Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Medical School
So, as I thought...I have not been able to do any writing of any kind while I've been here at medical school...it's VERY time-consuming. I'm hoping over Thanksgiving I can get some good writing stuff done.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Medical School
So...I just started medical school...meaning my book is now going to be on the backburner for awhile :/. I will try to keep working on it but it's going to be tough to do both.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Working...
Hey everyone...I've started working a "real" job so I haven't had a lot of time to work on my writing :(. I have been attempting to edit the first 3 chapters or so though to establish a better "hook." Anyway, another update with agents...couple of rejections...again...I will attempt to send more soon.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Updated Novel Synopsis
I've updated my novel synopsis with advice from others. I think this one is much better, so read it! haha
In the year 2200, human civilization on Earth has reached its pinnacle, but with such advancement has come dire consequences. The planet has been stripped of its natural resources and essential life elements, including fresh water. Five World Wars and desperation for those resources has left the North American continent the sole modern civilization, guarded by a seemingly impenetrable energy field. Outside the shield is a barren wasteland created by nuclear and biological super weapons, and only small pockets of human activity remain. A single hope for the continuation of civilization rests on an Earth-like planet, Tetra, discovered thousands of light years away.
A mission is planned to the new world to survey the possible future home. Among those on the mission are David Carter, Gen. Tom Banneker, and his daughter, Brisha Banneker. David and Brisha develop a close bond with a hint of a romantic connection as their journey continues. Aggressive alien creatures immediately attack the group as they arrive on the foreign planet, but on the brink of death, David, the general, and Brisha are saved by other aliens that, upon closer examination, are human themselves. The three are then taken back to a human city and once there, the city’s leader, Dr. Matthias Corias, reveals the true origins of life on Earth and enlightens the group of an intergalactic war against a rebel sect of evolutionarily-evolved humans named Venceri. The war has left the original humans depleted in both manpower and technology. The arrival of the Earthlings has energized new hope in the balance of power most notably with the appearance of David, since he is discovered to be a guardian of a superior being named Thaos, which enables him to be stronger, faster, and wield a potent energy.
For every good, there is an evil, and in the case of Thaos and his guardians, they are opposed by an evil unlike any other. Another supreme being, Exis, has sought to conquer and control the universe and has chosen the Venceri and their leader, Orion, as his vessel. Orion has detected the existence of the human guardian and Earth, a long forgotten human colony. He seeks to destroy both Earth and Tetra by use of an ancient life-force technology to eliminate humans once and for all. David and his group are forced to travel to a neutral planet, Centuria, in an attempt to confront Orion after he goes there seeking the technology. They realize that Centuria is actually aligned with the Venceri and that Orion has already returned to Tetra leading them on a fruitless chase. Finally, David is able to confront Orion on Tetra but is no match for him. Orion’s power leaves David unable to fight, and Orion leaves the planet with the life-force technology that can destroy both Earth and Tetra. With no idea of where Orion has gone, David’s group decides to return to Earth.
Back on Earth, a rebel human, Ruben Sinclair, not from Earth and loyal to the Venceri has taken control of the North American government after commencing a murderous plot killing most of the government. However, the Secretary of State, Jaki Wexler, survives and is found by an elite cyborg combat squad known as the Omega squad headed by a cyborg named Steel. She is protected by the group as they attempt to contact Gen. Banneker and David to inform them of Earth’s plight. It is to no avail and after one of the cyborgs is killed, Steel decides to attack Sinclair head-on at the White House.
David’s group also decides to go to the White House after learning of Sinclair’s existence, and they get there just as Jaki and the Omega squad are locked in battle on the front lawn. After David arrives, Sinclair steps from the White House to confront him. Sinclair reveals that he is a guardian of Exis and uses a device to paralyze everyone but David. The two battle until David is finally victorious, but before he has a chance to celebrate, he is reminded that the war is far from over.
In the year 2200, human civilization on Earth has reached its pinnacle, but with such advancement has come dire consequences. The planet has been stripped of its natural resources and essential life elements, including fresh water. Five World Wars and desperation for those resources has left the North American continent the sole modern civilization, guarded by a seemingly impenetrable energy field. Outside the shield is a barren wasteland created by nuclear and biological super weapons, and only small pockets of human activity remain. A single hope for the continuation of civilization rests on an Earth-like planet, Tetra, discovered thousands of light years away.
A mission is planned to the new world to survey the possible future home. Among those on the mission are David Carter, Gen. Tom Banneker, and his daughter, Brisha Banneker. David and Brisha develop a close bond with a hint of a romantic connection as their journey continues. Aggressive alien creatures immediately attack the group as they arrive on the foreign planet, but on the brink of death, David, the general, and Brisha are saved by other aliens that, upon closer examination, are human themselves. The three are then taken back to a human city and once there, the city’s leader, Dr. Matthias Corias, reveals the true origins of life on Earth and enlightens the group of an intergalactic war against a rebel sect of evolutionarily-evolved humans named Venceri. The war has left the original humans depleted in both manpower and technology. The arrival of the Earthlings has energized new hope in the balance of power most notably with the appearance of David, since he is discovered to be a guardian of a superior being named Thaos, which enables him to be stronger, faster, and wield a potent energy.
For every good, there is an evil, and in the case of Thaos and his guardians, they are opposed by an evil unlike any other. Another supreme being, Exis, has sought to conquer and control the universe and has chosen the Venceri and their leader, Orion, as his vessel. Orion has detected the existence of the human guardian and Earth, a long forgotten human colony. He seeks to destroy both Earth and Tetra by use of an ancient life-force technology to eliminate humans once and for all. David and his group are forced to travel to a neutral planet, Centuria, in an attempt to confront Orion after he goes there seeking the technology. They realize that Centuria is actually aligned with the Venceri and that Orion has already returned to Tetra leading them on a fruitless chase. Finally, David is able to confront Orion on Tetra but is no match for him. Orion’s power leaves David unable to fight, and Orion leaves the planet with the life-force technology that can destroy both Earth and Tetra. With no idea of where Orion has gone, David’s group decides to return to Earth.
Back on Earth, a rebel human, Ruben Sinclair, not from Earth and loyal to the Venceri has taken control of the North American government after commencing a murderous plot killing most of the government. However, the Secretary of State, Jaki Wexler, survives and is found by an elite cyborg combat squad known as the Omega squad headed by a cyborg named Steel. She is protected by the group as they attempt to contact Gen. Banneker and David to inform them of Earth’s plight. It is to no avail and after one of the cyborgs is killed, Steel decides to attack Sinclair head-on at the White House.
David’s group also decides to go to the White House after learning of Sinclair’s existence, and they get there just as Jaki and the Omega squad are locked in battle on the front lawn. After David arrives, Sinclair steps from the White House to confront him. Sinclair reveals that he is a guardian of Exis and uses a device to paralyze everyone but David. The two battle until David is finally victorious, but before he has a chance to celebrate, he is reminded that the war is far from over.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Other Authors
I have spoken with a couple of other authors who have already been published and they have given me some great advice! I really appreciate their help and it's so refreshing to see people who have already succeeded willing to help others. With their great advice I hope to have my query letter and synopsis as best as they can possibly be!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Update
Status Update!
Okay so of the roughly 7-8 queries I have sent out so far...I have gotten 3 rejections and am awaiting the responses of the others. Two of the rejections were the standard "this project isn't right for us" bs, and the other was a surprising "with all of the clients I have now, I don't have time to take on any new projects." Super promising! ..................oh well.
Okay so of the roughly 7-8 queries I have sent out so far...I have gotten 3 rejections and am awaiting the responses of the others. Two of the rejections were the standard "this project isn't right for us" bs, and the other was a surprising "with all of the clients I have now, I don't have time to take on any new projects." Super promising! ..................oh well.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Novel Excerpt 1
I decided to post an excerpt from my novel...hope you enjoy and please comment :)
Chapter Two
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 10:00 A.M.
A pleasant autumn breeze swept across the front lawn of a quaint ranch-style home. The well-kept green grass had been long forgotten, and in its place stood sundry weeds amongst barren dirt patches. The sun above mustered its strength to force rays through the hazy atmosphere yielding a leaden sky. Years had passed since the formerly common blue color peeked through for its final time. Despite the geographical location and being late October, the temperature was effortlessly above eighty degrees Fahrenheit.
David Carter, a twenty-five year old, black haired, blue-eyed, athletically-built man was tossing his backpack into the cabin of his black, hydrogen-powered, General Ford Motors pickup truck when his mother ran out of the house in her blue and white nightgown. He had hoped he could sneak away before she woke up.
“David! Don’t go! I need you here!” his mother yelled at him, sobbing and stumbling down the rocky driveway.
“Mom, I have to go. We‘ve talked about this,” David replied calmly as she approached the vehicle.
After shaking his head slightly, he stepped into the driver’s seat and initiated the engine with a slide of his finger across the scanner next to the steering wheel. His mother sulkily stepped to the driver-side window. He looked down at her and noticed a tear was delicately rolling down her cheek.
“David, I’ll be lost without you,” she said solemnly, placing her hands on the window.
He pushed his finger into the top left corner of the window triggering its automated retreat quickly down into the door, enabling him to reach out with his hands, cup his mother’s face, and wipe away the tear with his thumb.
“Mom, I wish I could stay…but I can’t. You know I can’t. This is something I have to do,” he said to her gradually in a quiet voice, trying to calm her.
She stared at him blankly but then nodded between sniffles.
“You and all your crazy things you do, David,” she said, but then started to smile, “I don’t know how I ever put up with you.”
He smiled back at her.
“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be home before you know it. Don’t worry about me.”
“You’re not the one I’m worried about,” she answered, looking concerned, “How am I supposed to take care of things around here by myself?”
He smiled again.
“You’ll do fine, Mom,” he said, “You’re the strongest woman I know.”
She forced a smile back at him then stepped a few feet away from the truck. He could tell she was heartbroken as her eyes swelled with fresh tears causing him to shake his head and sigh.
The truck’s engine whirred, focusing his attention forward. He flipped the auto-pilot toggle after setting his destination in the navigation screen and headed out onto the road. As the truck moved from the driveway, he stared back at his mother through the rear-viewing screen. She sat sobbing with her face buried in her hands on the porch. David again sighed and took a deep breath. He slowly reached his hand toward the auto-pilot toggle, but then stopped. She will be fine, he reassured himself.
His hand instead moved to the screen next to the steering wheel and with a push of his index finger, a loud voice boomed, “No! I do not think we should be letting anyone inside the field and I never will. We are American citizens and reserve the right to vote who gets allowed in. As I recall, last November the people overwhelmingly spoke out against those miscreants trying to incorporate themselves into our lives.”
David normally drowned himself in music. His mother must have changed the satellite radio station.
“The planet is ours now. We own the entire world and as such, all of its people should be full American citizens. This quasi-citizen status given to those outside the energy field is preposterous. Telling them they’re US citizens and not letting them enter the field? Our country was founded on freedom and values. What have we become? Segregating ourselves from the problems of this planet is not the answer,” a second voice retorted.
“Haha, you don’t actually think the annexation was to save the people out there do you? Clearly you do not understand how the government operates, and with that we’re going to take a short break and be right back. You’re listening to FNPR,” the first voice, evidently the host, stated.
David slumped back into his chair and put his hands behind his head as the truck followed its assigned course.
A robotic voice resonated into the vehicle, “It is now time for the weather! What a beautiful day we’re having! The high is expected to be 91degrees with the overnight low settling in around 78. Much of the same can be expected for the rest of the week. Also, the rain schedule is as follows. There will be cloud-seeding today, Wednesday, and Friday from 2-5 p.m. yielding approximately one inch of rain per day. Plan accordingly. Thank you and have a great day!”
The robotic voice faded away, and the radio grew silent. David decided he had heard enough and pressed the screen to silence the broadcast. The truck continued its drive toward the barracks and had now found its way onto an Interstate highway ramp. It slowed for a moment before quickly assimilating into the line of coordinated traffic already on the highway.
David focused his view out the driver’s side window and gazed at the blur of numerous wind turbines, hydroponic farm towers, and solar absorption arrays. The scene was familiar, but he found himself wondering what the landscape had looked like before the entrenchment of food and energy structures.
Suddenly, after cruising on the Interstate for a few more miles, the truck began to slow again, and he was alerted of a disturbance ahead with a repeating tone. The truck switched itself into manual driving mode.
Chapter Two
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 10:00 A.M.
A pleasant autumn breeze swept across the front lawn of a quaint ranch-style home. The well-kept green grass had been long forgotten, and in its place stood sundry weeds amongst barren dirt patches. The sun above mustered its strength to force rays through the hazy atmosphere yielding a leaden sky. Years had passed since the formerly common blue color peeked through for its final time. Despite the geographical location and being late October, the temperature was effortlessly above eighty degrees Fahrenheit.
David Carter, a twenty-five year old, black haired, blue-eyed, athletically-built man was tossing his backpack into the cabin of his black, hydrogen-powered, General Ford Motors pickup truck when his mother ran out of the house in her blue and white nightgown. He had hoped he could sneak away before she woke up.
“David! Don’t go! I need you here!” his mother yelled at him, sobbing and stumbling down the rocky driveway.
“Mom, I have to go. We‘ve talked about this,” David replied calmly as she approached the vehicle.
After shaking his head slightly, he stepped into the driver’s seat and initiated the engine with a slide of his finger across the scanner next to the steering wheel. His mother sulkily stepped to the driver-side window. He looked down at her and noticed a tear was delicately rolling down her cheek.
“David, I’ll be lost without you,” she said solemnly, placing her hands on the window.
He pushed his finger into the top left corner of the window triggering its automated retreat quickly down into the door, enabling him to reach out with his hands, cup his mother’s face, and wipe away the tear with his thumb.
“Mom, I wish I could stay…but I can’t. You know I can’t. This is something I have to do,” he said to her gradually in a quiet voice, trying to calm her.
She stared at him blankly but then nodded between sniffles.
“You and all your crazy things you do, David,” she said, but then started to smile, “I don’t know how I ever put up with you.”
He smiled back at her.
“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be home before you know it. Don’t worry about me.”
“You’re not the one I’m worried about,” she answered, looking concerned, “How am I supposed to take care of things around here by myself?”
He smiled again.
“You’ll do fine, Mom,” he said, “You’re the strongest woman I know.”
She forced a smile back at him then stepped a few feet away from the truck. He could tell she was heartbroken as her eyes swelled with fresh tears causing him to shake his head and sigh.
The truck’s engine whirred, focusing his attention forward. He flipped the auto-pilot toggle after setting his destination in the navigation screen and headed out onto the road. As the truck moved from the driveway, he stared back at his mother through the rear-viewing screen. She sat sobbing with her face buried in her hands on the porch. David again sighed and took a deep breath. He slowly reached his hand toward the auto-pilot toggle, but then stopped. She will be fine, he reassured himself.
His hand instead moved to the screen next to the steering wheel and with a push of his index finger, a loud voice boomed, “No! I do not think we should be letting anyone inside the field and I never will. We are American citizens and reserve the right to vote who gets allowed in. As I recall, last November the people overwhelmingly spoke out against those miscreants trying to incorporate themselves into our lives.”
David normally drowned himself in music. His mother must have changed the satellite radio station.
“The planet is ours now. We own the entire world and as such, all of its people should be full American citizens. This quasi-citizen status given to those outside the energy field is preposterous. Telling them they’re US citizens and not letting them enter the field? Our country was founded on freedom and values. What have we become? Segregating ourselves from the problems of this planet is not the answer,” a second voice retorted.
“Haha, you don’t actually think the annexation was to save the people out there do you? Clearly you do not understand how the government operates, and with that we’re going to take a short break and be right back. You’re listening to FNPR,” the first voice, evidently the host, stated.
David slumped back into his chair and put his hands behind his head as the truck followed its assigned course.
A robotic voice resonated into the vehicle, “It is now time for the weather! What a beautiful day we’re having! The high is expected to be 91degrees with the overnight low settling in around 78. Much of the same can be expected for the rest of the week. Also, the rain schedule is as follows. There will be cloud-seeding today, Wednesday, and Friday from 2-5 p.m. yielding approximately one inch of rain per day. Plan accordingly. Thank you and have a great day!”
The robotic voice faded away, and the radio grew silent. David decided he had heard enough and pressed the screen to silence the broadcast. The truck continued its drive toward the barracks and had now found its way onto an Interstate highway ramp. It slowed for a moment before quickly assimilating into the line of coordinated traffic already on the highway.
David focused his view out the driver’s side window and gazed at the blur of numerous wind turbines, hydroponic farm towers, and solar absorption arrays. The scene was familiar, but he found himself wondering what the landscape had looked like before the entrenchment of food and energy structures.
Suddenly, after cruising on the Interstate for a few more miles, the truck began to slow again, and he was alerted of a disturbance ahead with a repeating tone. The truck switched itself into manual driving mode.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Novel Synopsis
I decided I might as well post the synopsis of my novel so everyone can see just exactly what it's about. Feel free to comment!
In the year 2200, human civilization on Earth has reached its pinnacle, but with such advancement has come consequences. The planet has been stripped of its natural resources and essential life elements, including fresh water. Five World Wars and desperation for those resources has left the North American continent the sole modern civilization, guarded by a seemingly impenetrable energy field. Outside the shield is a barren wasteland formed by nuclear and biological super weapons, and only small pockets of human activity remain. A single hope for the continuation of civilization rests on an Earth-like planet discovered thousands of light years away.
Acting quickly, a mission is planned to the new world to survey the possible future home. Among those on the mission is David Carter, an ambitious, highly-talented, young man with a powerful secret unknown even to him. Aggressive alien creatures immediately attack the group as they arrive, decimating their numbers down to a paltry four. On the brink of death, they are valiantly saved by another group of aliens that, upon closer examination, are human themselves. The four are then taken back to a foreign human city with a fabled name even they know. Once there, the city’s leader, Dr. Matthias Mack, reveals the true origins of life on Earth and enlightens the group of an intergalactic war against a rebel sect of evolutionarily-evolved humans named Venceri; the war has left the original humans depleted in both number and technology. The arrival of the Earthlings has energized new hope in the balance of power most notably with the appearance of David. He is discovered to be a guardian of a superior being named Thaos, who in his physical life was an Originator, a species that was the first in the universe to achieve advanced technology. The Originators achieved knowledge so sophisticated that Thaos, a prominent scientist, was able to ascend into an energy being and rule over the physical dimension of the universe. He sought to create new laws for the cosmos and make it a prosperous, peaceful place. However, his new state did not allow him to rule in physical form, and thus he appointed a guardian for each space-faring species to help him. As such a guardian, David has the power of Thaos on his side, which enables him to be stronger, faster, and more intelligent. Another Earthling, Brisha Banneker, the daughter of the Earth squad’s general, is assigned to the mission to the alien planet. She and David become close friends with a hint of a deeper connection that continues to grow.
For every good, there is an evil, and in the case of Thaos and his guardians, they are opposed by an evil unlike any other. Another Originator, seeking the unlimited power of a supreme being, sought out Thaos’s technology and he, known as Exis, ascended himself. Unlike his predecessor, he sought to conquer and control the universe. Hindered by the same physical limitations, Exis chose the Venceri and their leader, Malzor, as his vessel. The Venceri formed their own home planet and quickly began to descend upon the other intelligent races of the universe; they annihilated or enslaved them until the original humans finally took notice. The humans, along with their allies, the Scillians, attacked the Venceri to prevent them from further conquest. Sadly, they were hastily beaten back, and a war between the two sides raged for hundreds of years until finally the humans retreated to their home world, Tetra – the very same planet David and the Earthlings arrived. Facing elimination, the humans cloaked their remaining city rendering it invisible and remained in hiding -- broken and defeated.
The new leader of the Venceri, Orion, has detected the existence of the new human guardian and Earth, a long forgotten human colony. He seeks to destroy both, which leaves David and the Earthlings facing a tremendously daunting task. Back on Earth, a rebel human not from the planet and loyal to the Venceri has taken control of the North American government; leaving David and the humans on Tetra utterly alone in their fight against innumerable foes and impossible odds.
In the year 2200, human civilization on Earth has reached its pinnacle, but with such advancement has come consequences. The planet has been stripped of its natural resources and essential life elements, including fresh water. Five World Wars and desperation for those resources has left the North American continent the sole modern civilization, guarded by a seemingly impenetrable energy field. Outside the shield is a barren wasteland formed by nuclear and biological super weapons, and only small pockets of human activity remain. A single hope for the continuation of civilization rests on an Earth-like planet discovered thousands of light years away.
Acting quickly, a mission is planned to the new world to survey the possible future home. Among those on the mission is David Carter, an ambitious, highly-talented, young man with a powerful secret unknown even to him. Aggressive alien creatures immediately attack the group as they arrive, decimating their numbers down to a paltry four. On the brink of death, they are valiantly saved by another group of aliens that, upon closer examination, are human themselves. The four are then taken back to a foreign human city with a fabled name even they know. Once there, the city’s leader, Dr. Matthias Mack, reveals the true origins of life on Earth and enlightens the group of an intergalactic war against a rebel sect of evolutionarily-evolved humans named Venceri; the war has left the original humans depleted in both number and technology. The arrival of the Earthlings has energized new hope in the balance of power most notably with the appearance of David. He is discovered to be a guardian of a superior being named Thaos, who in his physical life was an Originator, a species that was the first in the universe to achieve advanced technology. The Originators achieved knowledge so sophisticated that Thaos, a prominent scientist, was able to ascend into an energy being and rule over the physical dimension of the universe. He sought to create new laws for the cosmos and make it a prosperous, peaceful place. However, his new state did not allow him to rule in physical form, and thus he appointed a guardian for each space-faring species to help him. As such a guardian, David has the power of Thaos on his side, which enables him to be stronger, faster, and more intelligent. Another Earthling, Brisha Banneker, the daughter of the Earth squad’s general, is assigned to the mission to the alien planet. She and David become close friends with a hint of a deeper connection that continues to grow.
For every good, there is an evil, and in the case of Thaos and his guardians, they are opposed by an evil unlike any other. Another Originator, seeking the unlimited power of a supreme being, sought out Thaos’s technology and he, known as Exis, ascended himself. Unlike his predecessor, he sought to conquer and control the universe. Hindered by the same physical limitations, Exis chose the Venceri and their leader, Malzor, as his vessel. The Venceri formed their own home planet and quickly began to descend upon the other intelligent races of the universe; they annihilated or enslaved them until the original humans finally took notice. The humans, along with their allies, the Scillians, attacked the Venceri to prevent them from further conquest. Sadly, they were hastily beaten back, and a war between the two sides raged for hundreds of years until finally the humans retreated to their home world, Tetra – the very same planet David and the Earthlings arrived. Facing elimination, the humans cloaked their remaining city rendering it invisible and remained in hiding -- broken and defeated.
The new leader of the Venceri, Orion, has detected the existence of the new human guardian and Earth, a long forgotten human colony. He seeks to destroy both, which leaves David and the Earthlings facing a tremendously daunting task. Back on Earth, a rebel human not from the planet and loyal to the Venceri has taken control of the North American government; leaving David and the humans on Tetra utterly alone in their fight against innumerable foes and impossible odds.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Authors
I realized that a good resource for getting my book published would be other authors, especially if I lived near them. So, I typed in Illinois authors in Google and the wonderful search engine yielded a site that listed tons of authors by county in Illinois. I found a couple in my county that seemed like good people and weren't 80 years olds, and emailed them. Two of them actually responded with great advice! I recommend attempting to find other authors if you are wanting to get published yourself.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Form Rejection
Sooo for all of you interested in sending out queries or interested in my responses I get...This is the most dreaded sentence in existence: "Your project isn't right for me, but keep submitting it to other agents."
Status
Status Update!
I have sent out my query to 4 agents and am now waiting to hear back from them :). I would most likely guess that it won't go well but who knows!
General Info
Okay people, I have realized that I have failed in giving some good instructions to starting out. The first thing you need to do is well....write your novel :P I know that seems obvious but many people think they can get an agent/publisher with an idea AND THEN write...not true...at least not for fiction anyway. Once you have completed the arduous task of writing a novel (usually 60k words or more), you probably will want to get a literary agent. You can try and secure a publisher by yourself, but...well good luck with that. What are the steps to getting an agent you might ask? Well, first you need to find some of course and that can be done at glorious websites such as AgentQuery.com or QueryTracker.net. Both of those sites have a good listing of agents and best part...it's free! Now, you're going to want to search for an agent by your genre (in my case science-fiction), and then you will get a great list of agents that represent those types of books. I suppose you could just query all agents but that would probably just be stupid :). Anyway, now that you've got a list of agents you have to go on their websites that they usually have and find out how they want you to contact them...most of which will want a few things:
1. A query letter (ill explain in a minute)
2. A synopsis
3. Sample chapters
4. Possibly an author bio/market strategies/other extraneous things
By far the most important part of getting an agent is that query letter! From my experience it is VERY hard to write a good query letter and if you don't believe me then type it into Google and see how many articles there are about writing a good query. The best online resource I have found is located here: http://www.writing-world.com/basics/query.shtml
Some advice though...use yourself as your hook. If you went to college...put that in there and say why that qualifies you as a good author in your genre...if you are young or old...say why that helps you...etc. etc. Also...it's probably a good idea to flatter the prospective agent a bit ;) Tell them you really enjoyed so and so's book that they represent and you want to have yours represented by them.
A synopsis should be self-explanatory but you should keep it 1-2 pages...and basically summarize your novel in the most incredibly awesome way you possibly can.
Sample chapters....duh...
The other stuff....they don't ask for too often, but again pretty self-explanatory or they'll tell you what they want.
I think that's about all I have for starters...feel free to comment or ask questions.
First Published Story!
So...the aforementioned short fictions stories (3 of them) have been completed, and I was able to get one published in an e-zine! If any of you are interested in the story itself...here is the link:
In the beginning...
Hello Everyone! This is a blog by me, Evan Mason, dedicated to cataloguing my quest to become a published author. To start off, I will say that I have completed a science-fiction / adventure manuscript of approx. 100k words. After working on this for years and attempting to find an agent/publisher/etc. I decided that maybe I should break into the writing world with short stories. So, I wrote some short fiction and attempted to get at least one of those stories published. Now, I know there are TONS of aspiring writers out there seeking to be published, so I hope I can give some advice and help out as many of you as possible as I continue on this journey.
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