Search found 33 matches

by Scribble
January 5th, 2012, 11:28 am
Forum: Connect With a Critique Partner
Topic: Beta Readers for a YA fantasy
Replies: 0
Views: 1501

Beta Readers for a YA fantasy

I’m looking for beta readers for my YA high fantasy novel. It’s nearing completion (a bit more rewriting of the last chapters), so I’m looking for big picture opinions on the text from people who like the fantasy genre. I will read and provide constructive comments fairly quickly on your work if you...
by Scribble
March 31st, 2011, 3:30 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Do you have a new blog post?
Replies: 2655
Views: 818710

Re: Do you have a new blog post?

Today's blog is my second post on The Writer's Voice. This one deals with Psychic Distance.

It's based upon notes I took from Emma Darwin's workshop at The York Festival of Writing 2011
I found her workshop and mini-course there very useful, hope you do too!

http://ianbontems.blogspot.com/
by Scribble
February 25th, 2011, 1:35 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Writer's Block: Ignore It?
Replies: 19
Views: 6665

Re: Writer's Block: Ignore It?

Taking a shower or a long hot bath has helped me in the past. Maybe it's the water and the time to think that helps me order my thoughts to figure out what stopping me from writing.
And quiet, lots of quiet (something that I seem to be missing at the moment)
by Scribble
December 18th, 2010, 5:47 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks

See update on first page - big thanks to all for the query help! This forum is great.
by Scribble
October 22nd, 2010, 7:30 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Agents in Other Countries
Replies: 10
Views: 8089

Re: Agents in Other Countries

If they like your writing then I don't think they care where you are based. I'd say go for it, don't limit yourself.

The world is much smaller thanks to email, find some targets and send out those queries to the agents you think might be good to work with.

Fingers crossed that you find your agent.
by Scribble
July 28th, 2010, 12:59 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors - Latest #4 on page 2

Cheers guys,

Adamg73 - good suggestion, I'll put that in, when I read it like that it does sound better.

Hey, Holly - Wasn't sure if it was relevant to the story, but it wouldn't hurt to add it I s'pose. Though some might not believe me about the degree after reading my first drafts!
by Scribble
July 27th, 2010, 12:03 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors - Latest #4 on page 2

Cheers for the comment bookwatcher, I wrote '9 and up,' as opposed to middle grade because I'm in the UK and we don't have a Middle Grade section. It's more a 9-12 division in the bookstores (or just Children's Section in the library). If I query any US agents, I'll use absolutely use MG. You're tot...
by Scribble
July 27th, 2010, 11:50 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for Book of the Watchers-YA Horror *A new angle*
Replies: 30
Views: 10814

Re: Query for Book of the Watchers-YA Fantasy *new revision*

Seventeen-year-old Sara Charles is clumsy, shy to the point of passing out and has avoided people her entire life. In the middle of her junior year she discovers the reason for her empty life--she's cursed. nice opening Sara has a White Soul. She was born to carry all the elements, known as the Qui...
by Scribble
July 27th, 2010, 11:23 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors - Latest #3 on page 2

Cheers, some great suggestions again, and thanks for the encouragement (sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees on this thing). My only worry now is that it's a bit short! But then again, it touches on the main points and I guess there's no need to include a mention of the mentor and the sideki...
by Scribble
July 27th, 2010, 7:55 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: Confessions of an Elder - Fantasy *updated*
Replies: 22
Views: 7711

Re: Confessions of an Elder - Fantasy *updated-v3*

Hi mfreival, The story sounds like something I'd definitely go for if I saw it on a shelf, but the two queries seemed so different even though they were talking about the same book. Query 1 (new one), flows well and is the clearer of the two. It has a very humorous tone with phrases like, 'a little ...
by Scribble
July 27th, 2010, 7:21 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors - attempt #3 on page 2

Thanks for the feedback, it's very useful. Here's attempt 3 taking your comments into consideration. I've tried to include more voice in this one while trying to keep it clear: Twelve-year-old Sarah discovers that magic isn’t a load of guff when her little sister, Jane, vanishes right before her eye...
by Scribble
July 26th, 2010, 9:54 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors

Thanks Krista. My wife described my story as Coraline meets Labyrinth. To my shame I hadn't read Alice Through the Looking Glass when I wrote this. I did read it after though, to make sure I hadn't coincidently written to closely (something I did with an earlier aborted story that turned out to be t...
by Scribble
July 25th, 2010, 1:19 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

Re: The House of Mirrors

Wow. Some great comments, here. Cheers!
by Scribble
July 25th, 2010, 7:01 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks
Replies: 21
Views: 8111

The House of Mirrors - Query Update - A BIG Thanks

*** UPDATE*** I'd just like to say a big thanks to Holly, Krista, John Dillon, Quill, mfreivald, atdeluca, bookwatcher, and adam73, (and basically everyone on these forums), for their great advice and help in whipping my query into shape. Good news is - the query worked! I am now represented by Joh...
by Scribble
July 24th, 2010, 10:56 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Who has read your WIP?
Replies: 22
Views: 7922

Re: Who has read your WIP?

I have one real crit partner and I met her on this site. She does an awesome job (I don't know how she puts up with all my grammar errors). I did try getting my wife to read it but she tends to skim all her books and would just say, 'it's fine.' Not much help. I do go to a local writer's group, but ...