Old People Writing for Teens, IV

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

I love writing query letters. Ashley if you need some help with yours, I offer my services. Also I really should start doing QL crits on my blog - might help w/traffic...

justbishop · Jun 17, 2012

If I'm understanding it correctly, a good QL is pretty much jacket blurb copy, right? If that's correct, then it should be much less painful than the synopsis has been. Would love to be a subject for a public critique on your blog, though!

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

Yes QL is "jacket blurb"-esque. I'll post mine (and then snipping it cos...well...I'm paranoid like that)

snipped cos I'm shifty-eyes like that

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

That sounds like a exciting read, Smiley!

mellymel · Jun 17, 2012

Dorothy said:
I hate synopses too. I really suck at them. I had one written for MSR but I'm so glad my publisher never asked to see it. They editorial staff read my novel without it. Phew!

I did, however, have to sum up my proposal for book 2, and that felt very synopsis-ish to me. Blah.

For my last few books, I wrote the query letter first, before I wrote the book. I get a better query letter doing it that way.

I actually did this for one of my next thriller/horror stories I'm planning on writing and I admit that it really did help me to figure out the overall story/plot and see the "whole" story.

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

Which of you are mothers/biology experts? I need to know how "feeding" the baby works while your pregnant for Invincible.

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

lisalulu09 said:
That sounds like a exciting read, Smiley!

Thanks. I always worry it's too crazy/angsty for YA. :Shrug:

justbishop · Jun 17, 2012

lisalulu09 said:
Which of you are mothers/biology experts? I need to know how "feeding" the baby works while your pregnant for Invincible.

Do you mean nursing/breast feeding while pregnant? If you can give me more detail, I can probably give you some insight. I only have the one kid and bfing didn't work for us at all (my boobs are for decoration only, apparently), but I mod a cloth diapering forum, and those ladies tend to be big breast feeders. I can put out a call for personal experiences if you'd like.

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

I meant the fetus.

justbishop · Jun 17, 2012

Ah...I'm sure there's lots online about that sort of thing. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not quite sure, but I remember being told that the baby basically saps omega 3s from the mom's body, which is why pregnant women are so absent minded, lol!

Sage · Jun 17, 2012

justbishop said:
YA...and I have no idea after that. People keep comparing it to The Lovely Bones, so whatever that was?

Yeah, I would say contemporary, but it depends on how big a part Maye plays because the more ghost/spirit/angel you have the closer it becomes to fantasy.

lisalulu09 said:
That sounds awesome.

How DO you come up with your ideas?!

These days? By taking a metaphor (usually from a song) and making it literal. ("What if the boy really was tailor-made for her?")

And thanks

justbishop · Jun 17, 2012

Sage said:
Yeah, I would say contemporary, but it depends on how big a part Maye plays because the more ghost/spirit/angel you have the closer it becomes to fantasy.

These days? By taking a metaphor (usually from a song) and making it literal. ("What if the boy really was tailor-made for her?")

And thanks

YA contemporary. Sounds good to me. Maye is basically only involved first person wise to observe and reminisce.

And the next thing I'm planning to work on is also inspired by a song

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

OMG I love when things are inspired by songs.

*pause**pause*

It so rarely happens to me, happens to everyone else I know sooo frequently :tongue

Good luck!

Sage · Jun 17, 2012

Taylor-Made, Fireflies, Hero/Villain, In a Pear Tree, and Trouble were all inspired by songs.

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

I get a LOT of inspiration from songs. Underdogs was partly inspired by "Animal" by Neon Trees.

Now for YouTube and research.

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

I got the idea for my currently revising WiP/novel/thing from just discussing with a friend "Why hasn't anyone written this yet?" Then she told me to.

I do work with a playlist so music does inspire me - just not for plots/stories.

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

Speaking of ideas: "Superman" by Joe Brooks just inspired me to write a YA superhero story. No plot, just concept.

Dorothy · Jun 17, 2012

So I got 5 chapters revised in 3 and a half days. I'm beat. I'd love to keep going but I have the early shift at work tomorrow plus a meeting AND the phone guy coming to fix our line. I have a feeling I'm not going to get a lot of sleep in the next couple weeks.

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

Yay and Good Luck Dorothy.

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

Go Dorothy!! You can do it!

lisalulu09 · Jun 17, 2012

I'm going to bed. 'Night, guys.

parumpdragon · Jun 17, 2012

Goodnight!

justbishop · Jun 17, 2012

Good luck tomorrow Dorothy! Sounds like a full day o.0

Smiley0501 · Jun 17, 2012

So I geekily updated my blog.

I just found out that I have to go to the dentist AGAIN. I freakin hate my teeth. Ugh.

I just went last Thursday...

Netz · Jun 18, 2012

Hope it goes well for you, Smiley0501 - I've got to go next week (but it's just for a check-up).

Old People Writing for Teens, IV

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