The Few, The Mighty

I'm feeling like it's about time to sing the praises of the small but consistent cadre of people who give their time over and over in the form of critiques.

No, I'm not mentioning names.  It's interesting, because these things go in cycles.  I'll see familiar names over and over again, and then things will shift and I'll see new familiar names.  It's as though, as time goes by, this blog is continually supported by a gradually-changing-yet-always-constant group of writers who are truly the lifeblood around here.

So.  THANK YOU.

Thank you for giving and giving and giving.  Thank you for critiquing others when your own work is not up here.  Thank you for offering help to aspiring authors when you, yourself, are already published.  Thank you for helping aspiring authors when you, yourself, are not published.  Thank you for coming back again and again, giving your time and expertise.  Thank you for not being afraid of saying the wrong thing.  Thank you for making this community a priority, for whatever reason.

Yes, I do notice you.  I do see your screen name in my inbox.  And others notice, too.

You know who you are.

This is a large, growing community.  The number of daily visitors, particularly during contests and critique sessions, far surpasses the number of actual participants.  While this ratio is no big deal on a regular blog post (like this one), since it's normal for more people to read than to comment, it is a big deal when it comes to critiques and contests.

Not so much with the reading-vs.-critiquing.  I know there are a lot of you out there you are uber-beginners, and this blog is a learning tool for you.  I WANT YOU TO BE HERE.  It's okay if you're quiet; it's okay if you haven't taken the critique plunge yet.  One day, when you're ready, you will.

What makes me say "hmm" is the contests and critique sessions in which there are 100 or more entries, yet the comments that the winning entries receive don't reflect this number.  And I'm thinking...if you're willing to enter a contest, are you willing to critique even if your entry doesn't make it in?

Food for thought.  Because, if you're far enough along to be seeking critique, then you're probably far enough along to be giving it.  I do request that all entrants in contests critique a minimum of 5 other entries, which I feel is fair.  Critiquing is time-consuming, and expecting folks to critique 49 excerpts simply because theirs is the 50th would be...inhumane.  And would probably ignite mutiny.

But if you enter and don't get picked?  Please consider offering your critique, anyway.  (And, hey.  Many of you already do this.  I'm just trying to peel the wallflowers from the wall.)

I believe you all have something valuable to share here.  You're writers, yes?  And writers are a wonderful breed.  (Not that I'm biased.)

This blog will continue to thrive in the strength of the few and the mighty.  But imagine what we could become if everyone stepped up.

(Oh, how I love this community!)

Dear Authoress

As perfect timing would have it, I received the following email yesterday, on Miss Snark's Victim's third birthday.  The author has graciously given permission for me to post it here in its entirety.  Because the letter is meant for all of you as much as it is meant for me.


Dear Authoress,


I'm a writer currently working on my first draft. (Well, okay, three first drafts but who's counting?) I have a very long way to go and for many, dull, reasons was starting to feel a bit down about the whole process Not that I ever want to stop writing, I just felt 'alone'. I follow a lot of writing blogs and, whilst they all have things to offer and teach, I don't feel qualified to comment on them. After all I'm not a 'real' writer yet (although I've changed that feeling now after reading your post on authors/writers!) So I just lurk quietly and concentrate on trying to get something finished.


Your blog has made me see things differently. People are at all stages - some (at least up to 2009 which is as far as I've got) are no further on than me, others have been published, but they are all equal. I love this and I love the sense of community you have managed to create. I'm reading through your archives and I want to rush through them so I can join in the conversations but I daren't as I'm learning so much on the way I don't want to miss something! I keep wanting to add to the comments then I remember how old the posts are. (Congratulatins on the ebook btw ;-))


It's almost like reading a story. When I get to April 2011 will Disorderly, and Lady Glamis and Merc (to name but a few) still be there or will there be new people who I feel as though I know despite never having exchanged a word? If Merc is still around I want to tell her that I've dragged my MC out of the bed she'd been sleeping in at the start of my WiP :-)


I'm not even sure if there's a point to this mail, I just wanted you to know that your blog has renewed my faith in myself. You've made me - and perhaps many others like me who have never commented - really believe that my words are worth something , even if nobody else ever reads them. For that I thank you and all the people who contribute to your blog.


I try to avoid cliches and cute sayings but I think this sums up how I feel; 'A stranger is a friend you haven't met'. I look forward to meeting you all - just as soon as I get through the archives!


If this sounds rambling or disjointed I apologise but I've been up all night reading :-) There is absolutely no need to feel you have to reply to me, I'm sure you're very busy. I just thought you should know that what you do helps people in ways you don't even know.


With very best wishes,
(Name Withheld)

Be Encouraged!!

I'm sure you saw this in Monday's "winners" post, but it bears singling out:

Overall I was very pleased with the quality of these submissions, which was much better than what I generally find in my query pile.

A direct quote from our Secret Agent, Cameron McClure. Who works with, yanno, Donald Maass.

(I'd say The Donald Maass, but then you might think I was a fangirl or something.)

Folks! Ms. McClure's praise of this month's submissions is not to be taken lightly. Nor is it the first of its kind. Other Secret Agents have made similar comments. I've got agents (and, increasingly, editors) lurking about the blog. They wouldn't lurk if they didn't think it was worth their time.

YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

Actually, I believe you are doing more than one thing right. The first thing you're doing is PUTTING YOUR WORK OUT HERE FOR CRITIQUE and then TAKING THE ADVICE YOU'RE GIVEN AND MAKING YOUR WORK STRONGER.

That's probably number one.

But you're also doing important things like following contest directions. Making sure your work is polished before you submit. Not submitting the wrong genre (okay, some of you have tried that once or twice). Graciously thanking the Secret Agents even when they've critiqued your submission to bits.

ALL THE SAME STUFF THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE SUBMITTING QUERIES TO AGENTS.

Keep on doing what you're doing! People notice. AGENTS notice. (Those terms are not mutually exclusive. I swear.)

I'm proud of you. I'm excited for you.

I'll stop gushing now before I sound ridiculous.

BRAVO!

Special, Exciting Announcement!

I'm delighted to announce Jodi Meadows's AMAZING BOOK DEAL!

READ ABOUT IT HERE!

Jodi has profoundly affected my writing and continues to offer undying support and encouragement to me and to other writers. Her success is near and dear to my heart, and I'm SO PROUD of her.

She has worked so hard. SO hard. She deserves this. And the wonderful Lauren MacLeod, agent extraordinaire, deserves huge kudos, too.

Please join me in wishing them both the very best!

MSFV's Third SA Agent Signing!

I'm still catching my breath from this latest announcement! Just yesterday I received word that one of our own, Peter Salomon, has signed with Ammi-Joan Paquette, our January Secret Agent!

This is our third Secret Agent signing and our first of 2010. Nothing like starting the year with fireworks!

I'm utterly delighted for Peter, one of the many blog readers who took advantage of Ms. Paquette's gracious offer to query her during January.

Warm congratulations to Peter and Joan! May awesome things come of this!

Secret Agent Success, or the Story of Steph Bowe

Actually, Ms. Bowe's success has little to do with our Secret Agent contests. She's a talented author whose work speaks for itself.

But this is a story too succulent to let lie, too amazing not to display here for all to see. For the pairing of author Steph Bowe and agent Ginger Clark was accomplished here, during our September Secret Agent contest.

Steph's was entry #26. Though Ms. Clark didn't choose Steph as her winner, she did request a partial after Steph responded to Ms. Clark's generous offer to read the query of everyone for whom she'd left an "I would read more" comment. Partial led to full, and the rest is history.

Behind the scenes, published author Sara J. Henry mentored Steph, encouraging her to enter the contest after leading her into a successful query foray. She's as much a part of this story as the other players.

So here it is, in their own words. Enjoy! Celebrate! This is the stuff from which dreams are made.

AUTHORESS: Steph, of course I want to know more about you. When did you start writing seriously, what has helped you mature your craft at such a young age? Did you honestly dream you'd land an agent this year?

STEPH: I think my writing is at the stage it's at right now due to one thing: writing. I write a lot and often. I don't talk about writing or think about writing or read books about writing. I just write. I don't particularly enjoy thinking of myself as a writer, I just love the act of writing. I started writing seriously when I turned fourteen, though I've written my whole life (I wrote a post on my blog called A Complete History of my Writing Failure - that dates back to my novel-writing attempts as a seven-year-old).

I never planned to find an agent. It just happened that way. In the past, I tried submitting directly to Australian publishers. I'm kind of dumbfounded by how lucky I've been in landing an agent. At no point did I expect this to happen (seriously, even when I sent out queries. I was just hoping for a bit of feedback).

AUTHORESS: Can you talk a bit about your relationship with your mentor Sara? How did you connect, and how has she helped you?

STEPH: Sara discovered my blog a few months ago and I recently mentioned that I was looking for beta-readers for my YA novel. She'd been impressed in the past by a couple of posts I did, so she offered to critique my novel for me. She made a number of suggestions and I revised my manuscript, and she liked my novel so much, she also told me of a couple of US agents she knew who she thought I should query. It hadn't occurred to me to try and get an agent in the US before but I thought it wouldn't hurt, so I decided to send out some emails. Then a month later I'm here, which is completely astounding. Sara wrote a guest post on my blog, where she talks a bit about all this .

AUTHORESS: Sara, you've played an instrumental role in mentoring Steph. How did the two of you connect? What was it about Steph's writing that drew you in and made you want to work with her?

SARA: I happened across Steph's blog, and started following it because her writing was bright and funny and well informed. Her “Complete List of Writing Failures” told me a lot about where she was as a writer, and I liked “20 Things to Say” so much I reposted it on my blog.

And her novel grabbed me immediately, in a way few books do. The characters were strong and quirky, with rich histories and a vivid inner awareness. The manuscript wasn’t perfect, but her writing was so strong I had no doubt she could fix the parts that needed work.

When I emailed agent friends to introduce Steph, I said I've stumbled across an exceptionally talented young YA author and have just read her most recent manuscript. It had a few rough spots I suspect she's taken care of by now but was gripping and quirky, heartfelt and funny, with some brilliant writing - and is the best and cleanest manuscript I've seen from a writer.

And I added, If I were an agent, I’d sign her right now.

AUTHORESS: Why did you encourage Steph to enter the Secret Agent contest? What were your expectations?

SARA: I primarily thought More feedback, and that it couldn’t hurt to get another agent’s take – at that point we had just started contacting agents and had no idea they would leap at it as they did. But I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had won.

After the first agent offer, Steph asked if she should drop out of the contest – I told her to wait, adding the wonderfully apocryphal words What if the Secret Agent is someone phenomenal and wants to sign you?

AUTHORESS: Ginger, when you agreed to be a Secret Agent for September's contest, what were your expectations as far as what you might find?

GINGER: My expectations were pretty neutral. I would have been happy to find someone from it, but it wouldn’t have disappointed me if I had not. (This is how I view most writers conferences, too).

AUTHORESS: Steph's submission garnered an "I would keep reading" response, though you didn't choose it for your winner. What was it about Steph's writing that grabbed you?

GINGER: Interestingly, I had written down two entries as potential winners when I went through all the entries: 47 and 26 (I dug out my notebook to verify this). I didn’t want to have multiple winners because I am like that. For me, it’s either you win or you don’t, no co-winners, life is unfair, etc. etc. (I think I got some complaints in the comments on your website about that). Anyway, I think I responded initially to the voice of 47 because it felt lighter, more commercial, and perhaps easier to sell than entry 26. Then, I invited everyone whose work I had indicated I’d keep reading to submit to me. THANK GOD I did that.

AUTHORESS: Steph, I understand that you already had two offers on the table when you entered the Secret Agent contest. Why did you decide to enter the contest at that point? What factors led you to ultimately sign with Ms. Clark?

STEPH: I thought, well, it couldn't hurt (and Sara encouraged me to enter, too). Once the winner was announced, I felt relieved, since I didn't have a third agent to have to think about. But then Ginger Clark requested my partial, then the full and then she offered representation. And I died, several times over. I remain convinced that I unknowingly have some kind of long-distance hypnotism capabilities.

I spoke to Ginger on the phone, and I think what ultimately made me decide to sign with her was a combination of a few things - she seemed to really understand the novel, didn't want to pressure me into having to make writing my career right now (because I'm 15. I have boys to crush on and gossiping to do), and she was really nice, but also sounded like an excellent businesswoman.

AUTHORESS: Ginger, Steph's young age naturally is of interest to, erm, "older" aspiring authors. At what point of the submission process did you become aware of her age? How does agenting a minor affect the publication process (e.g. contracts, etc.)?

GINGER: I knew before I even started reading the book that she was 15, because when she sent me the first fifty pages she told me she had offers already from two agents. I clicked on the link at the bottom of her email to her website and discovered her age. It doesn’t really change the process, except that Steph cannot sign contracts until she’s 18. I would say that her being Australian changes the process more than her age. I’m going to send the book out in both the US and Australia to editors, when it’s ready. That’s a first for me, double submission here and “Down Under,” as they say.

AUTHORESS: It's important for agent and author to "click." Can you talk about the "click" you've experienced with Steph? Do you think this particular client relationship will move you into more of a mentoring role?

GINGER: It’s hard to click over international phone calls (what is it about the weirdness on them in terms of not being able to talk over one another? Oy), but I do think we clicked. I was pretty focused on making sure she knew my qualifications, and that I loved her book, and that I wanted her to still be able to be, primarily, a kid, even though we were both about to embark on an “adult” journey together. I don’t know if she was nervous—I was! I had to make a good impression.

I think Steph is going to have plenty of writer mentors, and I believe my main job is what I do for all my clients—find them the right editors, and get them fair deals, and sell their rights as much and as many places as I can. I’m her advocate, and my job is to make sure she is treated well. I have given her some edits on the book, but the actual editorially mentoring will come from her editor, and any other writers she works with.

AUTHORESS: Sara, Steph is clearly gifted beyond her years. For many (older) aspiring authors, reading the success story of a 15-year-old can be a bit...difficult. Is this something from which you've needed to shield Steph, or has it been less of a problem than anticipated?

SARA: Like a long-distance nagging extra parent, I email Steph probably completely unnecessary cautions and advice, including being wary of those suddenly buddying up to her. And she’s well aware some people will resent a 15-year-old being signed.

But Steph got signed because she wrote a wonderful novel. She built an engaging blog, worked hard on her manuscript (she said I think if I edit it again I’ll suffer a brain aneurysm), solicited beta readers, revised again, wrote a strong query letter, and jumped at the suggestion to contact agents. With or without my minor push, Steph would have been signed. She’s just that good - you can’t read her blog without seeing that.

Regardless of age, there’s always someone who will resent you for getting an agent or book deal. I wouldn’t have suggested approaching agents had I not thought Steph emotionally ready to handle this, and I think Ginger the perfect agent to shepherd her through it.

A few years back a friend’s son had a novel published and at his celebratory party another writer sidled up to me and said Don’t you hate him? But I didn’t. I was chagrined he had a novel out and I didn’t, but it was a turning point for me, one that inspired me to buckle down and do the work I needed to do.

I see writers as a big amorphous community: one person’s success doesn’t detract from another’s potential, but the support we give one another can make all the difference.

AUTHORESS: Ginger, Steph is embarking on a long and promising career. As her agent, what are your goals and dreams for her? What do you find most satisfying about having found her?

GINGER: I’d like to find her an editor who will treat her well, and help her hone her already deeply impressive skills. I have lots of dreams as to where we’d sell the book, and all those accompanying things, but I am superstitious and dare not commit them to print!

AUTHORESS: Okay, Steph--tell us about your book!

STEPH: It's a story about first love. There are garden gnomes and child prodigies. It's a funny sort of sad-happy. I'm being very cagey and secretive about it - I love having something to be secretive about! It's glorious - but I will be revealing more on my blog, Hey! Teenager of the Year (http://heyteenager.blogspot.com) in due time.

AUTHORESS: You have a long, promising future ahead of you. What do you see when you look ahead? What are your ultimate goals and dreams as a published author?

STEPH: All I'm hoping is that I can continue to write, and hopefully publish, well into the future. I want to write books that make teenagers feel like they're not as alone as they think. I'd like to affect people, even if it's in a teeny-tiny way. I am hopeful, but I don't want to jinx myself.

---
Warm thanks to the three of you for telling the story from your viewpoint. And to Steph: Best wishes for a long and successful writing career!

Do I hear some huzzahs?

Secret Agent Contests Lead To SUCCESS!

We're on a roll. I've got two wonderful stories to share with you:

From Lisa and Laura:

I'm sure you get e-mails like this all the time, but we just wanted to write and thank you for investing so much time and energy in your Secret Agent contests. We participated in the last contest with uber agent, Kristin Nelson. Based on all of the amazing constructive criticism from Ms. Nelson and your talented readers, we ended up rewriting our first 250 words. 16 queries and 3 weeks later we had 3 different agents offer to represent us! We are now represented by our dream agent, Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management.

I'm not sure these agents would have continued to read if we had used our original version of the first 250 words, so we wanted to thank you, your readers and of course our Secret Agent for taking the time to read our work and provide us with so much encouragement and feedback.

From Denise Jaden:

Just wanted to let you know (and thank you again), my agent made a deal today for my first YA novel, LOSING FAITH, which I had originally entered in your October Secret Agent contest. (It didn't win, but I received some excellent feedback!)

Feel free to let people on your blog know that people DO go on from the SA contests to be published! The details of the sale are on my blog if you are interested.

Thanks again! I just love what you do for the writing community!


There you have it--the critiques on this blog REALLY DO positively affect people's writing, and REALLY DO lead to good things.

I'm not sure I can adequately express how exciting this is for me. The blog is still less than a year old, and we're already hearing success stories like those above.

Everyone who participates shares in this. If you weren't brave enough to enter your work and giving enough to spend time giving thoughtful critiques, the blog as we know and love it would not exist. This is EVERYONE'S party!

Spread the word, folks--Miss Snark's First Victim is the place to be for aspiring authors!

Warm and enthusiastic congratulations to Lisa and Laura and Denise Jaden. Warm and enthusiastic thanks to ALL OF YOU for being a part of this experience--for making the time I spend here so worthwhile.

Warm, sniffly fuzzies and happy, glowing things all around.

Kudos Collection

First, for all of you: You've done another tremendous job of leaving helpful critiques for your peers.

For those who entered an excerpt: Kudos for bravery and humility!

And now, the "collection" part:

So many of you have shared, both via email and in the comment boxes, how this blog has positively affected you as a writer. I deeply appreciate your words of affirmation, as they continue to give new meaning to the time I put into this blog.

I'm gathering up all the "good words," so to speak, and creating a "positive feedback" page. I can't track everyone down from the comments, since some of you are unlinkable (which sounds like unthinkable with a speech impediment). So if you have said something POSITIVE in a comment box lately, and you DO NOT wish to be quoted, please send me an email (including your screen name, so I know which comment you're talking about). Otherwise, please know that I will be taking comments from the boxes and adding them to the warm fuzzy pile. You'll receive credit with whatever screen name you used to leave the comment.

If you would rather leave a fresh, shiny comment RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW -- the floor's open! Tell me how this blog has impacted your writing. Sign your name the way you'd like it to appear. Say as much or as little as you'd like.

The truth is that this blog has become so much more than I expected. And it's beyond exciting.

As for criticism, suggestions for improvement, and general grumbling? You can email that privately. Except be forewarned: I don't pay attention to grumbling. Only constructive criticism. *grin*

That's all for now! I look forward to your comments.