Ray's House of Love Party
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Hey Kathy! Long time no see 
And most of the phones are still down, so I can't get in touch with my family/friends in Lima. I'm just hoping someone calls this evening or I'll try again. I'm sure their okay, but you still worry, you know?
And most of the phones are still down, so I can't get in touch with my family/friends in Lima. I'm just hoping someone calls this evening or I'll try again. I'm sure their okay, but you still worry, you know?
Hey Kathy! Long time no see
And most of the phones are still down, so I can't get in touch with my family/friends in Lima. I'm just hoping someone calls this evening or I'll try again. I'm sure their okay, but you still worry, you know?
It was great meeting you in Pittsburgh. And your little boy is adorable.
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope everyone there is okay.
It was really great to meet you and Don, too. I wish I had more time to hang out with all of you. Lunch went far too fast.
I saw your synopsis, when I can spend more time on it, I'll go check it out.
The difference between synopsis and query though...did you write a query letter too? And don't forget to include the first 5 pages. they are real grabbers!
The difference between synopsis and query though...did you write a query letter too? And don't forget to include the first 5 pages. they are real grabbers!
query letter is: this is who I am, my previous pub history, this is what I wrote, look at this awesome hook and one paragraph description of my kickass book. Then if you'd like to see more...
include the one page synopsis and the first five pages.
(but of course every agent is different, so instead of including a synopsis, you might just have to do the query letter.
It's confusing, and I don't know if I have it in me to do it all either.
Where's a good FREE admin. assistant when you need one?
include the one page synopsis and the first five pages.
(but of course every agent is different, so instead of including a synopsis, you might just have to do the query letter.
It's confusing, and I don't know if I have it in me to do it all either.
Where's a good FREE admin. assistant when you need one?
ooh, don't do that! Don't stress and not send.
CAN WE GET A SUBMITTER'S HELP IN HERE, PLEASE?
Steady those nerves.
here, drink this.
CAN WE GET A SUBMITTER'S HELP IN HERE, PLEASE?
Steady those nerves.
here, drink this.
Stew21 said:
Uh... I've submitted perhaps 40 queries, had about the same number of rejections but finally succeeded with an agent a couple of years ago. It was for screenplays but the principles are the same I think. It's no big deal to query.
Happy to help in any way I can if you want it.
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Please. Start with how it isn't a big deal.
KTC said:
You're a writer. That's it. Everything else is just background noise.
I'm sure, I know we can get this all to a place where you're happy and confident about getting it out there.
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no crashing. We'll help you. I promise it'll be ok. Put on your professional writing hat. Write it like you would write an article. Remove yourself from it. Follow the form. There are successful query samples on here somewhere.
I'll go find them.
Oh, and don't drink the ink. I gave you the wrong bottle.
Try this instead.
Kevin I was terrified to send out my first query. I don't even know how many drafts and revisions I did on that one stupid letter. I thought somehow, my identity as a writer would be strengthened or destroyed by the response to that all powerful query. Guess what? It wasn't. I received a request for a partial and then for the full from that query. Then my full ms was rejected. And I was still standing. I was still writing. I was still submitting.
I don't even know how many rejections I've gathered since then, but that's because I don't keep track. I thought I'd be crushed, especially to have my first rejection be of my entire ms instead of my query, but I wasn't. I know writers talk about how horrible it is to be rejected, but it's part of the game, and it's not so bad. It was very freeing to get rejected because that's when I figured out that my writing didn't define me, instead it was me, my life, my passions, and my experiences that defined my writing.
I don't even know how many rejections I've gathered since then, but that's because I don't keep track. I thought I'd be crushed, especially to have my first rejection be of my entire ms instead of my query, but I wasn't. I know writers talk about how horrible it is to be rejected, but it's part of the game, and it's not so bad. It was very freeing to get rejected because that's when I figured out that my writing didn't define me, instead it was me, my life, my passions, and my experiences that defined my writing.
This frame is on my wall at home. It contains about half of the rejection letters I received before getting my first agent. The picture quality is poor but I promise you they're all rejections - all polite but firm, 'no thank yous' dating as far back as '98.
The first question people ask when they see this is, "Why on earth would you put that on your wall?"
One; it's quite literally the only physical evidence I have of the time, money, blood and tears I've put into writing and it's the only way to physically demonstrate to someone how much this is a part of my life and what it means to me.
Two; it's a great conversation starter at parties.
I look at rejections as a badge of honour. I'm grateful that it's hard - it should be hard. The best things in life always are. That's how I know it has real value. lLike doing the right thing - that's never easy.
My point is that at the time, each one of these was a kick to the stomach. But their overall negative effect was blown entirely out of the water by that one, single acceptance or one piece of positive feedback. It's worth it for that alone. And all of that self-doubt, anxiety and uncontrollable vomitting is simply the price you pay for a shot at what you really want to do in life.
I'd say... resign yourself to the notion that it won't be easy. But as long as you're on the road, it'll only lead to success and by the time you get where you're going, you'll have a very cool thing to hang your wall.
The first question people ask when they see this is, "Why on earth would you put that on your wall?"
One; it's quite literally the only physical evidence I have of the time, money, blood and tears I've put into writing and it's the only way to physically demonstrate to someone how much this is a part of my life and what it means to me.
Two; it's a great conversation starter at parties.
I look at rejections as a badge of honour. I'm grateful that it's hard - it should be hard. The best things in life always are. That's how I know it has real value. lLike doing the right thing - that's never easy.
My point is that at the time, each one of these was a kick to the stomach. But their overall negative effect was blown entirely out of the water by that one, single acceptance or one piece of positive feedback. It's worth it for that alone. And all of that self-doubt, anxiety and uncontrollable vomitting is simply the price you pay for a shot at what you really want to do in life.
I'd say... resign yourself to the notion that it won't be easy. But as long as you're on the road, it'll only lead to success and by the time you get where you're going, you'll have a very cool thing to hang your wall.
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Caption contest entry: "Post-parole Chris had learned to no longer to put large, blood-red X's on each as he tracked them down and exacted his revenge...."
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