News about the case

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

The murder case I am writing about will definitely not be tried in the county where it occurred, Cass. No alternate site has been announced, but by the time the court date rolls around in February, a new location for ...

Waiting is the hardest part

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

Tom Petty was right. It's only been about 10 days since I sent out my last electronic query to an agent who indicates she takes two to three weeks to respond, but I'm getting antsy. I should know better by ...

Slow and steady

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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 from ...

Electronic submissions

By ALongLook in The Write Stuff

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 ...