A Blast From The OA Blog Past: The Doctor Who Stages of Rejection

Two of my favourite shows have returned to TV over the last few days:

1) Game of Thrones.
2) Doctor Who.

Since my brain exploded from the awesome, I popped into the Operation Awesome Tardis and found this little Doctor Who inspired post to, hopefully, bring you some Wednesday smiles.

The waiting is over. An email sits in your inbox holding a thousand promises:

You open it and read:

 

Was that a rejection? You read it again:

And the sadness rains down on you:

The hurt kicks in:

But you don't quit.

Rejection is part of the process.

No. You send out the next query:

 

Because next time it might be something that makes you do this:

Never give up.

Lessons From Dean The Handmaiden

So. This post is about SUPERNATURAL. And writing. But mostly about SUPERNATURAL. 

You've been warned. O_O

Last week, there was a special episode of SUPERNATURAL. It involved Sam, Dean, and LARPing. For those of you who don't know, LARPing is short for Live Action Role Playing. Picture a bunch of people playing an elaborate (and awesome) game featuring characters from their favorite video games, movies, TV shows, graphic novels, historical periods, etc. The point is to play not as yourself, but as a character. 

Well, if you watch SUPERNATURAL, you know Sam and Dean don't scream LARPing fans to anyone. Until they get their chance to prove everyone wrong. Dean is named handmaiden to the queen (yes, you read that right. DEAN THE HANDMAIDEN). Sam... well... Sam stayed Sam, but he enjoyed himself. Both brothers did.

Case in point:

 

That's Dean in a faux BRAVEHEART moment. It is also the very last seconds of the episode. After recovering from a horrendous fit of giggles, it hit me--Dean the handmaiden looked happier than he had in ages. He can't do what he's doing in that GIF on a daily basis. His real life sucks the fun out of living most of the time, and in this brief moment, he lets go of that suckage. 

So here's my advice to you, blogging buddies: remember to work hard, remember to sacrifice things, but please remember to have fun. I don't care what your idea of fun is. Knitting. Baking. Rock climbing. Koala watching. I DON'T CARE. Just have fun. You need it. Your work needs it.

Now go out there and find your faux BRAVEHEART moment. :)

You Are Not A Failure

So. 2013 is finally here. You may or may not have resolutions. I sort of have a few, but yeah. It's only sort of. I'm bound to break them if I try to accomplish them too hard. *is lazy* 

Last year, I learned many things about myself, both as writer and person. I also learned many things about life. Of all those things, I struggled with one truth the most: I don't have to understand why things don't go my way immediately. I got to thinking about this particular truth after a few days of reminiscing about high school. Lots of things didn't go my way back then. Lots of things did. I have moments where those that didn't tend to outshine those that did. Sucks, but that's how it is for me. 

One part of the frustration caused by Things That Didn't Go My Way is simple: I had no idea why they happened. I was at a total loss. The moment something goes wrong is the moment I start to pick that thing apart in the attempt to find out where and why I failed. 

The problem? Sometimes the moment something goes wrong isn't the moment you figure out why.

Case in point: my high school reminiscing. I remembered someone in particular. A guy (please stop staring at me like that...). I thought this guy was magic, folks. The kind that inspires you to find your own brand of awesome. I thought he was going to rule the world and shape it into the best version of itself. And I thought I was going to be right there, witnessing it all in his proximity.

He hasn't changed the world, but the world has changed him.

Sometimes he likes his life. Most of the time, he doesn't. He has more regrets than laugh lines. Which is why I'm here today to tell you what I wish I could tell him: you are not a failure. 

Didn't meet all your goals for the year? You are not a failure.

Haven't been able to write in months? You are not a failure.

Don't know how to fix that plot problem? You are not a failure.

Agents and editors rejecting your manuscript? You are not a failure.

Not selling as many copies of your book/ebook as you wanted? You are not a failure.

Why are you not a failure? Because there will come a day when you look back at one moment, or several moments, and you will understand why Things Didn't Go Your Way. I certainly understand why Magical Boy and I aren't living the daydream I had back in high school. He didn't lose his magic--I simply found mine in a reality far stronger than that daydream. You'll find your answers, too.  Spoiler alert: better things are waiting for you. The trick is to recognize them when they cross your path, and seize them before they leave without a trace.

You've been warned. Now go live your life in 2013, not the past.

And have a happy Monday :)

Your Character Could Use An Impala

For those of you who don't know, I love TV shows. There's this one show I've been watching for years and am ridiculously fond of. It's called Supernatural. There are two brothers in it. And demons. And angels. 

And a Chevy Impala.

My favorite character on the show, Dean Winchester, owns said Chevy Impala. The fandom refers to it as the Metallicar. I find this to be a fitting name, especially since Dean's love of heavy metal is no secret. But to Dean, the Impala is simply Baby.

Sometimes he loves his Baby.

 

Sometimes not so much.

 

 

Regardless of how he feels about the car, the point worth remembering is that he feels for the car. His Baby means a lot to him. Not only is it part of his father's legacy, it's the one place where Dean thinks he's safe. Untouchable. The Impala is a shield from the outside world, from the drama wrapped around his demon-hunting job. The Impala is home. 

Many writers stress over creating awesome characters. But sometimes, it's easy to forget (or willingly ignore) the importance of Things. Your characters aren't only defined by what they do or how they see the world, but also by what belongs to them and why they keep it. Dean isn't Dean without his Impala. The car is pretty much a character in its own right. It helps viewers get deeper into Dean's psyche without even uttering a word. 

So yeah. Whenever you feel like your characters aren't meaty or authentic enough, they could probably use an Impala. Just make sure it's a complement to the character, not an accessory to make him or her super awesomesauce cool for the sake of super awesomesauce coolness.

Now tell me: do any of your characters have an Impala? If so, is it a car like Dean's Baby or something else?

August Mystery Agent Revealed + Winner(s)

I'm excited to reveal our super awesome August Mystery Agent. Put your hands together for... 

John Cusick from Scott Treimel NY!

Now for John's picks. The winner of a full manuscript request is...

John Hansen

Title: INEVITABLE


Genre: YA Thriller



For sixteen-year-old Alex Tanner, finding a webpage of himself five years into the future is totally cool and all until he logs on one morning and his status reads: DECEASED.

This is a great pitch: it describes both given circumstances, and a complication. It leaves me wanting to know more while still relating the conflict and giving me a sense of the story. The ‘totally cool” also hints at a light-hearted tone, which I like. I love stories that introduce weird and fantastical elements into our contemporary world. The use of a website, rather than some ancient rune or talisman, also ads a fresh, modern flair. I can’t wait to read it!

Congrats, John. Please send your winning entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your full manuscript attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net

Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line. 

But that's not all. John picked out 3 other pitches he'd love to read more of. Here are John's runners-up!

Jess Lawson

Title: THE ACTUAL & AWFUL TRUTHFUL ADVENTURES OF BECKY THATCHER

Genre: MG Retelling (of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)



Mark Twain probably didn’t mean to be a big fat liar, but eleven-year-old Becky Thatcher is about to set the record straight on facing outlaws in the cemetery, stealing from Witchy Widow Douglas, and clearing an innocent name…all while ditching the biggest tattle-tale that ever lived—Tom Sawyer.

I’m so intrigued by this concept. I love retellings of familiar tales, and tackling such a boy story from a female point-of-view is so intriguing. I’d love to read the first 50 pages.

Congrats, Jess. Please send your entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your pages attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net

Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line. 

Rachel Schieffelbein

Title: GRETEL


Genre: MG fantasy



Gretel needs to save her brother from a witch, but it may mean becoming a wicked witch herself.

In my classes on writing I often teach an exercise that involves reimagining Hansel and Gretel, so I’m eager to see this author’s take. Please send the first 25 pages!

Congrats, Rachel. Please send your entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your pages attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net

Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line. 

Triona Murphy

Title: THE LONG-TIMERS


Genre: YA sci-fi/thriller



When a privileged teenage boy learns the horrific truth behind a miracle drug that prolongs the life of the rich, he must try to bring down his parents' company from the inside.

Another example of a great pitch: the story and conflict are hinted at without being over explained, and what makes this story unique (the miracle drug, the theme of aging, the class issues) is all right there. I’d love to read the first 25 pages.

Congrats, Triona. Please send your entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your pages attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net

Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line. 

Congrats to all our winners!!!!

And we couldn't let John go without asking a few questions...

1) What are some of your pet peeves for queries?

I like queries that simply describe the manuscript using clear, precise language. Gimmicks, jokes, and “clever” queries won’t get you noticed— at least, not in the good way. I’m not a fan of rhetorical questions, such as, “What if you knew your boyfriend was Satan?” Queries written in the protagonist’s voice are another pet peeve.

2) What are you seeing too much of in your query inbox lately? What would you like to see more of?

Generally, I see too many books about demons, dark lords, the occult, and the afterlife. We receive many queries about teens tasked with saving the world or universe. Also, teens with super powers, specifically the ability to predict the future, or when and how someone will die. We see too many prescient visions and dreams. Also, I see a lot of characters working for Death, the Devil, or generally having some kind of Cosmic Day Job.  For contemporary y.a.,  we also receive many stories about a best friend or boyfriend dying, either in a car accident or from mysterious circumstances, and resulting secrets that are unearthed.

3) Any tips for writers struggling with their one-line pitches?

You can try what I call the “Chunk Down” method. Summarize your book in three paragraphs. Then try cutting it down to two, then one, then to just a few lines. If your story is a small town murder mystery, make sure to mention what makes your work different from all other small town mysteries. Don’t be too coy; if your protagonist discovers “a dark secret,” I want the pitch to tell me what that secret is. In other words: spoil it for me.

4) If you could pick one book that every writer should read, which one would it be and why?

Stephen King’s On Writing gives the most practical and fulsome advice, not just on craft, but on the writing life. For fiction, especially fiction for young people, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babitt is one of the best books ever written. The opening pages are genius, and can be studied line by line, word by word. Highly recommend!

5) Do you have any exciting client/agency news to share?

This year the agency signed several new clients, and I myself took on six, including Bettina Restrepo (Illegal, Katherine Tegen Books, 2011) and Hannah Moskowitz (Gone, Gone, Gone, Simon Pulse, 2012). Several of our picture books are getting multiple starred reviews and some great critical attention, such as Ame Dykman’s Boy + Bot (Knopf, 2012), Maurie Manning’s Laundry Day (Clarion Books, 2012) and Rick Walton’s creepy/kooky Madelien parody Frankenstein (Feiwel & Friends, 2012). And we’re always actively seeking new talent!

Thank you to John for being our August Mystery Agent.