Search found 19 matches

by Daryl_Blonder
October 24th, 2012, 12:06 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Agents and self-published books
Replies: 1
Views: 15278

Agents and self-published books

OK, I know this topic has been dealt with on here before, but I have my own set of circumstances, so I wanted to start my own thread... I came very close to landing an agent for my memoir of life with autism, but didn't. I self-published it on Amazon in September of 2011. I designed the cover and ba...
by Daryl_Blonder
August 15th, 2010, 1:36 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Agent wants to see "marketing list"- what does this mean?
Replies: 9
Views: 3492

Re: Agent wants to see "marketing list"- what does this mean?

It's a memoir, which seems to have characteristics of both fiction and non-fiction when it comes to trying to sell one... I'm going to put together a list of demographics that would be most interested in this project and send it along with the other attachments, and mention that if additional materi...
by Daryl_Blonder
August 13th, 2010, 9:17 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Agent wants to see "marketing list"- what does this mean?
Replies: 9
Views: 3492

Agent wants to see "marketing list"- what does this mean?

An agent (more accurately his assistant) contacted me requesting a sample, and also a "marketing list." Can anyone tell me what this is? I did not hear of it when researching the query process.
by Daryl_Blonder
June 23rd, 2010, 11:04 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: 3 requests for manuscript! So nervous...
Replies: 5
Views: 2596

Re: 3 requests for manuscript! So nervous...

Krista, the graphs on your blog page are quite interesting! :) I try to keep my chin up with the form rejections. I would imagine that even if you've written the next Don Quixote you're still going to get lots and lots of them. I sent out about 25 and had four requests for more material (another one...
by Daryl_Blonder
June 23rd, 2010, 2:22 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: 3 requests for manuscript! So nervous...
Replies: 5
Views: 2596

3 requests for manuscript! So nervous...

I thought the day would never come but it has-- successful queries! I sent out about two dozen a couple weeks ago and received three requests over email. Two agencies wanted to see the whole manuscript, another just the first three chapters. (And of course many, many rejections.) But perhaps I put s...
by Daryl_Blonder
June 8th, 2010, 5:29 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)
Replies: 12
Views: 5545

Re: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)

Well, I've spent days and days researching all the agents in the Writer's Digest that would be interested in this project, and I've customized my revised query for each and every one. I've got 75 different letters/emails, and plot outlines and excerpts, going out this week. Wish me luck fellow words...
by Daryl_Blonder
June 6th, 2010, 9:54 am
Forum: Books
Topic: Bestsellers that don't live up to the hype
Replies: 29
Views: 11474

"The Shining"

"The Shining" by Steven King in that the 1980 Kubrick film was far more chilling and disturbing. Ironically King himself didn't like the film and produced a 1997 television miniseries that was subpar. This is one of the few instances where I believe a film adaptation to be better than the ...
by Daryl_Blonder
June 1st, 2010, 5:45 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)
Replies: 12
Views: 5545

Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Revision

Thank you Quill, I have modified per your suggestions. The large paragraph was broken up and some detail added; the rest is the same. I think both the revised query and this (hopefully final) version are effective, but of course I'm not a great judge of this, I'm quite the newbie... Will probably se...
by Daryl_Blonder
June 1st, 2010, 5:02 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: Facebook vs. Twitter
Replies: 23
Views: 9742

Re: Facebook vs. Twitter

I would never have any interest in Twitter... not in a million years. Limiting the user to 120 words to express himself? No blogs? Not my thing at all. From time to time I do write blogs and even "essays" on Facebook but no one seems to take much interest in them :( They''d rather talk abo...
by Daryl_Blonder
May 30th, 2010, 7:23 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)
Replies: 12
Views: 5545

REVISED Query for "Problem Child"

So here is my new query letter... I was surprised by how much I changed, but I think it's way better. **************************************************************************************************************************************** Dear Agent: I have completed a full-length memoir recollectin...
by Daryl_Blonder
May 30th, 2010, 7:10 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?
Replies: 52
Views: 18388

Re: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?

I think a sign of weak writing is any use of the second person, except if the book is specifically written in it (very rare). It just looks very unsophisticated. For example, in my piece, (see the bold), I changed the passage, "Harold Warp's Pioneer Village contains collections of all sorts of ...
by Daryl_Blonder
May 28th, 2010, 3:19 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)
Replies: 12
Views: 5545

Re: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie"

Thank you, all, for your feedback, it's much appreciated. I'm going to make some major modifications. I'm going to more or less completely remove the third paragraph. My story very much has an intro, beginning, middle, and end (denouement, more accurately), so I will focus more on that. The general ...
by Daryl_Blonder
May 26th, 2010, 10:24 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)
Replies: 12
Views: 5545

Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)

New version is post #11 This is the query for my project. So far as I can see, this letter follows all the guidelines for queries, and it's been very disheartening to have been unable to kindle any interest in this project. I sent out two dozen queries in early April and am going to do another roun...
by Daryl_Blonder
May 25th, 2010, 11:39 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Words I Can't Stop Using
Replies: 30
Views: 12439

Re: Words I Can't Stop Using

While I'm editing my piece (which is always a work in progress), I find myself seeing how many unnecessary words I can cut out. Like many writers I find myself overusing simple words like "that", "which", and "therefore". For example, in the sentence I just wrote, the &...
by Daryl_Blonder
May 24th, 2010, 7:15 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: Funniest book you've read?
Replies: 36
Views: 18312

Re: Funniest book you've read?

"Baghdad Without a Map" by Tony Horwitz. It's the story of a journalist's misadventures in the Middle East right before the First Gulf War. Funny, enlightening, and a real insight into Middle Eastern life in modern times.