Commercial Fiction, Critiques, Query Letter, Ya, ya books

Query critique – YA commercial fiction

Hello, blog friends! It’s been a while since I’ve posted a query crit, so you’re in for a little treat today. Oh, and happy fall! Hope you all get to indulge in some pumpkin spiced goodness and read some creepy books. Have you seen Kim Liggett’s blurb for BLOOD AND SALT? (A super scary looking… Continue reading Query critique – YA commercial fiction

Agents, Authors, Books, Critiques, For Writers, Literary Agents, Manuscript Requests, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

Query Letter Critique (YA Contemporary)

Original Query: Almost fainting onstage should be a foolproof way to lose a battle of the bands. But seventeen-year-old singer Charlie’s sabotage backfires, and her all-girl band the Wretched Gretchens takes first place anyway. Cue the sappy “Hallelujah” music. It’s not that Charlie wants her band to break up—she’s just sick of her stage persona… Continue reading Query Letter Critique (YA Contemporary)

Agents, Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Literary Agents, Manuscript Requests, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life

Query Critique (Non-fiction)

The Original Query: Address Address Address To Whom This May Concern, GO BLOG YOURSELF! What better way to showcase concrete research on blogging as a legit form of writing for students then to place it next to blog entries from the researcher, and teacher, herself? My book, GO BLOG YOURSELF, would include entries from two of… Continue reading Query Critique (Non-fiction)

Agents, Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Happy Things, Hearts and Hearts, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

Query Critique

Original Query: Dear (Agent), Small-time thief, big-time troublemaker, Tristan Storey has been accused of a murder he didn’t commit. And is going to hang for it. With a rope squeezed tightly around his neck, Tristan knows it’s the end, but just as his consciousness flickers, lightning tears down from the sky. It smashes the gallows, freeing the thief.… Continue reading Query Critique

Authors, beautiful life, Critiques, For Writers, Getting Started, Happy Things, Publishing, Query Letter, Revisions, Smiles Are Free, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

The Girl with the Green Pen

I know I said I’d post a query critique each Wednesday, but this week I’m bumping it out to Friday (sorry!) to share some news with you. One of my dear friends (and the person I often refer to as “Critique Goddess”) is launching a new website for writers, and I cannot say enough about… Continue reading The Girl with the Green Pen

Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Getting Started, Happy Things, Manuscript Requests, Publishing, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life

Query Critique

The Original Query: THE LOST STORY, completed at 80,000 words, is the tragic and triumphant story of Danielle (Dani) Caldwell, an American girl who meets a Cuban boy and falls in love, only to find their world-views divided over the Cuban Revolution. The story opens in 1980.  Dani's walking through the streets of Manhattan when… Continue reading Query Critique

Authors, Critiques, For Writers, Happy Things, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life

Query Letter OR First Page Critiques…

Hey blog friends! LONG time no speak - color me embarrassed. Did I mention you look super cute today? AND CAN YOU BELIEVE IT’S November?! (HAPPY NaNoWriMo!) As you know I was working on SECRET project, then I was editing SECRET project, then I started critiquing and beta’ing for a few of my friends/agent sisters,… Continue reading Query Letter OR First Page Critiques…

Agents, Barbara Poelle, For Writers, Happy Things, Literary Agents, My Agent Is Super Awesome, Query Letter

Attn Writers: My agent is doing a webinar!

Hey writer friends I’ve got something for YOUUUU! My agent is doing another Writers Digest Webinar (From Cozy to Carnage: An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Thriller/Mystery Writing–For Both the Adult and YA Markets) on Thursday April 12th. Are you squinting at your screen wondering why you should be interested in this? If… Continue reading Attn Writers: My agent is doing a webinar!

Books, Characters, Inspiration, Literary Agents, Manuscript Requests, Query Letter, Science Fiction, Writing

Revisions, Unicorns, and lot’s of Face Punching

Oh my, oh my, OH MY. I can’t believe it’s Friday, which is a good thing. But STILL. Where does the time go? More importantly WHERE DID MY BRAIN GO?! There’s so much happening. Here’s the deal: I received a reader’s report on my current manuscript several weeks ago, LURVED the suggestions and got to… Continue reading Revisions, Unicorns, and lot’s of Face Punching

Authors, For Writers, Humor, Manuscript Requests, Query Letter, Writing, Writing Life, Young Adult Novels

A Day in the Life: Querying Phase

Regular blog followers know I'm just beginning to query my latest shiny manuscript. So I thought I’d interject some humor for others who are, or have ever been a part of the query-go-round. Enjoy! Day in the writing life: Querying Phase Morning coffee Open special query email Gasp when you see 10 new messages Swear… Continue reading A Day in the Life: Querying Phase