Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I'm not so sure that is "conventional wisdom" so much as it is "what a lot of people do". Since you are the one that has to be comfortable with your process, I would advise to do as you please. I am terrible for fashioning one paragraph at a time and not moving on until I am sati...

To think much more practically for just a moment, let's say that you queried your book today and were signed with an agent by the beginning of May. The agent might suggest some changes and there would be some back and forth and after all of that, let's say that for the sake of argument, you had a bo...

I think I have an internet stalker. They follow me around and give me one vote when I enter something like this.

Depending on how prevelant a theme this is for your book, you could always use the Issac Asimov Method. He put a "quote" from the Encyclopedia Galactica at the beginning of each chapter to help give the reader some backstory. Since it prefaced the chapter, it didn't interfere with the flow...

Well by Boudicca's buttocks, such a topic to tackle so early in the day! I don't know where you are getting your information, eringayles, but really, most Americans aren't too prudish when it comes to the printed word. I wouldn't worry too much about it, and if there IS something terribly offensive,...

That's just the way it is, kristi. Unless you are writing mystery or science fiction or maybe children's, there really aren't all that many outlets these days for short fiction. There are a few of the literary ones but I'm a storyteller and therefore don't fit well there. When you research on duotro...

I considered writing short stories just so I'd have a publication to list in my query letter. Alas, my heart wasn't in it and I couldn't make myself do it, so I'll be sending out queries with a teeny, tiny third paragraph. Oh well, we'll see what happens. I don't know, kristi, it is probably worse ...

Maybe "action" is the wrong word. How about "crisis" instead? jkmcdonnell and bron echo my sentiments in this regard. I think it's critical to draw the reader in on those first few pages. How many times have you seen someone at the bookstore read the first page and put the book b...

Send your queries in small batches, say no more than ten at a time. Look at your results. If all ten are "no", adjust query and move on. Rinse. Repeat.

I'm reminded of a quote from Miss Snark:

"A writing credit tells an agent that someone besides your mother thinks you don't suck."

This thread is pretty timely for me, as I am on the organizing board for the Historical Novel Society Fourth North American Conference. We have just announced San Diego California as the site for out next conference to be held in June of 2011. Even though registration won't be open until November of...

Wait until you have over a hundred rejections before you question yourself. If you are getting personalized rejections you are actually doing pretty well!

I'll echo polymath's endorsement of duotrope. It can be a little tedious sorting through things without a high-speed internet connection, so I would recommend a very tight search to start with and then expand from that if you don't find something promising.

I write historical fiction, and while I will admit to being on the Geezer Squad here on the Bransford Forums, I still don't have any direct memories of the early fifth century. So, how can I possibly write what I know? Well, I have a lifetime of reading behind me, both excellent fiction and interest...

I think that djf881 may perhaps be engaging in a bit of what is sometimes referred to as chain-yanking :)