My Journey to get an Agent
Sunday March 29, 2015 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | hunting for representation | Leave Comments
Are you or someone you know looking for an agent? Let me share with you what I've learned in the process. I'm aiming at fiction novelists. If you write short stories, or non-fiction or anything other than novel length fiction this isn't really for you.
There are a few things you will need to start the process--a manuscript, a query letter, a synopsis, and a list of agents.
First and foremost you need a finished manuscript. You can prep the other stuff, but before you send the first thing to a potential agent you need to have your MS completed, reviewed by alphas and betas, and edited as well as possible. It should be polished to a fine sheen, because this is the thing that will cement the deal. Even if you write a great query and a great synopsis, if your manuscript is subpar the agent is going to pass. (more…)
How to Build a Novel
Monday June 3, 2013 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Blogging | Leave Comments
[caption id="attachment_326" align="alignleft" width="404"] CC attributed to Boston Public Library[/caption]
I haven’t really talked about what I’ve been working on for my thesis. Of course it’s science fiction but it’s very different from my first novel, which is securely trunked for now. I had a different story in mind when I went into residency, but I felt like the story I decided to use was much more timely and relevant. Also, I had a much better grip on how it would end, and I wanted something I knew I could finish to complete my degree.
I’ve been writing with a purpose to publish for about four years now and still have nothing to show for it, but I know I’m a much better writer now than I was when I started this process, and it is a process. The more I learn the more I understand that the learning will never end and it should be a constant improvement as I get more words under my belt. (more…)
Pitch Polish for Gearing Up to Get an Agent
Saturday September 8, 2012 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | hunting for representation | Leave Comments
Deana Barnhart is hosting a cool thing for writers called Gearing Up To Get An Agent or GUTGAA for short. Hashtag on twitter and all (#GUTGAA). It is going over several weeks with support for polishing your pitch and finding help with a critique partner. A part of this I'm posting the current version of my pitch/query and opening it up for critiques. AUTHOR'S NAME: TODD MOODY TITLE OF MANUSCRIPT: CLEAR ETHER GENRE: SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE WORD COUNT: 120,000 UPDATE: BASED ON SOME OF THE GREAT FEEDBACK I'VE RECEIVED THIS IS A NEW VERSION. I HOPE I HAVEN'T RUINED THE VOICE. IT IS CERTAINLY DIFFERENT. CONTINUED FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED! The pitch:Wired for Story
Saturday July 14, 2012 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Blogging | Leave Comments
Week in Review
Tuesday January 18, 2011 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Blogging | Leave Comments
I'm a little late getting this up due to MLK Day. You might think that would give me more time, but I usually find a way to expand my time wasting to fill the available time alloted. It was a fairly productive week writingwise. I wrote 6191 words this week for a total of 93106, and am edging up on the climax. Seems like I say that every week. I think I'll get through it this week. In fact if I push I think I can finish the first draft this week, two weeks at the outside. I posted a little vignette about how I Suck @writing which seemed to be well received, thanks to all who commented! I also updated my Query Letter and got some feedback. I think it's pretty close. Close enough to shelve until I polish the manuscript. Some other tidbits from the week: Charlie Stross blogged this, he is brilliant as usual: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2011/01/looking-under-the-street-lamp-.html#more Ran across this short story by @MaryRobinette Kowal http://bit.ly/flXBY0 quite awesome! I heard this on NPR this week and liked it:
"We must see the error in our own truth and the truth in our opponent's error." -- Reinhold NiebuhrThe next thing to tackle after the WIP is finished it to do a synopsis. I found this website which does a fine job of walking you though how to do a thorough job http://www.writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml i09 posted this – the most complete map of the night sky so far http://io9.com/5730972/ Clear Ether! Read More