Do you have what agents are looking for?

Time for another IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) session. This month, I'm spilling my guts about how to snag an agent. Uh, no. I haven't snagged one yet myself, but I did snag an editor/publisher. Similar, yet more difficult. Agents are a different breed.

Soon I will be asking myself if I have what agents are looking for when I venture out with my latest WIP. I feel like I have to start over. Maybe that's why this one is taking me so long, not looking forward to the tsunami of rejections ahead of me. But nothing is guaranteed in life, right? Change comes whether we like it or not, we just have to deal with it.

So, I wanted to offer a couple of ways to peek at what agents are thinking...

First, is the very insightful: #MSWishList - where agents spout off story ideas they'd love to see written and offered to them. Trouble is, you have to have what they're looking for right then because sooner than you can write your first draft, they'll come up with a new twist, and yours will be so last month! The best approach is to see if anyone is seeking something you've already written or started.

Second, enter Twitter pitch contests. Like:
#PitMad - where writers tweet a 280-character pitch for their completed, polished, unpublished manuscripts. Agents and editors make requests by liking/favoriting the tweeted pitch. Every unagented writer is welcome to pitch. All genres/categories are welcomed. Upcoming dates are:

June 6, 2019 (8AM – 8PM EDT)
September 5, 2019 (8AM – 8PM EDT)
December 5, 2019 (8AM – 8PM EST)

and
#PitchWars, schedule is as follows:

6/24 Mentor Applications Open
7/8 Mentor Applications Close
8/12 Mentors Announced
9/11-25 Mentor Wishlists Posted
9/25-27 Submissions Open
11/3 Mentees Announced
2/5-10 Agent Showcase

and the IWSG has a pitch event as well! Missed it this year, but the next #IWSGPit contest will be in January 2020 (Date - TBA, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm EST)

Last - Research. Always do a search for agents in your genre. Almost all of them have a list of what they are seeking on their websites, though some don't update them as often as they should. And many do interviews where they talk about the industry as well as what they're looking for, like on Writer's Digest.

So good luck to us all. Expect the worst and you won't feel as bad from the rejections. But hang in there, your perfect match agent will find you! And we will all do the silly celebration dance for you!


via GIPHY

Happy April! And yay for Spring!

Cramming a Ton of Awesome into Today!

Another exciting Monday...

But seriously, it IS!
The super splendicular Christine Rains is hosting me at her place today AND she's also the specialissimo guest over at the Really Real Housewives this week!

AND I'm super excited to announce the winners of our MEME BLOG HOP!

First, a HUGE SPECIAL THANKS to my co-hostesses, C. Lee McKenzie and Christine Rains. We had a very hard time picking our faves, so there are lots of winners:

2 Grand Prize Winners of $20 Gift Cards

M Pepper Langlinais

and

Yvonne Ventresca

J. Lenni's

We also chose J Lenni Dorner (Broken Branch Falls by Tara Tyler & Double Negative by C. Lee McKenzie) and Juneta Key (Sudden Secrets by C. Lee McKenzie & Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains) as 2nd runners up, winning two ebooks each!

Juneta's

And here's the rest of our winners, each receiving an ebook:
Michelle Wallace - Jolissa by Tara Tyler
Tamara Narayan - Pop Travel by Tara Tyler
Jess Haight/Fairday Morrow - (still deciding)


Thanks to all who played with us! I wish we could give stuff to everyone. But the fun continues all month, maybe longer, as I will be tweeting ALL the entrants' fun and encouraging meme's for everyone to see and enjoy.


And LBNL...

Today is also the first day of WRiTE CLUB 2016!

It's an awesome contest helping writers refine their craft in a blind competition. 

Stop by and VOTE for your favorites!

Have a wonderful week!

don't hide, have pride!

The Online Marketing Symposium is here!
Your fabulous hosts:  Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee,Jeremy Hawkins, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

We are supposed to share marketing ideas we've used and tell what worked or didn't work. And it doesn't have to be writing related. Promotion is promotion and it's all TOUGH!

So, first, my bad news.
My Detroit signing was a bust. There. I said it. But, I have to say, I wasn't too disappointed because I didn't do much to promote it. It was a holiday weekend, I was quiet and mousy and shy with the few strangers who came in to buy coffee, and I didn't do any advertising otherwise - I depended on the little coffee shop to promote.

It was a sad event compared to my other events which have been pretty good. I did the same thing I did before, but my connections in Detroit are much fewer than here in my home town. I wanted more traffic, but didn't really do much to bring it.

So, I learned from it! I'm going to have to reach past my friends and family and actually talk to strangers and be confident and put myself out there! I have had several opportunities to tell people I wrote (& published!) a book, but I feel like I'm bragging. I had to work at a concession stand with some other moms I didn't know very well. It was deadly quiet several times and I thought about bringing it up, but I didn't. I really need to get over that. It's so hard to promote yourself!

I also realized I needed help on the right way to go about organizing a proper book signing. So, I researched! My book launch party last July was a great success because I followed a plan. Now, I will follow another plan for future book signings. It's the only way I'm going to break the buddy barrier.

Here are some links I found that had great tips for a successful book signing event:

The Tricked Out Toolbox
Authors and Speakers Network
Writers Weekly
Balboa Press

I look forward to trying them out! I'll be in the Atlanta area March 24-28. And when I set up my signing, I'll let you all know! I hope I can meet some more writer/blog friends! (and see Sherry Ellis again! She came to my Cinci party on the day she was moving to ATL!)

I also look forward to reading more tips through this awesome blog symposium! Thanks for organizing it hosts!

And one more helpful thing! I came across this great opportunity if you are looking for a critique partner!

Megan Grimit is hosting a Twitter Critique Partner Matchmaking Party on Monday January 20. (TODAY!)

What: A chance to pitch your book to a bunch of like minded writers
Where: Twitter, of course!
When: January 20th from 10am-10pm EST
And You’re going to need:

1. A twitter pitch (140 characters or less to include the #CPMatch hashtag)
2. A few labels (this is my fave part!):

For the purpose of easy identification, please include (abbreviated for your convenience) a little about your critiquing style. (Note: These are for how you critique others work, not what you need for your own.)

• Do you get straight to the point- STTP
• Fan of the compliment sandwich- CS
• Are you brutally honest- BH
• How about a good copy editor- GCE
• Or are you more of an attention to detail type: ATD
• Maybe a critique partner beginner: CPB
• Plot hole hunter: PHH
• Do you give great big picture notes: BP
• Are you a few of these things? Go ahead and list as many as will fit in your pitch.

Here's an example of a #CPMatch pitch:

Trapped among bleeding walls, psychotic passengers, and manifested fears, can Olivia escape with her life? YA #CPMatch CS ATD

On the 20th, simply search through the feed. If something looks interesting, DM the person and get to know each other a little better. See what you have to offer each other. Then, SWAP A SAMPLE CHAPTER. You’ll never know if you really mesh well unless you see some feedback first hand. Give it a try and spread the word!

Writing a book - the windup

and the pitch...

(my little guy, last spring)

"I know you represent romance, but I have a sci fi novel you're going to love!"

STEEEE-RIKE ONE!

"What's the name of our agency again?"

STEEEE-RIKE TWO!

"Is it hot in here?"

STEEEE-RIKE THREE! You're out! Next!

Though that's good for baseball, it's terrible for a writer looking to woo an agent.

I have 2 pitch appointments coming up in 2 weeks! Aah! And I'm a terrible procrastinator. My busy life helps with that. But I have done some research on pitching. So far, this is my prep list of what I need:

• an outfit! I love picking out clothes. I don't love that my clothes are getting tighter on me!
• a great opening hook (maybe I should put that first?)
• a script - must practice what to say in the limited time I am blessed with in the presence of the anointed ones - an agent and an editor! note cards are a must!
• know something about the people I will be presenting to
• pages! but what? synopsis? chapters 1-? and how many copies? I know so many will want some! (ha!)
• relax, be confident, be positive, be gracious
• follow up with a thank you for your time note

I got these guidelines from:

• J.B. George, editor at Secret Cravings and my second interview host!
• Rachelle Gardner, agent with tons of advice to offer
• via Janet Reid, Hey there's a dead guy in the room - mystery writers' site

And now I have some questions for my writer friends! You guys!

1. Have you done a pitch?
2. How'd it go?
3. Any advice for this little critter?

PS - Get over to Falling 4 Fiction TODAY if you're looking for a Beta/CP! They're playing spin the bottle at a mixer!