Search found 30 matches

by ajcattapan
January 8th, 2012, 11:39 am
Forum: Connect With a Critique Partner
Topic: Critiques for Opening Pages of YA Supernatural
Replies: 0
Views: 1501

Critiques for Opening Pages of YA Supernatural

I'm working on polishing the opening of my YA Supernatural for a contest, and I'm hoping to find a few people to critique the first 13 pages. I'd be willing to read pages from your manuscript in return. Fair warning--this is for a Christian fiction contest, in case that kind of literature doesn't in...
by ajcattapan
February 5th, 2011, 10:33 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: One Line Pitch
Replies: 55
Views: 23262

Re: One Line Pitch

I just wanted to drop by and thank all of you who helped me refine my pitch. I pitched to four people (3 agents and 1 publisher) at a conference this afternoon, and all four requested fulls! :) Now I'd love to be able to tell you which version I used, but I was so nervous, I don't really remember. I...
by ajcattapan
February 3rd, 2011, 11:55 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Writer Conferences
Replies: 49
Views: 15736

Re: Writer Conferences

If anyone is still looking or a great conference in the Midwest, I'd recommend the Midwest Writers Workshop at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. I went last summer and had a great time. Everyone there (organizers, editors, authors, agents, and my fellow attendees) were really friendly and ap...
by ajcattapan
February 3rd, 2011, 11:39 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: One Line Pitch
Replies: 55
Views: 23262

Re: One Line Pitch

Thanks to J.T. Shea, polymath, and Down the Well for their feedback. I guess I have several more options now. :) It's a "pitch-a-palooza" event I'm attending on Saturday, so I should have the opportunity to pitch several times. Maybe I'll try out each option at least once, and see which ge...
by ajcattapan
February 2nd, 2011, 8:27 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: One Line Pitch
Replies: 55
Views: 23262

Re: One Line Pitch

I've worked up two versions of my pitch. If anyone wants to say which they think is better, I'd appreciate any feedback. I'm pitching at a conference this weekend. Here are my two options: Option A: When Cozy finds her recent blind date murdered, she’ll have to convince the cops she didn’t do it, ev...
by ajcattapan
January 25th, 2011, 8:09 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Professional Manuscript Critiques and Page Spacing
Replies: 35
Views: 10212

Re: Professional Manuscript Critiques and Page Spacing

Am I right in feeling like I got ripped off? Ripped-off, hoodwinked, bamboozled, swindled, taken, duped, cheated and robbed. I'm attending just one of the three days of this conference next week. I hope the conference itself is better than this critique. Try to get your money back. Spend it on some...
by ajcattapan
January 25th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Professional Manuscript Critiques and Page Spacing
Replies: 35
Views: 10212

Re: Professional Manuscript Critiques and Page Spacing

Wow! I had no idea when I posted this thread what kind of response I would get. Thanks to everyone who's commented. I thought I'd elaborate a bit more based on the responses. First, my "errors" in the text were not grammar errors (not spelling, not punctuation, not capitalization); they we...
by ajcattapan
January 24th, 2011, 6:27 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Professional Manuscript Critiques and Page Spacing
Replies: 35
Views: 10212

Professional Manuscript Critiques and Page Spacing

I'm wondering what experiences other people have had with professional manuscript critiques. The first one I had was very helpful--lots of positive feedback, but also some great suggestions for how to improve my opening pages. I just received my second professional manuscript critique (for a differe...
by ajcattapan
January 22nd, 2011, 2:48 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query: The Guardian's Code
Replies: 14
Views: 5230

Re: Query: The Guardian's Code

I think this is really good. You've kept the number of characters low, and the plot line is easy to follow. I have only a couple minor suggestions. Fifteen-year old Griffin Tutela doesn’t believe the stories his grandma tells him about the forest behind her house. He rolls his eyes when she says hi...
by ajcattapan
January 21st, 2011, 7:36 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query up for critique
Replies: 4
Views: 2128

Re: Query up for critique

I've loved stories with multiple dimensions ever since I read A Wrinkle in Time as a kid. Unfortunately, your query has me a little lost. I'll highlight a few parts where some clarification might help. Here is the body only of my work in progress. I welcome any and all feedback. A boy Who? pulls Sy...
by ajcattapan
January 21st, 2011, 7:16 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: NIGHTFRAME: IN THE RED OF THE KNIGHT Query II
Replies: 17
Views: 6610

Re: NIGHTFRAME: IN THE RED OF THE KNIGHT Query II

Mary-Catharine, Ask and you shall receive. :) Since you emailed asking for my opinion, I thought I'd take a stab at revising your query. Here's how I think I'd write it if I were you: Dear Agent: Teenage misfit Tabitha Colquitt is having a difficult time changing into a werewolf. When sadistic werew...
by ajcattapan
January 19th, 2011, 7:41 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: NIGHTFRAME: IN THE RED OF THE KNIGHT Query
Replies: 9
Views: 3423

Re: NIGHTFRAME: IN THE RED OF THE KNIGHT Query

Mary-Catherine, I love the style you are going for here, but I'm wondering if you're answering the basic questions that a query should answer. I've read these questions (or variations of them) on several blogs (the Query Shark may be one of them). I've tried applying these four questions to your que...
by ajcattapan
January 16th, 2011, 4:25 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query: Jade's Hurricane back from rejection
Replies: 12
Views: 4703

Re: Query: Jade's Hurricane back from rejection

I agree with the previous reviewer. It sounds like you've got a cool idea for a book here, but the query seems a bit lacking in clarity and detail. I'll see if I can give you any useful suggestions for where to clarify. Query: Dear Ms. Agent, Jade should be able to control her wind - taming powers,...
by ajcattapan
January 14th, 2011, 6:56 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: REVISED Query: COZY'S CURSE (mystery)
Replies: 14
Views: 4898

Re: REVISED Query: COZY'S CURSE (mystery)

As Nathan would say, "Can I get a ruling?" Is Cozy McGillicuddy too pat a name for a character in a cozy mystery? A couple people on this forum have thought so. Just wondering if any others out there, especially if you read cozies, feel the same way. I read a lot of cozies, and there are n...
by ajcattapan
January 14th, 2011, 6:46 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: NEVER REMEMBER: YA Fantasy Revised
Replies: 15
Views: 5629

Re: NEVER REMEMBER: YA Fantasy Revised

You've got an interesting hook, so I'll just recommend a few ideas for polishing it up. I've recently learned that due to technical difficulties I get to requery an agency. Yay! So, now I want to perfect this more than ever! She was called Devi Ashara and accepted the name because she had no memorie...