Into which one would you put your mail?
Filed under Photo by author, Photo Finish Friday
Deep in the forest /
a bird sings passionately /
the heart hunts alone.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
By Peggy Eddleman
Note: There is also a giveaway you can be eligible for if you go to the link above and post a comment.
Tip #1: If you can get a pitch session with an agent/editor, do it!
Agents get tons of queries every single day, and a good 90% of them come from people who haven’t worked very hard to perfect their craft. Agents know that if you go to conferences, you’re likely in the 10% who have. If you go to a conference and pitch, you’re likely a top 10% writer who has a book close to being worthy of representation. It also gives both of you a chance to meet each other, and that’s invaluable.
Tip #2: If you don’t register in time to schedule a pitch session, get on a waiting list.
Pitch sessions fill up quickly. People get nervous, though, or don’t get their book ready in time, so they cancel often. They shouldn’t, but they do, and this is good for anyone who is on the waiting list.
Tip #3: Figure out what you want to cover during your pitch session.
Don’t memorize a script, but do memorize the points you want to cover. Then you can talk like a normal person about it. And definitely practice talking like a normal person about it to everyone who will listen. The more comfortable you feel when talking about your book, the better your pitch session will go.
Tip #4: Go with other questions in mind.
I speed-talked my way through my first pitch session, because when I’m nervous I don’t ramble– I leave things out. So my pitch was done in less than 30 seconds. After asking me a few questions, the agent requested my full. Then she said, “Do you have any questions for me?” I hadn’t thought about questions for her! I sat there, feeling awkward, said, “Um…. Nope?” then shook her hand and left, with seven minutes of our meeting unused.
Don’t do what I did! Use that time to ask about their agenting style. Ask about the industry. Ask about the process. Ask about craft. Ask questions about your plot. Ask about anything writing related. Chat. See how your personalities mesh. Just don’t leave seven minutes early. You paid for that time– use it.
Tips 5, 6, and 7 available at http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/7-tips-for-pitching-to-an-agent-or-editor-at-a-conference?et_mid=658011&rid=239626420
Filed under Writing Tip Wednesday
I once knew a writer addicted to the Hokey Pokey, but then she turned herself around. That’s what it’s all about.
Filed under Monday morning writing joke
The world will end when /
beauty ends and beauty ends /
when you say good-bye.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
Sometimes it takes more spark than you think to make it all work.
Filed under cartoon by author, CarToonsday
Sometimes, it’s harder to catch a break form a doctor than to catch a cold.
I went to see my doctor the other day and he said he had bad news.
I said, “What, doctor? Are you moving away?”
He said, “No. But you only have six months to live.”
I said, “Doctor, I want a second opinion.”
He said, “Okay. Your writing won’t outlive you.”
Filed under Monday morning writing joke, no respect
No wonder the rich get richer. They get government handouts.
Sample of the text:
There are thousands of tax breaks and subsidies for the rich and corporations provided by federal, state and local governments, but these 10 will give a taste.
1. State and local subsidies to corporations: An excellent New York Times study by Louise Story calculated that state and local government provide at least $80 billion in subsidies to corporations. Over 48 big corporations received over $100 million each. GM was the biggest, at a total of $1.7 billion extracted from 16 different states, but Shell, Ford and Chrysler all received over $1 billion each. Amazon, Microsoft, Prudential, Boeing and casino companies in Colorado and New Jersey received well over $200 million each.
2. Direct federal subsidies to corporations: The Cato Institute estimates that federal subsidies to corporations cost taxpayers almost $100 billion every year.
3. Federal tax breaks for corporations: The tax code gives corporations special tax breaks that have reduced what is supposed to be a 35-percent tax rate to an actual tax rate of 13 percent, saving these corporations an additional $200 billion annually, according to the US Government Accountability Office.
4. Federal tax breaks for wealthy hedge fund managers: Special tax breaks for hedge fund managers allow them to pay only a 15-percent rate while the people they earned the money for usually pay a 35-percent rate. This is the break where the multimillionaire manager pays less of a percentage in taxes than her secretary. The National Priorities Project estimates this costs taxpayers $83 billion annually, and 68 percent of those who receive this special tax break earn more than $462,500 per year (the top 1 percent of earners).
Filed under Uncategorized
Yo, dig my shades?
Yo, yo, I don’t know
but I’ve been told
mean ol’ homework
will rot my soul.
Yo, yo, I don’t know
but I’ve been told
mean ol’ chores
are an empty bowl.
Yo, yo, I don’t know
but I’ve been told
walkin’ to school
is hard on the sole.
Yo, yo, I don’t know
but so it goes
I done counted
and I have ten toes.
Yo, yo, I don’t know
and may never be told
when this silly rhyme
starts to get old.
Filed under Photo by author, Photo Finish Friday, poetry by author
Young woman’s torn face /
droops from the magazine /
model off the rack.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
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