Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Wow, that actually worked! Okay Version 4, 5 or 6 (I'm a little lost) Dear Nathan, I'm a regular on your blog, and in your forums (I post as ChrisisAlwaysRight). I can tell from your posts that you bring passion to your work, and you love a great story, as I do. I hope you find something to love in...

I'm new to Nathan's blog and to the forum. Both have taught me a great deal already and I appreciate all the time and effort he has put into it. I'll be the next to throw myself to the lions. I've been paring down a query letter for my middle grade historical novel for a couple of weeks. It started...

I'm currently polishing my novel to perfection, so I didn't put a word count as it may change before I'm completely finished. I'm wondering if you get the main gist of the novel without being bogged down in details, and if it grabs you. Thanks so much! :) -------------------------------------------...

Hi everyone! I have decided to bite the bullet and post this rough query. I am still in the process of editing, so please, PLEASE keep in mind that I am still hacking away at the word count! This is one version I have come up with, but I would love any feedback as to what its strengths and weakness...

Here is a revision. Questions: 1. Does it sound like he killed his own family? (He didn't) 2. Should I take out the sentence " In order to survive... ?" -- Hell has come to Gothic. ( Nathan, I'll take this out if I send it to you :-) On a job to secure his freedom, Jonathan Blair, a self-...

Thanks for some great feedback, everyone! Here's another try. Audrey Frincke is a lonely twenty-something hacker living in her uncle's house in the Boston suburbs. She gets shot at the mall while parading in a flash zombie mob-- was it personal, or was it her zombie Alice in Wonderland costume? When...

See, I have a problem in writing this query. I have 30k words dedicated to 16 year old Matilda's first encounter with the Incan blood magic. I have 40k words relating to 72 year old Matilda's last encounter with the Incan blood magic - unfinished business she must sort before she dies. I have 10k w...

Again, I would like to thank everyone for their feedback. Here's R1: Everything about museums is a lie. The world’s most powerful organization, known only as The Society , controls the museums of the world. One of their best cover ups of all time is that artifacts must be shielded from the elements...

Thanks for the critiques and the kind words. Here's another take: Lonely hacker Audrey Frincke gets shot at the mall by a ninja. Was it the zombie Alice in Wonderland costume Audrey was wearing, or something personal? When she wakes up at the hospital, the doctor tells her she isn't human inside. He...

Dear Personalized Salutation, Twenty-something hacker Audrey Frincke survives an accident that should have killed her, and discovers that she’s not human. She’s one of the Folk, an ancient race of elves who live among humans in secret, amassing power and wealth while murdering each other with magic ...

I am still fiddling with my manuscript, but I'm working on my query in tandem so I wouldn't experience the urge to hurry the query because of impatience when the novel is ready. Any and all critiques/advice are greatly appreciated! :) P.S. I've considered labeling this "YA steampunk re-telling...

EDITED: Submitted before I finished it... Dear Nathan, I'm not sure which sport it is that you're a fan of, but I do know that I don't like it. Nor do I share your passion for The Hills. A good story, on the other hand, is something that I love. I'm a regular on your blog, and in your forums (I post...