Agents

How do you research agents? Once my group gives my MG novel, the Glimmerlings & The Book of Sleep, one last read, I will begin querying. I have tons of bookmarks of literary agencies, and am really excited to enter this next phase. I also have editor and agent contacts from the two SCBWI cons I have attended.

Once I get organized and begin, I am sure that there are a few that will rise to the top. the Dream Agent: Ms. Amanda-Binky-Vater-Reamer-Goldblatt. You know the crowd.

Agent Query will be a good place to look. I want to be very selective and query those who I feel would be a good fit.

Publishers Marketplace lists which agents are selling what titles so that is another good source. (I haven't joined, though, it's kind of expensive: $20.00 a month. Which isn't outrageous, but still, one more monthly commitment.) Maybe it's worth it. I do get the free email: Publisher's Lunch, which gives some news but not the specifics on deals.

So how did you go about finding an agent? Did you just query everyone or were you more specific?

SCBWI Winter Con 2009

Hello people. Please come read about my experience at the 2009 Con at my group blog Pen Tales!

Yay!
I have no idea why I just wrote Yay.

This book is scaring the hell out of me

The Spook's Apprentice by Joseph Delaney. It's about a young boy who is the seventh son of a seventh son and becomes apprentice to the Spook--the old, weathered monster hunter who rids the town of boggarts, witches and things that go creepy crawly.

It has some truly scary moments and I wonder how kids perceive it. I wrote a scene not too long ago and then got rid of it because I thought it was too scary...now I'm reconsidering. I know it still has to be right for me though, and not just because someone else does it.

It's written in a very spare style, but really effective. The unnamed country is very English farming town circa late 1800s.

I highly recommend this book if you want to be creeped out. I think there are five in the series.

MWWWAAAAHHHH!!!!!

By the way, that cover is really cool, but I think it is the British edition. Those Brits always get the cool covers.

How do you write?

Do you think in terms of theme, narrative arcs, rising tension and inciting incidents?

Or do you just say the hell with all that and just write?

I am the latter.

I've never taken writing courses. Well, I did take a class at a local Chicago workshop that was a little helpful. So what I know about writing I've learned from reading and using words every day as an ad writer.

But I've read a whole lotta books.

Now that I think my novel is finally done. (Ha Ha. I am sure my crit group will tell me if I am done or not.) I am looking at the book and wondering if all the parts are there. I know that sounds strange.

Ok, yes, I do have an inciting incident; there is a theme, as far as I can tell, not that I set out to have a theme; my character changes, which I've heard is the thing that really counts (although I can think of plenty of books where that change is small or subtle, and not huge); and, of course, I have a conclusion.

I'll let my crit mates be the judges.

What is your process?

Chirp, Chirp

Sure is quiet around here. Lots of cobwebs. Creaky doors. I'll be back soon with a report on the SCBWI NY Con. So check back!

Thanks!