Slow and steady
I haven't worked on the book in a few days. First strep throat and now what is probably a sinus infection have quelled my enthusiasm somewhat. I'll get back to it this weekend I hope. I do have one electronic ...

Self-publishing: Trials and triumphs
I had to laugh as I overheard a discussion of a story we were considering about a local author who self-published a book. I wasn't laughing at the author or his book, just the comments some were making about those ...

Continuing the agent search
It's an interesting process really, trying to match your project with what an agent says they are looking to represent. I poured over hundreds of more listings Sunday and saved several to go back and query. I did send out ...

At least it was quick
Sent out my first electronic query to a big New York agency over the weekend and had a response back early Monday morning. Although they found the project "interesting" it wasn't what "they were looking for at this time." Hey. ...

Writer Beware
I spent several hours this weekend researching agent listings and was reminded of one of the golden rules every writer should know. If an agent charges a fee to read your material...move on! Agents make money on commissions when they ...

Expanded outline, part 2
My outline is complete, 12 chapters worth. Am now filling in each one with some expanded content, like the sample I gave last time,  to give the potential agent an idea of what exactly is in that chapter. Some of ...

Expanded outline
 As I work on my book proposal I am trying something that worked for a previously published book, an expanded outline. Instead of just the streamlined A., B., C. listing, under each major heading I am adding an excerpt ...

Electronic submissions
While discussing proposals and submissions during the last couple of weeks, I forgot to mention electronic submissions. More and more agents are accepting query letters and even proposals via e-mail. Read the agent's guidelines carefully and make sure you follow ...

Vigorous writing is concise
Filling in a little at our Broadcast Desk yesterday and today reminded me how different writing for broadcast and for print can be. Yet, there is also an overwhelming similarity. That similarity is best summed up in this quote, the ...

Progress
 Was off on Tuesday and made some progress on the proposal my book. It's a great feeling getting excited again about this project. There are two dead little girls and their mother who didn't deserve to be murdered and ...

So Long Skip
Off topic this morning, but I can't let the death of baseball announcer Skip Caray pass without comment. As a long-time Atlanta Braves fan (I grew up in Georgia), I listened to Skip broadcast many, many games. His knowledge of ...

Oh, that blank page
Even the most prolific writers must sometimes have times on a given day when they just can't get started. I know I do. From my book of poetry, let me share this: SOMETIMES THE WORDS WON'T FLOW Waiting. Waiting for ...