 Guest post by Elizabeth Little This Is Your Life. Really.There is no “someday.” If there is an afterlife, it doesn’t matter. Not making the most of your life now is spitting in the face of God. As an adult, do you ever look back at your time in grade school or high school and think. “Oh my gosh, if I had only known what power I had, how little I had to fear and how much I could have shaped my experience?” That is the way to approach your life now! Things that you think are a big deal now will mellow in time. You have more power to shape your life right now than you credit yourself with. You can laugh at yourself when you feel like a mouse scurrying through a maze because you made the maze. Who says you can’t sell everything and move? Who says you can’t have two partners? Who says children must be raised by a nuclear family? Who says you aren’t an artist? Who says you can’t sing? Who says dinner must be eaten at a table? Who gets to tell you how your life should go? As my little sister used to tell me every time she refused to follow my directions, “You are not the boss of the mother!” And then she did as she pleased. Be the little sister! The mother is energy. Energy is the stuff of life and has no judgement. You are allowed all the energy you need to create your life. Nobody gets to boss your energy. Your Story How do you get a life story? In the beginning you are born into your story with others around you to teach you your character and place. My roll was broadly known as “bad child” which included “mean sister,” “unruly daughter,” and “poor student.” As you grow, you get glimpses of other stories and character possibilities. You are allowed to change your narrative and character. All the happenings in your life become a part of your story. Hard things like death, illness, and despair. Wonderful things like, love, birth, and joy. How these events fold into your life depend on how you have decided to be and live in your story. I struggled away from my given roll over several years to become a new character who was wicked smart, industrious, and loving. I still carry my “bad girl” origins. It gives me a special understanding of others living their own bad child stories, but it does not damage my current narrative. When your story changes.There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the stories we’ve lived or characters we have been. For as long as the story is true and fulfilling it is the perfect story. You will know when the story does not fit anymore. There will be a painful growing toward your next life. There is indecision, confusion, and regression. But there is also, epiphany, a feeling of “rightness” and increasing joy to let you know your path is true. The character I was living in my second marriage was that of mother, homemaker, wife, and teacher. I had a successful preschool and two wonderful children. My story title was “The Domestic Bliss of the Average American Family.” I enjoyed it for many years until it began to unravel. I began to regret not choosing a deeper relationship with my husband. My husband turned to alcohol rather than me. My daughter showed signs of stress and withdrew from the family story. I began to see my preschool business as a cage instead of an opportunity. It was time for a new chapter. Creating your story.There are many who don’t know they are in a story. Hopefully it is a satisfying story that will always fit. It can be an ignorance-is-bliss situation or a continuous feeling of unease and dissatisfaction. In the latter case the blame is thrown around onto things, situations, other people or even self-blame that however renders no changes. Then there is the knowing without the support or courage or desire to make changes. One can decide, “It isn’t all the life I wanted but it’s good enough.” Finally, there is knowing fully that life is what you make it. Your eyes are open to knowing, doing, making, being, and living in the raw! It means taking responsibility for welding this great power and gift of life on the planet right now. We cannot consciously know anything else exists except shaping this experience. If you have glimpsed behind the curtain, you know we are supposed to live “as if.” As if this is all there is. You are all, the universe, experiencing itself. You have been dropped into a body that experiences only three dimensions and linear time. Constraints that breed creativity due to the limitations. You are a distilled part of the divine everything. You exist to experience and create. Feel all the feels, do all the things, it is the essence of what you are meant for.
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 Guest post by Tonya Spitler NaNoWriMo: What I learnedFor years I have listened to author friends talk about their experiences taking on the NaNoWriMo challenge. Each year I shake my head and cringe. It sounded so impossible. Up until about a year ago, writing was a dream of mine. Something I had always wanted to do, but never felt confident enough to start. Sound familiar? This year I decided I would jump on the NaNoWriMo challenge bus. Here is what I have learned along the way. PreparingI am somewhere between a pantser and a plotter, so I'm going to call myself a plantser. I need to have an idea of where I am going, or I get stuck in the middle and walk away. To set myself up for success, I sat down and brainstormed several ideas. I discarded ones that seemed to need more research than I could handle in thirty short days and came down to one pretty solid idea. Once I had my idea, I started jotting down what I thought might happen, who the characters were, where I wanted the story to end up, etc. This was the easiest part of the process for me. Finding the TimePlan in place, I figured I could squeeze time in before my kids woke up, or maybe after they went to bed. How hard could writing 1,667 words a day be? After all, I had a plan - sort of- who needed a set time? Turns out I did. Some days I sat and 2,000 plus words would flow easily from my fingers to the page. Other days, I'd stare at the screen and wonder why on earth I publicly announced this crazy plan. Much like needing a rough idea of where the book was going, I needed to have a time devoted to writing that was quiet and distraction free. I could never quite guess when my kids would wake up, and some nights, they stayed up later than I did. (Teens am I right?) So, I decided to block off time. I would let everyone know I was writing, and unless the house was on fire, or someone was seriously hurt, they needed to figure it out until I was done. Time doesn't just appear, you have to make it happen. Losing the FaithAbout halfway through, I started to really question my sanity. What on earth was I thinking trying to write a book! I'm no *insert name of crazy bestselling author here*. I am me, a mom, wife, business owner with a dream. No one would want to read this rubbish anyway, right? Self-doubt crept in and sunk its sharp teeth right into my sensitive writing spots. Feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome quickly took the wheel. I leaned heavily on my author friend group for encouragement during this time. If you don't have a group of authors who write in a similar genre to bounce ideas off of and be encouraged by, I highly suggest you go get one. Right now. I'll wait. Okay, I won't wait, but seriously look into critique groups, author Facebook groups, or reach out to your favorite authors. You never know where these people might be hiding. Having a group of people to support you and who understand this journey you are on is vital to success. Not just during NaNoWriMo, but throughout your writing career.  Finishing StrongI won't pretend like all 50,000 words flowed from my fingers in a beautiful arrangement that left me with a #1 Best Seller on my hands. That's not how it works unfortunately. At least not for most people. I *did* end up with a pretty good first draft though. So, what did I learn?
NaNoWriMo is not for everyone. The pressure of hitting a certain number of words each day can be overwhelming for some. For me, it was a great exercise in getting from the beginning to the end. Not stopping and getting sidetracked by other ideas and research was a challenge I had to overcome. It was great to have some experience with writing on a deadline as well. Will I do it again next year? Not sure, it was tough to get done with the holiday season starting up, but that feeling of accomplishment... NOTHING BETTER!
 By Arielle Haughee Make Big Book Sales |
 | Previously an elementary teacher, Arielle Haughee (Hoy) is a five-time RPLA-winning author and the owner of Orange Blossom Publishing. She is an editor, speaker, and coach. She is the author of The Complete Revision Workbook for Writers, the children’s books Grumbler, Joyride, Pling’s Party, and Sixth Sunday, the editor of the How I Met My Other anthology series, and the creator of the Focus Journal line of journals. She was also honored with the President’s Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She has a serious reading addiction, fantasy romance her absolute favorite, and loves nothing more than good conversation paired with a good wine. She is surrounded by males at home—a husband, two sons, and an energetic dog—and tries to integrate as much purple and flowers in the house as possible. |
Guest blog by Karen Pederson Travis
Small Treasures
Kids say the funniest things. Which is why as a young mother I started writing down the things my daughter, Emily, would say when she was little. They were moments that, at the time, I was sure I’d remember forever. But life has a way of flooding the mind with other things, and I didn’t want those precious memories to be drowned out.
When Emily was two years old, I started scribbling notes in a blue, spiral-bound journal. I didn’t write in it every day. I’m not disciplined enough for that. I just captured the highlights. The moments she’d never remember—moments I never wanted to forget.
Some entries were only a couple of words, like “livinging room” or “Baby Cheez-Its” (a crowd favorite at Christmastime). Others were longer to provide context. All were written in black or blue pen, the messy scrawl of my handwriting a testament to my exhaustion.
When Emily was two years old, I started scribbling notes in a blue, spiral-bound journal. I didn’t write in it every day. I’m not disciplined enough for that. I just captured the highlights. The moments she’d never remember—moments I never wanted to forget.
Some entries were only a couple of words, like “livinging room” or “Baby Cheez-Its” (a crowd favorite at Christmastime). Others were longer to provide context. All were written in black or blue pen, the messy scrawl of my handwriting a testament to my exhaustion.
- June 6: Went shopping the other day. You got mad at me, and when you get mad, you pinch me and say “ouch.”
- June 12: We took you to the zoo. You saw the bear and said “bear.” You saw the tiger and said, “tiger.” Then you saw the giraffe, zebra and elephant and said, “cows!”
- August 7: Yesterday I asked if you wanted me to carry you on our walk. Now you want to be carried everywhere. The minute we step outside, you raise your arms and say, “Carry you?”
- December 10: When you sneeze, you say “bless you” to yourself.
- May 22: Today you pretended to read me a story. A book on tape (without the tape). “This is the story of Pocahontas,” you said with great drama. “You can read along with me in your book. You will know it is time to turn the page when you hear this sound…beep!”
- July 6: You love grocery shopping. As we walk through the aisles you explain to me, “I love cookies” and “I love donuts.”
- July 10: We went to a baseball game last night and church this morning. When the organ began its prelude, you stood up in the pew and began belting out “Take me out to the ballgame!”
- August 10: At dinner, you said “Look Mom, I’m a camel.” Then you just sat there, staring blankly at the wall, not making a sound. I’m sure in your mind, using your imagination, you were, indeed, a camel.
- October 20: Today you asked me to marry you.
- November 15: When you don’t like something, you think it’s “gusdusting.”
- June 30: Tonight, you asked me: “Can I come to your bed for a couple of whiles?”
- October 16: We were walking through the cemetery by our house the other day and a gust of wind blew the leaves in a swirl in front of us. “Leaf fight!” you shouted.
- December 14: “Mom, can we go on a rocket ship to Mars sometime?”
I kept writing as often as I could, adding a few mementos between the pages--a note to the tooth fairy instructing her not to take away the baby teeth, home-made Mother’s Day cards, drawings, a few photos. Fragments of childhood and motherhood, our lives deeply intertwined.
Until one day, I stopped. I hadn’t planned to. I don’t even remember doing it. I just remember finding the journal in the back of my nightstand. I opened it up, dusted it off, and realized it had been years since I’d made an entry. I wondered how many memories had been lost in that time. My nest now empty, I missed the little girl I spent so much time raising.
With no way to reconstruct the past 22 years, all I can do now is thank my younger self for taking the time to capture those moments. And every so often, I sit down in the livinging room to re-read the journal for a couple of whiles, and I can’t help but smile.
Until one day, I stopped. I hadn’t planned to. I don’t even remember doing it. I just remember finding the journal in the back of my nightstand. I opened it up, dusted it off, and realized it had been years since I’d made an entry. I wondered how many memories had been lost in that time. My nest now empty, I missed the little girl I spent so much time raising.
With no way to reconstruct the past 22 years, all I can do now is thank my younger self for taking the time to capture those moments. And every so often, I sit down in the livinging room to re-read the journal for a couple of whiles, and I can’t help but smile.
 | Karen Pedersen Travis is a retired communication consultant, a mom, and emerging writer. She received a BS degree from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University and now writes creative nonfiction from her home in Eden Prairie, MN, with her husband and two aggressively loving golden retrievers. She is currently working on a book about her experiences growing up in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, where her parents worked as Lutheran missionaries. |
Guest post by Carol Paur
Five Ways to Have a Successful Book Fair Without Selling Books
Author fairs are events that stir hope for most authors. You get the invitation. Excitedly, you register and send in your money. You post it on social media. On the day of the event, you drive, sometimes hundreds of miles, to your destination. Often you have to park blocks away and haul your books over uneven gravel. You don’t mind. You’re going to sell books. Upon arrival there might be someone to help you set up but there might not be, so you find your spot and set out your books and swag.
And wait.
Five o’clock rolls arounds. Books sold? Zero.
“What was the point?” you ask yourself. “Why did I spend the money and all my time preparing to be at this event? I am not doing another one again.”
It’s especially frustrating when the author next to you has swarms of people buying her books.
Five o’clock rolls arounds. Books sold? Zero.
“What was the point?” you ask yourself. “Why did I spend the money and all my time preparing to be at this event? I am not doing another one again.”
It’s especially frustrating when the author next to you has swarms of people buying her books.
Recently I interviewed author Jerry Apps, who wrote Meet Me on the Midway: A History of Wisconsin Fairs. He said the original idea behind county fairs was to gather farmers together to discuss best farming practices. Today county fairs make money but learning that the original fairs were about networking shifted my focus.
Selling books was no longer my primary goal.
I would be dishonest if I told you I don’t like selling books. My pulse quickens when someone looks at one of my novels and starts asking questions. After what seems like forever, he buys the book and wants me to autograph it. I try not to jump up and down but calmly ask, “Who should I write this out to?” If I hold that as my only objective, however, I am losing all the other benefits of author festivals such as networking, adding to my author email list, promoting myself or a new book, inspiring future writers, and having fun.
Networking
They say writing is a lonely profession but when you go to author fairs, you get to meet other authors. Some of my favorite author friends were made through author festivals. We exchange business cards, send support emails, and offer helpful advice to each other. Sometimes we go to lunch after the festival.
It’s also a great way to connect with bookstores. They need us as much as we need them. Being a gracious author at an author festival might get you an author book signing at a bookstore.
It’s also a great way to connect with bookstores. They need us as much as we need them. Being a gracious author at an author festival might get you an author book signing at a bookstore.
Grow your email list.
Another advantages of having an author table is growing your email list. More and more authors are discovering that they are able to reach more fans via email than relying on the algorithms of social media. Print out a sign-up sheet and attach it to a clipboard. When you’re talking to potential fans, get them to sign up. It helps if you have a blog or podcast but if you don’t, tell them it’s for updates of your events, speaking engagements, and book signings.
Often, people might not buy your book, but they will sign up to be on your email list.
Often, people might not buy your book, but they will sign up to be on your email list.
Connect with readers.
Since most of us are not J.K. Rowling or John Grisham, festivals are a great way to promote yourself and your books. I’ve been to festivals in my own city and people didn’t know I was an author.
“Yes, I am,” I reply. “Do you want to buy a book?” Okay, I don’t go that far, but back to the social media algorithm – you can’t expect your website to surface to the top when people “Google” your name. But your name will pop up in their email boxes.
If you have a new book coming out, this is also a terrific way to promote it. From your publisher preorder link, create a QR code. (Test it before going). Insert that along with an image of your book into a plastic sign holder. If you have a book trailer, bring a laptop (or iPad) and play it. If it’s on YouTube, put it on the loop feature so it replays. I don’t understand the psychology, but people seem genuinely excited when they see you have another book coming out.
“Yes, I am,” I reply. “Do you want to buy a book?” Okay, I don’t go that far, but back to the social media algorithm – you can’t expect your website to surface to the top when people “Google” your name. But your name will pop up in their email boxes.
If you have a new book coming out, this is also a terrific way to promote it. From your publisher preorder link, create a QR code. (Test it before going). Insert that along with an image of your book into a plastic sign holder. If you have a book trailer, bring a laptop (or iPad) and play it. If it’s on YouTube, put it on the loop feature so it replays. I don’t understand the psychology, but people seem genuinely excited when they see you have another book coming out.
Inspire new authors.
When you’re at author festivals, there are people who come out to learn about writing. They don’t want to buy your book; they want to pick your brain. The conversation might start like this, “How do you write a book?”
I usually ask, “Do you want to be an author?”
If they say yes, then I give them a few pointers and my business card. “Please email me so we can discuss this further.”
One woman wrote back who was trying to figure out the correct genre for a children’s book. I sent her an extensive email, which she said was very helpful. Taking time to inspire and encourage authors is a great way to pay-it-forward.
I usually ask, “Do you want to be an author?”
If they say yes, then I give them a few pointers and my business card. “Please email me so we can discuss this further.”
One woman wrote back who was trying to figure out the correct genre for a children’s book. I sent her an extensive email, which she said was very helpful. Taking time to inspire and encourage authors is a great way to pay-it-forward.
Enjoy yourself!
Finally, enjoy yourself. I’ve been to festivals where some authors are grimacing and hiding behind their tables as if they’re about to get dragged to a root canal. Relax. Smile. Pat yourself on the back, even if you didn’t sell any books. There’s a lot to celebrate. You stepped out of your comfort zone, you engaged and encouraged others, and you promoted yourself and your hard work.
 | Carol L. Paur is an Orange Blossom Publishing author with her YA Mystery, Early Summer out November 1, 2023. Check out her website at www.clpaurauthor.com |
Post by Arielle Haughee
Five Activities for Mastering
Multiple POVs
Point of view is one of the trickier story elements to master. It is the perspective through which a story, or portion of a story, is told. A narrative may have one POV or multiple, depending on the structure of the piece overall. When writing with multiple POVs, it is important each one has its own flavor, or essence, of the character’s view so that the reader can easily differentiate between them. Different perspectives should not read the same or it will be boring, or even worse, confusing for the reader.
So how can a writer create a distinctive voice for each character telling their part of the story? Here is a collection of exercises to get you focused on the different mindsets of your fictional personalities.
So how can a writer create a distinctive voice for each character telling their part of the story? Here is a collection of exercises to get you focused on the different mindsets of your fictional personalities.
1. Colored Glasses
This will likely be an exercise in your imagination. Pretend that you have a set of glasses with colored lenses, one pair for each of your characters. Bonus points if you actually have glasses to wear! If you have a pessimistic character, imagine you put on a pair of glasses with blue lenses. Look at the room around you. How would this character perceive the room? Someone walks in and talks to you. How would this character think and react? For an optimistic character, pretend you have yellow lenses on. Now how does the room look? How does this character perceive the same conversation? “Put on” your colored lenses for each character as you change POVs in your story.
2. Dressing Up
This can be as involved as you want! You can put on a full costume for each of your characters and sit down and write as that person. Or you could make things a bit simpler. If you have a type-A, more uptight character, you can button all the buttons up to your neck on your shirt or sweater. For a more sensual character, you could slip on some sassy heels and wear red lipstick. You get the idea. Wearing different outfits or accessories can help you get into the mindset of each persona.
3. Music Playlists
Open up your Spotify, Apple Music, or whatever other streaming service you have and get ready for some fun! Create a playlist folder for each character whose POV you use for your story. Fill the playlist with music that personifies the character. Perhaps some sweet love songs for the female lead who loves romance novels. Maybe you have another female who is a badass warrior. What music represents her? Turn on your character playlist when you are writing in that specific character’s POV.
4. Vision Boards
Pinterest is perfect for this. Create a pin board for each character. Pin images, videos, news stories...whatever seems to call out that character’s personality. Scroll through your board whenever you are about to write from the perspective of that character. Beware! This can be a lot of fun so don’t let it take up too much time. You need to get to that writing!
5. Sketching
Calling all artists! Do you like to sketch or doodle what your character looks like? Dedicate a few pages per character in your sketchbook. Spend some time drawing each of your POV characters. Before you are about to begin writing, draw one important item that belongs to the character. A weapon, a necklace, a journal...whatever is key to that character. What details about it really show who the character is? After you finish drawing that special item, hop onto your computer and start writing from their POV.
Whatever your personality, hopefully one of these activities calls out to you. Switching between POVs requires a shift in mindset and sometimes reacquainting yourself with that character’s perception. Hopefully with practice you can ease the transition and jump back and forth without issue. Happy writing!
| | Previously an elementary teacher, Arielle Haughee (Hoy) is a five-time RPLA-winning author and the owner of Orange Blossom Publishing. She is an editor, speaker, and coach. She is the author of The Complete Revision Workbook for Writers, the children’s books Grumbler, Joyride, Pling’s Party, and Sixth Sunday, the editor of the How I Met My Other anthology series, and the creator of the Focus Journal line of journals. She was also honored with the President’s Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She has a serious reading addiction, fantasy romance her absolute favorite, and loves nothing more than good conversation paired with a good wine. She is surrounded by males at home—a husband, two sons, and an energetic dog—and tries to integrate as much purple and flowers in the house as possible. |
Guest post by author Natalie Klein
How to Get Teens Excited
about Reading Books
Do you have a teenager that never seems to want to pick up a book, let alone read one?
In a world of Snapchat and TikTok, it can seem that books have become a distant memory, and screen time has replaced any chance of reading.
But believe it or not, teenagers can enjoy reading again, and it's just a matter of finding that cozy sweet spot.
We look at 3 tips on getting your teen off screens and hooked on reading.
In a world of Snapchat and TikTok, it can seem that books have become a distant memory, and screen time has replaced any chance of reading.
But believe it or not, teenagers can enjoy reading again, and it's just a matter of finding that cozy sweet spot.
We look at 3 tips on getting your teen off screens and hooked on reading.
1. Dig deep and find out what genres interest them
Not all teens are interested in the same things, so dig deep to discover what your teen is drawn to and start from there.
- For example, if they enjoy action movies, they may be more interested in reading an action-packed novel.
- Are they passionate about sports? Look for books about their favorite games or biographies of current players.
- If they're into history, find some historical fiction or non-fiction titles.
2. Let your teens choose their own books
Letting your teenager choose their own books to read will have them more likely to enjoy them. Being open-minded about their reading material will also give them freedom of choice.
- Introduce them to comics, graphic novels, magazines, novels, e-books and audiobooks to find a medium that suits them.
- Do they love a movie or series on a streaming service? Why not explore the book or comics if they have them available?
3. Expose your teenager to different places to buy books
As any book lover knows, there is no feeling quite like losing yourself in a good book. However, finding the right book can sometimes be challenging, especially for young people who are still exploring their interests. One way to help your teenager find the perfect book is to encourage them to explore various places such as:
- Comic book shops
- Bookstores
- Book exchanges
- Online retailers
- Library
4. Create an environment at home for reading
As a parent, you have the opportunity to set an excellent example for your children by modelling behavior that you would like them to adopt. If you want to encourage your children to read, make sure that reading is a part of your family's daily routine.
You can also create an inviting environment for reading by ensuring plenty of books are in your home and setting aside a special place for reading. By modelling positive reading behavior, you can help your children develop a lifelong love of books.
You can also create an inviting environment for reading by ensuring plenty of books are in your home and setting aside a special place for reading. By modelling positive reading behavior, you can help your children develop a lifelong love of books.
Developing a lifelong love of literature
As any parent knows, teenagers can be a tough audience when it comes to reading. They're often more interested in their phones and social media than they are in picking up a book. Encouraging your teenager to read can be challenging, but it's worth it. By exposing them to a variety of books in different places, you're giving them the opportunity to find new favorites and explore their interests.
If you make reading fun and exciting, they'll likely stick with it! There are plenty of great books out there for teenagers, so get started exploring and see what catches your teenager's eye. Reading is a lifelong habit that comes with many benefits, so help your teenager get started on the right foot today.
If you make reading fun and exciting, they'll likely stick with it! There are plenty of great books out there for teenagers, so get started exploring and see what catches your teenager's eye. Reading is a lifelong habit that comes with many benefits, so help your teenager get started on the right foot today.
 | Natalie Klein is an aspiring writer who loves writing for children of all ages and sparking their imagination. Natalie also works as a website copywriter, crafting clear, concise and persuasive copy for small businesses. When she’s not busy writing, she can usually be found listening to true crime podcasts, sewing and exploring all things related to the history of England. www.nataliekleincopywriter.com.au |
Guest post by author Tamatha Cain
A Small Querying Tip: The Human Touch
Being an author is hard.
The end. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. (I don’t know why I think it’s so hilarious when people say that…)
But seriously, what other career today demands that you be an expert in so many widely different fields? I can’t think of even one.
Back in the day, writers were writers. Perhaps they had to hold down another job to make ends meet, and of course that is still the case today, but never did they have to also become tech-savvy filmmakers who understand the vagaries of social media algorithms and the subtleties of SEO key word choices. When we’re not, you know, writing books, we’re supposed to create content and drive engagement and build platforms. (I love to imagine the Bronte sisters sitting around debating which hashtags would get the most eyes on their timelines and, thereafter, convert to book sales.)
Ha-ha-ha sigh…
There is a lot of hard work behind making a career as an author today, much of which we wouldn’t have conceived of only a decade ago. But of all the elements of modern author life, querying agents for representation may be the most highly questioned, fiercely debated, and terribly dreaded.
But seriously, what other career today demands that you be an expert in so many widely different fields? I can’t think of even one.
Back in the day, writers were writers. Perhaps they had to hold down another job to make ends meet, and of course that is still the case today, but never did they have to also become tech-savvy filmmakers who understand the vagaries of social media algorithms and the subtleties of SEO key word choices. When we’re not, you know, writing books, we’re supposed to create content and drive engagement and build platforms. (I love to imagine the Bronte sisters sitting around debating which hashtags would get the most eyes on their timelines and, thereafter, convert to book sales.)
Ha-ha-ha sigh…
There is a lot of hard work behind making a career as an author today, much of which we wouldn’t have conceived of only a decade ago. But of all the elements of modern author life, querying agents for representation may be the most highly questioned, fiercely debated, and terribly dreaded.
Querying Should Not Be This Hard
Authors provide the material needed to keep the publishing world running. We make its existence possible. And yet we are often overwhelmed with the feeling that if we make one small misstep in the creation of our precious, delicate query, well then, how could we possibly expect any self-respecting literary agent to wish to work with us?
The truth is, there is no magic formula to the perfect query letter. It’s wonderful that so many experts offer their advice, and you can certainly learn a great deal and find direction on where to start by reading or watching this content. However, if you feel you must pay big bucks to attend multiple lectures on how to catch an agent’s attention with the perfect query letter, then I feel I must strongly encourage you to reconsider.
Now, if you simply enjoy this type of thing, then go for it. Taking a class or two might give you the confidence you need to finally just write the dang thing. But please don’t forget that you are a writer. You have written a whole book. If you can write a book that should be published, you absolutely can write the letter that represents your work to those with the power to help it get there.
The truth is, there is no magic formula to the perfect query letter. It’s wonderful that so many experts offer their advice, and you can certainly learn a great deal and find direction on where to start by reading or watching this content. However, if you feel you must pay big bucks to attend multiple lectures on how to catch an agent’s attention with the perfect query letter, then I feel I must strongly encourage you to reconsider.
Now, if you simply enjoy this type of thing, then go for it. Taking a class or two might give you the confidence you need to finally just write the dang thing. But please don’t forget that you are a writer. You have written a whole book. If you can write a book that should be published, you absolutely can write the letter that represents your work to those with the power to help it get there.
Talk to Yourself
We do that all day long anyway, right? I’d hate for anyone to how I work, mumbling to myself as I pound away at the keyboard, writing and rewriting, rearranging the words until they say just what I want them to say. But this method works for me because it lets me hear what others will hear and then see what they will see on the page. I recommend doing the same when it comes to writing your query letter.
We’ve all heard the basic rules:
We’ve all heard the basic rules:
- Include the genre and word count in the first paragraph.
- Include amazing and appropriate comp titles.
- Write like it’s the back cover copy.
- Keep it short, but also include enough detail to intrigue the agent, but also not too much detail…
Making a Connection with the Agent
This means determining what it was about that agent that truly drew you to query them and letting them know what that thing is. They know you’re probably also querying other agents. But why did you select them for your query list? Do you truly admire other writers they rep? Did you look at their wish list and see your book perfectly described there? Do you both have rescue dogs you love like family? Sometimes the reason you choose to query an agent does come down to something like that, something more than the number of books they have on a best seller list. Find something genuine and true, and let them know that in your opening paragraph. Do it in a few words, not a few sentences, and let them get a clear picture of what working with you would be like.
You Will Still Probably Be Rejected
Even after doing this, the fact is that most queries do lead to rejections. The way the industry currently works, with agents acting as gatekeepers to the publishing houses, means these agents are inundated daily by hopeful authors seeking their expertise. Gone are the days of printing out a manuscript and mailing it off, then waiting in hope it would be pulled from an editor’s slush pile. Things are different now. Not necessarily better, but different. And it’s changing still. The one thing that remains constant is the importance of human connection. Without it, nothing in the systems we create works properly.
We will all be rejected a lot before we find our best agent. My hope for us all is that we can make connections along the way that help our industry to stay human. That personal touch is my way of staying human in this crazy industry.
What is yours?
We will all be rejected a lot before we find our best agent. My hope for us all is that we can make connections along the way that help our industry to stay human. That personal touch is my way of staying human in this crazy industry.
What is yours?
 | Tamatha Cain is a novelist about to reenter the querying trenches, and she wrote this as much for herself as for her fellow writers. Her queries have a full-request rate of over 70%. She was previously repped by Mark Gottlieb of Trident Literary. Happily, two of her queries caught the highly-trained eye of Arielle Haughee’s here at Orange Blossom Publishing, leading to the acquisition of her novels Song of the Chimney Sweep (August 2022) and Only Oona (January 2023). |
Guest post by Nylda Dieppa
On Learning to Write Poetry
“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”
– Gospel of Thomas, verse 70
It’s happened so often that I’ve felt that I would die if I didn’t write, that it has become a habit of mine to (forgive my crassness) vomit onto the page all the noxious substances that are eating me up as well as all the exhilarating feelings that would intoxicate me. Too often in the last six or seven years I had no physical or mental energy to write. I had all kinds of rare and undiagnosable symptoms that robbed me of the ability to do much more than survive. I did the best I could to mask my suffering and be cheerful and I managed to stay alive with the help of my little dog, my children and grandchildren, and a couple of loving and supportive healthcare professionals. Now that I feel better, I write as if my life depended on it, because it does.
This is what it looks like on the page:
This is what it looks like on the page:
Love Poem
Write me a love poem, you say.
A love poem?
Is there any other kind?
There must be love somewhere
In order to write a poem
Full of emotion and insight.
To touch someone’s soul
With words that are full of anguish
Or pleasure, pride, or joy.
Why would I put two words together
If I had nothing to say
About my soul or yours or ours?
Why would you linger on them,
Tasting the terror, watching the wind,
Hearing the hope, memorizing the music
If there was no love in them
To touch your heart
With my soul’s blood?
A love poem?
Is there any other kind?
There must be love somewhere
In order to write a poem
Full of emotion and insight.
To touch someone’s soul
With words that are full of anguish
Or pleasure, pride, or joy.
Why would I put two words together
If I had nothing to say
About my soul or yours or ours?
Why would you linger on them,
Tasting the terror, watching the wind,
Hearing the hope, memorizing the music
If there was no love in them
To touch your heart
With my soul’s blood?
I don’t think I can tell anyone how to write poetry. I can’t tell a sonnet from a haiku (I exaggerate, but it’s almost that bad) but I can hear the music when simple words are placed just so. I can see incredible vistas when metaphors and similes show up dressed in rough natural fibers or sweetly naked. I can smell the aromas of heart-felt emotions at the birth of a baby, a beloved husband’s betrayal, or my brother’s murder. I can feel the tingling of my skin when a handsome stranger looks kindly and deeply into my aging eyes, and I can taste the bitter tears of my sexually abused child.
All of life is poetry to me!
How did I learn that? Aside from advanced literature courses in high school and college, both in English and Spanish, and a few years of French classes, I’ve never taken formal academic writing courses. I have pursued writing workshops in all kinds of settings. I was part of a writers group that pushed me to grow in my craft as well as defend my right to honor my Puerto Rican heritage through my stories and lavish use of exclamation points. But most of all, the best and biggest influence on my writing has been my voracious appetite for reading since I was three years old. Not to mention six and a half decades of telling the paper, napkin, or computer the deep thoughts and feelings I was terrified to share with the world.
After a lifetime of burying my feelings to protect those of people around me, I recognize that life without honest, soul-searching, heart-wrenching poetry is not worth the price of mere existence. All I know is that if you have the sensibility to appreciate a well-crafted sentence and the courage to confront your demons, you can write poetry that will touch people’s hearts.
After a lifetime of burying my feelings to protect those of people around me, I recognize that life without honest, soul-searching, heart-wrenching poetry is not worth the price of mere existence. All I know is that if you have the sensibility to appreciate a well-crafted sentence and the courage to confront your demons, you can write poetry that will touch people’s hearts.
 | Nylda Dieppa is a speaker, author, facilitator, translator, and LBGTQ+ supporter and ally enjoying life in Orlando, Florida. She has a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans as well as a degree in Fashion Design and postgraduate work towards a PhD in Intercultural Theology. A dedicated homemaker for thirty-eight years, Nylda has five children and six grandchildren. She is also the author of Alborada: A Poetic Memoir Across Cultures, an autobiographical collection of narrative and lyrical poems crafted throughout her life. You may contact Nylda or her cute mini goldendoodle, Nela, at nyldad@gmail.com, and listen to her Story Corps interview here. Or learn more at nyldadieppa.com and sign up for her newsletter, Word Sketeches, here. |
by Arielle Haughee
When am I a “writer”? An “author”?
Many folks earlier in their writing journeys wonder when they can start using certain titles including “writer” and “author.” They wonder if there are specific achievements to be earned or rites of passage to be done before they can label themselves as such, perhaps even use the phrase “aspiring writer” to not jump into using a label too soon. But calling oneself a writer or author feels so official, like you’ve finally made it to your destination. It also sends a message to the community that you are serious about this. So, when can a person officially use the titles?
The good news is there are no hard and fast rules, no matter what anyone tells you. However, if you’d like some guidelines for yourself, I made some easy ones below.
The good news is there are no hard and fast rules, no matter what anyone tells you. However, if you’d like some guidelines for yourself, I made some easy ones below.
When am I a “writer”?
It can be intimidating to see the word writer under a well-known newspaper reporter’s name, someone who gets paid to write. Heck, J.K. Rowling has it listed as part of her Twitter bio. But the intimidation is just fear that we don’t belong with them, in THAT group of people. A writer is anyone who writes with a purpose, who writes to entertain, inform, or share an opinion, anyone who gets joy from writing, anyone who…writes! There is no need to add the word “aspiring,” especially if you are already doing it. You are the one who determines when you are a writer, no one else. So make sure the word WRITER is loud and clear in your Twitter bio.
For some fun, you can check out “15 Obvious Signs You Are A Writer” over at Life Hack.
For some fun, you can check out “15 Obvious Signs You Are A Writer” over at Life Hack.
When am I an “author”?
The word author definitely has some weight to it. Who am I? I am an AUTHOR. There is some debate about when this title comes into play. Some will say that a person has to have something published to officially become an author. But by this definition, someone who writes fifty books, but never has any published is not an author. On the flip side, someone can have one 500-word piece of flash fiction published and be considered an author using these terms. Something seems a bit off here, so I am going to present a new definition for “author” based off my own experience and my years in the writing and publishing industry.
I started my writing career entering contests and having short stories published. What fun! I loved nothing more than scouring the web for legitimate contests to enter and anthologies to try and get into. My goal was to have a good time and get some of my work out there. At this point, I considered myself a writer. Then something happened, I started selling the books I had stories in and had a complete change in mindset. I could make money doing this. I wrote more short stories, sold more anthologies, then eventually moved on to books. Writing changed from a hobby to a business.
I started my writing career entering contests and having short stories published. What fun! I loved nothing more than scouring the web for legitimate contests to enter and anthologies to try and get into. My goal was to have a good time and get some of my work out there. At this point, I considered myself a writer. Then something happened, I started selling the books I had stories in and had a complete change in mindset. I could make money doing this. I wrote more short stories, sold more anthologies, then eventually moved on to books. Writing changed from a hobby to a business.
An author is someone who writes and has a business mindset, no matter how they publish or if they are published yet.
That guy who wrote fifty books and has been querying them for the last ten years? Author. But if he just wrote them for himself and had no intention of publishing them, then no. The person who had one piece of flash fiction published? I would ask if they were selling copies of where their work appeared or are getting royalties from it. So possibly. Does a self-published novelist count as an author? Definitely. (Don’t even get me started on that debate.)
Once a writer moves into the business end of things, they become an author. One isn’t better than the other, they just have different focuses.
Some “business things” that authors deal with:
So, think about your mindset and how you view your writing and decide for yourself.
Are you a writer? An author? Both?
Once a writer moves into the business end of things, they become an author. One isn’t better than the other, they just have different focuses.
Some “business things” that authors deal with:
- quarterly payments/royalties
- contracts
- taxes from book sales
- forming an LLC
- business expenses
- planning marketing strategies
- focusing on the long term/career-focused
So, think about your mindset and how you view your writing and decide for yourself.
Are you a writer? An author? Both?
| | Previously an elementary teacher, Arielle Haughee (Hoy) is a five-time RPLA-winning author and the owner of Orange Blossom Publishing. She is an editor, speaker, and coach. She is the author of The Complete Revision Workbook for Writers, the children’s books Grumbler, Joyride, Pling’s Party, and Sixth Sunday, the editor of the How I Met My Other anthology series, and the creator of the Focus Journal line of journals. She was also honored with the President’s Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She has a serious reading addiction, fantasy romance her absolute favorite, and loves nothing more than good conversation paired with a good wine. She is surrounded by males at home—a husband, two sons, and an energetic dog—and tries to integrate as much purple and flowers in the house as possible. |
Author
Arielle Haughee is the owner and founder of Orange Blossom Publishing.
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