An Author's Work Is Never Done

Rewrote my query letter because my editor had some suggestions. I think it's a better letter as a result. So I edited all my models (saves time) both for "mainstream" and erotica publishers.

One publisher's entry in Writer's Market said authors who have marketing ideas for their manuscripts have a better chance of getting published. How's this for an idea: swing clubs that have BDSM'rs into science fiction/fantasy, and who don't mind seeing the genres bent. Worth a shot...

And, They're Off!

A couple, anyway. I always try to send the email queries first. The paper ones come later. Lucky for my and other wannabe authors' budgets, email is usually the preferred means of communications. At first I thought the rest were Luddites, but then I realized what better way to weed out those who aren't serious by putting them through all kinds of absurd hoops in hopes that some editor will at least glance at the damned thing before throwing it in the trash? So I hope Edge likes what I sent...

Wish me luck. Again.

How Does She DO That???

Okay. I showed my editor what I'd done. She said I was still trying to cram too much information in my one-liner, and took a "stab" at it, and sent it to me.

It was damned near perfect. And she's only read the first and last sixty pages of the book--just under a third of the ms!

So of course I'm going to use it in my queries. I mean, she cut it down (way down) from what I'd written, so some of the words are mine, right? You know, I really hope this sort of thing comes with practice, because I was ready to tear out what little hair I have left over this.

I almost dread having to come up with a one-liner for Jahannan's Children.

Round Two

Here's a second stab at writing a one-liner for The Underground. Fifty words. Twice as long as the panelist at the RWA conference recommended, but she also said that fifty is okay. Not great, but okay. I'll take it.

This time I left out a whole bunch of stuff because it feels like I'd have to explain rationale, motives, da-da da-da da-da. Melera particularly comes off as a helpless damsel in distress. In distress? Yes. Helpless? Hell, no. But I'm trying to get agent/publisher eyes to at least read my query letter, and since TU is anything but business as usual, I guess boiling it down to its understandable aspects is the only thing to do. And, since TU really belongs to Parker, it only makes sense to make him the actor in this one line cast of characters.

"A werewolf, humiliated by how his mage lover had tricked him into serving a vampire he hates, must prove that the beautiful, amnesiac alien he rescued and then fell for isn't the serial killer stalking the city before civil war erupts between preternaturals and humans over the murders."

I sent it to my editor and asked for her opinion. I'm almost afraid to see what she says.

Bitch Session

Okay, I know you're tired of hearing me whine about computers, but get over it.

Found out that Acrobat 8 may not run on a 64-bit platform. Tech support told me "we've never tested it, but you're welcome to do so yourself." Excuse me? Test a product of yours on my brand new computer? Bitch, you best check yo'self! And then I look on the website and yes, there's an Acrobat 9 that'll support what I have. It's just $449.00 bucks. Not much more than what I paid for 8 a couple of years ago. Not exactly what I'd call a good return on my hard-earned dollars, either.

I've a couple more people to ask about this type of thing too...hopefully, it won't mean that I paid big bucks for apps that are, well, outdated.

*raises fist and whirls it around* Onward and upward in a left-handed spiraling motion...

Duh...

Forgot to mention that I'm no longer twiddling thumbs over MSO 2003. Finally occurred to me to just download what I wanted on the thumb drive, load it, and go on from there. So now I'm puttering happily about on Dr. Asus. Sometimes it just takes me a while, folks.

Anyway, now that I'm using Dr. Mac more (like right now), I'm going to get it upgraded so I can install Snow Leopard. Then maybe I can make up my own Administrator name and password so I can do stuff that I can't do now because I can't remember the damned password...

*sigh*

Capclave RFR...Wow

Capclave is coming up really soon, and the Broad's RFR is on Saturday Oct. 17th from 1-2 pm. So far, there are like three folks signed up. Of course, more could sign up between now and Oct. 12th--the organizer's drop dead date--but Mother, if there will only be three of us...that's a lot of reading. Assuming the panel plans for an hour, given the minimal time it would take for introductions, the three of us might each end up with 20 minutes. Of course, we do want to leave time for Q&A, but still...

But not to fear, for I'm certainly up to the challenge. I've got two chapters, one from The Underground and the other from Jahannan's Children that I'll read. One or the other, that is--not both. They're pretty clean as far as my writing goes, but if there are any little kids in the room, I'll tone down the one or two curse words. Is PC still in?

You know, it's just occurred to me that it'd be fun to learn some new curse words, huh? Make some up, even?

I'm game. How 'bout you?