Wednesday, November 28, 2012

You can find me on Google+

https://plus.google.com/u/0/103165575261068505465/posts

Book VS. Novel

   Difference between a book and a novel.

   A book can be poetry, nonfiction, fiction, ect.

   A novel is just one genre, fiction.

                      --
                       Ashley

Writing Two Complicated Words...The End

   I hate it when I finish writing a novel, but I also love it :)

   I love it because I finished it, and hate it because I'm done writing it. Do you understand? I get butterflies in my stomach when I'm finished with a novel, but then I'm kinda sad that the novel is over. The first book I wrote was part of a trilogy, so when I finished writing the first and second books it wasn't really over. So I didn't really get that feeling. When I finished the first novel I was totally excited that I had actually wrote a book. And then the same day started writing its sequel.

   But I just finished a one shot book and I was a little upset that it was over because I really enjoyed writing it. (It's copyrighted now and I'm trying to get it published). And I'm almost finished with another one shot novel (my 5th book) and I'm kinda sad about it too. This one will most likely be self-publishing, so I'll update when it's posted or whatever, but it won't be until late next year or so.

  Anyway, since I'm almost finished writing my 5th novel I decided to blog about the ending of your novel. N. O. V. E. L. As in fiction, not nonfiction.

   When you are finishing up writing a book that is part of a series you don't want to hurry up and write everything into the last few chapters. You want to leave things for the next book.
   You also want to leave the final chapter, the final page, in a cliff hanger. Something that will leave the reader wanting more that moment and hate the fact that they will have to wait a whole year, or a few months, to get its sequel. 

   When you end a one shot book you want to make sure you went over everything in that book. That everything that that character was experiencing was conveyed clearly so the reader will understand. You also want to make sure you got every secret out. For example, you wrote a novel about a girl that has powers, but she doesn't know what she is. If you are writing a one shot you want to make sure that your character finds out what she is before the book ends.

   If you want some examples you should read the first book in a series, then once you've finished that read a one shot. That way you get a good idea of what you should do, and maybe you'll get a great idea how to end your book :)

   Good Luck!

                                                                                          --
                                                                                           Ashley

Chapter Design

   In my last post I talked about fonts. I'm sure someone out there didn't use any of the fonts that are suggested, but the fonts I gave were suggestions and most used, as long as you can read the font really easy you won't have a problem. You want it this way so when a literary agent, or editor reads your manuscript they can actually read it.
   Anyway, today I wanted to talk about chapter designing (or chapter placing). I have a Mac so I will be giving examples through my computer.

   Okay, so since you couldn't use a fun font for the complete writing for your novel why don't you put the fun font in the chapter design? Whenever you finish writing a chapter you always put, Chapter (certain number) at the top of the page, right? But what about the first sentence of that new chapter?

   What I do sometimes is highlight the first sentence, or the top row of words, and make them a different font that matches the font I've been using for, Chapter 1, 2, 3, etc.

   Example:

                                                               Chapter 1

   I went to the shelter today and bought a dog. His name is LUI. He is a mutt. He chases his tail, plays with his toys, and sleeps in his bed. He has big ears that stick up on the top of his head and a tail that curves and is furry.


   Me again

   That was an example of how you could place your chapter. But see how the CHAPTER 1 has the same font as the first sentence? You want the chapter placing to look nice so that the literary agent, or publisher, editor, that you sent it to will take you seriously, and think that you are a professional. You want that WOW factor when someone looks at your manuscript and sees what a nice job you've done on it. (You would not be rejected because you did a bad job or whatever on designing your chapter placing. If you are rejected it is because they didn't get hooked in the sample pages you sent them, or your manuscript doesn't go with what they're looking for. There are a lot of reasons why a literary agent, or editor would reject your manuscript, but it would not be because your chapters don't look right). 
   If you want more examples and ideas on how you should place your chapter you can open a book on your bookshelf, or go to a bookstore, open to a chapter and look at how this author designed their chapters. You can go basic, or all out and make it look really cool :)

   Another thing you could do is use a Drop Cap.



 


 






                                                  --
                                                   Ashley

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Fonts

   Happy Thanksgiving! :)

   Sorry I haven't posted anything lately. Stuffs been goin' on and I haven't been able to get on, that and I had to figure out what I was going to post next.


   I decided to talk about fonts (or the style of your letters).

   The size of your font should be 12.

   And your choices of fonts are:


   Century Expanded

   Times Roman

            &

   Baskerville

   The reason why it has to be this size is so the literary agent, editor, and reader can read it clearly. And literary agents and editors hate it when they are trying to read and the text is a weird font.

                                                                          --
                                                                          Ashley
   

    

  

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Another book recommendation

   How to Write a Great Query Letter -- by -- Noah Lukeman

   It's free on your Nook, Kindle, and iPad if you go to iBooks.

Emails = Excitement

   Okay, this morning I got an Email from Entanlged publishing:

Dear Ashley,

Thank you for querying Entangled Publishing. While we liked your idea, I'm afraid those all-important first pages didn’t grab us as much as we’d hoped. Some of your dialogue seemed a bit stilted, and maybe you could steer clear of using dialogue as exposition. When a parent says “Mr Jack, one of your school teachers,” it flags that you are using dialogue to impart knowledge to the reader, rather than write realistic dialogue. A real parent wouldn’t have to tell their kid that Mr Jack is one of their school teachers, because they would already know that :)


Having said that, publishing is a very subjective business, so while (title of my novel) is not a good fit for us, it may be perfect for another editor. Best of luck finding the right home for your manuscript, and may there be many successes in your career!

Best wishes,

Sue Winegardner
Assistant Editor for Senior Editor, Heather Howland
Entangled Publishing
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/



   So I sent back that I was thinking . . . oh I'll just post it.


   Thank you for the tip :) I really appreciate it. I was thinking of rewriting this novel, it was my first novel after all and I know it will need a bit of touching up as far as the writing and emotions. But I wanted to get a response from your company before I made my decision. Would you be interested in taking another look at it sometime next year?
--
Ashley



   And I checked my Email about 10 minutes ago and saw that she had replied.


Sure we would :)

From your query, I would think that the life changing event for your main character would be that teenagers are disappearing from her school. All the bits before (background, set up etc) are probably unnecessary, and the important bits can be woven into the story. For example, all of the exposition you put up front could be condensed into something like, (cannot show. My book is copyrighted but don't want to give ANYTHING away)  The rest of the information (is her best friend a witch etc) can be woven in to give depth.  Just a suggestion :)


Before you start you re-write, I strongly recommend getting your hands on a book called Save The Cat (it’s a paperback and ebook on Amazon and B&N). It’s a fast, fun read and will give you hints on where to start the story and how to plot a really compelling story. I use it all the time. It’s designed for screenwriters, but all the lessons apply to novel writers too. 

Good luck with the editing (and dialogue ;-) ) and we look forward to seeing it again next year!

Sue Winegardner
Assistant Editor for Senior Editor, Heather Howland
Entangled Publishing


   I'm totally excited! Though I am working on writing my 5th novel now I will be reading the book she suggested as soon as possible. I hope to be finished reading it by the time I complete my 5th novel, so then I can immediately get started on rewriting my first novel. Just wanted to share! :) thanks for reading and (maybe) sharing my excitement!
   If you look at her signature you will see her info. Website, and name, and who she works for. I highly recommend you trying her out with your query letter! She writes long Emails herself (I say this because a lot of people send the same Emails to the people they want to reject) and they are long and helpful!
   Good luck on your journey!
  
   PLEASE COMMENT! <3

                                                                             --
                                                                              Ashley :)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Literary Agencies

   A few days ago I Googled YA (Young Adult) literary agents and an editor's blog pulled up and she had posted tons of literary agencies that accept YA novels. Some of the pages don't work anymore, either because they changed their website address or because they are no longer in business.
   On the right side shows literary agents that are accepting YA submissions, and the left, the agencies they work for.
   Good luck! I hope you find your agent!

       P.S.
   These agencies don't only represent YA fiction, they represent more genres.


   
AGENCY                                             AGENT
 

A+B Works                                          Amy
 
Adams Agency                                    Maura Teitelbaum 
Abrams Artist Agency                          Adams

AKA Literary Agency LLC                    Terrie Wolf

Alexander Field                                   Alex
 
Alicka Pistek Literary                          Alicka
 
Amster Literary                                    Mary Cummings
 
Anderson Agency                                Kathleen
 
Andrea Brown Lit                                 Caryn Wiseman
 
Andrea Hurst Literary                          Vickie Motter
 
Anne Edelstein                                    A.E.
 
Anne McDermid & Asso Monica Pacheo
 
Artist & Artisans Jamie Brenner
 
Avenue A Lit. Agency                         Jennifer Cayea
 
Ayesha Pande Lit                               Ayesha
 
Barbara Braun Barbara
 
 
Barer Literary Julie Barer
 
 
Belcastro agency                               Sharon
 
 
Bond Agency Sandra
 
Bookends LLC Jessica Faust
 
Books and Such                                 Rachel
 
Book Stop Literary  Jinju Chang
 
Bradford Literary Laura Bradford
 
 
 
Brown Literary                                    Roberta Brown
 
Browne & Miller                                  Joanna
 
Caren Johnson Lit.        Elana
 
Carol Mann Agency                            Eliza
 
Carolyn Jenks Agency Briana Conklin
 
CGS Literary Steven Harris
 
Curtis Brown Ltd Multiple agents
 
D.C. Jacobson & Asso. Lauren Yoho
 
Darhansoff & Verrill                   Michele Mortimer
 
 
 
Denise Shannon Lit                             Denise
 
 
Dong Congdon Lit Katie Grimm
 
Doug Grad Lit. Doug Grad
 
Donadio Olson, Inc                              Carrie Howland
 
Donald Maass Multiple agents
 
Dunham Literary Blair Hewes
 
Dystel Goderich Multiple agents
 
East West Literary Deborah Warren
 
Eden Street LLC Liza P-Voges
 
Elizabeth Kaplan Melissa Sarver
 
Epstein Lit   Kate Epstein
 
 
Ethan Ellenberg              Multiple agents
 
Faye Bender                              Faye
 
Fineprint Literary Mgmt Multiple agents
 
Fletcher & Co Melissa Chinchillo
 
Folio Lit. A          Multiple agents
 
Foundry Media Multiple agents
 
 
Fox Agency Diana Fox
 
 
Frances Goldin Lit  Ellen Geigor
 
Full Circle Literary                                Dominguez
 
Gelfman Schneider Lit   Victoria Marini
 
Gina Maccoby Literary                          Gina
 
Giliian MacKenzie                                 G. M.
 
Global Lit                                               L. Sion
 
Handprint Books Anne Tobias
 
Harvey Klinger Multiple agents
 
 
 
Hill Nadell Lit. Agency                       Bonnie Nadell
 
Howard Morhaim Lit Kate McKeen
 
Inkwell Mgmt. Multiple agents
 
 
 
 
JABberwocky Eddie schneider
 
Jane Rotrosen                                      J. R.
 
Janklow & Nesbit Julie Just
 
Jean V Naggar Lit                                 Multiple agents
 
Jennifer Lyons                                      Jen
 
Jet Literary Associates                         Liz
 
Jill Grinberg Lit.                                   Jill
 
 

K.T Lit                                                  Kate Schafer
 
Kimberly Cameron & Asso    Amy        
 
L. Perkins Agency Multiple agents
 
L.J.K. Lit. Mgmt. Susanna Einstein
 
Langtons Intl. Agency                          Linda
 
Larson Pomoda Lit.                             A. Laurie
 
Laura Dale Lit Laura Dale
 
Laura Langlie                     Laura Langlie
 
Lescher & Lescher Susan Lescher
 
Levine and Greenberg Elizabeth Fisher
 
 
Linda Chester Agency Alex Machinist
 
Living Word Literary                    Kimberly
 
Liza Dawson Associates       Multiple agents
 
Loretta Books Loretta
 
Lowenstein Ass Inc Kathleen Ortinz
 
Lynn C. Franklin Asso.                      Lynn
 
Lynn Prenntis Lit Amy Hayden
 
Marcia Amsterdam   Marcia
 
Maria Carvainis Chelsea Gilmore
 
Marianne Strong                                M. S.
 
MarkSon Thoma Julia Kenney
 
Marsal Lyon Lit.                        Kevan
 
Martin Lit A Kate Folkers
 
 
Mckintosh & Otis Christa Heschke
 
Miriam Altshuler Lit                          Miriam
 
Movable Type Lit. Group Multiple agents
 
Muse Lit D. Carter
 
Nancy Coffey Multiple agents
 
Nancy Gallt                                      Nancy
 
Nancy Yost Zoe Shacham
 
 
Nelson Agency Multiple agents
 
Objective Entertainment         Elizabeth
 
Paradigm Jason Yarn
 
Pen & Ink Lit Anne Bohner
 
Pippin Properties Joan Slattery
 
PMA                                                Adrienne
 
 
Prospect Agency                            Becaa Stumpf
 
Publication Riot Group Donna Bagdasarian
 
Rebecca Strong Lit. R. Strong
 
Red Sofa  Dawn Frederick
 
Reese Agency Nicole LaBomard
 
Regal Literary Michelle Andelman
 
Renee Zuckerbrot A.                     R.Z.
 
 
RLR Scott
 
Robert Astle & Ass L.M.                Robert
 
 
Russell &Volkening Josh Getzler
 
Sanford J Greenburger Brenda Bowen
 
Sarah Jane Freymann L Jessica Sinsheimer
 
Savvy Lit L. Gomez
 
Schiavone Lit. A               Kevin McAdams
 
Scott Treimel NY                          Scott
 
 
Serendipity                                   Multiple agents
 
Sheldon Fogelman A       Linda Pratt
 
 
Signature Literary          Amy Tipton
 
Soper Agency                              Stan Soper
 
Spectrum Agency                        Multiple agents
 
Spencerhill Asso J. Schobar
 
Steinberg Agency Steinberg
 
Sterling Lord Listeristic Meredith Kaffel
 
 
 
 
Stuart Krischenvsky                    Shana Cohen
 
Talcott Notch Lit Rachel Dowen
 
The Aaron Priest Nicole James 
 
The Ahearn Agency       Pam
 
The Angela Rinaldi A        A.R.
 
The Cooke Agency Sally Harding(Canadian)
 
The Creative Culture, Inc Matthew Elblonk
 
The Doe Coover A               Amanda Lewis
 
The Fielding Agency      Whitney
 
The Gernert Co Logan Garrison (Female)
 
The Greenhouse A                  Sarah Davies
 
 
The Joy Harris Agency Sarah Twombly
 
The Karen Grencik lit                     Karen
 
The Karpfinger Agency                Karpfinger
 
The knight agency Multiple agents
 
 
The McCarthy Agency             Nahvae Frost
 
The McVeigh Agency         McVeigh
 
 
The Rights Factory Ali McDonald (Canadian)
 
 
 
The Spieler Agency Eric Myers
 
 
The Waterside Production Kathleen Russell
 
The Zoe Pagnamenta                    Zoe
 
Three sea Lit Michelle
 
Transatlantic Lit Agency Patricia Ocampo
 
Trident Media Group LLC Multiple agents
 
Tristram Coburn                 Coburn
 
Upstart Crow Danielle Chiotti
 
Verista Michael carr
 
Victoria Sanders Bernadette
 
Wm Clark                            William Clark
 
Waxman Literary Multiple agents
 
Weed Literary   Elisabeth
 
 
William Morris Endeavor      Dorian Karchmar
 
Wolflit Adriann
 
Writer House   Multiple agents
 
Zeno Agency John Berlyn
 
Zimmerman Literary            Helen Zimmerman