Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Editing wisdom
Thanks to Nathan for linking to this great post on editing. I'm sticking it up here for ease of retrieval next time The Novel gets some TLC.
The Deadline Approaches
Why is it that the less time I have left the more work comes in? Three and a half weeks and counting... and I haven't had a chance to touch my novel in months.
Meanwhile the broadcast of 'Only Four Girls' has been postponed due to rescheduling at RTE. It should be on soon though I hope.
Meanwhile the broadcast of 'Only Four Girls' has been postponed due to rescheduling at RTE. It should be on soon though I hope.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Interim Report
I've been feeling gloomy about my literary opus for some time. The agent who asked for the whole MS (having already read 3 chapters) finally turned it down after six months. This happened around last April.
The agent said that mysteries by new writers were not *not* NOT selling to publishers. I must admit I was extremely discouraged. But recently I'm feeling more optimistic because I came across this blog post.
At the moment I'm being paid actual cash to do some IT-related work. I'm hoping I'll get that finished on time to send out a revised version of my first three chapters to a batch of agents.
What's the deadline, you ask?
Childbirth, probably some time in late October.
`
The agent said that mysteries by new writers were not *not* NOT selling to publishers. I must admit I was extremely discouraged. But recently I'm feeling more optimistic because I came across this blog post.
At the moment I'm being paid actual cash to do some IT-related work. I'm hoping I'll get that finished on time to send out a revised version of my first three chapters to a batch of agents.
What's the deadline, you ask?
Childbirth, probably some time in late October.
`
Friday, July 24, 2009
Query Letter
My Details
Date
Ms x, Submissions Editor
Some Agents
A street
London POSTCODE
Dear Ms. x,
I'm looking for a literary agent, and I'd like to submit my crime novel for your consideration.
Cynthia is a light-hearted software developer working in the City of London. She doesn't believe in mixing work and romance – until she meets her obnoxious boss's dashing step-son Harold. Unfortunately, said obnoxious boss is murdered just as things are hotting up. Cynthia was fifteen feet away at the time, concentrating on a particularly tricky program. She knows who she'd be arresting if she were in charge of the case.
Feeling like a techie Bridget Jones plunged smack into the middle of an Agatha Christie, Cynthia decides to track down the killer before she's hauled off in a Black Maria. Her friendly co-workers James and Liz volunteer to help with fingerprints and back-watching. Cynthia trawls through her boss's emails and interviews a succession of eccentric colleagues. Absolutely everyone seems to have a motive.
Meanwhile, Harold is flatteringly persistent. Flirting madly over dinner, Cynthia wonders if this is a romance? Or is he just sussing out what she's up to?
Cynthia's enterprise arouses the ire of the enigmatic Superintendent in charge of the case. She can handle that. But then she attracts the murderer's attention.
Stiletto in Old Street is my first novel, complete at 75,000 words. It's aimed at the contemporary crime fiction market. All of the characters are fictional, but I have experienced Cynthia's setting at first hand; until recently I worked as a senior software developer in Old Street.
I have not included an SAE because I am currently based in Ireland. If you would like to see the manuscript, please let me know by email. My email address is above. Thank you for your attention.
Yours Sincerely,
Ita Ryan
Date
Ms x, Submissions Editor
Some Agents
A street
London POSTCODE
Dear Ms. x,
I'm looking for a literary agent, and I'd like to submit my crime novel for your consideration.
Cynthia is a light-hearted software developer working in the City of London. She doesn't believe in mixing work and romance – until she meets her obnoxious boss's dashing step-son Harold. Unfortunately, said obnoxious boss is murdered just as things are hotting up. Cynthia was fifteen feet away at the time, concentrating on a particularly tricky program. She knows who she'd be arresting if she were in charge of the case.
Feeling like a techie Bridget Jones plunged smack into the middle of an Agatha Christie, Cynthia decides to track down the killer before she's hauled off in a Black Maria. Her friendly co-workers James and Liz volunteer to help with fingerprints and back-watching. Cynthia trawls through her boss's emails and interviews a succession of eccentric colleagues. Absolutely everyone seems to have a motive.
Meanwhile, Harold is flatteringly persistent. Flirting madly over dinner, Cynthia wonders if this is a romance? Or is he just sussing out what she's up to?
Cynthia's enterprise arouses the ire of the enigmatic Superintendent in charge of the case. She can handle that. But then she attracts the murderer's attention.
Stiletto in Old Street is my first novel, complete at 75,000 words. It's aimed at the contemporary crime fiction market. All of the characters are fictional, but I have experienced Cynthia's setting at first hand; until recently I worked as a senior software developer in Old Street.
I have not included an SAE because I am currently based in Ireland. If you would like to see the manuscript, please let me know by email. My email address is above. Thank you for your attention.
Yours Sincerely,
Ita Ryan
Monday, June 29, 2009
Why First-Time Writers are Old
Nathan Bransford's Friday blog post pointed to a very interesting article at Whatever about why first novelists are usually in their thirties.
John Scalzi wrote his first novel at 28, and was published for the first time (with his second novel) at 35.
Encouraging.
John Scalzi wrote his first novel at 28, and was published for the first time (with his second novel) at 35.
Encouraging.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Out into the Big Bad World
I've just revised a short story which failed - somehow - to win the competition I wrote it for, and sent it out into the world again. This time I've submitted it to a magazine.
I've another story under consideration elsewhere.
That's it; I'm not querying my novel at the moment pending extensive rework.
It's a good feeling sending a story out. I'm not writing at the moment, but I still have a couple of little representatives flying around. You never know what might happen.
I've another story under consideration elsewhere.
That's it; I'm not querying my novel at the moment pending extensive rework.
It's a good feeling sending a story out. I'm not writing at the moment, but I still have a couple of little representatives flying around. You never know what might happen.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tips from the movies
Here are five lessons writers should (apparently) learn from the movies.
Ah, now I see where I've been going wrong. Although I always describe my explosions graphically, I haven't included a soundtrack and rarely use slo-mo effects.
Ah, now I see where I've been going wrong. Although I always describe my explosions graphically, I haven't included a soundtrack and rarely use slo-mo effects.
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