I've tried to come up with a mixture of landmark, informative, and personal blog posts from the past 5 years. Grab your favorite drink and enjoy this retrospective.
And thank you. Because, without you, there wouldn't be an MSFV.
2008
First Advice on Writing From the fingers of the newly created "Authoress"
First Friday Fricassee A weekly feature that has morphed a bit over the years
First ARE YOU HOOKED The agentless prototype for the Secret Agent Contests!
First positive impact on a writer In which not-yet-published author Karen Duvall expresses thanks.
First DROP THE NEEDLE So long ago!
Anniversary of Miss Snark's final farewell The inspiration for MSFV's name
First SECRET AGENT CONTEST The beginning of the blog's hallmark contest!
And our first SECRET AGENT Holly Root, who fearlessly critiqued 114 entries
Holly's open letter to the blog ...and then wrote words of encouragement
LETTUCE LIPS Nearly forgotten words of endearment from my beloved Mr. A
Release of AGENT: DEMYSTIFIED Authoress's what-you-need-to-know e-book
2009
ODE TO MY READERS Don't miss this poem -- it was written for YOU!
The Birthing of a Blog In which I receive advice from readers
The first 2 announcements of success attributed to blog Self-explanatory
MSFV turns 1 First birthday!
The Book Trailer Produced by Mr. A to promote AGENT: DEMYSTIFIED
On the Overshopped Query Letter (and why I hate it) an important Authoress philosophy
Beth Revis's entry in our June, 2009 Query Contest: History in the making!
The first SECRET AGENT SIGNING Elissa Cruz signs with Josh Getzler
BYE-BYE MICROSOFT in which Mr. A buys me a Macbook Pro
The first BOOK DEAL attributed to the blog The debut novel from Lisa and Laura Roecker
SNARK, THE HAGGARD AGENTS SING in which Authoress SINGS (turn up your speakers!)
2010
KNOWING MYSELF On finding your AUTHENTIC SELF
In which the MSFV automated submission system comes to life Praising Michael Kato
In which Beth Revis shares her success story MORE history in the making
MOST BIZARRE REJECTION LETTER EVER It was too weird not to share.
ON WRITING AS A CAREER Because that's what we're after, yes?
ON THE METAMORPHOSIS OF A WRITER A Friday Fricassee gem
Announcement of the first BAKER'S DOZEN AGENT AUCTION Hooray!
The 2010 Baker's Dozen Line-up Our first gaggle of agents, authors, and an editor
My Biggest Announcement Ever In which I sign with Agentman, a.k.a. Josh Getzler
The Josh Story, Part 1 The Authoress backstory
2011
The Josh Story, Part 2 Starring Josh Getzler as co-writer
The Josh Story, Part 3 The conclusion
Our First Baker's Dozen Signing From bid to offer!
AUTHORESS'S GREAT ESCAPE in which Jodi and Josh get to wear the Red Hat
SWALLOWED ALIVE: THE FEAR OF INCOMPETENCE Another must-discuss topic
The 2011 Baker's Dozen Line-up Another all-star list
ON GIVING UP In response to one discouraged aspiring author
ON SAN FRANCISCO, THE RED HAT, AND CHOCOLATE Pictures!
2012
In which Authoress confesses that she is no longer a pantser And hasn't looked back!
ON REACHING THE END When we go "there"
Market or Heart Invariably "heart"
A WRITER REFRESHED More pictures!
Our first critique partner dating service Matches made in heaven
AVOIDING BITTERNESS Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned...
The 2012 Baker's Dozen Agent Auction Line-up It just keeps getting better
2013
Our second critique partner dating service And we'll have more -- I promise!
Everything you need to know about MSFV This about covers it.
Miss Snark's First Victim
Lettuce lips is still my favorite. :-)
ReplyDeleteUm, how awesome is this retrospective? Thank you! I'm midway through Shades of Earth right now (for those not in the know, Beth Revis' #3 in her trilogy; if you haven't read it, you should!) and I LOVE seeing how much Revis' story evolved from her query and clip here to Across the Universe. Wow. This gives me hope (as well as reminding me how much hard work goes into writing and revising, doh). It's *exactly* the sort of peek-inside-the-writer's-mind/early-draft-sausage-factory I was wishing for just this morning.
ReplyDeleteNow, back to work on my relatively unevolved WIP. Thanks, Authoress!
Congratulations on 5 years. That's quite a feat. Here's to another 50!
ReplyDeleteStrange rejection was tempting, but I went for Snark, the Herald Agents Sing b/c I wanted to hear your voice!
ReplyDeleteNow that's my earworm.
Ugh. Christmas in April.
I've loved reading through these. I'm surprised I remember so many of these when they first posted. I've been lurking longer than I thought!
ReplyDelete