Category: Writing

Writing a query letter that hooks the reader

I found another great link on query letter writing, this time from author Jackie Kessler on the Deadline Dames blog. Jackie graciously provides the query letter that got her 11 requests for the full manuscript, then five offers of representation. Within a week after she chose which agent to sign with, her book, Hell’s Belles,…
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Writing a query letter – links

Happy Easter! As much as I like this blog to be read, hopefully you’re all taking a break from publishing (I know, strange for the “write every day” girl to say that) and enjoying your Easter. It’s hard to believe, but some things are more important than our writing. 🙂 I’ve done more research on how to…
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Writing a query step 1

Yesterday was my first day trying to formulate a query letter for my newly (nearly finished) polished novel (I say nearly finished because I’m still waiting for some notes to come in from a writer friend who is reading it). I’ve written query letters before and hated it. I was never any good at writing…
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Author Interview: Rachel Dillon

Today on Day By Day Writer, we welcome debut author Rachel Dillon, a fellow member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Rachel is currently doing a blog tour talking about her book Through Endangered Eyes: A Poetic Journey Into the Wild, published by Windward Books. Here’s her bio: Rachel Dillon was born…
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Dealing with doubts, and Community Story

First my update, and it ends with a goodie. Last week, I said my revision was zooming along. By mid-week, I was back to feeling insecure about the story. Doubts were cloudy my mind. Will people get it? Will people other than me think it’s good? Will they be entertained? Will they understand everything that’s…
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Great openings

Quick status update, I’m still working through the revision of the climactic scene in my novel and am on track to finish the revision of the whole book by this weekend. Fingers crossed. But I wanted to talk about great openings. The first few words, paragraphs, pages of a book are all important, not only…
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Join the Community Story – March 30

I must admit, I feel great. I’m on pace to finish my polish by the end of this week, and I can feel the excitement welling up. That excitement seems to also be helping me wake up early to write. I woke up at 6:45 with no alarm on Sunday and 5:45 this morning. It’s…
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Author Interview: George Singleton

Author George Singleton has stopped by today as part of a blog tour promoting his new book Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds: Wisdom and Advice for Writers, published by Writer’s Digest Books. George has published short stories in a massive amount of magazines (the list is so long, I’ll let you check them out for…
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Writer’s insecurity

I have no idea where I am with my goals. I’m pretty sure I did three chapters this week, but it might have been four. I did work on my revision every day and reworked an entire chapter this morning, and that makes me feel good. But, insecurities and doubts have been looming behind me,…
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Our story update

The next installment for the Community Story is below, but first here’s an update on my goals. I lowered my six-chapter-a-week goal to four chapters a week, but to be honest, I’m not sure if I met it this week because I don’t remember where I left off last week. Despite that, however, the revision…
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