Getting Started, Queries and Agents

Good Morning!!!

Well, some of us good morning Ha ha, so starting out after finishing my manuscript, like so many people I thought I was in the clear, nothing could stop me now.
Oh was I wrong, first I needed an agent, I was like noooo problem easy! So I researched and then I learned of the dreaded query letter. Oh yes! Fun times are ahead, basically I had to come up with a thrilling, eye catching  one page regarding my manuscript. Let me tell you, it is not easy, so what else should a novice writer like myself do? Google, and google EVERYTHING you can. The best websites on this was Agent Query and Janefriedman, among some others but these were a huge help. So, I got my query, well, different versions that you think at the time is gold, but is not, with time and a bit of experience I was able to make my query better.

Next, looking for the right agent, I started on AgentQuery and Literary Rambles. I soon found out that's not enough, plus these were the big guys, I needed someone smaller, newer that was building their client list. Of course you don't want them so new that they cant help you, but willing to take on clients and they could get experience. I stumbled upon this fact on Writer's Digest, with their fabulous  new agent alerts. So, guess what I started to do? I started a system, I discovered Manuscript Wish List, its a magical place that agents tell YOU what they want! Insert Sailor Moon Gif, come on guys you knew I had to Ha ha.

Ahhhh, Manuscript Wish List so magical~



So, from there I started, system goes as follows,Writer's Digest Agent Alerts, research said agent on there agency website, still a good fit for me? Yes, Manuscript Wish List, Do they have interest in my type manuscript? Yes, awesome, check out response times and comments on Query Tracker, All good? Fantastic, find out submission guidelines and submit. I am going to be completely honest here, It is really freaking hard to find someone that matches up with all of that, but guess what ? You are getting a better chance by doing the research and knowing that they are right for your manuscript. Now just let your writing do the talking, if the writing is bad no matter how much research you do you won't get an agent.

Here we are again, back at that blighted query letter, it is hard to master and I am at no uncertain terms a master at it. But, you learn and you do it again.  Another post I will go into the *gulp* dare I say it? Synopsis, although its not completely bad but I swear its not easy either.
Little fact: I have presently only sent to 10 agents, and Ive been doing this for a month, yeah I am pretty selective.

Links are below and if you have started your journey let me know! Especially, if you have a cool new angle to share, I would love to hear it!

http://www.agentquery.com/
https://janefriedman.com/query-letters/
https://querytracker.net/
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/new-agency-alerts
http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/
http://mswishlist.com/

Bye for now! Hope to see you soon!

One of my favorite Psychological Anime

I've been watching the second seasons of Danganronpa, yes, 'seasons' since it is split between Danganronpa: Despair and Danganronpa: Future. I have to say I absolutely love it! Of course I did start out with the first season, here is  a quick synopsis I found on Wiki.




The story takes place at Hope's Peak Academy, an illustrious private school that only accepts "super" students: the best of the best of the best. The criteria extends to any niche, so in addition to super-geniuses and super-athletes, they take super-idols, gang leaders, and geeks. Makoto Naegi, the protagonist, is still baffled as to how he got in, as his only outstanding trait seems to be his super "good" luck - and that's only because he was randomly chosen to be accepted by the school. In fact, he hasn't even started his first day of school when he suddenly loses consciousness and wakes up in a creepy alternate version of the academy.
It's soon revealed that Makoto and fourteen other new students have all been abducted by a sadistic teddy bear named Monokuma, who refuses to let them leave. The only way out of the locked-down dark school is to graduate...by killing another student. Once a murder is committed, Monokuma holds a trial so that the class can try to figure out which one of them is the culprit, culminating in a vote. If they make the right choice, the murderer will be messily executed. Make the wrong choice, and not only does the murderer escape, but the rest of them will take the punishment in their place




These types of anime I adore! Although I do like other anime genres, this one is simply fantastic, it keeps you guessing. It almost feels like an animated Clue but with higher stakes and well, its simply  better at least in my opinion.  Well, I just wanted to share one of my favorite anime that I have recently been watching.


Thanks for reading guys and more things to post on the way!

Starting a Blog on a writer's journey

Hello Everyone,


I decided to start a blog because I am an emerging author who is at the stage of trying to find an agent for my Young Adult novel The Forest of Lily.


First, a bit about myself, I am a huge anime fan, I know, I know, incoming weeabo comments. Alas I am not what most would call a weeabo, I am simply a lover of all types of anime.


I am married and have been, for going on five years, he is a great man and an excellent husband.
We both love anime and went to the same high school for a short time, we even dated then, but it was short lived as most teen romances go.
 
Anyway I have no children except for our two dogs and our two bunnies. Our dog's names are Czar and Scooter while our bunnies' names are Haru and Ripley.  


Small other tidbits about me, I am a veteran, my favorite food is soul food, I am a sucker for historical romance (talking to you Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James), I love movies specifically psychological and lastly I am a comic books fan.




Now, that you know a bit about me, lets start at how I had an idea to write this book. Surprisingly enough, I had the idea from anime. Specifically it started out as a thought on a reverse harem trope, ( I know hilarious right?) of course I wasn't thinking anything naughty as others might think. I was thinking of books for YA's that wasn't corny, that was different but had the classic elements that they would adore, danger, love and a few funny jokes. Plus I wanted a female protagonist that wasn't typical but you may misjudge, most of all I felt and still feel that I wanted diversity. I didn't want anyone to be able to pinpoint what country it is because it is all countries. It has certain elements that make the countries unique, just not any countries that you heard of. This is how my book The Forest of Lily was brought about.
 


To the good stuff right?  I will post my query letter, query letter you ask? Well that is a very important letter to write to get an agent, to well, take you on as a client.  Here is my latest one, oh yeah that's right, the latest one, I have written about five query letters, some vastly different from the last. I will explain more on that later, without further ado what my book is about.

Dear Agent

Please consider my YA adult fantasy The Forest of Lily at 64,000 words. I had discovered you on Writer’s Digest and immediately wanted to work with you.  I found that you are interested in fantasy and something original, I believe this story would be a good match.

Being a princess in her kingdom does not give her the freedom of choice, who to marry, who to love and most of all, being the subject of a long ago prophecy.

Princess Lily of Sakura-Nan, never had a choice on who her husband would be or if she would ever love him but she accepted it. What she couldn't accept was her best friend’s betrayal with said betrothed, so she did the most rational thing a sheltered princess could do, run away. She didn't expect running away would include being told by a talking bird, that meeting all the royalty in the forest was polite, and if she didn't, he would alert everyone to her location. Not to mention being told she's a reincarnation of a powerful queen that was to rule for ten thousand years, she couldn’t even live that long!

Meanwhile, an ancient king awakens from sleep, wanting revenge against the fairies and to take his place as king of all humans. Lily trains to defeat this formidable king because if she didn't, the kingdom she loved would be destroyed. Lily has no other option...no other choice.

Of course there is more in the actual query letter but again, more later. On my next post  regarding my journey, I will explain what's happened so far with trying to get published; which starts with getting an agent.

What you will find on my blogs other than my journey? Just personal things about me, so you can get to know me more. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you soon.