Flash Fiction Friday

It's Flash Fiction Friday! For this week's contest, go to HuffPost's Weird News page and write a short piece based on a headline! 

Catching my eye this week is

Are we really sure they're snails???

Read all about it here.

Or feel free to choose any of the many lovely offerings.

Length: 2000 words
Deadline: Sunday, July 17th , 2022, 2am Central Standard Time

Leave your entry in the comments, please. As always, the winner will get a badge and bragging rights!

Dear O'Abby: Should I enter this contest?

 Dear O'Abby,

I've seen this writing contest called Write Club promoted all over Twitter the last couple of weeks.  Do you know anything about it?  And is it worth entering?

Best,

Clubber

Dear Clubber,

You've come to the right place.  I do indeed know about Write Club.  I have been a contestant myself a few times, and have also been a slush reader for the organisers in the past.

And in my opinion, it is definitely worth entering.  Not so much because of the prizes if you win (although they are nice), but more because you get a lot of feedback from readers on your work.  

Of course, if you are not someone who is ready to receive feedback, particularly negative feedback, it may not be the best contest for you.  The feedback is often somewhat blunt, even brutal, and the way the contest is structured like a boxing match means people get knocked out of the contest weekly.

But if you want honest reactions to your work, this is the place to get it.  And lots of it.  Most entries get at least 30 comments which is 30 pieces of feedback you wouldn't otherwise get.  Sure, it's only on a small section of your work, but the lessons learned can be applied elsewhere.

So my advice is, go for it!

X O'Abby

Shameez Patel Papathanasiou answers #13Questions in OA's Debut Author Spotlight

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

The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou

1- July 13 is "Embrace Your Geekness Day." (https://nationaltoday.com/embrace-your-geekness-day) What are your top 3 favorite fantasy fandoms or franchises?

Firstly, thanks for having me.
Secondly, what a fun question. I’d have to go with Lord of the Rings, Marvel and Supernatural.

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

10 mins writing sprints are magical. If you’re struggling to find time to write, focus on finding 10 mins. Before bed. At lunch. Whenever. Set a timer & write!

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

Love and joy. My stories are character driven. It’s for them. It’s about them. I hope the readers care for them too.

4- What is something you believe foreigners do not know about Cape Town?

We have the best food and weather!

5- Would you share a picture with us of your book with a cat?



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

I’ve read two 2022 debuts so far, and loved them (I’ve also let the world know!)

Second Star to the Left by Megan van Dyke and A Song of Silver and Gold by Melissa Karibian.
I plan on reading more debuts, but aside from reading, I RT and like and share and do anything I can to help.

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?

@shamz04 and I’d shoutout to my favourite people who have WIPs, @zayaan27 & @nuhaabardien I have too many bookstagram accounts to mention, but search for #sabookstagrammers

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

Reading!

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

The Last Feather has a very diverse cast and Cassia, the protagonist, is a desi woman and she’s a force to be reckoned with.

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

Phew, the biggest? I suppose a movie adaptation that ends up with my stories becoming a fandom that generates passionate fans who love it so much you see them in cosplay for my characters! Too big a dream? Eh. I’m crossing fingers anyway.

11- What was the query process like for you?

I started querying The Last Feather and saw that Flame Tree Press had open unagented submissions. I submitted to them simultaneously and within two weeks, they got back to me with an offer. I withdrew the other queries I had, of which two of them were out on full requests and of course there were a couple of rejections.
I will say, this wasn’t the first novel I queried! That experience was entirely different.
A year later, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch event! So, keep an eye on those too.

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

Is there a character you see yourself in?

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

Papathanasiou’s debut is a captivating portal-fantasy for readers ready for older protagonists and more complicated choices. Four years ago, med student Cassia Khan’s best friend Lucas disappeared while they were on a camping trip with friends. Now her little sister Calla is dying from a mysterious illness. Cassia discovers these facts may have something in common after she is whisked to the Selene Realm, a land where those with magical heritage may be reborn. However, while coming into her own powers, she learns about the cruel rulers of this land, called the Firsts, and how their king has created a curse to cull the Reborn. Ending the reign of terror is Lucas’ goal, but he isn’t the boy who vanished on their shared eighteenth birthday. Cassia must balance her friendship with Lucas, her desire to save her sister, and the dangerous interest of brooding ally and First nobility Lochlan, all while trying to learn enough before her visit is over. Fans of Catherynne M. Valente’s Fairyland series will find a heroine of similar stubbornness, cleverness, and loyalty in a grown-up setting, while Sarah J. Maas or Laurell K. Hamilton enthusiasts will enjoy the fantasy politics, magic, and hints of romance.
— Booklist Starred Review


Shameez Patel Papathanasiou was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. She is a civil engineer by day, fantasy author by night and a choc-chip cookie fiend somewhere in between. Her literary adventures take her to new worlds filled with magic, monsters and someone to fall in love with. You can find her here:

@shamz04
http://instagram.com/shameezwrites
http://shameezwrites.com


The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou

E.B. White's birthday!

 

Today is E.B. White’s birthday!  He was born on July 11, 1899 in Mount Vernon NY.  He was a writer for The New Yorker and he revised The Elements of Style, originally written by William Strunk Jr.  He is best known for three books, all of which have been made into movies – Charlotte’s Web 1973 and 2006, Stuart Little 1999, and The Trumpet of the Swan 2001.

Have you used The Elements of Style?  Have you read any of the three books above?  Have you seen any of the movies?  Let us know in the comments!

July 2022 Pass or Pages Entry Form!

  

 

We are now accepting entries for Pass Or Pages! Before you enter, be sure to check out the rules. This month's round of Pass Or Pages is for 

Family Dynamics/Family Saga fiction.

Any age. Any entry not falling under that umbrella will be disqualified.

The entry window closes on Friday, July 8 at 6 p.m. Eastern.

The form will not allow you to show italics or other formatting, but if your entry is chosen you'll have time to let us know of any formatting you need fixed.

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility! Best of luck!

Query Friday: The Danger of Dream Agents

 

You've written the book, revised, and polished it. You've crafted a query, perfected it, vetted it. You've done the research and narrowed your list of agents to those who truly represent what you write.

But have you narrowed it too much?

Is your list really just one name of agency?

                1. Dream Agent

Yeah.... that could be a problem.

While it's natural to want to query the agent who repped your favorite author, or seems so awesome on twitter, or described your book to a T on their MSWL- having a dream agent can limit your openness to other amazing agents. Rejection from your dream agent can also really hurt, especially if you were convinced you'd connect or your book was exactly what they were looking for, the rejection can feel personal.

    (Note: the rejection can feel personal=😢  whereas personalized rejection=😄)

And we may take such rejections harder, discouraging you from querying other agents, or even writing. I've seen it happen and it can be hard to bounce back from...

If you want to query your dream agent DO IT! Just don't make their response what is going to make or break you. After all the biggest dream agent is the one who loves your books!

Happy Querying!!!