Voice for Writers

When writers submit a query with an example of their work, they wait and sometimes wait and wait to hear back. And, like Tom  Petty said, The Waiting is the Hardest  Part.  

But then when that long-anticipated email arrives, excitement floods the writer's heart.

Sometimes, it is a quick let down with the only bit of feedback saying, "The sample didn't speak to me." Or, sometimes the feedback might be, "The voice didn't resonate with me."

"The Voice" might seem like an easy thing to capture but it's not always so easy.

Voice is a  difficult thing to define but literary agent Rachel Gardner said, "Your writer's voice is the expression of YOU on the page."

But even hearing this definition, voice is still an "unseen" characteristic of your writing. I think of it as an element that makes the characters come alive. 

This is a clip I put together years ago with my family to help "show not tell" what Voice is. 

Each person will show an example of Voice, that illusive element all writers strive to achieve. 

I hope you enjoy it.

 If you can't view it, copy and  paste this url into your browser: https://youtu.be/_4h_PnIFLzg 

StitchFix Unboxing

If you hate shopping for clothes, like me, check out this video. And, if you get a StitchFix, let me  know. I'd love to hear your input.

3 Literary Agents Looking for Clients - Writerly Wednesday

 

1) Jessica Faust of Bookends Literary: https://bookendsliterary.com/submissions/

Accepting: fiction, women's fiction, mystery, thrillers, suspense and domestic suspense. She enjoys dark stories and loves a Midwestern perspective.

Also accepting: some nonfiction: including current affairs, personal development, self-help, mind, body, and spirit, and business.

She’d also like to represent more business books by women and business leaders of color.

To submit: to Jessica Faust go to her submissions page and submit to her Query Manager form https://querymanager.com/query/jessica_faust

2) Bernadette Baker Baughman of Victoria Sanders Literary: 

https://www.victoriasanders.com/about-us

Accepting: thrillers, contemporary novels, magical realism, young adult, and books for kids.

Also accepting: pop-culture, gift books, and memoir.

To submit: Send a query letter with the first three chapters (or about 25 pages) pasted into the body of the message to queriesvsa @gmail .com 

3) Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Literary: 

https://www.harveyklinger.com/about/harvey/#andrea

Accepting: fiction and nonfiction, including projects for adult, young adult and middle grade audiences.

To submit: Send your query to: andrea @ harveyklinger . com

Words Matter - Be Kind - Spread Positivity

Join me while I craft my words and attempt to spread the seeds of positivity, just click on the video below. 

3 Publishers Accepting Un-agented Author's Picture Book Manuscripts - WRITERLY WEDNESDAY

 

Picture Book Writers, if you're looking for Publishers who will accept manuscripts from unrepresented authors, you might want to take some notes because here are three  publishers accepting unagented picture book manuscripts:

1) 

Albert Whitman & Co accepts submissions from authors without agents:

They are looking for fiction and nonfiction picture books for kids 1 to 8 years old. 

The Word count should not exceed 1000 words. 

Send a cover letter (inside the email) including the following information:

• A brief description of the story;
• Your bio (including any relevant publications and/or pertinent information regarding your expertise related to your story)
• List comparative book titles that have been recently published (during the past five years.) Include similarities and how your manuscript is different.

• You do not need to include illustrations but, if you are an illustrator, include pdfs or jpegs not to exceed 4 MB

Send letter and  attachments to:

• submissions@albertwhitman.com
• The Re: Line (or subject) should read: “PICTURE BOOK: (story title) by (author name).”
• Submission Guidelines for Unrepresented Authors | Albert Whitman & Company

2) 

Charlesbridge Children's Book Submissions: Charlesbridge Children's Book Submissions

Charlesbridge publishes fiction and nonfiction picture books.

They tend to focus on nature, science, math, social studies, biography, history, and the arts.

They accept only digital submissions for all manuscripts, including author/illustrator book dummies.

Send the complete picture book manuscript.

Via Email to:

childrens.submissions@charlesbridge.com

3) 

Flashlight Press

Seeks fictional children’s picture books for children 4-8 years old.

Word Count: Under 1000 words with a universal theme that deals with family or social situations

Email: submissions@flashlightpress.com

Include in the Subject Line Include: QUERY for the Title of Your Manuscript.

Attach your manuscript as a .doc, .docx, or PDF and copy the following text into the body of the email with your responses to the blanks included:

Title of Story: _____________

Word Count: _________

Target Age: ________

Subject or Theme of story (1-5 words): _____________

Summary (3 sentences or less):___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your Name: _____________________________________

Occupation: ________________________________________________

City, State, Country: _________________________________________

If you have been published previously, list titles, publishers, and pub dates: _____________________

Anything else you’d like to tell us: _______________________________________________

Submission Guidelines - Flashlight Press

 

Author Interview of Heather Ransom Science Teacher who Can Almost See th...

 It's Wednesday, May 5, 2021, and it's Cinco De Mayo. I hope you're all having a great sunny day - like we are in Portland, Oregon.

And for my writer friends, I've got an interview from a writer who is also a business owner, a science teacher and has had an eco-mystery published as a trilogy. So, if you're interested in science this might be right up your alley, or perhaps you're interested in writing a trilogy and getting it published, Heather might be the person you'd like to hear from.

So check out my interview of her below.

Flosstube Episode 7 - A Short Update of Progress, Plans and the Blackbir...

My sister and I have been trying to do things  we used  to love to do when we were young. One  of those things is cross-stitching. Sew ;D we're working on projects we can do together - even if we're apart. And one of those projects is a Halloween decoration. And, if you've seen any of my blogs around the Fall, you know I love to decorate my yard for the kids. And this cross-stitch project might give you a clue about this  year's plans for decorating my yard. 

I'm also taking part in a cross-stitch SAL (which is a Stitch Along) and I'm hoping the SAL will help me make some progress on my Blackbird Design-Spell of the Moon (which just happens to be another Fall Themed pattern). 

Plus, there's a little bit about a fiber art stop at Jorsted Creek in Olympia. 

Take a peek below at the short clip, if you're interested in crafting, stitching, knitting and more. 

Plus, Happy May!