Nathan Bransford - The Forums

post by polymath » 17 Jul 2010, 08:09 Paradox: the reward is the goal, the journey is the reward; the latter the real inherent value of a poet's progress. And, yes, a poet seeks to provide for public sensibilities and from succeeding provides for private sensibilities. If a poet seeks solely satisf...

As both a teacher and student of creative writing, I think about this a LOT. I've been in fiction workshops where the atmosphere was absolutely stifling, because not only were we judged on the quality of our own writing, but the quality of what we SAID about writing by others. And everyone had to ha...

I've tried searching the forum for this, so forgive me if you've answered it elsewhere and I've missed it. How do I write a query for a literary novel? I love, love, love your query format suggestions, but I'm still trying to figure out how to fit what I've done into them. I have some ideas, but wou...

I agree with this, Beacon. I love Laurie Halse Anderson, and would definitely put both Speak and Wintergirls (and even her novel Catalyst) in the literary YA category. I think complexity is the key distinction, and also possibly the lyricism or poetic nature of the voice. Not all literary novels (YA...

Oh, and I don't know your genre AT ALL, but is 125k the norm for a YA fantasy? Just checking.

Don't headslap, Christi! The query letter is getting better and better, because you're taking the time to do this! We all get blind about our own work! As for the query itself, you've already revised it so much that I don't have too much more to add, but I will say this. Check for passive voice. I t...

Actually, you have research to back you up on the red pen thing--it's why college teachers are now told NOT to use them! I really like these points, and can relate, especially to the point about chocolate, even if you were kidding! When I was finishing the first draft of my novel, I got into this we...