Search found 116 matches

by Shipple
October 5th, 2012, 6:34 am
Forum: Books
Topic: Books As Books
Replies: 3
Views: 3435

Re: Books As Books

I think there will always be book-philes in this world. And they'll say things like, "I like to read books, REAL books." And some people will roll their eyes, and some people will agree. Although I do also think the REAL book people will probably become rawther less prevalent than they are...
by Shipple
October 5th, 2012, 6:28 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Agent requirements question
Replies: 3
Views: 2714

Re: Agent requirements question

I feel like I've seen agents answer something like this before with an answer like, "send whichever one you think is better."

But, yeah, I'd also try to make sure it wasn't TOO long because those agents are busy people, and they have a lot of queries to get through.
by Shipple
October 3rd, 2012, 7:02 pm
Forum: Excerpts
Topic: Prologue of romance novel
Replies: 2
Views: 6128

Re: Prologue of romance novel

It does sound like you have some really interesting and compelling stories in here, but I do think you have so much in here that the reader ends up suffering from information overload. It might be better to focus on Anastasia running away and what she's running from, and fill in a little more of the...
by Shipple
September 28th, 2012, 7:27 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Powers-Sci Fi and Fantasy
Replies: 4
Views: 2399

Powers-Sci Fi and Fantasy

So, I'm working on a list of the types of power you see in science fiction and fantasy (for my blog and for myself), and I'd love input on any I'm missing. I feel like the primary one is magic, but there's so much more, and so many types of magic. Anyway, here's my list. I look forward to your contr...
by Shipple
September 28th, 2012, 11:13 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Using different fonts
Replies: 5
Views: 2766

Re: Using different fonts

Not sure it will help, but I have a few letters that are received in my book. What I did to differentiate from the rest of the book was I put the body of the letter in italics. I'm not sure that's the right thing to do, but it leaves the manuscript in the same, easy to read font and still makes the ...
by Shipple
September 28th, 2012, 11:06 am
Forum: Excerpts
Topic: First 500 words of MG science fiction
Replies: 5
Views: 6575

Re: First 500 words of MG science fiction

I really liked this excerpt. It is well written and makes me wonder what's going on and what's going to happen. Unfortunately, the one part I had a problem with was the very first line: "It was a cloudless night, there were no stars, the clock was striking eleven and the sky was a pale blue. &q...
by Shipple
September 28th, 2012, 10:11 am
Forum: Excerpts
Topic: First 500 Words - MG Fantasy
Replies: 3
Views: 6935

First 500 Words - MG Fantasy

Chapter 1 His eyes refused to open, and he barely heard the whispered words of the girl hovering over his bed. “I’m sorry, Eric. I had to. I’m so sorry, Mom.” Before he could panic, his world faded, turning the girl’s words into a dream. When his brain got itself squarely back into his head, Eric’s ...
by Shipple
September 28th, 2012, 9:46 am
Forum: Queries
Topic: my query attempt
Replies: 4
Views: 3046

Re: my query attempt

Okay, here is my rough draft query for Preacher's Blood. 30 days ago, Gavin Preacher's sister disappeared. There were no clues. There were no witnesses. The police have all but given up, but not Preacher. He can't. Not now. Not ever. She's his center, his best friend, his only family. He's not abou...
by Shipple
September 16th, 2012, 3:41 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Newly Revised Query for YA Supernatural -- Updated
Replies: 6
Views: 2970

Re: Newly Revised Query for YA Supernatural -- Updated

I think this is a pretty good query. I would like to say, however, that I managed to figure out that the Princes were princes and not a singular princess, but it took me a few moments of thinking to get there. For some reason "Princes" just looks like a singluar Princess of Hell. You might...
by Shipple
September 15th, 2012, 8:28 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: MG: Under Sentinel Guard - Which Query Do You Like?
Replies: 8
Views: 4982

Re: MG: Under Sentinel Guard - Which Query Do You Like?

Thanks for the kind words and suggestion, Cheryl.
by Shipple
September 15th, 2012, 2:23 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Question about chapter length
Replies: 4
Views: 2029

Re: Question about chapter length

I'd say the one thing that always gets me as a reader are really, really long chapters with no obvious breaks b/c I always like to try to end on a chapter (obviously that doesn't always happen), and excessively long chapter can sometimes drag on. Also be aware of what kind of feel you're going for. ...
by Shipple
September 15th, 2012, 7:52 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Any genre ideas?
Replies: 4
Views: 2350

Re: Any genre ideas?

I also shied away from labeling my manuscript because I wasn't sure whether it was magical realism or fantasy. I guess it could be both. Sometimes I went with fantasy if the agent said they really liked fantasy. Other times, I conveyed most of the key elements, just called it a middle grade and let ...
by Shipple
September 12th, 2012, 7:48 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: MG: Under Sentinel Guard - Which Query Do You Like?
Replies: 8
Views: 4982

MG: Under Sentinel Guard - Which Query Do You Like?

Ok, so I've put both of these queries out there, and I haven't gotten any requests for anything (and I have gotten a discouraging number of rejections). I would love some opinions on which is better (and maybe why). The first has more humor, but the second makes the book sound more unique, which is ...
by Shipple
September 12th, 2012, 7:06 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: YA fantasy: Liar's Light
Replies: 9
Views: 5787

Re: YA fantasy: Liar's Light

I don't think there is anything that definitely needs to be changed about this query letter, which is probably why you didn't get any comments up until this point. But I'll give you a few of my opinions. Thank you all in advance for your help! Dear AGENT, After [some connection to agent], I am submi...