Hello from revision land! I wish I had a better excuse for my lack of posts recently, but really I just kept forgetting my password. Anyway. Let’s catch up. After having two manuscripts accepted into competitive mentorship programs (PitchWars and Author Mentor Match) only to have them die in the query trenches, I indulged in…
Media Kit
What is KidLit, anyway? (Part 1)
May people who aren’t writers or teachers (and even some who are) may not understand the different categories of children’s literature, aka “KidLit.” You may be thinking, “So? Who cares?” But, if you have a child, know a child, or teach children, you probably should. See, adults who don’t understand the differences may struggle to…
Liminality: The Promise and the Fear of Between
I am currently between projects. This is an uncomfortable place for me. I tend to juggle multiple works in progress simultaneously–drafting a shiny new idea, revising another, and querying or polishing another. It’s how I began my writing “career” (as of yet unpaid, but I refuse to call it a hobby) and it’s the only…
The Agent Showcase: Advice from a PitchWars Flop
First, DISCLAIMERS: I don’t actually consider myself, or anyone, a “PitchWars flop,” but, “Advice from a PitchWars-mentee-who-didn’t-achieve-her-showcase-goal-but-learned-and-made-friends-and-is-still-querying-and-hasn’t-given-up’” isn’t QUITE as pithy. (Plus, I’ll know who actually reads and who doesn’t from the “hey, don’t call yourself that!” responses. *devil horns*) Also, Pitchwars had a major evolution this past year (2018), with much thought and care…
Books by other Emilys
Sorry I’ve gone dark recently, friends. I was so determined to have my current manuscript ready to query by October but that did not happen, so I’ve been scrambling to get back on track for a while now, while juggling a writing class, kids, volunteering at Writer House and a kitten rescue, plus the self-induced…
Queries? Must we?
Hey, let’s talk about queries. Evil little suckers, aren’t they? I loathe queries. When they’re mine, at least. Months of carefully crafting a story, with all its layers and themes and emotional motivations, and then we’re expected to condense it down to 250 words? Ugh, misery. I think we should all just write each other’s…
Line Edits: Tightening up that Prose
My mother is an editor and a former English teacher. Now, granted, she edits medical manuscripts rather than young adult novels, but it’s fair to say my elementary school essays got more intense critique than most. I also live in a town with a wonderful writing non-profit where I take classes and participate in writing…
More Pitchwars Class of 2017 Books Deals
I’m working on a long post about writing tricks and tips I’ve learned over the years, but it’s taking a while, so in the meantime, I am here to bulk up your GoodReads “To Read” lists once more. CLICK HERE FOR THE FIRST BATCH Drumroll, please… ADULT THE BODY MYTH, by Rheea Mukherjee Blurb: Mira…
Okay, fine.
I’ve been stalling, I’ll admit it. For months, I’ve been mentally drafting my “PitchWars Eve” post. “Soon,” I’d tell myself. “After I hear back from Agent X. Then I’ll write it.” But there was always another agent. Another query. Another excuse. Another reason to postpone it. Because I knew what kind of post I wanted…
Get Thee to GoodReads
It makes me a little lightheaded every time I think about it, but my PitchWars 2017 classmates are starting to pop up all over GoodReads and I’M SO EXCITED! Add these to your want-to-read list today! ADULT TEMPER, by Layne Fargo GoodReads Blurb: Two ambitious women drawn into the mind games of a manipulative theater…