Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Ohhhh I got you now! Thanks!

Thank you guys! Finally get around to this--I've been busy editing and then letting it all cool off for a while. wilderness, about asking for more specifics: If you wanted me to answer all of the questions you have listed, the query would be extremely long. Does it not come across that Leviathan (an...

I've been reading how each query letter should be personalized to the agent you're sending it to. Does this mean mention of their clients recent work? Where you found their name?

I can only write in the middle of the night in total darkness. Sometimes I will play background music like Alexander Desplat and Carter Burwell, but I often write in silence.

I never really thought about it before. I have a day job (read: need health insurance) but if it comes up I tell people I'm writing a book (I don't really consider myself a "writer" yet for some reason). Of course, I live in L.A. where 99% of the population is a struggling "insert job...

I can only speak for myself but my comment is directly related to your query. The suicide is a reason a lot of agents wouldn't even bother to read your attached pages. They need to feel comfortable repping a book with that kind of material and they also need to consider if they can in turn sell that...

With education and training in psychology I can't even begin to tell you the massive number of people who are greatly offended using teen suicide to lead into how a kid goes to hell, especially with the issues of bullying in today's society. Maybe instead of the act of killing himself he finds anoth...

I can't help but get the image of a zoo out of my head once you mention it. Is it really a zoo with cages and all? Because that for me takes the danger out. I would change dad to father since you're going for fantasy. If it's supposed to be dark and mysterious, the sentences should be spun that way ...

I find tumblr has a very specific niche market because it's a microblog and more of a "community" and you're very limited unless you know code really well. I've never used Blogger -- I've been a loyal WordPress user for years and years now. Now in fairness, I've hosted my own WP blogs myse...

I think the graphic violence in some YA books is more disturbing than that one line. I'm glad you're keeping it

I've had a regular blog for years, but a few months ago realized I needed to separate the writing aspect from the I'm-Living-In-L.A. aspect of my life. I've also been reviewing books, which is the post of this post: Is it appropriate to have book reviews on there if I'm going to be letting potential...

I think it's pretty funny A little TMI but really, some younger kids may not even understand what she's referring to.

It would be easier to help if you could provide the sentence. I'm not sure if you've read any of the mortal instruments books by Cassandra Clare, but she has some pretty steamy scenes.

It sounds like a really interesting story! I don't want to make specific suggestions to format because I'm horrible with punctuation, but I think there are some errors. I think cleaning that aspect up will make it flow better.

Thanks so much guys! I did find one on meet up. Some of the others charged a membership fee and I was kind of not cool with that.