Open Mic Wednesday 2/24/10
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
It’s Open Mic Wednesday. What do you want to talk about today?
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Books by Kaye Dacus
Novel in Progress
Follow the Heart*
Book 1 of The Great Exhibition Series
Due May 1, 2012
first draft completion goal date: 01/31/12
*working title
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Middle Tennessee Christian Writers
Is it REALLY worth it for a newbie writer to join ACFW? If so…why?
I think it depends—for those who don’t have access to a local writing group or any other kind of online writing group, I think joining ACFW is great for newbie writers. It’s a great place to connect with other writers and start/continue learning the craft.
As writers start figuring out what genre they write (or want to write), ACFW can be very helpful in connecting newer writers with more established writers who know more about what publishers are looking for and can help the newer writer with style and tone and voice and craft.
To join just because everyone says you “should” . . . waste of money.
Until you’re ready to start entering the Genesis contest and attending the annual conference, it might not be worthwhile for you personally, Jason.
I plan to attend the ACFW conference this year – I can only attend one, and even though ACFW and RWA are BOTH as close, geographically, as they’ll ever get, I figure I’ll know more people at ACFW. I have a finished manuscript, and outlines for 2 more in the series. Is it unrealistic to try to see an agent or publisher on my first trip out? Honestly, the thought scares me to death, but I don’t want to waste an opportunity.
As long as the finances work out this year (and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure they work out), I’m going to be at both RWA (already paid for) and ACFW this year—can’t wait to meet you face to face!
And Barbour told me this week they’re sending me to ICRS again this year, so I’ll be there, too.
Now, to answer your question . . . I fully believe that writers should have several completed manuscripts under their belt before they start pitching to editors or agents. They don’t have to be publish-worthy manuscripts, but when the ed/agent asks you how many manuscripts you’ve completed and you only have one that’s ever been finished, they’re more likely than not to turn you away. They want to know that you can complete more than one manuscript.
That’s not to say that you have to write all the books in the series before pitching. With my first two sold series, I’d completed the first books but wrote the remaining books after signing the contracts.
Ask yourself this: Are you ready to write on a deadline? Are you ready to have an editor tell you that book 2 has to be turned in (polished, edited, revised, etc.) four months from now? And book 3 four months after that?
No, first-time authors don’t usually have to turn manuscripts around quite that quickly, but that’s something you have to be mentally prepared for BEFORE you start pitching your work to editors/agents.
Then ask yourself this: Are you ready for rejections? Are you ready to receive letters or e-mails that say your writing isn’t up to snuff—that you need to learn the craft (I was told that in my one-and-only rejection letter, the one I received the week before I got the request for the full from my current agent); that your story isn’t unique or doesn’t fit the needs of that particular agent’s or editor’s wishlist; that your writing is okay but you need to go back to the drawing board when it comes to your characters or your dialogue or your plot or your storytelling?
If you’ve answered yes to all of those questions, then, yes, I’d say it would be a good idea to request editor and agent appointments at the conference.
I am wondering if you saw the Young Victoria movie? I first heard about it on your blog and later saw the previews for it. I love a good period piece so I had to see it. I liked it, didn’t love it. Emily Blunt was great and so was her husband. The locations and sets were also wonderful to look at. I never got totally lost and invovled in the story, but it was a good escape for a few hours. I also saw Bright Star and again liked it, but didn’t love it.
I did see The Young Victoria. I found it entertaining, if a little light on the actual history. For a much more in-depth (yet still entertaining) dramatized version of the story, I like A&E’s Victoria & Albert starring Victoria Hamilton and Jonathan Firth.
I haven’t gotten to see Bright Star yet. It’s on my Netflix list.
I actually really enjoyed Bright Star. I could see why some might think it was less than thrilling, but if you’re ready for a nice slowly unfolding love story, it works wonderfully.
When entering writing contests such as Genesis and others and they ask for first 15 or 20 pages or 1 -3 chapters, etc. Should you have the whole manuscript completed. Obviously it would be best, but is it necessary? Any other contest advice?
My thought is that yes, it’s helpful to have the whole manuscript finished, because the majority of authors, even those who write by a strict outline, discover that by the time we get to the end of the manuscript, there are LOTS of changes we want to make to the beginning of the story—to strengthen the characters, to eliminate backstory that’s revealed at a more important point later in the book, etc.
You don’t have to, but I find that first chapters of completed manuscripts are much stronger than first chapters that are just first chapters with no completed story behind them.
For other contest advice, go to the Writing Series Index page and scroll down to Entering Writing Contests.
Kaye – Speaking of contests what’ s up with those synopses? UGH! Any tips? Also, what’s the difference between a synopsis and a one sheet?
Jason – in my experience ACFW has been invaluable for the ongoing writers courses as well as an archive with tons of previous courses and advice. That’s my favorite part though there are many other benefits.
I just joined in January.
Tips on writing synopses:
http://kayedacus.com/2007/08/21/beyond-the-first-draft-the-dreaded-synopsis/
Tips on Pitch Sheets/One Sheets:
http://kayedacus.com/2007/08/28/beyond-the-first-draft%E2%80%94the-pitch-sheet-and-one-sheet/
The synopsis is your verbal story summary. It tells the entire plot of the story (he and she meet, he does this, she does that, he and she fall in love, he says this, she says that, he and she argue and break up seemingly forever, he does this, she says such-and-such, they kiss and he proposes, the end).
The one-sheet is your advertisement, your marketing flyer about your book. It has hook-lines and will they/won’t they kinds of blurbs that (hopefully) leave the recipient of it wanting to know more about the story.
There are samples of each linked on those posts.
Your synopsis (above) made me giggle! Thanks! I spent hours on your Writing Series Index page and didn’t get to those. You know where you can find me.
Do you have a hard time switching between historical and contemporary? I’ve found it a little difficult to get back in the swing with one after doing one for a while, especially as the tone and even writing style is totally different in the contemporary than the historical.
And for everyone out there…am I the only one who felt that Jonny Lee Miller, while nice, was not ” *the* Mr. Knightley”? I thought he looked too young, and Mr. Knightley and Emma’s relationship was not quite the same as the other versions.