Hello awesome cyber-buddies! I'm thrilled to report that I got a request for a partial this weekend for COYOTE DREAMS! Yay! Would you like to hear my pitch? This is how it went...
After she smiled and shook my hand, she said, "so tell me about your story."
My pitch:
It's a coming of age story about sixteen-year-old Jenna who lives on the Sho-Ban reservation near Pocatello, Idaho. After her father has a near fatal accident, she has to run the family farm alone. But the dog that caused the accident is still harassing and killing her animals. This is no ordinary dog, but the fabled Coyote spirit.
Two neighbor boys, a farm boy and an Indian, offer to help, but their interest develops into something more than friendship. Jenna finds their attention both exciting and unsettling at the same time.
As the problems on the farm and the Coyote's attacks increase, she learns that accepting help is not weakness or failure. But when the Coyote goes after her little brother, she has to overcome her fears to save both their lives.
Coyote Dreams is 74,000 words and is similar to HATTIE BIG SKY, but with native mysticism and modern day characters.
Do you have any questions about my story?
The first thing she said was, "wow, that's a really good pitch. It sounded like the back of a book." Then she asked some questions and it ended with a partial request.
The reason why I'm posting this is because everywhere I turn people are saying shorter! Shorter! make it a one liner! Last year I did what they said and hacked at my poor query until it was something like this:
"After Jenna's father has a near-fatal accident, she must run the farm alone, but the dog which caused the accident is around and killing her animals. But this is not ordinary dog, it's the fabled Coyote."
The editor said, "so it's a horror then?"
Um, no. Not even close.
I was so worried about getting it short, I'd lost the feel of what my story was about. This year I trusted my gut, listened to Elana Johnson on how to write an awesome query, and then followed the advice at Pitch University. And this time, I feel that regardless of what comes of this, I gave her a true look at what my story was really about.
***Update! I learned that your one liner/elevator pitch doesn't have to sum up the story, it can be a simple comparison to give the reader a feel for your story. For instance, my one liner for COYOTE DREAMS could be, "It's a contemporary coming of age story with Toni Hillerman aspects." Tada! Now you know it has some Native feel aspects but you also know it is a coming of age. I love learning new things!
Would you like to hear one more cool moment from this weekend? My boot camp instructor, Sheralyn Pratt said, "your writing is like the Mississippi; it's smooth and deep. It flows and takes you on this journey."
I'm going to write that one down in my journal. I'm still thankful that she said that about my story.
Showing posts with label Quotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quotes. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Come, young grasshopper, let's be Ninjas!
Editing? You are not alone. My friend, Ali Cross, has declared this month to be Ninja Novel Revising Month.
Many of us bust our butts during NaNoWriMo and enjoy the friendly competition and encouragement…but then what?
First off, congratulate yourself for having written something because "You can't edit a blank page." — Jodi Picoult
I can hear the whining already, I hate editing, wa wa wa. No. Stop it. Editing is the refiner’s fire where you sift impurities and plain old crap out of your writing.
I struggled with editing until my good friend, Renee Miller took the time to go through my first novel with me. A light bulb went off in my brain and I realized that while editing is hard, and sometimes painful, it’s doable and even—dare I say it—fun!
If you don’t know how to edit, spend a few days and research. Highlight all the ly’s, that’s, and just’s in your WIP and stand back as the screen explodes with a case of the unnecessary-word-pox. Watch for was, were, could and all those other sneaky passives.
Most of the time you can find a more active way of saying what needs said. And all that pretty prose, you favorite bits that are beautiful but add nothing to the plot? Put them straight in the crosshairs of your delete button and pull the trigger. Like Stephen King says, sometimes you have to “kill your darlings” to make the book worth reading.
My goal is to finish COLORLESS by the end of March and have it ready for readers.
What’s your goal? Want to be a Ninja too? You can. Check out these other Ninjas.
First off, congratulate yourself for having written something because "You can't edit a blank page." — Jodi Picoult
I can hear the whining already, I hate editing, wa wa wa. No. Stop it. Editing is the refiner’s fire where you sift impurities and plain old crap out of your writing.
I struggled with editing until my good friend, Renee Miller took the time to go through my first novel with me. A light bulb went off in my brain and I realized that while editing is hard, and sometimes painful, it’s doable and even—dare I say it—fun!
If you don’t know how to edit, spend a few days and research. Highlight all the ly’s, that’s, and just’s in your WIP and stand back as the screen explodes with a case of the unnecessary-word-pox. Watch for was, were, could and all those other sneaky passives.
Most of the time you can find a more active way of saying what needs said. And all that pretty prose, you favorite bits that are beautiful but add nothing to the plot? Put them straight in the crosshairs of your delete button and pull the trigger. Like Stephen King says, sometimes you have to “kill your darlings” to make the book worth reading.
My goal is to finish COLORLESS by the end of March and have it ready for readers.
What’s your goal? Want to be a Ninja too? You can. Check out these other Ninjas.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Reflecting on NaNoWriMo
November is over, a time for reflection on gratitude—and this crazy idea to write 50,000 words in one month.
As of November 30th, my word count on my YA dystopian novel, Colorless, stood at 54,588 words. I should have a good version ready for readers by spring. I could have done more that week, but opted to do the whole Thanksgiving/snowday/family thing instead.
Now is the time for thankful hearts, exercise machines, and reflections on the lessons learned during NaNoWriMo.
Even something as solitary as writing is more fun with friends—be it in person or online.
Some jewels of wisdom I gleaned by following @FakeNNWMTips on twitter:
“Characters with verbal tics add to word count and have more personality! ‘Two…two birds with, you know, a stone.’ See? #nanowrimo”
“Keep at it! You’re only making a penny per word less than Charles Dickens! #nanowrimo”
I learned that while I can write fast—up to 6,000 words in one day—I do better work and avoid burnout if I plug along and write about 1,000 words a day.
I can’t promise that I’ll do NaNo again next year, but I do know that I have more to work with now than I ever have this early in the winter/writing season.
And to all those valiant Nanoers still emerging bleary-eyed from the trenches. Take a shower, my friends, it’s over. Find those critters--AKA, your kids--give ‘em a squeeze, and skip off for a winter buried in edits. Such are the joys of writers.
Did any of you learn something new about yourself this last month?
As of November 30th, my word count on my YA dystopian novel, Colorless, stood at 54,588 words. I should have a good version ready for readers by spring. I could have done more that week, but opted to do the whole Thanksgiving/snowday/family thing instead.
Now is the time for thankful hearts, exercise machines, and reflections on the lessons learned during NaNoWriMo.
Even something as solitary as writing is more fun with friends—be it in person or online.
Some jewels of wisdom I gleaned by following @FakeNNWMTips on twitter:
“Characters with verbal tics add to word count and have more personality! ‘Two…two birds with, you know, a stone.’ See? #nanowrimo”
“Keep at it! You’re only making a penny per word less than Charles Dickens! #nanowrimo”
I learned that while I can write fast—up to 6,000 words in one day—I do better work and avoid burnout if I plug along and write about 1,000 words a day.
I can’t promise that I’ll do NaNo again next year, but I do know that I have more to work with now than I ever have this early in the winter/writing season.
And to all those valiant Nanoers still emerging bleary-eyed from the trenches. Take a shower, my friends, it’s over. Find those critters--AKA, your kids--give ‘em a squeeze, and skip off for a winter buried in edits. Such are the joys of writers.
Did any of you learn something new about yourself this last month?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Quotes That Shaped My Character.
What win I if I gain the thing I seek?
A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy?
Who buys a minutes mirth to wail a week,
Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?
Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,
would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?
From The Rape of Lucrece, by Shakespeare
This quote ran through my mind whenever I wanted to do something that might have far reaching consequences. It gave the moment of pause to look before I leap.
Another:
There is no chance, no fate, no destiny, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I knew that failure only came if I was not determined enough to see a project through. That the ultimate success or failure in my life could only be attributed to me.
Have you any quotes that shaped you?
A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy?
Who buys a minutes mirth to wail a week,
Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?
Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,
would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?
From The Rape of Lucrece, by Shakespeare
This quote ran through my mind whenever I wanted to do something that might have far reaching consequences. It gave the moment of pause to look before I leap.
Another:
There is no chance, no fate, no destiny, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I knew that failure only came if I was not determined enough to see a project through. That the ultimate success or failure in my life could only be attributed to me.
Have you any quotes that shaped you?
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