Tag: query

cooking, Writing

The Call!

hsdeurloo

I know I'm deviating from my regularly scheduled day but I can't contain my excitement! I HAVE AN AGENT! I saw a #MSWL post asking for a kids cookbook proposal and freaked out. I've watched the #MSWL feed for three years and no one has ever asked for a kids cookbook. So I jumped on… Continue reading The Call!

Writing

Query Letter Upgrade

hsdeurloo

I stumbled upon the best query letter advice in awhile through the Manuscript Academy. It's called key selling points. Sounds super business fancy I know. But don't let that freak you out. I'll break it down for you super easy. If you want to watch the original clip or to see the whole video you… Continue reading Query Letter Upgrade

Writing

How to Research Agents

hsdeurloo

You've written your book, polished it, and gone through rounds of editing. It's time to send your story out into the world to see if you can get an agent. But who do you send your story to? How do you choose? Carefully. I've talked before about what not to say to an agent. I've… Continue reading How to Research Agents

Writing

A Bow to Editing Services

hsdeurloo

If you've been reading my posts for any length of time you'll have noticed that grammar rules and spelling are not in something I hold in spades. In fact, I'm down right atrocious. I do try but grammar and spelling are a constant struggle for me. Which is why I've decided to take the next… Continue reading A Bow to Editing Services

Writing

Saving All My Favs

hsdeurloo

We save our favorite everything lately, photos, trinkets, cards, even emails. But what about your favorite agents? In all my agent watching there are some that stand out and resonate with me. In their behavior, their talk, and their hobbies. These are folks I'd like to be friends with and to do business with. But… Continue reading Saving All My Favs

Writing

8 Things NOT to Say to an Agent

hsdeurloo

After my latest writing group I realized how many queries I've sent over the years. How much digging I've done over and over again. And realized there are some common things that really tick agents off. Let me be really clear, this is not everyone. It's just what I see commonly on different social sites.… Continue reading 8 Things NOT to Say to an Agent

Writing

Yay! A Rejection Due to Similarity

hsdeurloo

If you've gotten a rejection from an agent that says, "I really like this story and it's a good fit for my tastes, BUT I already have something similar on my list." You know it hurts. You're close but getting an agent can be like a chasm you can throw your manuscript across but not… Continue reading Yay! A Rejection Due to Similarity

Writing

So Much More Than One Story

hsdeurloo

I'd like to formally announce I will be published in the online journal Months To Years! Read The Last Bumblebee in the Winter 2018 issue for yourself HERE. I'm thrilled. Let me explain why this is such a big deal. Stay with me. One, my family inspired the idea. Two, it's the first story I've… Continue reading So Much More Than One Story

Writing

Fishing for an Agent

hsdeurloo

I love to fish. But with toddlers it isn't something I get to do as often as I'd like. So now I settle for figurative fishing by quering my stories to agents, editors, and publishers. One thing is certain, if you never cast into the water you will never catch anything. But if you do… Continue reading Fishing for an Agent

Writing

Manuscript Master List

hsdeurloo

A year ago if you'd asked me how I track my submissions I would've said Query Tracker or nothing. Literally, I had nothing else. If you've used Query Tracker it's a great platform for finding an agent, less so for a publisher let alone a magazine submission. So here I am a dozen months and… Continue reading Manuscript Master List

Writing

A Writer’s Phases of Rejection- a Mini Memoir

hsdeurloo

Aggghhh!!! Another rejection, personal too, so close yet so unbelievably out of reach. Have you felt this? Where did you go next? My current state of pregnancy makes a nice shot of tequila or deep glass of wine not an option. So what does a sober person do with rejection? Here are the stages I found… Continue reading A Writer’s Phases of Rejection- a Mini Memoir

Writing

5 Publishers of Kid Lit, No Agent Required

hsdeurloo

I have a few small stories I've been attempting to sell through the magazine market. Let's be real though kid lit magazines are few and far between. Once you've checked word counts against what you've written the pickings get even slimmer. So next thought was to go through an agent but unless you're an author/illustrator most agents… Continue reading 5 Publishers of Kid Lit, No Agent Required

Writing

Twitter for Writers: Breaking In

hsdeurloo

If you've been on the fence about joining Twitter specifically for writing let me give you all the reason's to do so. The Children's Writers & Illustrator's Market 2017 dedicates a full article to the topic quoting several top notch agents in the process here is an excerpt: Agent Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra Lierary… Continue reading Twitter for Writers: Breaking In

Writing

No Time like Query Time

hsdeurloo

So I'm midstream in waiting to hear back from two dozen queries. What's a girl to do? Here are some thoughts on moving forward while you wait. Don't lose your writing habits. Many of us sit at our computers hitting refresh on our inbox every 30 seconds. Don't let your writing time and habits fall… Continue reading No Time like Query Time

Writing

Problem: The Slow Start

hsdeurloo

While starting off slow and easy is generally preferred with most things in life, it is the opposite when it comes to a good book. Readers want complete and total immersion from page one! It's a tall order. I admit my book starts off slow. I wanted to build tension and let the reader experience what… Continue reading Problem: The Slow Start

Writing

Query Letter Conundrum

hsdeurloo

I recently had the opportunity to attend a query letter boot camp. Thanks to Caffeinated Press for hosting, it was extremely insightful. I did bring a query letter with me, and I ignorantly thought it was perfect. I now know better. I’d like to share some of the feedback I got with you. Hopefully, you… Continue reading Query Letter Conundrum