Querying 201: 9 Tips for Querying a Manuscript That’s NOT Your First

We wrote an article on querying your manuscript a couple years ago. That advice is still solid, but I wanted to write a follow on for people who have been around the query block before.

Why?

When writers first query, they tend to rush into it, sending out lots of queries without taking the time to incorporate feedback. I’ll admit I was guilty of this. Once you’ve put time into a few manuscripts and have a better sense of what type of agent you’d like to work with, it’s easier to slow down and be deliberate.

So whether your first (couple?) manuscripts didn’t get you an agent or you’ve parted with your agent and need to find a new one, these suggestions can help you dig deeper to find the best partner for you. Continue reading Querying 201: 9 Tips for Querying a Manuscript That’s NOT Your First

Rebecca J. AllenOctober 19, 2021October 19, 20212 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

Why I Revised My Manuscript from 3rd Person, Past to 1st Person, Present & How I Plan to Avoid Doing That Again

Have you ever wondered whether you’re writing in the right point of view (POV) for the story you’re trying to tell? The right tense?

Revising an entire manuscript from 3rd person to 1st is no small task. The task is made a whole lot bigger yet when you add a tense change on top of that. My revision of a 90,000+ word manuscript for both POV and tense took a couple months to complete.

To hear what I learned by doing this huge revision, read this post. Continue reading Why I Revised My Manuscript from 3rd Person, Past to 1st Person, Present & How I Plan to Avoid Doing That Again

Rebecca J. AllenMarch 30, 2021March 28, 2021Leave a comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

8 Tips for Getting a Great Manuscript Critique

I’ve been thinking about manuscript critique and revision a lot lately.

A LOT, a lot.

I’ve been working on a young adult thriller that feels like it has taken forever to pound into shape. As one of my critique partners mentioned more than once, “You don’t have to write 95,000-word manuscripts with 4 point-of-view characters. There are easier stories to write.”

True enough. And I’m extremely lucky to have wonderful critique partners (CPs) who will read my 95,000-word monstrosity and help me make it better.

As I revised on my own and then with notes from CPs, I spent a lot of time thinking about manuscript critiques and. . .
Continue reading 8 Tips for Getting a Great Manuscript Critique

Rebecca J. AllenSeptember 29, 2020September 29, 20204 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft, Writer's Life

MYC: Sit Up Straight!

Can posture improve your writing? This was a question I pondered when author Amber Smith visited me for a few days. In my efforts to be a good host, I kept trying to encourage her to write in “comfy” spots, like my soft couch or a beanbag chair outside. She confessed she had to sit upright at a desk or table to feel like she … Continue reading MYC: Sit Up Straight!

Rebecca PetruckNovember 19, 2019November 19, 20193 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: The Hook & the Backpedal

First pages of a manuscript are tough to get right. Advice generally encourages writers to jump into the action to hook readers, but readers need a certain amount of information first in order to care about the people or events. I’ve written about this before in my post “Let the Main Character Drive the Bus,” and now I’d like to come at it from a … Continue reading MYC: The Hook & the Backpedal

Rebecca PetruckNovember 12, 2019November 12, 20192 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Responses and what they mean

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Now, we’re discussing what to do with that novel once it’s written! So far, we’ve talked about the mechanics of querying and how to face rejection. But did you know that there are an entire range of responses an agent can … Continue reading MYC: Responses and what they mean

Richelle MorganMay 9, 2018May 2, 2019Leave a comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Surviving Rejection

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Now we’re talking about what to do when you’re ready to put that book out in the world. Last week we heard from Agent Hilary Harwell on querying from an agent’s perspective. This week, we’re going to talk about rejection. No. Nope. … Continue reading MYC: Surviving Rejection

Richelle MorganMay 2, 2018May 2, 20192 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Interviews, Literary Agent, Master Your Craft, Publishing & Promotion

MYC – Querying, An Agent’s Perspective

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Our bonus post last week dipped back into craft and how to give your story cliffhangers. We also offered anxiety-free tips on playing the waiting game. This week, we’re talking with agent and Winged Pen pal Hilary Harwell from KT Literary about … Continue reading MYC – Querying, An Agent’s Perspective

Julie ArtzApril 25, 2018May 2, 20191 Comment

image shows middle grade and young adult fiction books open with text face out

Master Your Craft

MYC: The Waiting Game and 15 Ways to Play It

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Our bonus post this week dipped back into craft and how to give your story cliffhangers. Last week, we were all about querying strategy. Naturally, this week is about The Waiting Game and how to play it. <cue game show music> … Continue reading MYC: The Waiting Game and 15 Ways to Play It

Laurel DecherApril 18, 2018May 2, 20192 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Chapter Endings, The End is Only the Beginning

Welcome to a bonus Master Your Craft post! We’ll still have our regular post Wednesday, and in the meantime… Chapter endings are like fish hooks. A hook alone can catch a fish, but it’s easier with a worm. So what lure can you use to entice readers to take the bait and keep turning pages? Two good options are “contagious” emotions and the sometimes-misunderstood cliffhanger. In Jonah … Continue reading MYC: Chapter Endings, The End is Only the Beginning

Rebecca PetruckApril 16, 2018May 2, 20193 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Querying Strategy

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss writing a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Now we’re working on what to do once you’ve actually finished your book. Get caught up on last week’s post on researching agents before you check out … Continue reading MYC: Querying Strategy

Richelle MorganApril 11, 2018May 2, 20192 Comments

Master Your Craft, Writer's Life

MYC: Researching Agents

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss writing a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Last time, we discussed the Dreaded Synopsis. This week we’ll help you get organized as you research agents. Finding an agent is just as much about you as … Continue reading MYC: Researching Agents