Wednesday

Writer Interview: Amanda Burckhard

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—writing and query contests are good.  I’m not talking about the results, however, I’m talking about the process.  Along the journey is where you meet all the fun people on the way to your destination.  Amanda Burckhard just began this trip, so let’s encourage her along its path.

AG:  Tell us about your current project.

AB: It’s a suspenseful YA paranormal about a girl who inherits psychic abilities and accidentally unleashes the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

AG:  Is it your first book?

AB: It’s not the first book I’ve written, but it is the first one I’m querying. No one shall ever lay eyes on the others.

AG:  How did you tackle the revision process before you queried?  Did you use CP’s?

AB: After I finished it completely, I practically danced in relief. I let it sit for a few weeks and then did a read through. I’ve had a few CP’s and beta readers go through it and I’ve ended up doing about 6 major edits based on their suggestions. The story is so much different from what it was I hardly recognize it, but I know it’s so much better now.

AG:  What was the querying process like for you?  Any tips?

AB: To be honest, I’m just starting in the querying process. But so far, I’d have to say it’s rough! Perfecting my query was harder than writing my novel! I know they say most people rack up rejections in the triple digits before they land their agent, and I’ve only heard back from a few agents. But each one still stings. I’m sure I’ll get used to it....maybe.

AG: Do you blog?  Where can we find you on Twitter and the internet?

AB: I do have a blog. http://hopefulfuturedoc9.blogspot.com/ and I’m on twitter. @AmandaBurckhard

AG:  What online resources have you used to help your writing and querying and revision process?

AB: I found www.agentqueryconnect.com a few months ago and I absolutely love it. The people there are super friendly and the forums are a great way to perfect your query or get information on agents. I also like to use www.querytracker.net to find agents.

AG:  Any extra info you’d like to add or discuss?

AB: I guess I would just add some advice people have given me. Use beta readers. A good beta readers advice is invaluable. Don’t ever give up. Even if your current novel doesn’t land you an agent or sell, it could be the next one. Or the next one. Write what your heart tells you to. Not what people are whispering in your ear.

AG:  Thanks so much for joining us!  I think your book sounds fun—I’m an apocalyptic-unleashing type gal myself—so best of luck!

Thursday

Writer Interview: Derek Chivers

The Twitter world of writers can be an overwhelming place, but once you find a few good Tweeps, it gets a lot cozier.  Meet my Twittertastic buddy Derek Chivers.  He’s got a great sense of humor and I think big things are happening for him.  Enjoy!
 

 
AG:  Tell us about your current project.

DC: Well, the book I’m querying now is called Stealing the Sun. It’s a sci-fi action/comedy about a pirate with daddy issues and some other interesting characters. It’s kind of a fun, fast paced romp that manages to be very character-driven as well. I was taking a break from another work in progress, so I tried to write something entirely plot-driven. Except, the plot became so intricately woven through my characters’ lives that it became something much better than I intended. If you can’t tell, I love this story. I’m, like, in love with it.


AG:  Is it your first book?

DC: My first complete novel-length fiction, yes. I played with the short story and novella formats for a while before undertaking the really ambitious project which I’m still working on. This book was a great chance to get some breathing room from that project, and sharpen the quill too.

AG:  How did you tackle the revision process before you queried?  Did you use CP’s?

DC: I have a great local writing and critique group called The Afterthoughts or The Life Partners, depending on who you ask and when. Would this be the appropriate time to plug our
short fiction blog, (http://thelifepartners.blogspot.com) where we take turns posting free short stories? Anyway, they were there for me one chapter at a time, and then I had an open call for beta readers once I had a full manuscript.

AG:  What was the querying process like for you?  Any tips?

DC: Ugh. It’s a lot more work than writing a novel, I can say that. Luckily there are a ton of resources out there for the querying writer; like criticism, you just have to develop that personal filter for what does and doesn’t work for you. A good bottle of bourbon helps ease the sting of rejection. Thick skin, keep your chin up, and all the other cliches.

AG:  Do you blog?  Where can we find you on Twitter and the internet?

DC: There’s the aforementioned
short fiction blog (double plug!), and I’m also on twitter, @derek_chivers, and on facebook, uh, Derek Chivers.

AG:  What online resources have you used to help your writing and querying and revision process?

DC: I received an amazing query critique from Mindy McGiniss over at
Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire. (http://writerwriterpantsonfire.blogspot.com) I’ve also found Janet Reid’s Query Shark (http://queryshark.blogspot.com) and Nathan Bransford’s blog (http://blogs.nathanbransford.com) to be invaluable resources.


AG:  Any extra info you’d like to add or discuss?.

DC: Twitter has been amazing for networking; no querying author should be without it. It’s how I met you, after all. Best of luck on Wicked Spirits (AG: Aww, thanks, Derek) and any other projects, I’m fairly certain good things are right around the corner for you. Also, if you could thank your husband for all the amazing hours of my life he’s wasted, that would be swell. Tweet you later!

AG:  HA!  Derek is referring to Bioshock, a videogame that came out in ’07.  My husband was the lead designer.  Thanks for the plug, Derek!  Bioshock Infinite will be coming out soon, too… ;)

Anyway, thanks for sharing, Derek.  Everyone, go go go meet Derek for yourselves on Twitter and his blog!

Writer Interview: Mary Elizabeth Summer

Today’s interview, friends, is a testament to the Query Contest.  I met Mary through Cupid’s Literary Connection’s Agent Invasion and some great things came of it…namely my friendship with SO many great writers, but more importantly, Mary found her agent, Laura Bradford, there!  Read her story and find invaluable tips!

AG:  Tell us about your current project.

MES: My current novel, Catch My Grift, is a YA contemporary/mystery about a girl on the grift. Her dad goes missing while running a con, and she has to find him before his mark finds her.

AG:  Is it your first book?

MES: In the literal sense, no. I’ve written and drawered four other novels before writing this one. In the biblical sense, yes. I’ve never had a book of mine published before. I queried my last one, but it became clear pretty quickly that it still wasn’t quite there. It broke my heart to abandon those other projects, so I keep telling myself I’ll resurrect them someday. But even if I don’t, they were a necessary part of my growth as a writer.

AG:  How did you tackle the revision process before you queried?  Did you use Critique Partners?

MES: YES. As many as I could get. All of my family members. Any of my friends who showed even a remote interest in writing or YA or books of any kind. And of course, my Hawthorne homies (a.k.a., critique group) have read most of my chapters so many times that they’re now allergic. Also, I entered (and won) a couple of manuscript critique contests and attended an eight-week workshop to try and wrangle my plotlines into submission. Oh, and I just had a feedback meeting with a class of high school seniors who read and critiqued my first three chapters as a class project.
As for how I tackled the revision process, I broke it up into manageable chunks and set goals for myself. It helped that I kept hearing rumors that publishers were on the lookout for YA contemporary. I was highly motivated to finish quickly.

AG:  What was the querying process like for you?  Any tips?

MES: I actually didn’t query. I entered a query contest at Cupid’s Literary Connection blog and won a coveted spot among the 51 extraordinary entries that were posted for literary agents to peruse. Several agents requested my full manuscript during the contest, and three of them offered me representation within a couple of weeks.

AG:  Tell us how you ended up with your agent.
MES: I agonized over picking my agent. All three agents who offered were agents I’ve been stalking online for months. I would have been blissfully happy with any of them, so choosing between them was almost impossible. I finally settled on one, though, because I felt that she had strength in areas I was particularly weak in and that she would push me to keep improving my novel and my craft overall.

AG:  What is that relationship like?  What is doing agent revisions like?
MES: I’m not really qualified to answer this yet as I’m so new to being agented. But what I’ve figured out so far is that a good agent is like a sensei. She guides you through the learning curve, but ultimately you’re the one who goes into battle. My agent sent me an email with a list of three major things she suggests I revise but without much direction as to how to revise them. The how part is up to me.

AG:  Tell us about the editor submission process from your experience.
MES: Again, not much experience in this department as yet, but my agent did give me a rundown of how she generally approaches submission. She calls editors she thinks might have a particular interest in a certain project and gets them excited about reading it. Then if an editor expresses interest, she sends her the manuscript. At that point, it’s a waiting game to see if an editor bites. I’m sure I’ll be a nervous wreck when Catch My Grift goes on submission, but I will try to practice the zen art of moving onto another project while I wait.

AG:  Do you blog?  Where can we find you on Twitter and the internet?

MES: Here are my virtual hangouts:
Blog: mesummer.wordpress.com
Twitter: @mesummerbooks
facebook.com/MaryElizabethSummer
Pinterest: MaryElizabeth Summer

AG:  What online resources have you used to help your writing and querying and revision process?

MES: TWITTER. I cannot say enough about Twitter. More than any other resource, Twitter has been the hub of all things happening in the online writing community. Follow hashtags #amwriting #askagent #pubtip #querytip etc. Follow @elizabethscraig @inkyelbows @saramegibow and any agent who tweets.
There are also a lot of a fabulous blogs and websites. Check out Writer’s Knowledge Base, Query Shark, Novel Publicity, Publisher’s Marketplace, Agent Query, Kidlit.com, and websites for associations such as Romance Writers of America, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, etc. Plus any writer’s blog who blogs about writing.

AG:  Any extra info you’d like to add or discuss?.

MES: Thanks for the opportunity to share! I love meeting other writers and dissecting every aspect of the industry, so anyone feel free to drop me a line on Twitter, Facebook, or my blog. I’m very friendly. I can’t vouch for my characters, but I definitely do not bite. ;-)

AG:  I concur—please follow and friend Mary!  The writing community is a big one, but knowing some really awesome people makes it feel so much more accessible.  Thanks for reading!