Guide to Literary Agents

I would just LOVE to recommend this site to anyone who has yet to take a look! Guide t0 Literary Agents Blog

It is full of helpful tips. Interesting feedback on real queries and why they worked. Word Counts for just about every genre. Q&A's with agents. Also Agent Alerts that let you know when a new agent has joined an agency (please note new agents are building up their client list...good for first time writers :) )

And loads of other stuff. It's hosted by Chuck Sambuchino the editor of Guide to Literary Agents.

Chuck also set up on the left hands side certain categories you can click if you're only interested in a certain thing like for example Successful Queries, or Children's, Christian etc.

Hope those of you who haven't seen this site check it out---it's one of my absolute favs and the one I actually follow habitually! ;)

MG Tidbits

Hello all,

After some prodding for more reading material *Ahem Mary**Cough Cough** I've decided to try to update more frequently. Perhaps once a week? But I'd also love to know what kind of topics interest you all the most?

Anyways, lately I've been reading a lot of great MG manuscripts and I felt that perhaps a few "what makes MG middle grade" tidbits would be worth reading. Obviously, these are just my opinions I've formed after reading some MG manuscripts for an agent.

1. Word count doesn't seem to matter very much as long as it doesn't top 60k. Just about every MG manuscript I've read has been less than 60k. Hell, I just read one in verse that was 12k, yet its target audience was Upper Middle grade. Focus on writing a great story. Worry about word count later...though I'd say for this genre--short is best.

2. Shorter manuscripts actually make, at least my self and the agent I read for, a bit happier...only because when having 5 or 6 manuscripts on your plate a short one seems refreshing. Also, from blogs I've read, it makes an agent more likely to request it.

3.MG is NOT writing about one's childhood with an adult's wisdom and perspective already in place, in fact any novel who's protagonist is a child, yet the story is told from the perspective of an adult looking back is in fact an ADULT novel.

4. Upper MG readers are at the point in their lives when they are pushing away from Mommy and Daddy. Trying to find the individual lurking beneath the surface. They do NOT like being talked down to. Protagonists mirror this want to be an individual and break free. This is the age where Mom and Dad are nothing but embarrassing...so interlaced words within the story that try to teach a child a lesson will MAKE them put the book down. Let's face it, it sounds preachy.

5. Hard and fast rule for both MG and YA NEVER talk down to the reader. They are much smarter than adults give them credit for.

Nook Update

So a lot of people had issues with the Nook, stating that it took too long to turn a page etc. Well they've sped up the page turns and added games all via an over-the-air wi-fi update.

Apparently in-store customers can sample a book for up to an hour (nice way to get you hooked no?)

This update will automatically download in a wi-fi hotspot or manually from the Nook update site.

If you're still on the fence about the Nook, your issues may have been resolved with this update. For more check out the Publishers Weekly article here.

Agents & Requests--It's Only Polite

I was reading an interesting post by Elana Roth, an agent at Caren Johnson Literary. When a writer receives an offer of representation normally they should let any agents with a partial or full know--just to be polite and also to see if they receive anymore offers. We've been trained by agent blogs all over the blog-o-sphere to do this. But Elana believes that we should even notify those agents who only have our queries who have not responded, especially if we sent them out about two, three, or four weeks before. Seems she tweeted this and it caused a bit of a ruckus. Anyone have a take on this?

Here's the article.

New Stephenie Meyer Book

Well, ran across an article in Publisher's Weekly and found that Meyer has written a sort of side story to go along with Eclipse. It tells of the struggles the newborn vampire, Bree Tanner, must face. I wracked my brains trying to remember when, if at all this character was introduced in Eclipse and then I remembered the newborn vampire army ready to tear Bella, the Cullens, and Jacob apart. I remembered the little girl vampire Bella felt so sorry for. Anybody else remember or am I misremembering. Anyway, the book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, is due out on June 5th at 12:01 am and a dollar from each book purchased is going to be donated to the American Red Cross. For more information check out the PW article here.

Writer's Block--How to Fight it??

Hello lovelies!

Ah I've missed you all and I'm hoping the feeling is mutual :] So I have had some tough writer's block issues the last 2 and a half months! Yikes! I've decided that at some point you just have to grit your teeth and wade through it. I honestly don't feel like writing, but I'm truly missing it. I want us to open up the discussion on writer's block and what you all do when it strikes. Personally, it's partially because I need help and I'm sure many other writers out there must be going through the same thing.

So tell me, how the hell do you get rid of writer's block?

Heartbeats of New Orleans

HEARTBEATS OF NEW ORLEANS

"Filled with exotic and interesting characters, Heartbeats of New Orleans whisks the reader away to the alluring French Quarter. It is more than a simple book of poetry, encompassing the very soul that has allowed the city to thrive in the wake of devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina. This book brings forth the life and light that naturally dwells within the hearts of the people of New Orleans."

Heartbeats of New Orleans by Jennifer Tucker is now available on Amazon.com. For more information about the book, the author, how to purchase, and a book trailer check out hfupoetry.com

For information on the publisher, which I'm interning for check out Key Publications.

The reason I'm announcing this book is because I've met the fellow writer and have even published my own poetry in a collection with her. She's a talented poet and her book is sure to please! Definitely check her out!