Search found 82 matches

by LizV
July 21st, 2015, 2:35 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: How's this query grab ya? NOBODY'S FOOL
Replies: 2
Views: 5752

Re: How's this query grab ya? NOBODY'S FOOL

I realize this has been sitting here a while, but since there's no responses, I'll give you mine. Absolutely, the long one is better. It introduces two interesting characters, makes clear what's at stake for both of them, and shows how Fred gets himself into trouble, and then more trouble. It also h...
by LizV
July 21st, 2015, 2:18 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Does this Blurb Make You Want to Read the Novel?
Replies: 4
Views: 6447

Re: Does this Blurb Make You Want to Read the Novel?

I'd probably give it a look, but mostly because that time period is a hobby-interest of mine. This particular story isn't pushing my buttons as hard as it could. The sentence fragment at the beginning threw me off. Good concept, but I kept looking for the rest of the sentence that that was the openi...
by LizV
July 21st, 2015, 2:07 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query Blurb: Which is better?
Replies: 6
Views: 7937

Re: Query Blurb: Which is better?

Definitely #2. 1 & 3 both come across as a bit vague; #2 is more clear about what's going on and what's at stake. Also, #2 has intriguing details like the haunted violin.
by LizV
August 29th, 2014, 3:26 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: So I noticed this agency wants query and a synopsis...
Replies: 1
Views: 13691

Re: So I noticed this agency wants query and a synopsis...

That's pretty much how I do it, abc. I usually put some kind of separator marks between items, such as "~ ~ ~ ~ ~", but that's just me.

We all hear you on the synopsis; it is the most sucktastic part of the whole process, IMNSHO. Gotta do it anyway.
by LizV
February 7th, 2014, 3:54 pm
Forum: Town Hall
Topic: The Introduction Thread
Replies: 646
Views: 403201

Re: The Introduction Thread

lfizz: Query letters are indeed the worst -- at least, until you get to the synopsis. :cry: Hang in there!
by LizV
February 7th, 2014, 3:51 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: 3 Punctuation Marks to Incorporate Into Your Writing Today
Replies: 2
Views: 5182

Re: 3 Punctuation Marks to Incorporate Into Your Writing Today

"The semicolon isn't exactly obscure, but how often do you actually use it in everyday writing?" Um, all the freaking time? If I get through this comment without one, it'll be a miracle. The article is worth reading just for the link to The Oatmeal; I may have to get the semicolon poster. ...
by LizV
February 7th, 2014, 3:42 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Kinda Stuck
Replies: 3
Views: 3410

Re: Kinda Stuck

How relevant is the characters' involvement in all that big-picture stuff to the main thrust of your plot? If, for example, the MC's involvement in the gubernatorial succession is going to have a significant impact on how he deals with the novel's main climax/resolution, then I'd say go with the det...
by LizV
February 7th, 2014, 3:17 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Titling Tips
Replies: 8
Views: 7283

Re: Titling Tips

Kaitlyn, I agree that theme is generally the way to go -- but then there's the issue of expressing that theme in a catchy way, and then I'm back to the song lyrics again....
by LizV
February 7th, 2014, 3:14 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Titling Tips
Replies: 8
Views: 7283

Re: Titling Tips

I've run across that post before, and it does indeed have some great tips. (Except that I think The Con of War is a way better title than any of his finalists -- always distracts me from his methodology!)
by LizV
January 13th, 2014, 9:52 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Titling Tips
Replies: 8
Views: 7283

Titling Tips

I find myself with not one, but three stories in need of titles. My favorite way of doing titles, as the Writing Excuses folks say, is when they just come to me on their own. But then there's the rest of the time.... If a story deals with a particular field that has its own lingo, I'll sometimes bro...
by LizV
January 2nd, 2014, 9:48 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Plans for 2014?
Replies: 2
Views: 3425

Plans for 2014?

Wow, it's quiet around here. I don't do New Year's Resolutions, but I find goal-setting useful. For me, 2014's big goal is to finish the current WIP. This one's had a lot of roadblocks (including having my original plot yanked out from under me by real-world events!), but I think I've finally got it...
by LizV
December 17th, 2013, 3:17 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Writer Jokes
Replies: 2
Views: 3566

Writer Jokes

Heard this one at a recent convention:

Joss Whedon, Steven Moffat, and George R.R. Martin walk into a bar, and everyone you know and love dies.


Anybody else got any good ones?
by LizV
November 25th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Forum: Town Hall
Topic: Ugh spam
Replies: 8
Views: 12632

Re: Ugh spam

Three cheers to our host for the industrial-grade clean-up! Man, that was a lot of garbage.
by LizV
November 6th, 2013, 12:44 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: The personalized touch in queries
Replies: 8
Views: 20127

Re: The personalized touch in queries

Appropos to the topic: http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/201 ... ation.html

That isn't why JR was one of the first agents I queried... but it sure didn't hurt any!
by LizV
October 26th, 2013, 1:58 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Is it worth applying to an agent overseas?
Replies: 4
Views: 16043

Re: Is it worth applying to an agent overseas?

I've been considering doing the opposite -- I'm in the US, and there are some UK agents that look promising. I have heard of a few authors with cross-pond agents, so obviously it's possible. The biggest obstacle seems to be figuring out the different querying system! I can't imagine an agent would t...