Advice From Literary Agent Sara Megibow

For those of you who missed the chat with Sara Megibow of the Nelson Literary Agency last Thursday, I’ve got some of the highlights here. However, if you want it straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, you can check out the transcripts here. (You must be an Agent Query member to view them. The good news is, it is free.)

A few highlights:

#1: Having troubles figuring out the genre of your story? Check out the bookstore. Figure out where it would be placed in the store and voila! As well, if your story’s most important aspect and focus is on the romance/relationship between the hero and heroine, it is likely a romance. If you aren’t sure between two genres, say urban fantasy and romance or romance and mystery…read a few books in each genre and see which yours leans towards.

#2: Did you know that some agents, when they get sample pages that they like, they go to Google to check you out? They look for a positive web presence. So don’t go bashing agents, the publishing word or discusses how hard writing is, etc. Make it professional, folks!

#3: Here are a few genres/ideas that are flying over Sara’s desk like mosquitoes in a swamp and may or may not be overdone: vampires, divorced women opening B & Bs, war survivor stories, YA where the hero speaks to the dead or has secret world-saving powers they didn’t know they had and of course, have to save the world. Now, just because these story ideas are common at the moment, it doesn’t mean she’s going to shred your query if your story is based on the above. See #4.

#4: The art of writing is very important. It is more important than the POV (character point of view the story is written from), topic, or even how fresh the story idea happens to be. Fresh, good, strong writing wins. I.e. copycat story ideas can work if the writing is fresh. Although a fresh story idea is always compelling, but it needs good writing to back it up.

#5: Don’t start your novel with one big flashback. Start where the story starts.

#6: If you have quotes in your story, you don’t need the rights to use that quote in a published work at the time of querying–the publishing house will acquire them when the time comes.

#7: Some argue that saying ‘completed’ and giving a word count is redundant when querying. However, if you are querying Sara, do say, “My completed novel X, Y and Z is 100,000 words.” She likes that. Her perfect query would start something like so: “I have a completed 100,000 word romance novel set in regency England.” And then add the pitch paragraph…etc.

For more information on Sara and the agency she works for, be sure to check out the agency website–especially if you are querying.

We Need Volunteers For Writing Critique!

Spread the word! There is another chat coming up right away over on Agent Query. Wednesday night we’ve got Jeffrey Moores, former literary agent and now literary consultant coming to chat and critique. He’s already given me some great writing tips, just discussing what we’re going to chat about! Holy smokes! You don’t want to miss this one.

If you are a writer and you would like to throw a couple of paragraphs in the hat for a critique, please log on to Agent Query’s online community and put your name in the hat. It’s all 100% free.

Here is the lowdown, straight from AQ:

You need to bring your armored writers skin for this. On the bright side, despite the slings and arrows, you may receive advice that brings you to the next level, or at least helps you see the window you need to climb through to reach the next level.

What’s going to happen is this: AQ members who have nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon, are going to throw their name in the hat, here in this thread. I’m going to randomly draw 10 names tonight around 9 PM Eastern. Within 24 hours, those 10 people will provide about 100 words from one of their manuscripts (completed or in progress) and I will pass it on to Jeff. Jeff will then take a look over the work he gets and make notes, critique or possibly edit the short bit. During the Wednesday night chat, I will paste the original as well as Jeff’s comments/what have you all into the chat room so everyone in the chat can see it. Then Jeff will open the critique up for discussion. In other words, anyone in the chat can comment or ask questions.

By tossing your name in the hat, you are agreeing to have your work sliced and diced as well as commented upon. You are putting yourself out there and willing to face what may roll down the pipe. You don’t have to agree with the comments, but a professional attitude is always appreciated. You are also agreeing to have this piece available as part of the online chat transcripts for any AQ members to see, now or in the future.

What we are looking for are approx. 100 words in the following areas:

Narration: A place in your story where you (the author) are telling us what is happening in the story. This can also be a place in the story where the POV character is reiterating for the reader. For example it could be something like: They ran through the thicket, the sound of heavy footsteps gaining on them. Damp branches swiped at their raw skin. Blah, blah, blah.

Description: A character description, or a place description.

Random: A paragraph or two where you want thoughts from an expert. It can be something that doesn’t feel quite right to you, you have been debating with your critique partners, or even a paragraph you feel is so beautiful, it could make the Dali Lama weep.

* We are NOT looking for dialogue at this time. The goal of this chat is to help writers improve the way they tell their story. They way they set a scene, tell the read what is going on, etc. Dialogue is a whole other ballgame.

Please note that due to time constraints in the chat, there is a possibility that even if your name is chosen and work submitted, it may not be included in the chat.

If you have a paragraph or two that you would like to toss in the hat, please post your name in this thread. If you want to paste your piece here, now, in case your name is drawn, that is fine too.

Best of luck everyone! And a thanks in advance to any volunteers. I’m sure this will be a most-excellent learning adventure for all.

Upcoming Literary Agent Chat with Sara Megibow Of the Nelson Literary Agency

Hey, guess what? The lovely AQ Crew over on Agent Query has set up a free online chat with literary agent Sara Megibow of the Nelson Literary Agency.

Sara is seeking some GOOD queries for genres she represents (that would be sci fi, fantasy, literary and commercial fiction (almost all ages), and romance (sub genres)–check her submission preferences on the Nelson Literary website or over on AQ) and is hoping that all you newbies and curious writers will join the chat, get the lowdown, and then send her a fantastically written project. Easy as pie.

As usual, I will be there directing traffic. So, join me and Ms. Megibow over on AQ Thursday night (August 13th at 9PM Eastern). It’s free, but you do need to be an AQ member (also free). I guarantee a fantastic, educational and entertaining time. (Money back guarantee, folks.)

Enjoy!

My Day Will Come…Or So Says My Fortune Cookie

I was eating Chinese food a few days ago and my fortune said that in 3 months time what I have been working towards will happen. That means something great is going to happen on October 24th. Mark your calendars. Book the fancy table at the restaurant for me. The 24th is my magic day. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait. Or you know, keep working towards making it happen.

I love fortune cookies.

(This sign is just another reason why I loved Alaska.)

Noah Lukeman is in the Blog House

Noah Lukeman, literary agent and the hero of all newbie writers (Lukeman’s the author of the stellar book The First Five Pages) has started up a blog where he answers all our burning questions about writing, agents, publishing and likely a whole lot more. Space Monkeys? I’m really curious about them. And women in the Klondike in the 1800s. That sounds interesting too. Anyway, check out his Ask a Literary Agent blog and sign up for his free newsletter (left hand side of the page) and while you are at it, add him to your follow list on Twitter and heck, why not read his free ebook on How to Write A Great Query Letter as well as order The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile.

There, you can’t say you never got anything great for free (or almost free).

Enjoy!

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