I've sent 30 queries so far, and most of them come with a nice notes saying something like, 'I know you will find the right agent' or 'I really considered it, but it wasn't a fit for me'... So at least they are reading the letter and the first few (whatever they requested in QT). I'm trying to stay positive.
I feel you, Jessica! It was sometime in earning a BA in English that I learned about the 8-point arc, so I made a YouTube video tutorial using The Hunger Games as an example. I really have no idea why I never applied this structure to my own novel. After 100+ form rejections from agents, I finally realized, hey, maybe I should use my own video to structure my novel. My editor gave her blessing on my new outline, and I'm rewriting the entire thing right now.
Jessica got feedback on her rejections? I wish I had feedback that stings. I got nothing but form letters. If I got some feedback, it might have cut down on the number of rejections I got. That's the problem -- I have no idea what or if I'm doing something wrong.
Fascinating interview and insights. The ācognitive currencyā description? Apt. Much like research on āworking memoryā indicating that stress overloads adaptability and problem solving capacity. It makes sense similar processes are at work over longer time scales; after all, people are exhausted by the end of the work day or work week, even in desk jobs. That exhaustion shows that the cognitive currency account has been drawn down. Weekendsāor any activity during the week that allows you to rest and rejuvenate, to engage other subjects and, effectively, other parts of your braināamount to mental paydays, increasing your cognitive currency balance.
I share the screenplay epiphany. In my case, I started my novel after reading Sid Fieldās āThe Short Screenplayā. I will definitely read the books mentioned here.
(And now to continue working on my sequel over my lunch hour).
Thank you for sharing this, Jessica! What woke me up to how much I needed to improve my writing game was a short story accepted by the now sadly defunct Fictionvale magazine, managed by editor Venessa Giunta. She accepted a story of mine she said showed a lot of promise, and then she proceeded to tear it apart scene-by-scene and sentence-by-sentence. I spent more time editing that story than I had brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising the first time through! I'd sent her my very best at the time, and she helped shape it into better than the best of what I was capable of.
That started me on the road to seeking to better understand first plot structure and sentence-level clarity (thank you for your Motivation Reaction Unit, Dwight Swain), and now years later, my focus has shifted to emotional resonance and thematic layering. It is a never-ending journey of education and striving to be better, and I love it.
A lot of power comes from the red pen. Don't shy away from it!
I've sent 30 queries so far, and most of them come with a nice notes saying something like, 'I know you will find the right agent' or 'I really considered it, but it wasn't a fit for me'... So at least they are reading the letter and the first few (whatever they requested in QT). I'm trying to stay positive.
I feel you, Jessica! It was sometime in earning a BA in English that I learned about the 8-point arc, so I made a YouTube video tutorial using The Hunger Games as an example. I really have no idea why I never applied this structure to my own novel. After 100+ form rejections from agents, I finally realized, hey, maybe I should use my own video to structure my novel. My editor gave her blessing on my new outline, and I'm rewriting the entire thing right now.
I bought her book. It's awesome
Jessica got feedback on her rejections? I wish I had feedback that stings. I got nothing but form letters. If I got some feedback, it might have cut down on the number of rejections I got. That's the problem -- I have no idea what or if I'm doing something wrong.
Fascinating interview and insights. The ācognitive currencyā description? Apt. Much like research on āworking memoryā indicating that stress overloads adaptability and problem solving capacity. It makes sense similar processes are at work over longer time scales; after all, people are exhausted by the end of the work day or work week, even in desk jobs. That exhaustion shows that the cognitive currency account has been drawn down. Weekendsāor any activity during the week that allows you to rest and rejuvenate, to engage other subjects and, effectively, other parts of your braināamount to mental paydays, increasing your cognitive currency balance.
I share the screenplay epiphany. In my case, I started my novel after reading Sid Fieldās āThe Short Screenplayā. I will definitely read the books mentioned here.
(And now to continue working on my sequel over my lunch hour).
Thank you for sharing this, Jessica! What woke me up to how much I needed to improve my writing game was a short story accepted by the now sadly defunct Fictionvale magazine, managed by editor Venessa Giunta. She accepted a story of mine she said showed a lot of promise, and then she proceeded to tear it apart scene-by-scene and sentence-by-sentence. I spent more time editing that story than I had brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising the first time through! I'd sent her my very best at the time, and she helped shape it into better than the best of what I was capable of.
That started me on the road to seeking to better understand first plot structure and sentence-level clarity (thank you for your Motivation Reaction Unit, Dwight Swain), and now years later, my focus has shifted to emotional resonance and thematic layering. It is a never-ending journey of education and striving to be better, and I love it.
A lot of power comes from the red pen. Don't shy away from it!
I needed this -- such good advice and motivation!
Iām reading Save the Cat! Writes a novel right now. I hope I can finish my current WIP and at least get rejected haha.