Friday, February 11, 2022

Query Friday: Embracing rejection

Embracing rejection:

 

 

I'm not quite there.

I've tried. I've printed them out and filed them away.How I've learned to embrace rejection – HelloGiggles | HelloGiggles 

I've tried to make it a game:

 

B

I

N

G

O

R&R

Personalized

Request for More MSS

Personalized

No Response

Champagne Rejection

No Response

Personalized

“Please try me again later”

Form Rejection

No Response

Form Rejection

Offer of Rep!!!!

Twitter Pitch Request

Personalized

“Please try me again later”

No Response

Champagne Rejection

No reply

Request for more MSS

Request for more MSS!

 

Form Rejection

R & R

Personalized

Champagne rejection!

Not my idea but a very clever one that at least  makes me laugh...sometimes cry when I run out of form rejection spaces...

And I've just left email there, scanning the first line, but not quite working up the will to finish them for weeks at a time.

I know, I know... rejection is a milestone that almost every writer faces. The stories are endless:

J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter series)- 12 times

William Golding (Lord of the Flies)- 20 times

John Grisham (A Time to Kill)- 16 tines 

Stephen King (Carrie)- 30 times

Issac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin, James Joyce, Shannon Hale, Judy Blume and so many more.


And I am, in fact,

But its still hard. Coming Home (Jackson Falls, #1) by Laurie Breton

What I try to remind myself is that its a sign I'm still trying. I'm pursuing my dream. And I'm not letting fear make my decisions. The more I remind myself, the more I'm ready to take that next rejection and say...

 

Thank you, next! How I found myself (and my way) back to joy. – Just Follow  the Joy

-B

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Dear O'Abby - Should I critique my bestie's book?

 Dear O'Abby,

I am a published author with several books to my name, both traditionally and self-pubbed.  My husband has just completed his first novel and asked me to beta read for him. Rather foolishly, I agreed, and am now faced with a dilemma.  

The book is nowhere near ready for publication.  It's a fascinating idea, but the execution is such I can't see it being redeemed without basically starting again with the same core idea, but an entirely different approach.

My question is, do I tell my husband this? I don't want to ruin our relationship, but I feel like I'd be doing him a disservice if I didn't tell him the book isn't ready to send out.  The query trenches are tough enough when you do have a sale-able manuscript!

Do you have any advice for me?

Sincerely,

Divorce Pending

Dear Divorce Pending,

This is such a tough situation to be in and I feel your pain. I have been in a similar situation before, and I now refuse to critique manuscripts for anyone I know in real life.  It's just too hard when the book isn't good!  You've already agreed to read it, so it's too late to tell him you can't do it, so the way I see it, you have two choices.

You can tell him you read it and enjoyed it and give him feedback only on the things you liked about it.  It's not going to help him much, but it might keep your marriage intact.  Once he starts sending it out and inevitably gets rejections, he might be more receptive to hearing your thoughts. But then, he might also be angry that you weren't 100% honest with him to start with.

The other option is to be brutally honest and tell him exactly where the flaws are and what he needs to do to fix them.  You know him best, so are in the best position to understand how he might react to this type of critique.

If you do decide to go the second route, it's probably a good idea to start with the positives and to lead with telling him this is just your personal and professional opinion.  Let him know he doesn't have to take any of your advice if it doesn't feel right to him and that he should definitely get critiques from others as well so he can see if the same things come up for other readers.  You will know all this if you're a writer yourself.

At the end of the day, you need to be honest about your relationship and how your husband responds to criticism.  It's not worth destroying an important relationship over this, so make sure you tread carefully.  Your husband might surprise you.  No doubt he has seen and heard enough of the process through your experiences to know at least a little about it, and you might find he's far more open to your critique than you might imagine.

Good luck!  And do let us know how it goes...

X O'Abby

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Karla Jordan answers #13Questions in OA's Debut Author Spotlight

Operation Awesome Spotlight #13Questions of #NewBook Debut Author posted by @JLenniDorner of @OpAwesome6 2022

13 Questions shine Operation Awesome's Spotlight
on this
2022 Debut Author



Cartwheels In The Dark by Karla Jordan


1- What is it about Maine that creates such a great setting for the murder mystery suspense genre?

I think because Maine is such a large, wooded state that also has places where people are few and far between. There are people in Maine who are happy to stay amongst "their own" and don't welcome outsiders easily.

2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

No matter what, don't give up. Write what you would like to read in a book and see what happens.

3- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

I hope my book evokes feelings of joy, sitting on the edge of the seat suspense, sadness, happiness...all the feels is what it should be.

4- If you could safely travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Greek Islands because I'd love to enjoy the scenery and I'm so interested in writing a book that is set there.

5- Would you share a picture with us of your book among the trees, or with Pumpkin or Shadow?

Karla Jordan answers #13Questions in OA's Debut Author Spotlight

Shadow (above napping with my book).

6- How do you support your fellow debut authors and have any of them supported you?

I happily share and read other writer's posts. I have purchased many books by fellow authors and shared the book info with friends. We all need as much exposure as we can get.

7- Time to double-down on social media! What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?
Also, can you please recommend a favorite #bookstagram account profile?


My twitter handle is @karlawjordan . Shout out to @bdavisauthor , @dkwestfall1 @Tamekamichelleb

Bookstagram account profile to follow...
@whatshotblog IG: #asoccermomsblog

8- What is your favorite creative non-writing activity to do?

My favorite non writing activity to do is baking. I love to bake breads and sweets. I also like to read and enjoy time outside at home (when it's not winter)!

9- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

My book speaks to diversity by way of alcoholism and poverty, along with mental health issues.

10- What's the biggest writing goal you hope to accomplish in your lifetime? #WriteGoal #BucketList #WriterBucketList

I hope to write a book that will bring attention to the children in this country who are hungry and living in substandard conditions because they do exist. Even if we like to pretend it's only happening in poorer countries, it's not.

11- What was the query process like for you?

I did a lot of query letters before deciding to edit and self-publish on my own. I knew that I did not write the next "Harry Potter" kind of book, but rather a book that would speak to people. A book that brought attention to poverty and alcoholism in a way that made the reader want to know more. Of course, a mystery setting worked well for that also.

12- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

"What kind of book would you like to see written that has not been done yet?"

13- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

I am the oldest of five children (all girls). To this day, my Dad is my best friend. He encouraged us all to be the best that we could be at whatever we chose. I feel I have done that or rather am doing that with my writing.

My social media links are:
FB: karlajordan-author.
IG: karlajordan56
Twitter: @karlawjordan
My website is http://karlajordan-author.com

Here's a blurb for Cartwheels In The Dark...

After twenty years, Kallie Douglas is headed back to Somerfield, Maine, the one place on earth she promised herself she'd never return. She isn't staying long, just long enough to say goodbye to an old friend who has passed away and to take care of the estate left in her care. But when an old newspaper clipping surfaces detailing a missing person's case near her family's home, Kallie suddenly finds herself haunted by a series of dark memories and unsettling questions she can't answer.

Pursuing those questions means staying in a town where people make their own rules and don't take kindly to outsiders who ask too many questions. But Somerfield's past is Kallie's past. It's secrets, her secrets, and soon it becomes clear that in order to move on with her life, she must find the strength to confront long-buried family secrets-and come face to face with her past. Even if it means putting her own life in danger, because she knows it will.


Cartwheels In The Dark by Karla Jordan

Monday, February 7, 2022