Actually Help

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It’s a hard life/job being a small time published author, especially when you first start out. You continue to market yourself time and time again, in hopes of getting your work out there. My first year as a published author went really well. I had quite a few book signing events, which led to being invited to other events where I was able to set up a table for more book signings. I’ve sold quite a few books by myself alone; through social media, emails, word of mouth, leaving postcards here and there. But that’s just small marketing. it takes a lot more effort, time, and money to really get noticed.

Recently, I’ve been doing some research on how to boost sales, broaden my marketing area, and strengthen my marketing skills. A very good friend of mine can tell you straight away, that I’m not very good with computers, yet I try and I am a quick learner.

Social media alone is the largest self-marketing tool that I know of, but word of mouth from readers can be a much bigger step in having your work noticed.

According to Brooke Warner in her Huffington Post blog post, “book reviews on Amazon are what carries it’s weight in getting more attention with Amazon.”

“After you hit 50 (ratings), you get more visibility on Amazon.”

In this line of work, I believe reviews from readers are extremely important. It helps me, the author, know that my work is being purchased, that my work is being seen by others. It also lets me know what people actually think of what I have written. It also lets me know that my work is getting out there.

It takes a lot of time and and a lot effort to put a book together and get it out on the market, yet it takes little effort to write up a review.

If you read a book and truly love it, be sure to let the author know. There’s many webpages out there where their work is being sold. Be kind and leave a quick review. I’m a big Goodreads user and love to rate author’s books. I also click which ones I’ve read, want to read, and have purchased. I then write up a short review on what I thought of each book I’ve read. And if I loved a particular book, I let them know.

I’ve even written reviews on books and posted them here on my blog, tagging their name and a link to where you can purchase that book or see other works by that author. This all helps us authors in many ways. It gets our name out there. Word of mouth goes a long way, it is a small part of marketing, and it does help the author. You never know when someone is actually reading that review; it helps make that decision for them to purchase that book.

According to a blog entry by Mike Briggs, on author Patricia Briggs’ writing, “…that pure, dumb luck plays a major role in this phase of the game.”

He’s right. Just by posting on my blog here, I’ve been able to bring attention to my work and what I do. I’ve had guess blog spots where I talked about what I do and how I got started and why. Other author’s, whom I have reviewed and shared their work here on my blog, have seen my posts and have thanked me.

Small steps can lead to big adventures, yet you have to take those small steps.

With all that said, if you have purchased my book and would like to leave a review, click here and it will take you to Amazon. Also, feel free to purchase a copy if you haven’t already. If you would like a personal signed copy made out to someone, click here. To rate my book on Goodreads, click here.

I will be finishing up my last round of edits on my last chapter of my young adult novel and will be sending it to my editor very, very soon. After the last draft is finalized, I will be sending it off to the publisher. As always, I’ll keep everyone posted.

Cheers!

Winter Fever, Cabin Blues…

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Or is it ‘Cabin Fever, Winter Blues’?

Either way, it’s another fine winter day, stuck indoors. I’m actually being a bit sardonic, but who wouldn’t be unless you could be outside enjoying the weather. Though there aren’t any slopes here for me to grab my snowboard and head out to. Nor is the ground covered in snow, for mini me to go sledding. Instead, the ground is covered in ice that has been melted and frozen, again, and again, over the past few days. Today, our forecast called for a snow and rain mix, which didn’t began falling until late morning. It just made everything that much more slippery. I decided to stay home with my daughter, since I have to drive North where the roads would be much slicker.

Though I have driven in wintry conditions, it is very different here in Arkansas, especially when you’re surrounded by drivers who cannot drive on ice and/or snow. Some cannot even drive when it’s raining, so I find it best to stay clear by staying home. My daughter finds serenity in watching the snow fall. We have a large picture window in the living room with a wide window sill for her to lean on and to also give her plenty of space to play with her toys.

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On days like this, I find myself in the office, on the computer, trying to finish up homework, or work on the next research paper for a class or two, or do a bit of writing. I think if I redecorated this office, it would have more of a calm, soothing atmosphere where I can be more creative. I think it’s the only room that still has the fake wood paneling from the 1960’s, covering it’s walls. Plus, the photos that cover the wall space above grandpa’s desk are decades old and could be upgraded.

I think I may have found my next summer project…to redecorate and rearrange the office.

I mostly find my creative energy in a mixture of places, such as, bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, front porch. Sometimes, the recliner in the living room, next to our picture window is a perfect spot for writing, especially on days like today. Anywhere my mind can roam freely.

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Lately, I’ve been spending most of that free time between classes, in my college library. Just yesterday, I had my headphones on, music going, and I was able to finally finish editing chapter one of my young adult novel. This is the same novel I had tried querying agents last summer for, but without success. It’s a tough job, being an author. Tough market, actually. Some of them were very close in saying yes, adding tidbits of helpful info that would make the next round of querying a bit more successful.

So, I began working on it….again.

There was originally a prologue, but I had cut it out entirely. Now, I added it back into the novel, but instead of it being a prologue, I made it the beginning of chapter one’s story line. I then moved some of chapter three into chapter one, so the next on my to-do-list is to edit chapter three.

I’m coming up on 60K words total…on the manuscript that is. I’m going to make that a goal that I must achieve. Once that’s done, I am finished…I hope, cross my fingers and knock on wood. I’m looking forward to seeing it finalized once more and also hope that I can send it off to the publisher very soon. I think I’ll try querying agents again, if not, I know a few small publishers that wouldn’t mind publishing it for me.

Dana’s First Fish book signings coming soon

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Dana's First Fish

I love it when I stroll through the aisles of my local bookstore and the employees recognize me as one of the local authors. It makes me feel proud, happy, and excited. I’m no Charlaine Harris, but still, I need that little nudge of encouragement, a boost of motivation. It hasn’t been a successful start as a published author. I’ve paid to have a marketing team help me put myself out there and it started out a little rough, but the wrinkles are starting to work themselves out, finally.

If I were a betting person, I’m not, but if I were, I would bet that if you googled Dana’s First Fish or my name, Jennifer N. Adams, a nice looking picture of yours truly would pop up. 🙂 Go ahead, google me, it’s okay. 😉 Granted, it took a lot of work and quite a bit of time for that to happen, but Dana’s First Fish appears as my book now and not the work of the other children’s author who shares my name. Since she’s written and published quite a long list of titles, I think it is I who shares her name and not the other way around.

When you spend all that time, money, energy into creating something and not receive credit, wouldn’t you be upset? I was. I would show up to events and the coordinator would frown as they were expecting the other Jennifer Adams to show up.

I’ve had a few people personally ask me to get with them in a few weeks (when they’re starting to book events) so that I can set up a date to have a book signing with them. I love when someone asks for me to do that. Make sure you keep your eyes open, as I’ll start setting up book signing events for late March or early April.

I still have a few copies of Dana’s First Fish on hand if you would like to purchase one or two of them. Just make sure that you make a memo as to whom I’m making it out to in the comments section before you check out completely.

Update on my manuscript

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Even though I’m going to school full time I still manage to work on my manuscript (Young Adult Novel). Yesterday I was curious as to how far I’ve gotten on word count. I’m almost a hundred words shy of making it to 37,000 words. I’m also up to 134 pages. The last time I posted how many words I was at was this past January. I think it was 5K words short of making 40K words total. Looks like I’ve written two thousand words since then.

I know it doesn’t seem like that’s a lot, but honestly I’m editing my manuscript, which means I’m cutting words and or paragraphs here and there, as well as adding words and or paragraphs here and there. I have twenty chapters in my manuscript and right now I’m working on editing chapter fifteen.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that I can get it finished soon. I know with added school work in my schedule it makes it difficult to work on my manuscript more, but a little work is better than none. 

All work and no play…

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Essay writing makes actual writing boring…or in my case it has taken the fun out of creative writing! In one class I have written 4 essay’s, with one more to go. In another class I have written one small essay with a much bigger one due at the end of this month. In another class I have written one rough draft essay and ten small essays. And my fourth class, I’m lucky to not have written any essays, just some small writing pieces to turn in for homework.

Even though I have written all of these essays, I still try to continue working on my manuscript…whenever I find the time. It normally takes me a little longer to accomplish this as it seems more like a task now.

I have five chapters left to work on and hope to have it finished before the end of this semester. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can find the motivation to push forward.      

School is closing in

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Work on my second draft edits is coming along nicely. I’ve added almost 400 words to chapter one and almost 300 words to chapter two and eighteen more chapters to go. I’m already coming up with ideas of how to lengthen the last chapter as I have pretty much squashed everything into it, leaving major bits of detail out. I’m hoping not to add another chapter, that the last chapter would just be rather lengthy.

Still this Christmas break was shorter than the last one. It was also interrupted with an ice storm that had us without power and internet, phone, and television for nearly two weeks. Christmas break really isn’t the time to write anyway as it’s filled with stress from having to rush and do this or that; get the house tidy for family, hang all the Christmas decorations along with the tree, wrap all of the presents, shop for the last minute items as well as the last minute food ingredients that I swore were in the cabinet just days ago, post everyone a Christmas card, get Christmas pictures taken, the list goes on. Then my daughter’s birthday just happens to be a few days before Christmas, so I want to make her birthday just as special as Christmas. People tell me I should celebrate her birthday during the summertime, well, my birthday is in June as well as one of my nephews, everybody is usually on vacation in July and August, then I have two nephews whose birthdays are in August, I really don’t foresee it happening.

This coming Monday I go back to school; another semester of college. I’m excited! I already got my books and will start to get my back pack and supplies sorted and ready to go. I’ll be taking a few classes that will really benefit my writing, not to mention it has made me look into the next step, where I’ll be going after I get my Associates Degree. Since this college was cheaper to take my basics, I’ll be finishing up at a University, getting my Bachelors in History; major in History, minor in English. I should have one or two more semesters left until I can get my Associates Degree.

Every now and then when I find the time, I write. I’ve always made it my personal goal to try to write daily, if not on what I’m currently working on, then on something else. I continue to stick with that goal since I’ve set it a few years ago. Even with this blog has me nearly writing every day, I enjoy that! 🙂 

A little history on the town called Prattsville

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I thought that I would share a little bit of historical knowledge about the town that I’m using for my novel. I spent an entire day at the Grant Count Museum in Sheridan, Arkansas, going through the museum and thumbing through many books looking for specific information. My parents still live in Prattsville, so I tend to ask my dad if he remembers this or if he can go visit that for me. Most of the time I make the road trip (45 minute drive) and do a scenic tour myself.

The town that I’m using for my novel is called Pratt. It is a real town, though it was called Pratt’s Ferry named after John Pratt. It had a very small population in the 1840’s. Later in 1857 a post office was built, officially naming the town Prattsville; the post office is still in operation today. Pratt’s Ferry was still used to cross the Saline River until a bridge was built in 1913. Prattsville today has a population of 282. It’s located on Highway 270 and 291.

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Prattsville school was built in 1930, closed in 1994, and torn down in 2002. My sisters and I were students at Prattsville until it closed. The students were split between the two closest towns, Poyen and Sheridan; two towns that I also use in my novel. I re-built the school for my novel as two of the characters are school age.

Another place that I use is the restaurant that is still located in Prattsville called The Whippet. It was named after the school mascot. In my novel I changed the name of the restaurant just to be safe. But if you ever decide to visit Prattsville, be sure to stop at The Whippet and ask for their bowl of mixed beans, they’re the best! The Whippet also has a lot of other great items on the menu and the staff is wonderful and really friendly. They have a guest book next to the register for everyone to sign. I’ve noticed people from all over the world have visited there.

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A few other places that I use are the city hall and a Sheriff’s station. Prattsville has a city hall, but does not have a Sheriff’s station. After doing some research from the surrounding towns, I’ve come to realize that small country towns can have Sheriff sub-stations and that’s what I’m using in my novel. The main Sheriff’s station is in Sheridan (actual fact, which I also added in my novel).

Part of what I’m writing about

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Characters:

The novel I’m writing is a Fantasy Fiction, with supernatural characters such as Faeries, Weres, and Shifters. I’m sorry I don’t write about vampires, not my forte, though I have read some books about them. I am a huge fan of the supernatural and read a lot of fantasy fiction. It seems like almost everyone has a way of describing their characters in their own uniqueness, while some writer’s supernatural characters have the same qualities, looks, styles, and what have you as other writers. I myself like to come up with my own characters styles and make them different and unique.

Another thing I’m working into my novel is that these supernatural beings come from somewhere. I’m writing about portals, Faerie magic, and Faerie secret societies. I also talk about the difference between Weres and Shifters. I actually did a little research on these supernatural beings. I was curious where they came from, what they are, what the real stories say about them. It was more of a curiosity than me wanting to use this information as a reference.

Place:

The story starts out in a small town in Arkansas. Why did I pick that particular place and state? I’m familiar with it. I lived there for several years, so I’m more comfortable using it as a reference. To make it a little easier and mostly accurate, I went to the local museum and did my research on the town and the surrounding local cities; my dad went with me. I’m a history nut, so this was actually fun for me. Not to mention the curator was more than helpful. He walked me around the museum, pointing out certain things that may interest me, then he found several books for me to look at talking about the town I was writing about. My dad and I poured over these books, making copies of the more important pages. It was interesting reading about all the things that the town used to have, such as a tire store, to which my dad and I found the building still standing, but has been noticeably vacant for years.

Accuracy:

Call me picky, but I dislike reading a book and seeing something that is inaccurate, well, only if it’s major and not on purpose. There are a lot of books that have inaccuracies that are done on purpose, you can spot those instantly and see that they were done for a reason…those don’t bother me. I cannot think of any books right off hand, but I do remember a movie I saw that called sailors, soldiers. That irked me so much. I’m a sailor, not a soldier! I actually screamed that at the TV too. Sailors and soldiers are two different things and two different military branches.

There’s quite a bit in my novel that I didn’t know about, so I asked people I knew that would. For instance, I don’t hunt, so I wouldn’t know what type of gun would be used to shoot a deer. I have a few relatives that hunt, so I asked them. Since one of my characters is a Sheriff and there are a few murders in my book, I wanted to make sure that the tools that I use are up to date and also how I have my characters do things in a crime scene. I have a few relatives that were cops, and a sister in laws dad who is a cop, so I asked them to help me out.

I’m back at it again…

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Now the rush of Christmas is over, oh yeah and the power is back on, I’m back to work on my manuscript…my young adult novel that I’ve been working on (see blog post https://jennnadams.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/the-next-big-thing/ ).

I was curious about my word count…again…and I’m a little short of 5K words from being 40K total. Well, almost 5K, I just rounded up…not sure if that’s a good idea in the writer’s world. However, I already knew it wasn’t finished before I did the word count. I’ve already completed a first draft and found out that I have to add some details here and there, cut a part off the ending, and lengthen the last chapter. I got in a rush and put everything in the last chapter; I just left out a lot of details…bad habit of mine that I’m trying hard to break. I’m getting close to breaking it though.

The part about being a good story teller is, to show people what you see, instead of telling your story like it is. Imagine a blind person going to an action movie without any way of knowing what’s going on; all they can hear is what’s being said and the sound effects from the big screen. If it were me, I would be asking every two seconds what the heck is happening, what was that, what’s going on?! Now I just have to take this into effect myself.

Tomorrow I’ll post where my information for my novel came from.