A thank you to feedback-giving agents everywhere

First, let me just say this isn't a post where I trash those agents who give forms on fulls. Really, it's not (do I like it? Of course not, but I get it). 

Three years ago when I was querying my first novel, feedback on partials and fulls was the norm. Full requests were thrilling for writers, because even if the manuscript was rejected, at least they would get some feedback. However, these days it's not guaranteed that writers will get anything, as more and more agents make the switch to the form rejection. This means the guy who wrote a 150,000 word "novel" during NaNoWriMo and then sent it off December 1st is getting the same rejection as the carefully crafted project that was two years in the making. I totally understand why agents do it, and in all honesty, I don't think any less of those who do.

Submitting your work is a lot easier than it once was, which means agents are requesting more than they used to. Writing personal rejections not only takes time, but it also opens up a conversation between the agent and writer. I've heard stories of writers responding to agents, requesting "suggestions" or asking them to expand on their original feedback. I can actually attest to this from personal experience. Last year (when I was agented), I participated in an online contest that involved picking entries to move on to a second round. Since there was something like forty entries, I only left feedback on the ones I chose. However, one person (in my group of entries) tweeted that he hadn't gotten any feedback and was really desperate for someone to tell him what wasn't working. Having been there myself (many times before), I told him I'd take a look at it. I left the guy some feedback, he made changes, and then he tweeted me, "Is this better?" Feeling slightly annoyed but trying to be understanding, I took another look at it and left more feedback. THEN he tweeted me AGAIN. "How about now?" I can't remember if I took yet another look at it, but I do know that at some point I just had to ignore his tweets.

So like I said, I get it.

But this is why I appreciate feedback-giving agents even more. They're taking the time to to help writers, despite the time issue and the fact that some writers will view them as their new-found crit partners. Feedback from people directly involved in the publishing industry is so very, VERY important! Selling books is there job, therefore, they can easily pinpoint problem areas that sometimes even the best critters/beta readers can't. My latest project had garnered a lot of interest, but unfortunately, no offers. It had been critted and beta'd to an inch of its life, so I was at a loss as to what wasn't working, and as many of you know, it is incredibly frustrating to get rejection after rejection and have no idea why. It wasn't until I received some agent feedback that things starting clicking for me, and thanks to those handful of agents, I now have a pretty good idea of what needs work. A simple one-liner, like "Needs more emotion" or "_____ doesn't seem authentic" can get the wheels turning in a writer's brain, which can then lead to revisions, and in turn, lead to an agent and/or book deal.

So, thank you to all those agents who take the time and risk the aggravation to help writers. It means more to us than you'll ever know :)

A Kiss-n-Tell with Julianna Scott!

 

click here for info on the tour!

 

17-year-old Becca has spent her whole life protecting her brother - from their father leaving and from the people who say the voices in his head are unnatural. When two strangers appear with apparent answers to Ryland's "problem" and details about a school in Ireland where Ryland will not only fit in, but prosper, Becca is up in arms. 

 

She reluctantly agrees to join Ryland on his journey and what they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together information about their family's heritage and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However things are not as clear as they once were, and everyone is in for a surprise that will forever change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

 

I'm so excited to be a part of the blog tour for THE HOLDERS! My dear friend, Julianna Scott, sent me an ARC of THE HOLDERS several months ago. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect at first, only because I'm not a huge fantasy fan. But THE HOLDERS was different. It was like Julianna took a contemporary story (lots of family drama, romance) and wove fantasy elements into it. The world building wasn't complicated or confusing. Julianna kept it simple, without skimping on the necessary details.

 

THE HOLDERS came out yesterday (woo-hoo!) and is now available at all major book retailers and online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

 

One of my favorite things about the book (among many) was the the swoon-worthy romance. For those of you who don't like a heavy romantic element, don't worry, it is not the center of the story and actually takes a back-seat to the main premise. But for those of you who do like the occasional toe-tingling scene, well, let's just say Julianna Scott delivers. Don't believe me? Check out this excerpt:

 

He tilted my head up with his thumb and kissed me so tenderly that my embarrassment drained away instantly. I felt my neck flush and my pulse start to race and I realized it suddenly felt way too hot out for November. His lips continued to move slowly - so slowly - just barely touching my own, teasing me until my insides were screaming. After a few more seconds, I couldn't take it any longer; I needed more. I brought my hands up to his neck and grabbed two handfuls of his collar and lifted myself up, moving my lips hungrily against his. With a gruff sigh, Alex grabbed my hips, and pulled me up against him. One of his arms wound its way around me, holding me tight, while the other hand slid up my back and neck, burying itself in my hair. The blood in my veins turned to molten honey as he opened his mouth and-

Ahem . . . *fans self*. . . Now that the "kiss" is over, it's time for the "tell." Julianna was kind enough to answer a few questions about writing those get-your-blood-pumping romance scenes ;)

It seems like writers either hate writing romantic scenes, or they love it. Which camp do you belong to?

Actually, I think I'm somewhere in between. I look forward to them and I always think I will like it, but then it usually ends up frustrating me. It may not seem like it, but it is actually really hard--and for the record, about the least sexy thing there is. There are only so many words out there (particularly romantic ones), and while being original is key, it's not always possible. In that case, the trick is to not let your readers realize you are being repetitive.

What do you think makes a good kissing scene?

Descriptions that readers can relate to without describing things that are... well... gross. :-) For instance, I have seen sweat used several times in different books lately, and I don't get it. As in 'the salty taste of his sweat', etc. I know it's supposed to be hot, any maybe there are some out there who think it is, but I'm not one of them. I don't care how much you love someone, tasting their sweat is nasty. Blah!

I know you also write adult fiction. How does writing a scene for the YA audience differ from writing one for the adult crowd?

The only real difference is how much you are allowed to describe and in what detail. Adult can obviously be more racy while most YA romance will be more innocent in nature--though there are of course exceptions. However, this really isn't a problem for me because my adult stuff isn't detailed. I don't think I could ever get overly descriptive with a sex scene, not because I'm embarrassed or anything like that, I just really wouldn't know what to say. I enjoy reading adult romance, but it's not something I could write.

Any advice for writers who struggle with the romance elements of their story?

First off, don't expect it to be a sexy experience, cuz it won't be. Just accept it, and you'll have a better time.

Second, remember your audience may not have your preferences, so try to keep things appealing to the general populace. Perfect example is the sweat thing; the author clearly thought that was sexy, but I for one found it disgusting, and having read reviews of that book, I know I am not alone. Just because you find something hot doesn't mean everyone else does, so be ready to alter things after a few critiques.

Last, and most important, is doing your best to keep your descriptions unique. In the literary world, YA in particular, romantic scenes abound. Almost everything has been described countless times, so you want to try and give readers something they haven't read before. For instance . . .

"His lips met mine, sending my heart racing in my chest like I'd just run a marathon."

Yeah, okay that is serviceable, and it gets your point across, but it is also made up of terms and analogies you have heard a thousand times over, right? Better might be...

"His mouth met mine, sending tingles up my neck like champagne bubbles up the side of a glass." 'Lips' to 'mouth' and an analogy you may not have heard before, and the sentence--which says basically the same thing--has a totally different feel. Keep it fresh and don't be afraid to think outside the box. One of my favorite descriptions ever if from the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. The description came from a man talking about a woman he liked. He described her as being, 'lean-forward-in-your-seat gorgeous." Not a common description at all, but you know exactly what it means and can even picture it in your mind. That is the sort of thing that will stick with readers and keep them coming back.

Awesome answers, Julianna! Thanks so much for stopping by! Oh, and I totally agree--there is nothing sexy about writing sexy scenes ;)

In honor of THE HOLERS release, Julianna is doing a giveaway of EPIC proportions! Enter to win some amazing prizes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Julianna was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent the majority of her educational career convinced she would be a musician. However, after receiving her music degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, she realized that she'd been born in the wrong era for her dreams of singing jazz to adoring fans clad in zoot-suits and flapper dresses to come true, and began to wonder if her true calling might be elsewhere.

While Julianna had always excelled in writing throughout school, she'd never considered it a career possibility until about three years ago, when she'd gotten her first story idea and decided to go for it. She grabbed her laptop, started typing away, and has never looked back.

Updates, Upcoming Events, and Other Stuff

I haven't done a writing update in FOR-EVER, so first of all, I thought I'd fill everyone in on what I'm working on. Or, what I should be working on (I've been living la vida loca these days--and not the fun, body-grinding, Ricky Martin kind). Anyway, when the kids aren't home because of a snow day/MLK Day/teacher work day/etc, or when I'm not perusing the "help wanted" ads online, I've been working on a new project . . . well, kinda. I've decided to do a total rewrite of my very first manuscript. Actually, I don't even know if "re-write" is the appropriate term. The storyline is TOTALLY different, but some of the characters and scenes have remained the same. Also, it's no longer women's fiction. It's  . . . wait for it . . .*holds breath and cringes to prepare for the backlash* . . . NEW ADULT! Yep, the new, controversial genre. Trust me, after my experience of trying to query and then go on sub with a paranormal romance, I don't exactly run with open arms to some-hate-some-love genres, BUT, the story is what it is, and it just wouldn't have worked if my mc was in high school or older than a college student. If the "New Adult" category wasn't around, I'd probably describe my WIP as the illegitamate love child of women's fiction and young adult (eww, probably not my best analogy).

So, I'm about six chapters into this little bastard, and things are going about how they usually go (you know, I spend over an hour trying to write two pages, all the while, fighting the urge to throw my laptop against the wall). The funny thing is, you'd think because this WIP is "technically" a re-write, I'd have an easier time with it--excuse me while a bust a gut due to uncontrollable laughter. Yeah . . . not so much. Remember, the manuscript I'm cutting from was my FIRST manuscript. My. First. Manuscript. Now, think back to your very first ms (are chills going up your spine yet?). EXACTLY my point. The writing is sub-par--at best--and voiceless. So, I'm having to clean things up before I can just plop them down in my WIP.  On a good note, I do have that warm tingly feeling about this project (keep in mind, we're still in the rose-colored-glasses stage). I think it's really going to push me and challenge me, which is always a good thing (though we'll see if my laptop is still in one piece when it's all said and done ;)

In other news, I will be participating in THE HOLDERS blog tour on March 6th! Friend and author, Julianna Scott, will be here, and we will be talking about writing--one of my favorite things--kissing scenes!! AND, I'll share my favorite weak-in-the-knees scene from THE HOLDERS, so be sure to stop by!

 

The kiddies are actually in school today (imagine that), so I'm off to do some writing! Hope everyone is doing well, and thank you for stopping by!

SPLINTERED IS OUT! SPLINTERED IS OUT!

How's that for subtlety? ;)  Actually, it came out January 1st, so this announcement is long overdue. I kind of feel bad, because I had planned on doing something special on here for its release, but as I've mentioned in prior posts, life has been CRAZY the past couple of months, and it just didn't happen. Plus, I know my dear friend, Ms. Howard, is insanely busy with promotion and working on her WIP (she has a fast-approaching deadline!), so I didn't want to bother her with an interview. However, I will say that A.G. Howard is one of the most hard working and determined writers I know. Her story is not mine to share, but I do know she has worked very hard to get published, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of it. She is not only a talented writer, but also one of the sweetest and most genuine people I know, which is why I couldn't be happier to finally see her dream come true.

Okay, so enough of my rambling. Here's a brief description of SPLINTERED (taken from Amazon).



Ain't it purdy? Seriously, probably one of
my favorite covers of all time.

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of SPLINTERED, and I can honestly say, it's like nothing I've ever read before. The writing is so descriptive and visually lush, it's like a movie was playing in my head while I read. The story is whimsical, but dark; literary, but commercial; fantastical, but with real-world conflict and issues. In other words, something for everyone. 

Sooo . . . what are you waiting for? GO! GO FORTH NOW AND GET THYSELF A COPY!

Trust me, you won't be disappointed ;)

New year, new start, and remembering why I do this whole writing thing in the first place

First of all, happy new year! I'm not usually a big New Year's fan. I've never really understood the point of celebrating it. In fact, I haven't celebrated it since my early twenties (and even then it was just an excuse to party). Sure, hubby and I let the kids stay up and we clink glasses of sparkling grape juice at midnight, but that's the extent of my celebratoriness (new word, you like it?). In all honesty, if it weren't for the kids, we'd probably be in bed by 11:00.

This year was different--not in our observance of the "holiday," but in the way I felt when the clock struck midnight. It literally felt like a fresh start. I realized this year doesn't have to be like the last, and yes, I understand that some things in life are out of my control, but I also know that half of the stress and anxiety I feel is my own doing. To say I'm a worry-wart would be like saying Lindsey Lohan likes attention--understatement of the year. So this year, I'm working on changing that. I'll always be a worrier (it's in my blood--I come from a long line of neurotic women), but I can *try* to live more in the moment and stop always imagining the worst case scenario. I've always been a "hope for the best, but expect the worst" kinda girl, so this is definitely going to take some work, but I'm going to give it a try.

Also, I'm going to stop obsessing over the getting an agent/getting published thing. Do I still want both so bad I can taste it? Hell yeah. And if one of the agents currently reading my ms said they loved it and wanted to represent me, I'd jump around my house like a five year old on a sugar high. That being said, I can't ignore the fact that the querying process was driving me fifty shades of cray-cray, so I decided to step away from it for a bit and get back to what I love: writing. Some people handle querying and writing at the same time with ease, but I've never been good at it (though I have no problem writing while on submission--go figure). It's hard to have confidence in your writing ability when you're essentially receiving emails on a weekly basis telling you you're not good enough. Since letting go of that stress, I've remembered why I started writing in the first place: it makes me happy. I'm not writing to get an agent or to get published; I'm writing because it's something I enjoy doing. I've removed the pressure, and it's amazing what that's done for me mentally. Have I given up my dream of getting published? Not at all. But I don't ever want to lose sight of the big picture. I love creating characters and settings. I might never find another agent, and I might never get published, but I will always be able to create worlds. And at the end of the day, that's what really matters.

Good Riddance 2012

Less than two weeks until this year is over (if you listen very carefully, you can hear the faint singing of angels). It's a good thing, too, because 2012 has long overstayed its welcome. On New Year's Eve, I will dust off my hands and tell that S.O.B to get the hell out. 

Yes, this year has been that bad.

It's funny how some years can pass in a haze, with nothing notable standing out in them. They're simply filled with the humdrum and monotony of day-to-day life. But then there are those years that are permanently etched in our brain: the year we graduated high school/college/got married/gave birth, etc. Of course, those are all good times and events that we label as some of our happiest. But sometimes the years mark not-so-happy times: death/divorce/illness/job loss, etc.

I'm happy to say that no one close to me has died, and I'm still happily married, yet it has still been one of the most trying years of my life. I'm not going to blabber all my woes for everyone and their brother to read (I'll leave that to my drama-loving relatives on Facebook, HA!), but I will say that it has, literally, been one thing after another. It feels like every part of who I am has been tested during these last twelve months . I've always prided myself on being a strong woman, but my God, I have crumbled into a heap of tears more than once this year. I have a very strong faith in God, and I do believe there's a reason for everything, but a couple of times I've found myself thinking, "Really? REALLY, GOD?!?! Are you kidding me right now?" It seems like just when I have the whole walking around with fifty pounds of weight on my shoulders thing figured out, God slaps on another ten pounds.

Up until a few months ago, I thought I had things figured out. I thought I knew exactly how my life was going to play out. But now I'm not so sure. I have no idea what the next year will hold, and I admit, it scares this anal, anxiety-prone, type "A" girl to death.

Regardless of all the crap I've been through this year, I'm so incredibly thankful for my healthy, loving, and all-around amazing children. And as eager as I am to say adios to 2012, I will definitely be counting all of my many blessings on Christmas.

With that, I wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas and a HAPPY New year :) May it be filled with good time and happy, take-your-breath-away moments!

Picture of the Week: Fearless Squirrels Part II

A few weeks ago, I was telling you all about my pumpkin that got attacked by squirrels within an hour of setting it on my porch. Apparently, my front yard has become their favorite "hunting" grounds. But this time it wasn't pumpkin flesh or a pile of acorns they were after.

About a week after the pumpkin incident, my husband encountered this
 when he opened the front door to take the kids to school

 

 

In case you can't tell, that's a squirrel with a peanut butter jar. Yep, the darn critter took it out of our curbside recycling bin. I'm guessing it must've been put in there sans lid (either that or the little guy has learned how to unscrew lids--which I wouldn't put past him, btw).

 

Now picture it--hubby and kids climb in the car, ready to leave. You'd think the squirrel would abandon his jar of sweet gold and take off, right? Nope, not this critter. HE TOOK THE JAR WITH HIM AND CLIMBED A NEARBY TREE WITH IT! It was the craziest thing I'd ever seen, and I'm kicking myself for not getting it on video.

 

I'm not sure what to expect next, but I'm guessing I haven't seen the last of these daredevil squirrels. ;)