#MomsWritersClub is a channel dedicated to writing AND being a mom--and the intricacies of doing both at once. From writing craft to nap time, we are two moms who hope to help you find your way to feel successful at both.
The best way to survive querying is to have a back up plan for if signing with an agent doesn't transpire. 1st don't query it unless you have edited it to death and it's 100% ready for publication, and not 85% as some agents say. Also format it as an eBook and print book. 2nd start your next project while querying. If after querying the hell out of it , you don't have an agent, don't leave it on your hard drive to be lost to the world, self-publish it, then rinse and repeat with the net project.
I know this is an old video, but I have a 1.5 year old and we do contact naps. Something I’ll do during this time is write on my phone. I find it helps with the guilt a bit because I’m also snuggling my son while I do it but I’m not ignoring him to be on technology
To be honest this is not my area of expertise but I do know that magical realism can be its own genre! I would take a look at your closest comp titles and where they sit on the shelf. That might be your answer.
What's really irritating about choosing comps is it feels like people aren't listening: you tell them about your book, the main character, the main problem, the setting, and they'll blink and say "Yeah, but what is it like?" I met an author with a decades-long career, and he said his agent and editor couldn't get the marketing people to market his book because they wouldn't give comp titles. Everyone told the marketing people what the books were about, but eventually the publishers dropped the book because the marketing department couldn't figure it out. How can people be that ignorant?
I put a sign up on the door that says “Shhh… Mommy’s writing for your future! Please stay out until ____ o’clock, unless it is an emergency. 🚨 ‼️ 🆘 Meanwhile, you can ask the Grown Up On Duty (dad or the sitter) for help until I get out. Thank you! Let’s pray for my success so we can afford the vacation and after school activities you want this year! I’d feel so grateful!” That helped protect my time when I couldn’t afford an office share or unit elsewhere. Or just “shhh… mommy’s working. Enter at your own risk!”
@@MomsWritersClub it is really difficult for them especially when they are young... More than a few times I had to take my laptop to a coffee shop or office share for the day, but when I needed to be there or had shorter assignments, the sign helped, along with keeping regular "office hours" or work hours at home. From 9-12, 2-3x/wk, I am not available. After that, I juggle - whatever works. Often work late night or early morning, too but having a few hours each week chunked out for writing helps them get used to that as just part of our routine. Sometimes I'll set a timer and do a 10 minute prompt while they draw or color. Something I can read to then when the timer goes off and they share their work, too. So it feels like we're working together.
Thank you so much for this. Today, I swear everyone on X was getting agents and I was in my feelings about it. Then, a writing buddy of mine sent back her thoughts on my first 50 pages (she loved it) and it lifted my spirits. The writer friend is a must!
Ignore trolling idiots is my feedback! Thanks for this video, I've been in the trenches for nearly a year now with an adult mystery. I've had positive feedback on my full requests but still no offers. I think I need to change my strategy because I've been trying to query agents interested in modern gothic mysteries and getting nowhere. Part of the pressure I'm feeling is my age, let's just say my kids are grown and in the world, and it often seems like all the querying authors on social media are 20somethings. Shelving a few or more books for them before getting an agent is nothing. I'm not at 100 rejections yet but I'm closing in, lol!
Really helpful, thank you so much!! I was trying to change from present tense which beta readers hated to past. You've provided a lot of insight into how to achieve this.
This so was so incredibly helpful. Your channel was recommended (the RU-vid algorithm knows me well lol) a few days ago and I've been binging your content since. I was wondering if might do an episode where listeners could submit query letters or first pages and you'd provide feedback. That would be really cool.
So glad you are enjoying our channel! Thanks for letting us know. We are both pretty busy right now, but we will definitely consider doing this in the future, thank you for the suggestion!
This was SO helpful! I write urban fantasy and it's not a particularly spicy genre (normally). I have a romantic arc, and I'm looking at ways to show a decent, hot scene without fading to black but also without going to "spicy" and jar my reader out of the overall "feel" of the book series.
Hi Linda. While we appreciate feedback, neither of us feel the need to change how we talk to please any particular person. Women and how they talk have been criticized for decades, usually by men with the intent to control them. It saddens us to think that after watching our whole episode, this is the one thing you felt was appropriate to comment on. We are fans of authentic, unscripted conversations. So if you don’t like, like it, then we respectfully suggest you go elsewhere.
Hi there, Thank you so much for all you do! I find that if I record myself reading a chapter and then go for a walk and listen it really helps me get a different perspective on what is or is not working.
This is so helpful! Thank you. Good to know other writers have similar issues. I just finished my first novel and timing was such a huge issue with my editor. Math. Ugh!
Beta readers and critique partners are not hard to find! Workshop and writers' groups are awesome and abound! Don't take it personal - it's not about you. It's about the work. It's a separate thing. Skip politeness and find effective helpers who will sharpen and better your work by getting different perspectives on it. You don't like all the feedback - that means you're getting good feedback. It should challenge you, politely and professionally, but clearly.
This is valuable info! Thank you! Thank you! 🙇 Off topic question (sorry - is there a link to another video that answers this?): I've heard publishers and distributors are buying rights to certain books at amazing rates... And then sort of burying the books. Like if they're not popular or on step with the current political bend. Is it better to self publish or e-publish? Or at least retain the rights? So far my project wouldn't be against the grain but as things change so quickly these days... It's a rumor I heard recently that concerns me.
Started my new book a couple days ago! While moving my family. It was a fun escape. In general it hempse to have something, like time contracts, to write "against" and it seasons the book with intensity and drive.
I live just outside of Vancouver, Canada and I just looked at Libby to see if your book is on there and it is. I wanted to tell you that I had to put it on HOLD because the one copy is being read, and 3 people are in line before me!!! so excited for you, and me, when I get to read it.
Thank you so much for this! I've been searching for and repairing crutch words, filter phrases etc. for the past several days and have removed 1000 words from my manuscript. It's now shorter and reads much better. I also found several examples of another bad habit I knew I had, but had missed. I have a tendency to try to wrap up a chapter or section. It's so annoying to read, not sure why I do it...I guess I don't even realize I'm doing it. Anyway, thanks again!
I’ve watched a lot of these videos and the one thing you said that is very significant which as I’m out I must’ve overlooked is that it is a business letter, first and foremost. Thank you gals!
Hello. Getting ready to start submitting book number 6 next year. I had the call once, on my first book, only to get the R and R request, which was subsequently rejected. Hurts but I’m ready to set right back in the wagon
