(TV) Writer & Lit Agent

MFA - Screenwriting @ UCLA

[theliteraryarchitect]

How to Write During a Pandemic

Hi all, Normally I keep this blog focused on writing advice and steer away from politics, but with the COVID-19 pandemic raging and all the accompanying uncertainty about our future post-climate change, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a writer on a rapidly changing planet. What’s our responsibility in a time like this? What kind of stories do we need right now? Is it even possible—or desirable—for our individual creativity flourish when we’re scared for our very lives? With that in mind, I wanted to offer my thoughts on how to renegotiate your relationship with your writing during this crisis, as well as some proposals for how to navigate the changes to come.

WHY IT’S HARD TO WRITE RIGHT NOW

Did you think being stuck at home, underemployed, and/or socially isolated would translate to more time spent on your writing… Only to discover, um, it didn’t? You’re not alone. While shutdowns, quarantine, and self isolation may be theoretically creating conditions that give you lots of time to write, many writers are more blocked than ever right now. Here’s why.

You’re Terrified. Even in the best of circumstances, writers under capitalism are regularly paralyzed by the fear that spending time on their writing is “unproductive” (read: non-income producing), frivolous, or even reckless. So it makes sense that it would be difficult to put time into a purely recreational creative activity given the heightened survival fears arising from these extreme circumstances.

Your Stories Suddenly Seem Irrelevant. Even if you can get yourself to sit down and write right now, crisis conditions can create an existential angst that causes you to question whether what you’re writing is still relevant, important, or helpful to others. Personally, I haven’t been able to write in days. Prior to this outbreak I was working on a darkly whimsical fairy tale about a monkey and a bear that escape from the circus. I thought it was relevant and deep—the story deals with themes of feminism, transformation, and survival under capitalism. But under the bright light of a viral pandemic, stories that once seemed deeply significant can suddenly feel like irrelevant fluff.

You Don’t Know How to Do Anything Different. Let’s face it—your pre-pandemic writing life was created to work well with your pre-pandemic life life. Now that your life has changed, you need to change your writing habits, too… But you don’t know how to do anything different. So you either freeze up and get nothing done, or try to ignore what’s happening and charge ahead like nothing has changed. Neither of these techniques work well, though. Now that your life is different, you need to do something different with your writing.

HOW TO KEEP WRITING DURING A PANDEMIC

Warning: I’m not going to urge you to stay the course and push ahead with your normal writing life against all odds. I don’t think that advice is realistic, and frankly it’s not responsible, either. Creative people are the vanguards of social change. If shit is going down, it’s our job to innovate and pivot, not to cling like barnacles to the status quo.

Keep reading

[tsuri-ouji]

UPDATED (EMERGENCY) COMMISSION INFO!

• I’d be most comfortable writing Inazuma, but I’m open to discussing other fandoms if you have a clear idea of character dynamics!

• I’ve been adding nature/Japan photos to an old Redbubble: https://redbubble.com/people/ishtarrr/shop?artistUserName=ishtarrr&asc=u&iaCode=u-prints… 

• If you use Jcink, I’m a skinner - please see @bonbonskins for more info.

[tsunrugi]

!! MY LAPTOP BROKE !!

I rely on it not just to do my work (humanities, lots of research, online communication with sources, just about to start a PhD…), but to stay connected with family while I live on my own overseas. 

I’m running emergency commissions from my art/skinning accounts, but I also have some photos available on Redbubble. I can add any other photos posted on this account if you want them too! Shares etc would be very much appreciated.

LINK TO PRINT STORE

[ladyscreenwriter]

Please help my friend if you can! Even a share would be great <3

[ladyscreenwriter]

... it’s the year 2020 and it’s so crazy that @lifeascaty and I have been roommates for almost three years now?? (okay technically 2.5 but whatever best friends for longer)

someone asked me about roommates / grad life at UCLA and it all kind of just hit?? it all seems like a crazy dream?????? like weren’t we just applying to grad school and just chatting online?? i didn’t even write any original pilots or features before UCLA and now it seems like such second nature?? where did the time go??

[ildsjels]

not sure what should happen next in your story?

Embarrass your protagonist. Make them seem weak and vulnerable in some way.

Shoot someone. That always takes the reader by surprise. 

In relation, kidnap someone. Or, rather, make it seem to your protagonist like someone has been kidnapped. 

Have one of your side characters disappear or become unavailable for some reason. This will frustrate your protagonist.

Have someone kiss the wrong girl, boy, or person, especially if you’ve been setting up a romance angle. It’s annoying.

If this story involves parents, have them argue. Push the threat of divorce, even if you know it won’t ever happen. It’ll make your readers nervous.

Have someone frame your protagonist for a crime they didn’t commit. This could range from a dispute to a minor crime to a full-blown felony.

If this is a fantasy story involving magic or witchcraft, create a terrible accident that’s a direct result of their spell-casting. 

Injure your protagonist in some way, or push them into a treacherous scenario where they might not make it out alive. 

Have two side characters who are both close to the protagonist get into a literal fist-fight. This creates tension for the reader, especially if these characters are well-developed, because they won’t know who to root for.

Make your protagonist get lost somewhere (at night in the middle of town, in the woods, in someone else’s house, etc.) 

Involve a murder. It can be as in-depth and as important as you want it to be. 

Introduce a new character that seems to prey on your protagonist’s flaws and bring them out to light.

If it’s in-character, have one of your characters get drunk or take drugs. Show the fallout of that decision through your protagonist. 

Spread a rumor about your protagonist. 

If your protagonist is in high-school, create drama in the school atmosphere. A death of a student, even if your protagonist didn’t know them personally, changes the vibe. 

If your story involves children, have one of them do something dangerous (touch a hot stove, run out into the road, etc.) and show how the protagonist responds to this, even if the child isn’t related to them. 

In a fantasy story, toss out the idea of a rebellion or war between clans or villages (or whatever units you are working with). 

Add a scenario where your protagonist has to make a choice. We all have watched movies where we have screamed don’t go in there! at the top of our lungs at the main character. Make them go in there. 

Have your protagonist find something, even if they don’t understand the importance of it yet. A key, a document, an old stuffed animal, etc. 

Foreshadow later events in some way. (Need help? Ask me!)

Have your protagonist get involved in some sort of verbal altercation with someone else, even if they weren’t the one who started it. 

Let your protagonist get sick. No, but really, this happens in real life all the time and it’s rarely ever talked about in literature, unless it’s at its extremes. It could range from a common cold to pneumonia. Maybe they end up in the hospital because of it. Maybe they are unable to do that one thing (whatever that may be) because of it.

Have someone unexpected knock on your protagonist’s door. 

Introduce a character that takes immediate interest in your protagonist’s past, which might trigger a flashback.

Have your protagonist try to hide something from someone else and fail.

Formulate some sort of argument or dispute between your protagonist and their love interest to push them apart. 

Have your protagonist lose something of great value in their house and show their struggle to find it. This will frustrate the reader just as much as the protagonist.

Create a situation where your protagonist needs to sneak out in the middle of the night for some reason.

Prevent your character from getting home or to an important destination in some way (a car accident, a bad storm, flat tire, running out of gas, etc.)

[minervabellona69]

imma need this for when I’m stuck when I start Camp Nano

[fixyourwritinghabits]

Plot A Month W3D5: The Middle and Raising The Stakes

Okay, so you’re there, the dreaded middle. The opening was great, you kinda sorta know where to end it, but what the fuck are you going to put in the middle?

Plotting the middle might not be easy, but when you’re starting at that blank piece of paper and desperately trying to get it to work, think about  few things:

Complication. Your character has a goal. What can you throw at them to keep them from reaching it? Don’t think of this as stalling the plot, because it absolutely shouldn’t be. Instead, complicating the situation for the characters should help them grow and achieve the tools they need to reach their goal, whether it’s external or internal or both.

Tension. Tension in a story is raising the stakes. Your hero is boldly on the path to stopping the bad guy, but oh shit, they’ve kidnapped her girlfriend! The ghostly threat that chases a family out of their home doesn’t just stay put, it follows them wherever they go. The hero was fighting off the zombies for a cure for himself, but shit, now his kid brother is infected too.

Escalation. Shit gets worse. Things get harder. People reach their emotional boiling point. The romantic leads hate each other. The more the characters have to overcome, the more satisfying the end will be.

These are just a few ideas to keep yourself going, but we’ll keep working at that middle before we turn out attention to the end. If your middle sags, take a good long look at it. How do you make things more complicated, raise the stakes, and make it worse?

Also Check Out:

Sagging Middle Syndrome

25 Ways to Fight Your Story’s Mushy Middle

Stuck in the Middle of Your Story? Try Prompts!

[ambientwriting]

What sort of questions should I be asking my beta readers?

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR BETA READERS:

When I send out my chapter to be read over by my beta readers, I always include a set of questions typed out at the bottom, grouped into different categories such as: plot, pacing, character, setting, etc. 

You might want to tailor the questions depending on the genre or which chapter it is. For example, if it’s the first chapter you’ll want to ask them about how well your story managed to hook them, or if they managed to easily get an idea of the world you’ve introduced them to. If it’s the climax you might want to ask if the action scenes are fluid, and if the plot twist/s were predictable or surprising. 

Here’s some example questions that you could use:

Opening Chapter:

What is your first impression of the main character? Do you find them likable? Annoying? Boring?

After reading it for the first time, what is your first impression? Was it cohesive and compelling? Boring and confusing?

Did the first sentence/paragraph/page efficiently grab your attention and hook you in?

If you were to read this chapter in a bookstore/library would you be convinced to buy it? Or would you need to read further before deciding? Why or why not?

Did you get oriented fairly quickly at the beginning as to whose story it is, what’s going on, and where and when it’s taking place? If not, what were you confused about at the beginning?

Does the first chapter establish the main character efficiently? Do they feel believable?

Characters:

Could you clearly imagine what the characters looked like? If not, who?

Who was your favourite character and why? Has your favourite character changed? (if this hasn’t changed feel free to skip this question) 

Are there any characters that you do not like? Why do you not like them? (Boring, annoying, problematic, etc.) 

Was there ever a moment when you found yourself annoyed or frustrated by a character? 

Could you relate to the main character? Did you empathise with their motivation or find yourself indifferent? 

Were the characters goals/motivations clear and understandable? 

Did you get confused about who’s who? Are there too many characters to keep track of? Are any of the names or characters too similar?

Do the characters feel three-dimensional or like cardboard cutouts? 

How familiar have you become with the main characters? Without cheating could you name the four main characters? Can you remember their appearance? Can you remember their goal or motivation? 

Dialogue:

Did the dialogue seem natural to you?

Was there ever a moment where you didn’t know who was talking?

Setting/world-building:

Were you able to visualize where and when the story is taking place?

Is the setting realistic and believable? 

How well do you remember the setting? Without cheating, can you name four important settings?

Genre:

Did anything about the story seem cliche or tired to you? How so? 

Did anything you read (character, setting, etc.) remind you of any others works? (Books, movies, etc.) 

Plot/pacing/scenes:

Do you feel there were any unnecessary scenes/moments that deserved to be deleted or cut back?

Do the scenes flow naturally and comprehensively at an appropriate pace? Did you ever feel like they were jumping around the place? 

Was there ever a moment where you attention started to lag, or the chapter begun to drag? Particular paragraph numbers would be very helpful. 

Did you ever come across a sentence that took you out of the moment, or you had to reread to understand fully? 

Was the writing style fluid and easy to read? Stilted? Purple prose-y? Awkward?

Did you notice any discrepancies or inconsistencies in facts, places, character details, plot, etc.?

Additional questions:

What three things did you like? What three things did you not like? 

Can you try predicting any upcoming plot twists or outcomes? 

Was there ever a moment when your suspension of disbelief was tested? 

Is there anything you’d personally change about the story? 

Was the twist expected or surprising? Do you feel that the foreshadowing was almost nonexistent, or heavy handed? 

Feel free to tailor these to your needs or ignore some of them if you don’t think they’re useful. Basically, your questions are about finding out the information about how others perceive your own writing and how you can improve your story.

-Lana

[ladyscreenwriter]

2020 Manuscript Wishlist

Hi guys! Just incase you are unaware, I am a Literary Agent at Ladderbird, a full service boutique literary agency (https://www.ladderbird.com/).

I am currently accepting queries for completed and revised young adult manuscripts. I’m yearning for stories written by underrepresented writers with their #ownvoices. Please send them ALL!!!

I am looking for character driven stories that are well written. I love myself a complicated plot with scheming, cons, and playing the long game, but the characters must drive the story forward with their own wants and emotions.

The characters themselves can be as messy as Prince Zuko or as adorable as Adora! There should be some sort of internal conflict, some inner demons that they’re fighting. Give me angsty monster girls that dream of ruling the world or burning it down.

As for genre, I find a mixture of genres THRILLING. So something like historical crime I would LOVE. In fact, universe, PLEASE send me more historical fiction. I’d love to see some contemporary thrillers and crime – a sort of YA Gone Girl would be SO COOL.

I’m NOT looking for overused tropes or stereotypes (boring!). It’s a new year and new decade. New books are being published. Give me FRESH and FUN and NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

Interested? https://www.ladderbird.com/kianna-shore.html

[ladyscreenwriter]

reblog :)

[studysection]

Hey guys! As a writer myself, it’s hard to have a lot of resources for writing in one place. That’s why I decided to create this masterpost, and maybe make more if I find future resources. I hope you like it, and expect to see more masterposts like this in the future!

Generators

Character

Appearance Generator

Archetypes Generator

Character Generator

Character Traits Generator

Family Generator

Job/Occupation Generator, (II)

Love Interest Generator

Motive Generator

Name Generator

Personality Generator, (II)

Quick Character Generator

Super Powers Generator

Names

Brand Name Generator

Medicine Title Generator

Name Generator

Quick Name Generator

Vehicle Generator

Town Name Generator

Plot

First Encounter Generator

First Line Generator, (II)

Plot Generator, (II), (III)

Plot Device Generator

Plot Twist Generator

Quick Plot Generator

Setting/World-Building

City Generator

Fantasy Race Generator

Laws Generator

Pet Generator

Setting Generator

Species Generator

Terrain Generator

Prompts

Subject Generator

”Take Three Nouns” Generator

Word Prompt Generator

Misc

Color Generator

Decision Generator

Dialogue Generator

Journey Generator

Title Generator, (II), (III)

Some Tips

Just a few I found from the writing tips tag!

Writing action / @berrybird

How to create a strong voice in your writing / @collegerefs

How to plot a complex novel in one day! / @lizard-is-writing

8 ways to get past writer’s block / @kiramartinauthor

psa for writers / @dasakuryo

”Write Using Your 5 Senses” / @ambientwriting

How People Watching Improves Your Writing / @wherethetransthingsare

Writing Science Fiction: Tips for Beginners / @fictionwritingtips

Creating Likeable Characters / @authors-haven

Vocabulary

Descriptive words / @somekindofstudent

Words to replace “Said” / @msocasey

Obscure color words / @mintsteelpeachlilac

Words to spice up your stories / @busyibee

Words to describe someone’s voice

Words to Use Instead of Very / @gaybybirth

Touchy Feely Words / @gaybybirth

Some Advice

Stephen King’s Top 20 Rules for Writers

”But my plot isn’t UNIQUE or BIG enough!” / @youreallwrite

8 Things Every Creative Should Know / @adamjk

(How To) Get Over Comparing Yourself to Other Creatives / @adamjk

How to Get Over Common Creative Fears (Maybe) / @adamjk

14 Tips From Stephen King On Writing / @i-can-give-you-prompts

Playlists

Electronic Thoughts / @eruditekid

“Mix About Writing” An Instrumental Mix / @shadowofemirates

Shut Up, I’m Writing! / @ninadropdead

Chill / @endlessreveries

Breathtaking Film Scores / @tweedskirts

Music to Write to Vol. 1: Starlight / @crestadeen

Music for Written Words / @ghoulpatch

Dead Men Tell No Tales / @scamandersnewt

Fatale / @dolcegf

All These Things that I’ve Done / @referenceforwriters

Feeling Soaking into Your Bones / @verylondon

I Can Feel Your Pulse in the Pages / @rphelper

Morally Ambiguous / @scamandersnewt

Wonderwall / @wheelerwrites

Pythia / @mazikeene

Ballet: To Dance / @tanaquil

Websites and Apps

For Writing

ZenPen: A minimalist writing website to keep you free of distractions and in the flow.

The Most Dangerous Writing App: A website where you have to keep typing or all of your writing will be lost. It helps you keep writing…kind of. You can choose between a time or word count limit!

Evernote: An online website where you can take notes and save the product to your laptop and/or smartphone!

Writer, the Internet Typewriter: It’s just you and your writing, and you can save your product on the website if you create an account.

Wordcounter: A website to help check your word and character count, and shows words you’re using frequently.

Monospace: An Android app for writing on the go when you feel the inspiration, but you don’t have your laptop on you!

For Productivity

Tide: An app that combines a pomodoro-esque timer with nature sounds and other noises! (Google Play / Apple Store)

ClearFocus: An Android app with a pomodoro-type time counter to let you concentrate easier and stay productive.

Forest: An app with a time counter to keep you focused and off your phone, and when you complete the time limit, a tree grows in your garden! (Google Play / Apple Store)

SelfControl: A Mac downloadable app that blocks you from distracting mail servers, websites, and other things!

Prompt Blogs

@writeworld

@dialouge-prompts

@oopsprompts

@prompts-for-the-otp

@creativepromptsforwriting

@the-modern-typewriter

@theprofessionalpromptmaker

@writers-are-writers

@otp-imagines-cult

@witterprompts

@havetobememes

@auideas

@putthepromptsonpaper

@promptsonpaper

@fyotpprompts

@otpisms

@soprompt

@otpprompts

@ablockforwritersblock

@awritersnook

Writing Tips Blogs

@writeworld

@anomalously-written

@awritersnook

@clevergirlhelps

@referenceforwriters

@whataboutwriting

@thewritershelpers

@nimblesnotebook

@slitheringink

[tinysidestrashcaptain]

Reblogging to save a writer

[ohbytheangel]

Hey fellow writers! Enjoy!

[ladyscreenwriter]

2020 Manuscript Wishlist

Hi guys! Just incase you are unaware, I am a Literary Agent at Ladderbird, a full service boutique literary agency (https://www.ladderbird.com/).

I am currently accepting queries for completed and revised young adult manuscripts. I’m yearning for stories written by underrepresented writers with their #ownvoices. Please send them ALL!!!

I am looking for character driven stories that are well written. I love myself a complicated plot with scheming, cons, and playing the long game, but the characters must drive the story forward with their own wants and emotions.

The characters themselves can be as messy as Prince Zuko or as adorable as Adora! There should be some sort of internal conflict, some inner demons that they’re fighting. Give me angsty monster girls that dream of ruling the world or burning it down.

As for genre, I find a mixture of genres THRILLING. So something like historical crime I would LOVE. In fact, universe, PLEASE send me more historical fiction. I’d love to see some contemporary thrillers and crime – a sort of YA Gone Girl would be SO COOL.

I’m NOT looking for overused tropes or stereotypes (boring!). It’s a new year and new decade. New books are being published. Give me FRESH and FUN and NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

Interested? https://www.ladderbird.com/kianna-shore.html

[bookishdiplodocus]

Increase your writing speed

I got an ask ages ago by @theemmanation, asking if I have any advice for under-writers. As a former under-writer, I do.

It used to take me two or three hours of steady writing to get to a thousand words. Needless to say, my novel was progressing slowwwly. I had accepted the fact that I would never write 1,000 words per hour, I just wasn’t that kind of a writer. Or so I thought.

These are the things I did to increase my wordcount and my writing speed:

1. I stopped writing by hand

I love, love the idea of a stack of notebooks for my first draft, to show how much work I put into it. For my first NaNoWriMo, I decided to temporatily switch to typing and BOY, did that work. Without changing anything else, my writing speed doubled.

Because I couldn’t let go of the idea of the stack of notebooks for my first draft, I printed them. If you want to see how that turned out, here is my finished first draft, a stack of 14 notebooks. I considered creating a font of my own hand-writing for the print, but in the end I didn’t. (If you want to, google how. It’s free.)

2. I participated in NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is a yearly event in which writers try to write 50,000 words in 30 days, or an average of 1,666 words per day. I had never had such an ambitious goal, and surfing along the momentum of other writers made me push myself beyond what I thought was possible. It genuinely changed me as a writer. Because I was pushing myself to write these 1,666 words per day, I wrote faster and for longer per writing session. And against all (my) expectations, I won! I wrote more in that month than I had written in the previous 2 years.

Even if you start NaNoWriMo and don’t succeed, you may find that you can do more than you think.

3. I do word sprints

Meet up with someone (online or live), set a relatively short time, and get out as much words as you can on your wip. If the competetive factor doesn’t work for you or if you’ve got no-one to partner up with, do the Pomodoro technique: set your timer for 25 minutes, write your ass off, and take a 5 minute break. Repeat if needed.

In word sprints, I often reach a speed of 1,200 words per hour. And good words, too, not just word vomit.

4. A good plan is half the work

The idea is to get your problem-solving done before you write, so that you don’t lose any writing time and still get the same (or, I would argue, a higher) quality of writing. So I usually know what I’m gonna write before I start. Not in great detail, but I have a one- to three-sentence description of my scene before I start it, and before writing the real stuff, I make sure I already have the scene in my head, using the method of “How I never have to face an empty page when I write”. If it doesn’t suit you, then don’t, but this is what does the trick for me. Also, see my post on how to outline your novel, but I’m sure most of you have seen it.

5. I carve out my writing time

Write when you’re the most creative, the most mentally active. Don’t go against your own energy pattern. Most people write when the moment is convenient, like in the evenings after dinner when the kids are in bed or when homework is done. But if you’re like me, dinner makes you drowsy and you don’t have a lot of mental stamina left. Afternoons are my jam. Base your writing time on your bioclock and then make writing a priority.

When I say make writing a priority, I don’t mean that afternoon writers need to work less to be able to write more. I mean: prioritize writing during lunchtime over talking to your colleagues. If you’re an evening writer, prioritize writing over watching that new series your partner is bingeing. If you’re a morning writer, prioritize writing over waking up slowly while watching the news.

***

I hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions, and happy writing!

Follow me for more writing advice, or check out my other writing tips here. New topics to write advice about are also always welcome.

Tag list below the cut. If you like to be added to or removed from the list, let me know.

Lees verder

[thatwritergirlsblog]

Taking care of your body while writing a book

NaNoWriMo is coming up, which means that a lot of writers are getting ready to hunker down and put in the hard work. Maybe every month is Novel Writing Month for you. Either way, writing takes a physical toll. Here are some tips for taking care of yourself whilst being productive

1. Replace that fourth cup of coffee with green tea

Coffee is great and it has lots of health benefits as well, but too much of it can spike your heart rate, cause anxiety and lead to insomnia.

I know that writers basically live on caffeine, but you can get an energy boost from green tea too. Green tea also contains caffeine, but provides longer-lasting oomph.

Plus, green tea has lots of other health benefits, such as boosting your immune system, speeding up your metabolism and maintaining oral hygiene.

Read up on green tea and its many benefits here

2. Stretch your neck and back every hour

Set an hourly timer

When that timer goes off, stretch your neck as far as it can go to one side and then to the other. Roll it down in a semi-circle slowly. Rub out any knots. Stretch your arms out above your head. Twist your torso from one side to the other slowly. (You can even crack your back over your chair if you’re not opposed to it)

It’s also a good idea to release your frown and unclench your jaw, or wiggle your fingers.

Trust me, your body will thank you at the end of the day.

Examples of good stretches to do

3. Go for a walk at least once a day

Assuming that you have access to a safe environment, set out at least half an hour a day to take a walk. This will get your blood flowing, send oxygen to your brain and do wonders for your body in the long-term.

If you’re more inclined towards physical activity than I am, you can go jogging or even go to the gym. Just make sure that you get your body moving and step away from the desk/bed for a while.

What a walk every day can do for you

4. Work at a desk and use a proper desk chair

I know it’s really nice to write in bed or on the couch, but it fucks up your skeleton. The angle will strain your neck, twist your back in unnatural ways and can even cause varicose veins.

If it’s at all possible, try to work at a desk that’s a good height for you and use a chair that was designed for working long hours. These chairs have full back support and padding so your ass doesn’t get numb.

The effects of bad posture

5. Don’t compromise your sleep

Often when we have deadlines or really want to get something done, our first sacrifice is sleep. This is the last thing you should be neglecting.

Sleep will rejuvenate your body and your mind. Trust me, you’ll have a much better writing day after a good night’s rest.

Also: try to do something relaxing for at least thirty minutes before going to bed. This will help your brain to shut down and make you sleep better. (Green tea also helps with sleeping)

Lack of sleep has adverse effects on the brain

Reblog to save a life. Follow me for similar content.

[letswritesomenovels]

Writing the Perfect Query Letter

The point of a query letter is to sell your story. 

Writing your query letter, your goal is to make the reader want to pick up the book. That is the entire purpose. We’ve all recommended books to friends before. It’s exactly that, except now that book is yours and the stakes are high. A query letter is, above all, persuasive. While writing your query letter, make sure you draw your reader into your story with every word. 

A query letter is not a creative letter; it’s a business proposition. 

Writing a query letter, don’t think of yourself as a writer, especially not of this particular story. You’ll need that degree of separation from your work for a good query. An agent/author relationship is foremost a business relationship. You’re pitching a product to someone whose job it is to sell your product (the agent) to someone whose job it is to sell your product (the editor) to someone you want to buy your product (the reader). This means that by querying your manuscript, you’re requesting a place in an industry. As such, you should follow some industry standards:

Use business letter formatting. 12 point font. Single spaced. Left alignment. No indentations. A space between paragraphs.

Don’t be familiar. This is a business letter. A formal letter. Unless you already have some sort of a relationship with the person you’re querying–if you’ve met at an event or corresponded in some other regard–write like you’re writing to a potential business associate. 

Write the letter as yourself. Don’t write as your character. Don’t write as your narrator. Don’t write as the historian who discovered your story 1,000 years into the future. It’s a risk that rarely pays off. On that point…

Don’t be creative with the form of your query. Save the creativity for your manuscript. Don’t quote a section in your opening lines. Don’t include a box of chocolates with it when you mail it off. Don’t be gimmicky. If you resort to a gimmick, the agent is going to wonder if it’s because you don’t know how this works or your story isn’t strong enough to stand on it’s own. Play by the rules. Trust your story. 

Keep it short. 250-400 words. Remember your goal: to get the agent to pick up the first chapter. Agents can receive hundreds of queries in a week. They don’t have time for wasted words. They won’t wait for you to get to your point. Say what you have to say as quickly as possible. 

Writing Your Query:

You don’t have long to tell your story. Just a page. This means you can’t include much more than the information that is absolutely vital to your story and the querying process. I’ve outlined the information, and separated it into paragraphs. You don’t have to divide it the way I’ve set out here, but these are the general lumps of Query Stuff. 

Each point I’ve bulleted should only be a sentence or two long. If your reader wants to know more, they’ll read the first chapters and request the manuscript. 

The Opening Lines: The Formalities

Address the agent. As this is a business letter, start with something akin to “Dear Mr./Ms. [First Name, Last Name] or [Last Name]:” Ex. Dear Mr. Tolkien: 

State your intent. In my research I’ve found this unnecessary, but if you choose to do so you can say something along the lines of: “I’m submitting for your consideration my completed novel, [TITLE].” 

The First Paragraph: The Introduction

Introduce your story as cleanly as possible. It should be minimal, yet evocative. Specific to your story, but skimming the surface of it. The more set-up you give, the more complicated you’ll make things for yourself. 

The set up. What was life like for the character when the story began? Where does the story take place? 

The inciting incident. The “but when…” What set the ball rolling? This can be in the same sentence as the setup. 

The combination of the set up and inciting incident should work as a sort of tagline. 

Protagonist motivation. What does your protagonist want? What is it about the inciting incident that motivates the protagonist to action? 

The Second Paragraph: The Conflict 

I’ve made this a separate paragraph because shorter paragraphs make a page more inviting for a reader, but it’s your call. In this paragraph, you don’t want to summarise the entire book; you want to show your ability to weave a compelling story. It should have energy. It should tell the reader just enough to get them excited. 

The rising action. What are a few key events that raise the stakes in your manuscript? Take a few sentences to lay out the most important events leading to the climax of your story. 

The central conflict. What is the main obstacle your protagonist will face to achieve their goal? Lay out exactly what your protagonist’s biggest problem is. 

The hook. The line or question that will make your reader want to read more. If you’d like, you can make it it’s own paragraph. 

The Third Paragraph: The Details

Some people make this their first paragraph, but I’ve decided to put this after the introduction to the story. These are the formal details of your story, where it gets very Industry.

The title. You might have said it earlier, but it won’t hurt to say it again here. 

The word count, genre, & age range. All necessary industry information. Round your word count to the nearest 1,000. 

Comp titles. What books might this person have read that are similar to your own, either in tone/setting/story? This can give your reader a sense of the potential audience for your story. You only want to include two. 

If you really want, you can choose to personalise the submission here and say why you’ve queried this particular agent. If you only want to show that you’ve done your research, you should have already gotten this point across clearly with the summary, age range, and genre. But, if you really love this agent, if you follow their blog or twitter or love some of their authors, it won’t hurt to say so. 

The Fourth Paragraph: The Author

The last paragraph is usually set aside for a few short lines about yourself. This should only include information relevant to writing this manuscript. Examples of biographical details you might want to include: 

Awards

Degrees

Writing conferences/workshops attended

Expertise related to the content of the book

Where you lived/have lived (if it matters)

You should be able to summarise this paragraph with: here is why you should trust me to tell this story.

You can also include a line about what you: are currently writing, enjoy writing, or have written. Let the agent get to know you as a writer and reader outside of this one story. (Especially if you don’t have many manuscript-related accolades/experience.) 

The Closing Line: The Niceties 

Thank the agent for taking the time to read your query. A small but important consideration. 

Tips

Highlight your writing ability with narrative voice. If your story is funny, make sure your query reflects that. If the writing is lyrical, your query should be too. You don’t want to drown the agent in your writing style, but you should splash them a bit. 

DON’T INCLUDE THEMES. Don’t say this is a story about “friendship and the power or love,” or “children will relate to this story of bullying.” A query letter isn’t a literature class. Don’t analyse your manuscript for your reader. Let the story speak for itself. 

Use active language. Don’t use phrases like “this story is about” or “the main character is.” Again, let the plot and the character’s actions speak for themselves. 

Only name a few characters and locations outright. If you’re querying Harry Potter, you’ll want to use Harry’s name in the query, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Dursley can be “his cruel relatives.” Hermione and Ron can be “his friends.” Even Hogwarts can be a “school for people with magical abilities.” Refer to things by their function in the manuscript and keep your query simple and easy to follow. The more names, locations, and special terms in your query, the more confusing it will be. 

Don’t sing your own praises. Don’t say that your mom loves your book, or that your little cousins devoured it. Don’t compare it to Harry Potter or any other best-seller. Don’t say you think the book will sell well. The agent won’t believe you. 

It’s okay if it takes you days and days to write your query. It should take days to write. Whether or not the agent even looks at your first chapter will depend entirely on this single page. You can write the novel of the century, but no one will look at it unless your query sells it. 

Have someone else look over your query before you send it out. Share it with the smartest person you know. Share it with your old English teacher. Share it on a writing website, like r/writers. Have them judge it on clarity and quality. Ask them where it can be trimmed. Ask them what they think the strongest sentence is. Ask what the weakest sentence is. Have them check for typos. 

Triple-check you’ve spelt the agent’s name correctly. Agents are trying to get through their inbox. If they find one good reason to move past your query, they will. Don’t give it to them in the first line. 

Triple-check the agent’s submission requirements. Getting these wrong is another way to get your query moved directly to the reject pile. 

Let them know if there’s a potential for sequels. If you’re writing a trilogy, don’t try to sell all three books at once. Use this query letter to sell the first book of the series only. Then, let the agent know that “[Your Title] has the potential for two sequels continuing [Your Protagonist]’s story.” An agent wants you to have more than one book in your arsenal, but this is a short letter. There’s only room for the one book in it. 

And one last tip? Your query doesn’t have to be perfect. Following this advice will help you draw the essential story out of a manuscript and make it look like you know what you’re doing, but many queries break these “rules” and still get full manuscript requests. As long as there’s something in the pitch that is enough to make the agent want to take a look at the manuscript itself, the query is doing its job. 

Remember: you’re recommending a book. That’s all. It just happens to be your book. 

Sources. 

Writing a Six Sentence Synopsis

23 Successful Query Letters

How to Write a Query Letter

How to Write the Perfect Query- Agent Advice

The Anatomy of a Query Letter (Podcast episode: 1hr)

The Narrative Breakdown (Podcast episode: 35min)

Query Generator

Using the research I did for this post (plus a whole bunch more), I created a website to help you identify important aspects of your story and gather them into a standard query structure. Check it out at: https://www.querylettergenerator.com/

[studycalleis]

how to stop procrastinating

set up a productive work environment. if you can’t seem to work in your bedroom, go out and study in a local library or a cute cafe! also, get out some water and put away distractions!

use the pomodoro method. work in 20-40 minute intervals and take breaks in between. you can use apps like forest to set a timer and also keep you off your phone. this method is helpful because your brain can’t focus and take in information for too long, so taking breaks can allow it to rest.

although i said to take breaks, don’t take breaks if you don’t need them. if you’re feeling super productive and feel that you can go on, don’t stop and break your focus. in other words, don’t use breaks as an excuse to stop working if you don’t actually need them.

use a planner if you don’t have one already. or some kind of planning system, like an app on your phone or a bullet journal. use it to jot down everything you need to do, so you never forget a deadline!

schedule out your week. note down when you’re at school/working or when you have extracurriculars to go to. this way, you’ll know when you have free time to work. i know that not everyone can follow schedules, but if you think you can, try this! however, it’s imortant not to over schedule, as you need time to rest to avoid burnout. don’t always take away personal time for work time!

just take the first step. focus on getting started instead of finishing. if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that all you need to do is start. you can tell yourself that you’ll work for only 5 minutes, and by the end, you will probably end up feeling that you can continue.

use the two minute rule. if it can be done in two minutes or less, just do it now.

break tasks down into little manageable steps. let’s say you have an essay to write. don’t just write down in your todo list to write the essay. write down smaller steps, such as coming up with your thesis, finding evidence, outlining, etc.

stop multitasking. while it may seem that you’ll get more don’t this way, you won’t. focus your attention on one thing and complete it. also, if you find yourself wanting to do something else, just write it down in your planner and do it when you’re done with this current task.

do a little bit everyday. chip away at a task everyday for a week instead of stressfully cramming it on the last day before the deadline. for example, if you review your notes everyday for a couple of minutes, these minutes will add up and you’ll thank yourself for when you actually have a test.

get ahead!! this kind of ties in to the previous step, but the most productive people always start working even if the deadline seems far away. please save yourself the stress later! it also might be helpful to set yourself a fake deadline to finish an assignment early.

if you find yourself not wanting to do work because you’re struggling to do so, ask for help. write down some questions to ask your teacher the next day or call a friend or go to office hours. if you’re completely stuck, set the task aside and do something else.

give yourself rewards. this can be anything from hanging out with friends, watching an episode of a tv show, reading a book, eating some chocolate, or buying that thing you’ve been wanting for a while.

stay positive. it’s impossible to battle procrastination completely, so forgive yourself for not being productive all the time. don’t be tough on yourself, and instead focus on getting back on track now. some days, you just need to rest and take care of yourself.

[slothwrter]

THINGS WRITERS NEED TO HEAR

you are allowed to take a break. you don’t have to write if you don’t feel like it.

everyone has their own pace. it doesn’t matter if you write one page or ten pages a day, you are still a writer.

your first draft is going to suck. every first draft or every book has sucked. i’ll get better and better as you edit. that’s what editing is for, making your work actually good.

experiment. try out new routines, new styles, new genres. it’ll never harm you. you’ll gain experience and become a better writer. you’ll understand what suits you and what doesn’t.

you don’t need publishing to be a writer. publishing is just an option but if you don’t want to you can just keep your writing to yourself.

if you write, then you’re a writer. no matter how much experience you have, what genre you write, if you are published or not. you are a writer.

everyone is different. everyone has a different style so find your own and rock it. search for inspiration but ultimately focus on what allows you to express your ideas in the best way possible.

you are doing great. no matter how productive you are, how much you’ve written, how fast you write. you are gonna achieve your goal and it’s gonna feel so good.

[ladyscreenwriter]

Where were you searching for jobs? Also, what did you study at UCLA and do you recommend it?

oh jeez I’m sorry this ask can be months old and I just saw it

I searched for jobs everywhere! Linked In, Indeed, a few list serves that I’m part of, groups on FB, etc. I found my last two jobs on twitter!

I received an MFA Screenwriting degree at UCLA. It was really wonderful! I thoroughly exhausted my two years there. It was great because I moved out to LA, found some truly wonderful friends, interned at some really cool places, and wrote a TON. The only con is that it is a lot of money :’( but besides that its 10000% worth it and amazing

[literastudy-deactivated20241017]

What can you do when you feel completely wiped out or you’re strapped for time, but your home is a mess beyond any acceptable living standards? Here are some things you can do to improve your living space without having to expand all the energy required for a thorough cleaning.

1. Manage the floors

Start with putting items of clothing where they belong. Fold and store away clean clothes, put what is dirty in your laundry basket or bag. If that is too much for you, put everything in a designated spot so most of the floors are not littered with them.

Pick up your trash. If there is anything on the floor that belongs in the recycling bin or the trash, put them there.

Sweep or vacuum where dirty. You don’t have to do the whole thing. Just focus on the dirtiest visible spots: the entrance, around the dining table and in the kitchen tend to be typical ones for me.

2. Manage the kitchen

Put your dishes in soapy water. If you don’t have enough energy to do the dishes, fill your sink with hot water and put in a generous amount of dish soap. That way, the dishes will be easier to clean when you have the energy to do them.

Wipe your counters. Just use a rag or whatever, and don’t focus on making it spotless.

Throw away expired food. Don’t let it litter your refrigerator.

3. Manage the bathroom

Put used towels in the laundry. Fresh towels make you feel cleaner.

Clean the toilet bowl and sink. These are the two most visible dirty things in the bathroom and they don’t take a lot of time to clean.

Rince your shower. You don’t have to clean it. Just rince the walls and the inner shower curtain so it looks a bit fresher.

4. Manage surfaces

Put dishes in the sink and throw away expired food and trash. If you tend to eat at your desk or in your living room, it’s easy to forget to put away those dirty dishes.

Throw away useless paper. It’s easy to let it litter your workspace.

Wipe visibly dirty surfaces. If you eat at your desk or in your living room, it is likely you rarely think of cleaning those places.

5. Practice self-care

You don’t have to do everything on this list. It’s okay to only do the least time/energy-consuming things and leave the rest for later or prioritize an area that has more impact on your well-being than others.

Don’t forget to move around, sleep and eat as much as you need to. These are your basic human needs and neglecting them will impair your performance.

Clean yourself, too. If you don’t have the energy for a shower, baby wipes or a face cloth wet with soapy water will make you feel fresher without requiring a full shower. Dry shampoo is also a life-saver if your hair tends to get oily.

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the amount of things to do. Don’t forget that you can always break down these tasks into smaller ones that you can do during pomodoro breaks or other short breaks while you’re studying! Take it one step at the time and stay within your limits.

[prophetworthy-deactivated202510]

literastudy: What can you do when you feel completely wiped out or you’re strapped for time, but your home is a mess beyond any acceptable living standards? Here are some things you can do to improve your living space without having to expand all the energy required for a thorough cleaning. 1. Manage the floors Start with putting items of clothing where they belong. Fold and store away clean clothes, put what is dirty in your laundry basket or bag. If that is too much for you, put everything in a designated spot so most of the floors are not littered with them. Pick up your trash. If there is anything on the floor that belongs in the recycling bin or the trash, put them there. Sweep or vacuum where dirty. You don’t have to do the whole thing. Just focus on the dirtiest visible spots: the entrance, around the dining table and in the kitchen tend to be typical ones for me. 2. Manage the kitchen Put your dishes in soapy water. If you don’t have enough energy to do the dishes, fill your sink with hot water and put in a generous amount of dish soap. That way, the dishes will be easier to clean when you have the energy to do them. Wipe your counters. Just use a rag or whatever, and don’t focus on making it spotless. Throw away expired food. Don’t let it litter your refrigerator. 3. Manage the bathroom Put used towels in the laundry. Fresh towels make you feel cleaner. Clean the toilet bowl and sink. These are the two most visible dirty things in the bathroom and they don’t take a lot of time to clean. Rince your shower. You don’t have to clean it. Just rince the walls and the inner shower curtain so it looks a bit fresher. 4. Manage surfaces Put dishes in the sink and throw away expired food and trash. If you tend to eat at your desk or in your living room, it’s easy to forget to put away those dirty dishes. Throw away useless paper. It’s easy to let it litter your workspace. Wipe visibly dirty surfaces. If you eat at your desk or in your living room, it is likely you rarely think of cleaning those places. 5. Practice self-care You don’t have to do everything on this list. It’s okay to only do the least time/energy-consuming things and leave the rest for later or prioritize an area that has more impact on your well-being than others. Don’t forget to move around, sleep and eat as much as you need to. These are your basic human needs and neglecting them will impair your performance. Clean yourself, too. If you don’t have the energy for a shower, baby wipes or a face cloth wet with soapy water will make you feel fresher without requiring a full shower. Dry shampoo is also a life-saver if your hair tends to get oily. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the amount of things to do. Don’t forget that you can always break down these tasks into smaller ones that you can do during pomodoro breaks or other short breaks while you’re studying! Take it one step at the time and stay within your limits.