Ever since I read Nathan Bransford’s post “Why You Are Receiving Rejection Letters,” I’ve been thinking about my own rejection letters from literary agents. I’ve been trying to decide whether I should set aside my middle-grade historical fiction manuscript and start writing a new one, or if I should persevere and stubbornly continue submitting it. Continue reading “Poll: What Do My Rejection Letters from Literary Agents Mean?”
Tag Archives: manuscript
If You’re Feeling a Little Rejected…
Read this. Why You Are Receiving Rejections “The Gust,” Willem van de Velde In the tangled morass of uncertainty that is the query process, it becomes easy to lose sight of the basics. People e-mail me every day me for feedback and suggestions on their query (which I’m unfortunately unable to provide), and want toContinue reading “If You’re Feeling a Little Rejected…”
Reading Material, Including a Little Known Harry Potter Short Story
Every once in a while I need to step away from my latest creative writing project and get some fresh perspective on the craft. On Writing by Stephen King I’m not a huge fan of Stephen King–I know, I know, this fact outrages a lot of people–or his writing style, this book included. I wasContinue reading “Reading Material, Including a Little Known Harry Potter Short Story”
The “Writing What You Know” Rule is Baloney
A lot of you writers are probably throwing up your arms in disagreement at my sacrilegious statement. But honestly, fiction writing would be really boring if authors strictly stuck to writing only what they know. Books wouldn’t portray fantasy creatures that they concocted because they never experienced meeting one themselves. Can you imagine how awfulContinue reading “The “Writing What You Know” Rule is Baloney”
Elementary: You Don’t Need to be Sherlock Holmes to Figure Out What’s Wrong With Your Manuscript
You just need to be Extremely Patient. In the Ungodly Long-Term sense. I have this middle-grade historical fiction novel about Joan of Arc that I’ve been working on for what feels like forever. I researched for a year and a half. Towards the end of that research process, I simultaneously wrote the first draft inContinue reading “Elementary: You Don’t Need to be Sherlock Holmes to Figure Out What’s Wrong With Your Manuscript”
Hannah Karena Jones 