I'm taking my bad experience and turning it into motivation. This weekend I've been making a better, stronger query letter for Going It Alone. In the process I've been trying to think of novels that are written in similar formats for reference. I can't think of anything. To me this is a good thing that I have such a unique story but to an agent that may sound like it wouldn't sell. I believe innovation is the key to great art so I'm not giving up but I'm trying to find one or two novels that have a similar aspect other than it has words.
It's a framing story, where a large story pulls a bunch of short stories together. Parts of the story are the writer's journal and other parts are the fiction the writer is writing.
I'm out of ideas. I can't think of anything remotely close except for one short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, which bounces from reality to fiction and one graphic novel story, Maus, which goes from a writer writing a story to the story he was writing. To be honest I didn't even come up with those, D.B.Echo did. Either way I'm not sure if referencing short stories or comic books are enough.
I have no idea. I'm so confused.
Showing posts with label agents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agents. Show all posts
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The search for naugahyde
Crazy cool madness! I just stopped by BehindtheNaugahyde.com to check the guest book,which you need to sign if you already haven't (How do you expect us to impress agents with a demand from the public to publish our book when only 8 people have signed the guest book? Come on now!), and the site meter.
When I checked the site meter it had a quite a few visits so I checked the details and apparently lots of people have found our site while searching for "naugahyde", "nauga", "nauga collections" and "naugahyde shoes". Apparently we are result number 15 in a Google search for "naugahyde" and 24 in a AT&T Yahoo search. We're 47 in the AT&T Yahoo search for "nauga" but we're 35 in a Google search. Here's where it gets super impressive. If you're looking for "nauga shoes" we're number 3 on Google and AT&T Yahoo. If you're looking for "naugahyde shoes" you'll find us in the #2 spot on both searches! Yah baby! We're almost famous!
It's my goal now to not stop until we're number one in at least one of those searches. My proposal to Jenni is going to be that we add a page to BehindtheNaugahyde.com that tells the history of Naugahyde and that we even have a section on saving the naugas.
Why would we put so much effort so that random people could stop by see that our website has relatively little to do with actual naugahyde and then quickly navigate away from our page? Because one day a literary agent or even a book publisher is going to be in need of a fake leather-looking couch and in their search they will happen upon our website. It will be history in the making. Or maybe it will just generate some interest in the book. At the very least it will explain what the heck naugahyde is to all those people out there scratching their heads.
When I checked the site meter it had a quite a few visits so I checked the details and apparently lots of people have found our site while searching for "naugahyde", "nauga", "nauga collections" and "naugahyde shoes". Apparently we are result number 15 in a Google search for "naugahyde" and 24 in a AT&T Yahoo search. We're 47 in the AT&T Yahoo search for "nauga" but we're 35 in a Google search. Here's where it gets super impressive. If you're looking for "nauga shoes" we're number 3 on Google and AT&T Yahoo. If you're looking for "naugahyde shoes" you'll find us in the #2 spot on both searches! Yah baby! We're almost famous!
It's my goal now to not stop until we're number one in at least one of those searches. My proposal to Jenni is going to be that we add a page to BehindtheNaugahyde.com that tells the history of Naugahyde and that we even have a section on saving the naugas.
Why would we put so much effort so that random people could stop by see that our website has relatively little to do with actual naugahyde and then quickly navigate away from our page? Because one day a literary agent or even a book publisher is going to be in need of a fake leather-looking couch and in their search they will happen upon our website. It will be history in the making. Or maybe it will just generate some interest in the book. At the very least it will explain what the heck naugahyde is to all those people out there scratching their heads.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
ConTEMPLATEing
I've bee considering change my template for a few reasons. One of them is that I will be able to use some of the features on new blogger and the other is because I honestly have no clue why I have my current template. I'm not really picky about the set up of my blog so that isn't my concern. I'm just not sure why I picked the color scheme. Not that I hate it or anything it's just that I usually chose red when given a choice. So either red wasn't available, I missed it, or I hated it for some reason. It was so long ago I honestly don't remember.
Anyway, I'm thinking I might change it so that I can have a list of my labels and as motivation to finally make a list of links to all the blogs I read since I'll have to redo all my links. If I do change it I'm torn because they do have an updated version of the template that I have now or I can get something new. Decisions.
In other news, I got my first rejection notice of the year but it wasn't from a submission I sent this year so I'm not sure what it counts as and it really doesn't matter anyway. Jenni and I also got a rejection from an agent (sorry I forgot to mention that in my e-mail Jenni) and that was sent out last year too. Lets hope submissions sent out in 2007 have a little more luck.
Anyway, I'm thinking I might change it so that I can have a list of my labels and as motivation to finally make a list of links to all the blogs I read since I'll have to redo all my links. If I do change it I'm torn because they do have an updated version of the template that I have now or I can get something new. Decisions.
In other news, I got my first rejection notice of the year but it wasn't from a submission I sent this year so I'm not sure what it counts as and it really doesn't matter anyway. Jenni and I also got a rejection from an agent (sorry I forgot to mention that in my e-mail Jenni) and that was sent out last year too. Lets hope submissions sent out in 2007 have a little more luck.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
I need ink, stamps and to finish a story!
With all the madness that is my life, I haven't really been able to stay focused on writing anything. Last night I couldn't sleep so I decided to look up some agents for Behind the Naugahyde. I found three that accepted e-mail queries so I went ahead and sent them. (Sorry, I didn't ask first Jenni, but I didn't think you'd mind).
I just can't wait until I can afford new ink jets and stamps. I like doing submissions when I need something to do but I can't seem to focus or when I have writer's block.
With Friday the 13th and Halloween coming up its an excellent time to write a scary story. Perhaps finishing the vampire story that I continue to talk about but never finish. The mood is already set for it and the T.V. is just running non-stop with inspiration. Yet with everything that is going on with my family I can't seem to find the motivation for that story. I really have to try and push through that. If I can't finish something because crazy stuff is happening, then I'll never get anything finished.
One of my former professors came into the shoe store this weekend. And he said something like, "If I recall you did well in my class. You were a really good writer." I would have thought I heard him wrong but my co-worker mentioned that she heard him say it too. I'm sure he says that to all his former students he runs into but I'm just going to pretend I'm special. That will make me feel a little bit better.
I just can't wait until I can afford new ink jets and stamps. I like doing submissions when I need something to do but I can't seem to focus or when I have writer's block.
With Friday the 13th and Halloween coming up its an excellent time to write a scary story. Perhaps finishing the vampire story that I continue to talk about but never finish. The mood is already set for it and the T.V. is just running non-stop with inspiration. Yet with everything that is going on with my family I can't seem to find the motivation for that story. I really have to try and push through that. If I can't finish something because crazy stuff is happening, then I'll never get anything finished.
One of my former professors came into the shoe store this weekend. And he said something like, "If I recall you did well in my class. You were a really good writer." I would have thought I heard him wrong but my co-worker mentioned that she heard him say it too. I'm sure he says that to all his former students he runs into but I'm just going to pretend I'm special. That will make me feel a little bit better.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Flyers and the fest.
I forgot to update yesterday and give details of the 'Reading, writing, and rockin' fest'.
I made a flyer using the "about the book" section of our website and then put the sample pages from the book that I had previously posted here. Then I wrote a little blurb(featured below) about why we we're handing out flyers and had a website before the book was published.
Fortunately for me, Jenni caught that I had one minor and one major typo after I had printed all of the flyers. So that was not so good. That's okay because I went through all the flyers, crossed out the typo and wrote "obviously we need an editor too,' hopefully adding to the attempted funniness of the paragraph.
As for the show itself. It was cold, it was windy. Few people were set up to sell and promote things, even fewer people came to the show. So the flyers that were given out are probably still blowing around downtown.
Don't worry, we're not giving up. We're going to stick with the flyers. There is a huge college campus not far from here and several other places to promote the site.
I made a flyer using the "about the book" section of our website and then put the sample pages from the book that I had previously posted here. Then I wrote a little blurb(featured below) about why we we're handing out flyers and had a website before the book was published.
Fortunately for me, Jenni caught that I had one minor and one major typo after I had printed all of the flyers. So that was not so good. That's okay because I went through all the flyers, crossed out the typo and wrote "obviously we need an editor too,' hopefully adding to the attempted funniness of the paragraph.
As for the show itself. It was cold, it was windy. Few people were set up to sell and promote things, even fewer people came to the show. So the flyers that were given out are probably still blowing around downtown.
Don't worry, we're not giving up. We're going to stick with the flyers. There is a huge college campus not far from here and several other places to promote the site.
Two struggling writers are creating a hilarious novel, Behind the Naugahyde, and all they want is to get it published so that their moms can buy it. They've sent out letters to agents and publishers from all around and while a few have been interested, they've mostly just acquired a stack of 'Dear Author' letters. To help their publishing plans along, Ashley and Jenni came up with an idea.
They made a website for their book, Behind the Naugahyde. This site features details about the book, its authors and notes from the characters. Now all they need are people to stop by, enjoy the website and tell the world about it. Then publishers and agents will check it out and say " Wow! So many people love this book, we have to publish it!"
visit: www.behindthenaugahyde.com
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
QUIRKY but not in a good way!
After sending out the first pages of our novel to the possible agent, I sat by my computer checking my e-mail every second. Just as I was getting ready to go to work an e-mail arrived. I was too nervous to open it so I went to work.
Then I called Jenni later to tell her I was dying to know what it said and she thought I was nuts for not opening it. So we agreed that she would call me or have her internet hooked up by the time I got home and we would open it together.
All night I kept thinking that I wished we had gotten a chance to edit it and it would probably say the same thing as the Writer's House letter.
Jenni kept me waiting six minutes past scheduled time, which nearly killed me.
I finally opened it and this is what it said.
"....I took a look; it's hilarious and the fragmented structure works really well. But it's a tad quirky and I'm not entirely sure I'd be able to secure a publisher."
Now you can see how reading the first part can get your heart going a mile a minute only to have it smashed the next second. But it was better than the last response so it's encouraging and it made me feel way better about not having edited it.
The Writer's House letter had said they didn't think the fragmented style worked, which makes it clear that writing is very subjective. And I almost fell out of chair laughing when he said quirky after last night's post. Although he used quirky kind of negatively and it was actually the positive choice for my question.
I considered begging him to reconsider and just try to find a publisher but instead Jenni's going to send a nice thank you note.
Now our plans are to finish editing chapter 5 and then we'll go back and read through 1-5. We hope to make a list of notes and questions that we can give to a few samples readers and get some feedback, seeing as Liza Dawson Associates thought it was pretty good and Writer's House was more toward the not-so-great side. We're a little confused about what we should be fixing.
That's the plan for now.
Then I called Jenni later to tell her I was dying to know what it said and she thought I was nuts for not opening it. So we agreed that she would call me or have her internet hooked up by the time I got home and we would open it together.
All night I kept thinking that I wished we had gotten a chance to edit it and it would probably say the same thing as the Writer's House letter.
Jenni kept me waiting six minutes past scheduled time, which nearly killed me.
I finally opened it and this is what it said.
"....I took a look; it's hilarious and the fragmented structure works really well. But it's a tad quirky and I'm not entirely sure I'd be able to secure a publisher."
Now you can see how reading the first part can get your heart going a mile a minute only to have it smashed the next second. But it was better than the last response so it's encouraging and it made me feel way better about not having edited it.
The Writer's House letter had said they didn't think the fragmented style worked, which makes it clear that writing is very subjective. And I almost fell out of chair laughing when he said quirky after last night's post. Although he used quirky kind of negatively and it was actually the positive choice for my question.
I considered begging him to reconsider and just try to find a publisher but instead Jenni's going to send a nice thank you note.
Now our plans are to finish editing chapter 5 and then we'll go back and read through 1-5. We hope to make a list of notes and questions that we can give to a few samples readers and get some feedback, seeing as Liza Dawson Associates thought it was pretty good and Writer's House was more toward the not-so-great side. We're a little confused about what we should be fixing.
That's the plan for now.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Quirky not crazy, right?
Today has been CRAZY!
To start everything off I hadn't heard from Jenni in a while. I figured that she was moving and starting her new teaching job so she was probably just busy. Part of me also thought maybe she was mad at me for saying that perhaps she was overly intelligent in my comments on chapter 5.
Since I was assuming she was just busy I tried not to stress that we were suppose to be editing chapters 1-5 and then sending them to a sample audience. After all there was no rush.
I woke up today and I felt like hell. I tried getting out of bed but when I threw up while showering I figured I'd better get some bed rest. (Sorry I'm sure that's more than anyone wanted to know).
I'm resting peacefully when I'm woken up by the phone ringing. I almost didn't get the phone call because they asked for Jennifer, not Ashley, but luck was on my side. It was an agent calling that I had sent a query to last week, he wanted to see our first 50-100 pages. I felt like a moron because he had to call since I forgot to put an e-mail address on the letter. Not to mention I got busted screening my calls.
You'd think now I'd be happy but I'm in serious distress. After our Writer's House rejection we decided to edit our first chapters. That hasn't been done and I have to get the e-mail out to the agent right away. I'm thinking I could wait until tomorrow morning but would that be enough time to edit? Of course, it was Jenni's first day at her new job (Yay Jenni!) so I left a few messages and she got a hold of me later at work. We decided to just send what we had and not try to rush edit it. After all writing's a subjective business; one person may like it and another may not.
Once I got home from work I hopped on-line and typed a nice cordial e-mail. When I went to put the book title in the subject line it occurred to me that I had not changed the book title, to "Behind the Naugahyde", when I sent out the last batch of query letters. So rather than confuse the guy, since he was already thinking I was nuts after the phone call fiasco earlier, I just stuck with Shoe Crew for now.
I send it off and ten seconds later I get a note saying the mail can't be sent because the address doesn't exist. I double check and find I had typed it in wrong. Okay. I re-type the address and send it off....without the attachment. Once I realized what I had done I kept hoping I would get another e-mail saying I had put in the wrong address but not this time. Now I had to send another e-mail apologizing for my incompetence and with the file attached.
Hopefully, he thinks I'm quirky rather than insane.
That's my crazy day folks.
To start everything off I hadn't heard from Jenni in a while. I figured that she was moving and starting her new teaching job so she was probably just busy. Part of me also thought maybe she was mad at me for saying that perhaps she was overly intelligent in my comments on chapter 5.
Since I was assuming she was just busy I tried not to stress that we were suppose to be editing chapters 1-5 and then sending them to a sample audience. After all there was no rush.
I woke up today and I felt like hell. I tried getting out of bed but when I threw up while showering I figured I'd better get some bed rest. (Sorry I'm sure that's more than anyone wanted to know).
I'm resting peacefully when I'm woken up by the phone ringing. I almost didn't get the phone call because they asked for Jennifer, not Ashley, but luck was on my side. It was an agent calling that I had sent a query to last week, he wanted to see our first 50-100 pages. I felt like a moron because he had to call since I forgot to put an e-mail address on the letter. Not to mention I got busted screening my calls.
You'd think now I'd be happy but I'm in serious distress. After our Writer's House rejection we decided to edit our first chapters. That hasn't been done and I have to get the e-mail out to the agent right away. I'm thinking I could wait until tomorrow morning but would that be enough time to edit? Of course, it was Jenni's first day at her new job (Yay Jenni!) so I left a few messages and she got a hold of me later at work. We decided to just send what we had and not try to rush edit it. After all writing's a subjective business; one person may like it and another may not.
Once I got home from work I hopped on-line and typed a nice cordial e-mail. When I went to put the book title in the subject line it occurred to me that I had not changed the book title, to "Behind the Naugahyde", when I sent out the last batch of query letters. So rather than confuse the guy, since he was already thinking I was nuts after the phone call fiasco earlier, I just stuck with Shoe Crew for now.
I send it off and ten seconds later I get a note saying the mail can't be sent because the address doesn't exist. I double check and find I had typed it in wrong. Okay. I re-type the address and send it off....without the attachment. Once I realized what I had done I kept hoping I would get another e-mail saying I had put in the wrong address but not this time. Now I had to send another e-mail apologizing for my incompetence and with the file attached.
Hopefully, he thinks I'm quirky rather than insane.
That's my crazy day folks.
Monday, August 07, 2006
A funny thing happened
Jenni and I decided to get together today and plan the next chapters of our book. Originally, I was going to drive to her house but since my accelerator decided it would like to get stuck and give me a heart attack while I nearly rear end several cars, we decided it would be best if she stopped by my house.
I have to say I think these chapters will be the best yet. One idea we had was so funny that I burst out into laughter before I could even manage to tell Jenni what it was. It was just that good. Hopefully, we can tell the story as well as we picture it in our crazy heads because we were laughing so much while we were outlining it.
Since Jenni and I were at my house and it seemed as if fate had stepped in to get us both at my house rather than hers, I was almost certain a letter would come from Writer's House today. By the time Jenni left, the mail had not arrived. Even though the mail had missed Jenni the letter came today.
I called Jen and opened it while we were on the phone. I'm sure everyone has assumed that I would not have taken this long to get around to telling you the awesome news had it been good news at all. The assumption was correct. It was an "unfortunately" letter. They did give us some good feedback, making it slightly more bearable than a "Dear Author" letter.
Now our plan is to write out the chapters we planned today and then go back and work on the first chapters. We'll also be working on getting out more submissions. If all else fails, "We'll publish through a vanity press then get it on Oprah."
Just saw: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
I have to say I think these chapters will be the best yet. One idea we had was so funny that I burst out into laughter before I could even manage to tell Jenni what it was. It was just that good. Hopefully, we can tell the story as well as we picture it in our crazy heads because we were laughing so much while we were outlining it.
Since Jenni and I were at my house and it seemed as if fate had stepped in to get us both at my house rather than hers, I was almost certain a letter would come from Writer's House today. By the time Jenni left, the mail had not arrived. Even though the mail had missed Jenni the letter came today.
I called Jen and opened it while we were on the phone. I'm sure everyone has assumed that I would not have taken this long to get around to telling you the awesome news had it been good news at all. The assumption was correct. It was an "unfortunately" letter. They did give us some good feedback, making it slightly more bearable than a "Dear Author" letter.
Now our plan is to write out the chapters we planned today and then go back and work on the first chapters. We'll also be working on getting out more submissions. If all else fails, "We'll publish through a vanity press then get it on Oprah."
Just saw: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Edit first!
My goal for today was to write a query letter and send some submissions to agents. Of course they want a synopsis of the book you are trying to get them to read. It makes sense to me so this is not a complaint. My trouble is that I realize I should edit the book first. I guess I should have figured that in the first place. Now I'll just have to send out different submissions for a while. I'm thinking my final story for creative writing.
Also, I'm a little sad I just found out they were raising postage and I have a lot of stamps that I have previously purchased. Now I have to get those crazy 2 cent stamps.
For the record, in case there is anyone but probably not, my blog is not blocked from anonymous comments. If you are not a member of blogspot you can still tell me I suck by clicking on 'comment'. Of course I'm being presumptuous that someone actually reads this. I'd make the joke "that someone other than my mom might actually reads this", but she doesn't either. That's how bad my writing is.
Also, I'm a little sad I just found out they were raising postage and I have a lot of stamps that I have previously purchased. Now I have to get those crazy 2 cent stamps.
For the record, in case there is anyone but probably not, my blog is not blocked from anonymous comments. If you are not a member of blogspot you can still tell me I suck by clicking on 'comment'. Of course I'm being presumptuous that someone actually reads this. I'd make the joke "that someone other than my mom might actually reads this", but she doesn't either. That's how bad my writing is.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
CRAZY IDEAS!
Okay, so lately I have some weird ideas for writing projects. I felt like sharing them with you.
1. I write a small novel every time I e-mail my friend Jenni. Usually they are pretty interesting. Often they are about crazy people at work. I am going to start saving them to a file and create a memoirs book out of them. All the e-mails are rather interesting really. While most of it may be things you can read on my livejournal or hers, I still think they are fabulous. Maybe I'll save reply e-mails and have a co-author. Who knows?
2.I know I said that poetry wasn't my thing but I have to say I loved my sonnet. I know it was the farthest thing from the best literature ever, but it was fun. Writing it was fun and I loved peoples reaction to it. Sure they thought it was silly but I'm cool with that. So here's my crazy idea. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets (I think?). I'm going to do the same. However, they will not be about love, emotion, time, and seasons. Oh no folks I'm going to write each of my sonnets about a different comic book superhero. If I run out of hero's I'm heading to villains. Then I'll make a book out of them. That's my crazy idea. Hopefully, nobody steals it.
3. My novel is near finished probably by the end of the week. What then you ask? I need an agent. I'm going to do it folks, I'm writing query letters and I'm looking for an agent. I don't know if I have enough publishing credits or talent but I'm gonna give it a whirl.
4. I have a short-short that I would never have considered anything. I wrote it for class as my in class writing assignment. My teacher suggested putting it into a contest. I really didn't understand why but I'm giving it a shot.
I'll keep you posted on all of the above. I know it's crazy but one of them just might work!
1. I write a small novel every time I e-mail my friend Jenni. Usually they are pretty interesting. Often they are about crazy people at work. I am going to start saving them to a file and create a memoirs book out of them. All the e-mails are rather interesting really. While most of it may be things you can read on my livejournal or hers, I still think they are fabulous. Maybe I'll save reply e-mails and have a co-author. Who knows?
2.I know I said that poetry wasn't my thing but I have to say I loved my sonnet. I know it was the farthest thing from the best literature ever, but it was fun. Writing it was fun and I loved peoples reaction to it. Sure they thought it was silly but I'm cool with that. So here's my crazy idea. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets (I think?). I'm going to do the same. However, they will not be about love, emotion, time, and seasons. Oh no folks I'm going to write each of my sonnets about a different comic book superhero. If I run out of hero's I'm heading to villains. Then I'll make a book out of them. That's my crazy idea. Hopefully, nobody steals it.
3. My novel is near finished probably by the end of the week. What then you ask? I need an agent. I'm going to do it folks, I'm writing query letters and I'm looking for an agent. I don't know if I have enough publishing credits or talent but I'm gonna give it a whirl.
4. I have a short-short that I would never have considered anything. I wrote it for class as my in class writing assignment. My teacher suggested putting it into a contest. I really didn't understand why but I'm giving it a shot.
I'll keep you posted on all of the above. I know it's crazy but one of them just might work!
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