The most important things you can do to save yourself from losing work are to work from a new, dated copy of the file each day, stored in a single central folder, and back it up to at least one separate location.
How I Got My Agent
Here it is, the traditional, ginormous, over-the-top, all-the dish, “How I got my agent” post! I’ve included my successful query letter at the end. I’ll also break out individual pieces into future blog posts as well, going into more depth with the strategies that worked for me. Please note that no one path to publishing is going to be right for everyone. I have a great deal of privilege going into this process, along with some big disadvantages, and that affected my approach and results. The goal is always to build a big toolbox, then use the most effective tools for the job in front of you.
Of MICE and Murder
MICE describes the four primary motives for someone deciding to engage in espionage: Money, Ideology, Coercion, and Ego. These are still the central focus of security clearance investigations in the U.S. They also happen to be, on a higher level, the same primary motives for someone to decide to engage in murder.
How to Receive Beta Reader Feedback
I can talk about writing craft and grammar, POV and character development. I can (and will) discuss how to give feedback on other people's work. But one of the hardest skills a writer must develop is the ability to receive criticism. Some people reportedly love criticism. They leap to the harshest editor they can find … Continue reading How to Receive Beta Reader Feedback
All the World’s a Stage…And your Characters Should Act Like it!
Technically a lot of things make up a really good book. But as a reader, I will forgive an author many plot and style problems. The one thing I can't get past is the characters. Good characters can make an atrociously bad premise readable. Bad characters can render the most meticulous world-building pointless. The thing … Continue reading All the World’s a Stage…And your Characters Should Act Like it!