What Happens Next: Submission Series

Once you’ve polished your manuscript, put together a brilliant cover letter, and made sure to mind your manners, there’s only one thing left to do: wait.

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Waiting is the absolute worst. There’s nothing you can do but twiddle your thumbs and wonder until you hear back. It could be days, weeks, or even months. And if you’re anything like me, you immediately start thinking of how to improve the story or things that need changing.

And then you finally hear back. But, good news or bad news, what exactly are you supposed to do next?

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Etiquette Lesson: Submission Series

Happy New Year, word nerds!

I thought we’d start 2017 off with an etiquette lesson. After all, you want to make the best possible impression this year, don’t you?

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Unfortunately, my knowledge of manners is rather specialized, so I don’t know what good it will do those of you who aren’t sending in articles to magazines. That being said, if you are planning to send articles to magazines (or even book proposals to publishers) this is the list for you!

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I Guess I’m a Real Adult Now?

I graduated from college a year ago. So I’ve been reflecting on the last year and all that’s been going on in my life. And I’ve come to a conclusion.

I’m a real adult now.

And, yes, that should be a fairly obvious conclusion. I’m now 23 years old, so I’m legally an adult. I’ve gotten a degree, moved out of my parents’ house, bought a car, started paying bills, and generally take care of my self.

So I’ve considered myself an adult for a while.

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Preparing Your Story for Submission

Welcome, dear friends and readers, to the Hunger Games!… I mean, the submission series! Honestly, it can feel like a fight to the death when manuscripts are being evaluated. Which one is better? Which will be the last one standing?

In this third installment of my submission success series, we’ll be looking at the best way to get your story all dolled up and ready for the ball, without a midnight curfew.

Are these metaphors getting weird? They’re getting weird. Onto the point, then!

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NaNo Update: Week 3

I hate to say it, but I’ve abandoned my novella for the time being.

I’ve never been able to just take a sliver of an idea and just write, like some writers I know (and admire). I like to let ideas percolate and develop. And with the time crunch (writing upwards of 20000 words, editing, polishing, and getting feedback by the beginning of January) the story just wasn’t coming along quickly enough. I was stuck with only a vague idea of where I wanted to go. I was also struck with that writer’s curse, the “I’d really rather work on that other story” niggles that only seem to pop up once you commit to one project.

That being said, I’m not abandoning the story forever. I just need to let the idea simmer for a while before I come back to it.

And I’m not abandoning NaNo, either. I’m working on a different project that I already had started, so I’m still planning on hitting the 50000 word mark (fingers crossed!).

Interview: Chandler Birch

I’ve got a special treat for you today, word nerds. But first, let me tell you a (short) story.

Four years ago I was a tiny freshman at Taylor University in the Professional Writing program. Two years ahead of me was another student, Chandler Birch. I didn’t know him terribly well, but he was obviously very passionate about storytelling.

Last week, Chandler’s debut novel came out.

The official cover of The Facefaker’s Game. Nice, isn’t it?

That’s right folks, you can find The Facefaker’s Game online or in a bookstore near you. I think it’s pretty incredible.

I reached out to Chandler and he kindly agreed to answer some questions for me, and by extension, you.

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