Dear O'Abby: How Long Can I Take Over An R & R?

Dear O'Abby,

I just received a revise and resubmit from an agent.  I've been querying this book for what feels like forever, and was just about to trunk it because no one seemed interested.  But now I have this agent wanting me to make some pretty substantial changes that I think may take me quite a while to execute.

She hasn't given me any timeframe in which to get back to her, so now I'm wondering if I need to drop everything and focus on this revision so I can it back to her ASAP.  Or is that not the expectation?  How long can I take over this?

Yours,

Timely

Dear Timely,

First off, congratulations on the R & R!  That's a fantastic step.  It means the agent has connected with your story, sees its potential and now wants to know if you can revise and make it shine.  Hopefully she has also given you a few helpful notes to guide you as you do the revision.  I also hope those notes align to the vision you have for the story.  I've seen R & Rs that writers have really struggled to get through because what the agent wanted the book to be didn't align with the author's vision of it.

So, if you are happy with the notes and prepared to do the work, you need to take as long as you need to in order to make the book the best it can be.  An agent isn't going to be impressed if you address only the specific things she mentioned in her message to you and send it back in two weeks.

She wants you to really take on board what she is saying and apply those things to the entire book.  And you've mentioned that the changes she's suggested are substantial.  Maybe changing a POV or amalgamating two side characters into one.  Maybe one of the storylines is underserved and needs to be pushed up in the narrative.  I don't know what the changes are, but it's important you do them well.

These things all take time, not just to write, but to think through.  You want to get this right, so you need to take time over it.  But you also don't want so much time to go by that the agent forgets she even requested you send it back.  So my advice is, take as long as you need to make the book as good as you can.  But don't waste time either.  If they're a good agent and really believe you can make the story shine, they are not going to mind waiting six months or so for something polished.  I've even heard of authors being signed after holding on to an R & R for a year.

But in reality, an R & R is a test.  You're being asked to show how well you can revise because this is important once you get into the editorial phase of publishing.  You want to be thorough, but you need to be able to turn things around to meet deadlines.

So really consider the notes she's sent.  Thank her for the feedback and let her know she can expect a new draft in X weeks/months.  Think realistically about how long you think it will take, how much time you have available to work on it, and then add two or three weeks to that number so you have a buffer in case life throws you a curve ball.

Now get to work!  You have a revision to do.

X O'Abby

May Pass or Pages Agent Panel

Meet the agents who are going to critique your Adult Historical Fiction entries!

Katelyn Uplinger

D4EO Literary Agency

After several years of editorial work and positions at multiple literary agencies including Folio Literary Management and Inklings Literary, Katelyn joined D4EO Literary as an agent in 2018. Katelyn enjoys books with unforgettable stories and characters. She searches for books that can transport her to another time or place or teach her something new.  Katelyn loves when a book can grip her emotions enough to make her laugh or cry. While she enjoy happy endings, she doesn’t shy away from dark stories or tragic romances.

Ann Leslie Tuttle

Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Ann Leslie Tuttle joined DG&B in 2017 after working for 20 years at Harlequin Books where she worked on an extensive and varied list of bestselling and award-winning titles in romance and women’s fiction. She received her B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from the University of Virginia. Helping to grow the careers of established and debut writers has always been Ann Leslie’s passion. Ann Leslie is especially seeking women’s fiction (e.g. relationships, family sagas, historical fiction and psychological thrillers) romance (e.g. romantic comedies, medical romance and contemporaries) and Southern Gothics on the adult fiction side as well as Middle Grade fiction and narrative nonfiction. Ann Leslie lives in New York City with her husband and young daughter, who is just discovering the magic of books and writing.

Category/Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Details for May 2019 Pass or Pages:

Entry starts: Monday, May 13 at 6 a.m. Eastern
Ends: Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. Eastern
Category/Genre: Adult Historical Fiction
How To Enter: Fill out the entry form on the contest post when it goes live
What Is Required: Your query (NO BIO or personalization for agents), your first 250 words, a complete and polished MS

You can also read more about the rules here.

The winning entries with agent commentary will be posted on Operation Awesome the week of May 27, one entry each day. If you aren't comfortable with having your entry (which will be anonymous) shared on the blog, please don't enter Pass or Pages!

If you have any questions, please ask in the comments or tweet @OpAwesome6. Also, feel free to chat about the contest with fellow participants on the hashtag #PassOrPages.

Bo Kearns Debut Author Spotlight #NewBook #20Questions at Operation Awesome

Ashes in a Coconut by Bo Kearns

1- What's the best part of living in wine country?

Being surrounded by vineyards that evolve throughout the seasons. Similar to New England, leaves change in autumn. The hills turn into a palette of vibrant yellows, deep amber and shades of gold. Winter exposes barren gnarly vines. Spring brings bud break and the proliferation of new growth. Tucked within the foliage are purple clusters of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and green Chardonnay grapes. Its nature at it’s best.

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

Forget all those ‘to be’ verbs. Drop the proliferation of ‘was.’ Go active. Scream, skip, scramble, sit, stand, smile. Bring the reader into the scene!

3- What ignited your passion for writing?

Growing up I attended parochial schools and military academies. I had little exposure to literature. My daughter benefited from a broader education. In her English class she read The Catcher in the Rye. I hadn’t read that classic coming of age story. Holden Caulfield’s quirky honest character drew me in. Never had a book captured me so completely. When I finished I wanted to write like JD Salinger. I wanted to do what he did. I enrolled in a community college creative writing course. The wonderful teacher inspired me. So I kept at it.

4- What is something most people don't know about orangutans?

Humans and orangutans share 97% of their DNA. In 2017, a third species of orangutan, dubbed the Tanapuli was discovered in the rainforest of Sumatra. There are believed to be only 800 in existence. The Tanapuli is the rarest ape on earth.

5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

@Bo_Kearns, and give a shout-out to @csummie and @reynagentin

6- Would you share a picture with us of your book out in nature?



7- What's the best thing about keeping bees?🐝

I got into beekeeping for the honey. Now that’s secondary. Bees are in decline worldwide and no one knows why. The insects are responsible for a third of our food. Without bees there would be no melons or juicy mangoes, no crisp apples, no potatoes, no pumpkin pie. And forget that morning coffee and Valentine’s Day box of chocolates. Pantries would be sparse. So in beekeeping, I’m doing my small bit to help bees, and the planet.

8- What most motivates you to read a new book?

Reading is an important part of writing. I’m always on the prowl for a new book, as in new to me. Often I’ll return to the classics. I have a long ‘to be read’ list. I peruse the NYT Book Review and make a note of reviews that resonate. And when I hear other authors I respect talk about a book, I pay attention.

9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

Author name:Delia Owens @DeliaOwen
Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Love because: Years ago I visited Africa and read Mark & Delia Owens non-fiction The Cry of the Kalahari as preparation for the trip. The story portrayed the challenges of their life in the desert, their love of animals and nature. I recently saw Delia’s debut novel at the bookstore. It’s set in the backwaters of South Carolina. I’m drawn to books with unusual settings. Delia’s detailed descriptions bring the region to life. In Crawdads the protagonist lives alone. There’s not a lot of opportunity for dialogue. The protagonist seeks comfort in nature. Owens does a superb job of portraying that special relationship.


10- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?

Few other than my editors have read the final version of my novel. When Ashes in a Coconut is released May 15th, I hope the story and the characters will have many fans.

11- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers?

I’m hoping Ashes will evoke an understanding and appreciation of differences. I hope the reader will feel compassion. The story’s not all serious. There are light moments and opportunities to smile. There is a scene I think will resonate with readers. Laura is an expat in a country where she’s not allowed to work. She struggles searching for something meaningful to do. At the local market she spots a baby orangutan for sale, its mother killed by loggers. Her heart goes out to the poor creature and she finds her new passion—saving the endangered primates and their rainforest habitat.

12- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

#stephenking

13- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?

Ashes in a Coconut is a story about the challenge of relationships, and how a culture can affect decisions regarding right and wrong. It’s about betrayal and ultimately redemption. I’m hoping readers relate to the characters and how they deal with these tough issues. Perhaps this might provide the courage and fortitude to cope with difficult situations in their own lives. And there’s an underlying theme about the environment. I’m hoping readers pick up on that, too.

14- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?

Gunadi is the bank’s controller. He wears thick glasses and has a twitch in his right eye. Whenever he gets nervous, the twitch becomes more apparent.

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

Nissam is a cook in the household. He’s gay. When he goes missing, Laura frets. He returns badly beaten. The police raided a party, Nissam ran, stumbled and was subjected to the blows of fists and batons. Laura nurses his wounds. Through his eyes, she experiences the good and the not so good of her adopted country.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

Dru’s Book Musings drusbookmusing.com/

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

Querying agents is a frustrating yet necessary part of the process. Rejections gave me pause, yet made me more determined. Along the way my writing got better; and so did the manuscript. Without the name recognition of a Kardashian, I realized agents weren’t going to take me on. I didn’t seriously consider self-publishing. I think that works best for memoir, tough for fiction. And I wanted validation. So I turned to a small press. I’m glad I did.

18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?

The process of writing a review presents an opportunity for readers to reflect. What did the story mean to me? It expands the community of readers and provides for an exchange of ideas. Reviews keep writers honest. Good reviews encourage; meaningful critiques help the writer get better. And reviews sell books.

19- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?

The interview covers a range of topics. Rather than focus on one, I look forward to hearing from readers as to which question or topic piqued their interest.

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

Blurb for Ashes in a Coconut:

In 1983, Laura Harrison, fashion designer, sets aside her career and follows her banker husband Jack to Indonesia to save her marriage. Once there she experiences feelings of unease and haunting premonitions. When her premonitions become reality, events spin out of control.

Excerpt:

In the blistering noonday sun, Laura Harrison stood outside the Denpasar International Airport and fingered the beads on her necklace. Her damp silk blouse clung to her body. In the humidity her red hair curled so that she resembled an adult Little Orphan Annie. She fanned her face wishing she’d worn a wide-brimmed straw hat. And yet she shouldn’t have minded the discomfort; she was in Bali. Still, she fretted. The island paradise was only a stopover en route to Jakarta. There she would be beginning a new life in a place she’d never been, leaving everything behind to save her marriage.
Her husband, tall and broad-shouldered, stood beside her. He wore a tropical shirt and exuded confidence.
“Jack, can you hail a cab—preferably one with air conditioning.”
“Good luck with that,” he said.
Before he could raise his hand, a taxi with the car windows rolled down, pulled up to the curb. Laura grimaced as they climbed in. With their bags in the trunk, they made their way through narrow streets; discreet shrines graced with small floral offerings dotted the roadside. In the distance, young green rice paddies terraced the mountain. After a half hour they arrived at the Seminyak Kebun Resort where a vast manicured lawn and swaying palm trees welcomed them.
“How beautiful!” Laura said. Her spirits rose. “The perfect place for a second honeymoon.”
Jack smiled and took her hand.
The couple walked into the large open-air lobby. At the registration desk Laura noticed blossoms in a small woven palm-leaf tray. She picked one up and inhaled the fragrance.
“It’s an offering to keep away evil spirits,” the clerk said.
“Oh,” Laura exclaimed. She set the flower down and moved away.
Laura and Jack followed the bellboy to a thatched-roof bungalow that fronted onto a tranquil beach. Inside a four-poster bed covered with mosquito netting dominated the room. Paintings of colorful birds hung on the walls.
Laura walked around admiring, touching. The bathroom, open to the sky, was outside in a small garden. White and purple orchids proliferated, and a showerhead shaped like a dolphin extended from the rock wall. Then Laura noticed movement off to the side. A hammock swung though the air was perfectly still. She got goose bumps watching it. Hugging her arms across her chest, she rushed inside.

Bio:

Bo Kearns, journalist and writer of fiction, is the author of Ashes in a Coconut, a novel set in Indonesia where he lived for three years. He is a feature writer with NorthBay biz magazine and the Sonoma Index-Tribune newspaper. Several of his short stories have won awards and been published. He is a certified UC Naturalist, beekeeper, avid hiker and supporter of conservation causes. He lives in the wine country of Sonoma with his wife and rescue dog, Jake.


Ashes in a Coconut by Bo Kearns

#AtoZChallenge 2019 Reflections

J: I'm the only one to have done the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge as part of the OA team before. But we worked together to pick our theme and divide up the alphabet and commenting duties between all of us. We picked up the slack for each other. There were great brainstorms. I think it was the best effort yet! I'm really proud of this team and so glad we took on the challenge.

Karis: Working on my posts for the #AtoZChallenge this year is, I think, what showed me I was stretched too thin. Which is ironic, considering one of my posts is literally about "striking the right balance" and not being stretched thing. I learned that even when I drop the ball, the team here at Operation Awesome is there to pick it up and be incredibly supportive. They're some of the best.

Nathaniel: If you do this next year as part of a team, *don't sign up to write three articles in a row.* Learn from my past mistakes. But in all seriousness, I learned a lot from the posts that my teammates wrote and it was fun to talk with everyone after the articles went live. The interviews were interesting and great to participate in too--it was cool to learn about the people I work with.

Kate: I really enjoyed visiting all the other blogs to see what other people were writing about.  There were some really fascinating topics, some great long-running fiction series and some great advice being given.  I feel like I learned a lot from being a part of it all.  I also loved working with the OA team to figure out what we each would write about and how the posts would fit together.

Amren: A to Z helped me realize that I want to pursue further education in writing. I'm not sure what or how yet, but it's now firmly on my radar. I really appreciate all of the help I got from the OA team to write my posts. I'm glad I had other writers to bounce ideas off and talk about posts beforehand. Oh, and I learned that erotic fiction blogs are a thing. I don't know why this was news to me.

New Member Wanted! #writingcommunity #authors

Our dear team member, Karis, is moving on in June to pursue other opportunities. We'll miss her dearly, but wish her all the best.

This means we have a hole to fill!

Operation Awesome supports everyone in the writing and publishing journey, no matter what stage they're at. If you're ready and willing to help others, now is the time. Give back to the writing community. Join us!

Please fill out the form here:

https://forms.gle/dMfhzHbYEFWR4G6TA

Please spread the word.

#QueryFriday

It's that time again, everybody! Enter here for a chance to win a query critique by yours truly! Here's how to participate:

1. Comment on this post and at least one other post from this week by *SUNDAY 5/5 at 12 pm*.

2. Leave your email address in the comment or have it available on your Blogger profile. (Or else I can't find you!)

The winner will be announced in the comment section of this post on Sunday.

See this post for additional rules. Good luck!

-Nathaniel

Dear O'Abby: Help! I Have Writer's Block

Dear O'Abby,

I've been working on a novel for a while now (not my first) and I've reached a point that I just don't seem to get past.  I'm an outliner, so the part of the story makes sense in my outline, but I just can't seem to write it.  I've never really believed in writer's block, but I feel like I do now.

Do you have any ideas what I could do to get over this?

Thanks,

Blocked

Dear Blocked,

I believe very strongly that writer's block is your brain's way of telling you you're going the wrong way or doing the wrong thing. So I tend to pay attention.  The team at the back of my brain is often way ahead of the guys up front.

In this case, where you've outlined the plot points but the writing still isn't coming, I think this is even more likely to be true.  Something in there is telling you this is the wrong direction for the story to take, or that the characters wouldn't be true to themselves if they did that particular thing or things.

My advice would be to step away from this story for a while and write something else.  I find I often figure out how to fix problems with one MS by moving on to work on another or by writing a short story that's totally unrelated.

But if you're on a deadline, you can just skip this part of the book and move ahead to a point in the story where you don't feel stuck.  Maybe through writing the rest of the book, you'll figure out what needs to happen in that particular sticky spot.

Good luck!

X O'Abby

Lillian Clark's Debut Author Spotlight #NewBook #20Questions at Operation Awesome

Immoral Code by Lillian Clark

1- Should higher education be free, or affordable, to everyone, in your opinion?

I absolutely believe higher education should be affordable (if not free) for everyone who seeks it. The cost of college, especially in America, is a monumental issue. With exorbitant expenses keeping students out and others graduating with astronomical amounts of student loan debt, it's an issue that spans multiple generations now. I'm also a big believer in supporting people who know college isn't the right fit for them and encouraging people to learn trades. We know that investing in education is the same as investing in our future, and something needs to change.

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

READ! That's my go to #writetip. Read everything, for what not to do and what to do. Read inside your age rage/genre and without. Read.

3- What ignited your passion for writing?

I grew up in a family that loves books and are always reading, so being a reader was pretty ingrained. But I didn't start writing seriously until I was 20, when an idea popped into my head that I couldn't ignore. I dug into the and never looked back!

4- Stapler! How did the movie Office Space influence your book?

Yes! Stapler! Haha. I love that. Office Space definitely influenced me. I love that movie, especially how they do this serious (illegal) thing inside of a comedy. Nari's plan to skim funds is directly inspired by it (which she mentions when she tells the group about her plan), and there's even a red stapler Easter egg in the book at one point.

5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

I'm @lillianjclark on twitter, and I couldn't have made it through debuting without my fellow 2019 debut friends @erinhahn_author, @JL_Dugan, and @KellyCoon106. Truly, I have met so many amazing people through this process and could list 10 more fabulous people, but these three women have kept me sane. Check out their books You'd Be Mine (out now), Hot Dog Girl (4/30), and Gravemaidens (10/29)!

6- Would you share a picture with us of your book somewhere fun and young? (Or with a Zamboni because it's just not every day we encounter someone who has driven one...)

Oh my gosh I wish I had a picture of Immoral Code with a Zamboni!! That'd be awesome, haha. (Challenge accepted.) Until then, here's a pic of me visiting it in a Barnes & Noble on release day!

7- What do you think is the biggest difference in writing for teens and YA today versus thirty years ago?

This is a GREAT question. I'm not an expert on what would've been considered YA 30 years ago, but I think it's changed a lot. For one, the market is enormous now, which has a range of effects on what's written and how it's sold, including the ongoing discussions about who should read YA (whoever wants to!) and who it's written for (TEENS). But apart from that, and while it's inevitably imperfect, I think YA does so much to push boundaries in literature. YA is filled with massively talented voices, increasingly telling stories that need to be told. It's also entertaining and engaging and so wildly creative. All (hopefully) while respecting the experiences, interests, and needs of its intended audience, teens.

8- What most motivates you to read a new book?

Hmm. My mood? Haha. I love to read eclectically, across age ranges and genres, fiction and nonfiction, and I love learning new things, so I tend to pick up whatever strikes my fancy in the moment! My tbr pile is eternally daunting, so I pick up whatever interest me most in the moment. Right now I'm finishing up INTERNMENT by Samira Ahmed (which is terrifying and brilliant), then I'm hoping to read THE TENTH GIRL by Sara Faring next, and I am beyond excited.

9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

Author name: @thatlauraruby
Title: BONE GAP
Love because: This book is flat-out brilliant. It's weird and beautiful and so incredibly creative. It's one of those books that I never seem to have a copy of because every time I get one, I give it away. And Ruby's writing is the kind that challenges me to be a better writer. I adore it.

Author name: @pronounced_ing
Title: LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
Love because: This is the kind of book that makes me think "How did she do that??" the whole time I'm reading. Celeste Ng is a master. Her craft is awe inspiring.

Author name: @adriennebooks
Title: SKY IN THE DEEP
Love because: One of my recent absolute favorites, the moment I finished SKY IN THE DEEP, I turned back to the beginning and started reading it again, which is something I almost never do. I cannot wait to read her next book.

Truly, I could go on forever, but these three come immediately to mind.

10- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?

My mom, haha. This will probably always be true. But, I also received my first fan mail the other day, and WOW. If I could bottle up that feeling and keep it on my shelf, I would. It was magnificent. The reader mentioned especially loving the gray areas in IMMORAL CODE, how what's "right" and "wrong" get pretty blurry and no one is a clear villain. The message absolutely made my day, week, month.

11- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers?

Great question. I've thought about this a lot actually. And while I hope readers laugh and that their hearts race a little, I mostly hope that they leave my book feeling happy. I think the last scene does this. Other than that, I hope readers think about those gray areas from the last question. There's a scene in the middle where tensions come to a head, and I'd love if readers consider what they'd do faced with a similar moral circumstance.

12- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

I am perpetually amazed by bookstagrammers. The photos are so creative and beautiful! I especially love CG Drew's paperfury account because they're always so colorful.

13- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?

Honestly, I hope my book helps readers by giving them a little joy. When I started writing Immoral Code, I'd come off of failing to sell a heavy dystopian manuscript, and I wanted to switch things up and write something fast-paced and fun. So, while I hope readers think about bigger moral questions and issues like the cost of college and income inequality, what I ultimately want is for readers to leave my book feeling good. These characters love and support each other unconditionally, and I hope some of that rubs off.

14- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?

Reese's hair!! She dyes it a number of times in the book, often colors to reflect how she's feels about her life and the heist itself.

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

Nari is Japanese American (her mother is white and her father is 6th generation Japanese), Santiago is second generation Mexican American, Reese is white and acearo, and Bellamy and Keagan are both white. It's really important to me as a writer to try and reflect the reality that we live in a diverse world. I feel like I'm constantly learning about other perspectives and experiences, continually reminding myself that my point of view is only one small window. Books are such a brilliant way to experience others' points of view, and as a reader I love the opportunity to "walk in someone else's shoes."

16- Who is your favorite Meme?

I am in LOVE with the new Daenerys condescending smile meme from Game of Thrones. I worked in customer service for a lot of years, and I feel like I've made that exact face too many times to count, haha.

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

I've always wanted to publish traditionally. For me, it's having a team of people behind me. Writing can be pretty solitary, but publishing with a traditional house means you have an agent and editor and copyeditors and so on all there with you. I love the collaborative aspect of that.

18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?

Reviews are so important! One, because what reader doesn't like to talk about books? And reviews are a great space for readers to share what they loved (or didn't) about a book. Also, reviews are SO helpful for authors. Sites like Amazon use review-based algorithms that impact where that book "sits" on their digital shelves, so the more reviews the better.

19- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?

Ooo! Good one! I'd love readers to talk about how they feel about doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. This is the core moral quandary of the book, and I think it's a great one to discuss! Is doing something objectively wrong excusable if you're doing it for the "right" reasons?

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

Thank you so much for having me! And I hope anyone who's loves multi-POVs, ride or die friend groups, and their heists steeped in moral quandaries, will check out Immoral Code! You can read an excerpt, add to Goodreads, or order from wherever books are sold, right here:

https://www.getunderlined.com/books/568056/immoral-code-by-lillian-clark/

And make sure to follow me @lillianjclark on twitter and @lillianclarkauthor on Instagram for updates on what's next!


Immoral Code by Lillian Clark

#AtoZChallenge Zhush it Up! and May 2019 #PassOrPages Details

Zhush it Up!

Well, friends, we did it - we made it to the end of April! We here at Operation Awesome hope you’ve learned something from our posts this month, something that’ll help you zhush your writing, your outlook, your mental health, whatever it may be. 

Okay for real it's a real word. 

Sometimes also spelled zhoosh, what we’re talking about here is incrementally making things better with little adjustments. It’s a hard word to pin down, but I’m pretty sure I first heard it on Queer Eye. It's these types of adjustments that we focused on with our A to Z theme of the Writing Journey. So, to recap, here's a categorized list of our posts from this month:

Writing Tips

• Diverse Characters
• Languages and Lingo
• Open our Jewel Box of #WriteTips
• Sensitivity Readers
• Xesturgy

Mental Health

• Can You Relate?
• Hustle - Striking the Right Balance
• (How to Cope with Negative) Reviews
• Vacation from Your Writing

Craft

• Flash Fiction
• Genre
• Why Interview are about the Author, Not Just the Book
• Marginalized Writers
• Understanding #PassOrPages
• World Building
• Young Adult

Querying and Publishing

• Beta Readers vs Critique Partners
• Eight Pages or Less of Synopsis Writing
• Publishing Contracts
• (How to Write a) Query Letter

OA Interviews

• Amren
• J
• Karis
• Kate (The Sidewalk's Regrets)
• Nathaniel

Zhush is an ongoing process, and we hope you'll be able to find some ways to zhush up your writing. If you feel you're ready to take that to the next level, you're in luck, because the next round of Pass or Pages is coming up! Enter the contest here on our blog for a chance to get a critique on your query letter and first 250 words from agents who will either pass on your work or request pages. Either way, you'll get valuable feedback to help you continue that zhush!

So, without further ado, the genre for May 2019 Pass or Pages is...

Adult Historical Fiction

Here are the important dates for this round:

May 7th: Agent panel announcement
May 13th-17th: Entry window (via a form here on our blog)
May 27th-31st: Feedback reveals!

For a recap of the rules and links to previous rounds, click here. Best of luck, and thank you for following along with us this April!

Interested in joining the Operation Awesome team? Click here!

#AtoZchallenge Young Adult

The first thing to remember when talking about Young Adult in relation to books is that YA is not a genre, but an age-group. YA books are available across genres – fantasy, literary, mystery, sci-fi, contemporary – just the same as adult books.

What makes a book YA is the age of its protagonists and its appeal to readers of the same or similar age. While there are some arguments about exactly what age this is, personally I would say anywhere from around 14 –19 would sit comfortably within YA. Which is not to say that any book with a protagonist of this age is a YA book....

Confusing, huh?

YA books tend to have a coming-of-age theme, regardless of genre. Protagonists often experience first love, first sexual experience or come to terms with something about themselves they discover in the course of the book.

Historically, the YA category only really came into existence in the 1960s. At that time, YA tended to focus on contemporary stories dealing with the kind of social issues and problems young people were facing. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is widely considered the first YA book despite Salinger not intending it to be for young adults. Its popularity among the 12 –18 age-group urged other writers to explore writing for this age-group and a new category was born.

Over the years the category has grown and changed, and continues to do so. Which is important because the world we live in is constantly changing and the problems and concerns young people are facing today are complex and different to the ones they were facing in years gone by. Perhaps this finger on the pulse of modern society is the reason why so many adults are reading books aimed at teens.

But what really makes a book YA is its ‘voice’. YA books are often written in the first person to allow the reader to really get into the head of the protagonist, see the world through their eyes and feel what they are feeling. And those feelings are teen feelings, the perspective on the world one that a teenager would recognize.

I am a YA writer myself, and I always find myself falling back into that teen perspective, even when what I start out working on is supposed to be for adults. I believe strongly that the teen years are the most important, the time you become the person you will be for the rest of your life. It’s the period in which you try on personalities, develop tastes and discover the beliefs that will guide you through your adult years. It’s the time you develop significant relationships outside your own family.

It’s a confusing and messy time and any little event can invoke a massive emotional response.

As an author, this is dynamic material to work with. Teens are such a contradictory mixture of child and adult and there can be a huge range of maturity levels, even within a single group of friends, and those are compelling voices for an author to play with. And these days, with YA publishers willing to publish books on increasingly difficult subjects, it’s an opportunity to really make a difference, to share stories that teenagers can relate to and see themselves in.

#AtoZchallenge Xesturgy

Yes, I know the dictionary defines xesturgy as polishing, as with stones, but in this case we’re looking at polishing your writing. Think of each word in your story as a stone, diamonds maybe, or rubies or opals, and imagine polishing each one until it shines.

Polishing is the last step for your manuscript before it’s ready to go out into the world. It’s also a very important step.

By the time you get to polishing, you should have already done the hard work, fixing plot holes, finding continuity errors, character inconsistencies and fixing any tense or grammar issues. Now it’s time to tighten things up to make them sing.

When I’m polishing, I like to look for overused words and replace or remove them where possible. Common culprits are words like ‘just’, ‘think’, ‘really’, ‘very’, ‘quite’, ‘that’, ‘as’, and ‘then’, but everyone has their own crutch words. Do your characters nod or shrug far more often than regular people? Change it up. Give them other actions.

Removing unnecessary adverbs will also strengthen your prose. If your characters are talking loudly or moving slowly, why not find stronger verbs to describe these things, like shouting or meandering? Also look for things that are obvious within the context. A character doesn’t need to sit down on the floor, just sit on the floor - the down is implied.

If you have a lot of dialogue in your text, check your dialogue tags. Said is the best tag because it tends to be virtually invisible to readers while words like ‘declared’ or ‘trumpeted’ draw attention to themselves. But even ‘said’ becomes noticeable when it’s overused, so if you have a lot of dialogue, try to get rid of some tags by using action to indicate who is speaking.

Eg. “My mother’s coming this weekend.” Jade rolled her eyes.

Dale returned the gesture. “I feel your pain.”

The other thing to check when polishing is your punctuation. Do you overuse certain things like exclamation marks, ellipses or semi-colons? Do you sprinkle commas liberally, but miss their proper placement every time? Reading aloud will help you find misplaced commas and other wonky punctuation because the rhythm will be off.

Reading aloud will also help you figure out if all your sentences tend to be of similar length and construction. To keep writing dynamic, you need sentences of differing lengths and styles. If you find you have a whole lot of really long ones, try chopping them up and making several shorter ones. This is especially useful in action scenes where shorter, punchier sentences create the feeling of action.

By the time you have done all these things, your manuscript should be shining like a diamond necklace.

What are your favourite tips for the xesturgy stage of your project?

#AtoZChallenge World Building

World Building

Hello friends! Our A-Z topic for today is world building. Rather than write another how-to guide (because let’s be honest, the internet is full of them…and I don’t want to write another how-to guide) I’m going to talk about the world building in one of my favorite fantasy series, the SEVEN REALMS series by Cinda Williams Chima.

         

SEVEN REALMS is a YA fantasy series of four books that take place in the Seven Realms (surprise), primarily the Queendom of the Fells. I often use this series as a reference for CPs who write fantasy because I think the world building is full, meaningful, and well-woven into the narrative. Also they’re awesome and I almost brought them to Europe with me but hardcover is heavy.

Classes

There are very clear differences between the lives the main characters experience. Raisa is a member of the royal family, and Han is a former gang member trying to straighten up. The river that runs through the city is highly polluted, a source of tension for Han and something Raisa doesn’t really need to worry about. Han struggles to get medicine for his family when they get sick, but Raisa has the best healers in the realm at her beck and call. Raisa is aloof to the issues her people face on a daily basis, things Han has to deal with or die. When she attempts to fix some of these issues, she’s met with real pushback from people who’d rather see the status quo stay the same.

Even with the obvious disparity between Raisa and Han, there are public works and efforts made to assist those in the lower parts of society. Basic education – reading, writing, history, etc. – is free and open to all. More focused studies can be undertaken at academies, although those require payment of tuition and may not be available to everyone. Ultimately these things act as beacons of hope for the characters at the lowest levels of society, which is something a ruler needs to prevent total breakdown of society. It sounds cynical, but it’s true – and it plays a major role in the plot. Keep in mind that, in a fantasy world, there are hundreds or thousands of civilians and only a dozen members of the royal family, conditions that are ripe for rebellion of the situation calls for it.

Factions

When I was fourteen, I went to a writing seminar Chima held and she gave me the best writing advice I've ever received: Every character should have a goal. This is clear in the way the various factions in SEVEN REALMS interact. Wizards, clans, military, royals, gang members, students, people who straddle the line between groups - there are so many factions, and they're all at odds. Balancing a great deal of goals is a difficult task. Sometimes, you can find a temporary common ground and forge an uneasy truce between warring groups. Those are the best opportunities for back-stabbery (muahaha). Make a clear outline or list of what each character wants, and what their faction wants. When those things are at odds, it creates excellent internal conflict.

Magic

The magic system in SEVEN REALMS is, in my opinion, exceptional. Magic is inborn, passed down through magical lines of heritage. All wizards have a magical “aura,” a sort of glow that can be seen and identified by other wizards, but not by non-wizards. This aura is the magic being exuded by the wizard; if the wizard does not store the magic in an amulet, it can overwhelm them. Amulets store a limited amount of magic and gradually fade in power over time, requiring the wizards to return to the clans for their amulets to be recharged.

Spells require study to master. The difficulty of a spell – whether it’s the distance at which it’s cast or the amount of work it does – determines how much magic it requires. A wizard who completely drains their amulet and the magic in their person can find themselves incredibly weakened, possibly to the point of being unable to stand. In addition to wizards’ magic, there’s also “green magic,” which is centered around the earth and living things. It’s not as powerful, but it can still accomplish many things. These limitations make the magic seem real.

Having a magic system with well-defined limitations sets the stage for conflict, whether it’s between characters or between characters and the magic system itself. There will always be those who want to test the limits of magic, like Voldemort or Morgoth, which can introduce a great source of tension and mystery. Defining your magic system also makes sure that your characters don’t become gods who can magic themselves out of any sticky situation, bring someone back from the dead, or change time. Without limits, magic becomes a game where anything goes.

Weather

I’m including this because it’s something I often forget about in my writing. In SEVEN REALMS, the characters have to contend with harsh weather like the snow and bitter cold of mountain passes, or rain that echoes so loudly on the roof you can’t hear yourself think. The first book even starts with a mountain fire. Not every day has to be that dramatic, but consider how much weather affects your daily life – it’s probably more than you’d think. How many times have you brought an umbrella, only to not need it? Weather and climate should carry the same weight for your characters.

Trust

The later books get into a mess of political dealings. Han and Raisa struggle to balance allegiances, debt, assassination attempts, and a lot more. I mention this because so often, I see characters who have stabbed one another in the back and then a few pages later turn around and become best friends again. Characters in these books take time to rebuild those relationships. They need proof of loyalty before trust can be given again, which for some characters takes the span of an entire book. Keep this in mind when characters break one another's trust. You can't just pick up the broken pieces and put the glass back together again.

Things are just…real

Same-sex relationships aren’t unusual. One of the characters is a teenage single mom. Characters deal with the difficulties of being biracial. There are characters with physical disabilities. I’m not saying all of these characters are represented perfectly – I certainly can’t speak for all of them – but the fact that they’re there speaks to the diversity of the world and the realness of the people, and ultimately that speaks to me.

Thank you for reading my fangirl thesis, I'll be here all week.

#AtoZchallenge Vacation from Your Writing

Vacation from Your Writing

Is it a good idea or a bad one to take a vacation from your writing? Some experts say that you should write every day. Even if it's just one line! That's not exactly what I'm talking about here.

Sometimes you're working on a manuscript. It seems done. Maybe. Maybe that scene in chapter five needs to be redone. Maybe that one character should be a different gender. Why do none of the characters have green hair? Is there enough diversity? That scar on the cheek, is it a cliché? 

That's when I suggest a vacation. Just back it up using two different methods and step away.

Go write a poem. Edit another project. Work on your social media following. Just go do something else for a month. Leave yourself post-it notes or .txt files if you must. But don't open that manuscript.

Once the 30 days have passed, then reread everything. Better yet, have someone read it to you. (Or use a text-to-speech like wordcounter.net.) You can take notes during the reading, but don't edit yet. Wait one more day. Get one more sleep cycle in. Let your brain process. Then make a copy of the manuscript and change the font to something drastically different. It is proven that you'll edit better with a different font.

Thanks to Addi Jones for finding this meme for me again.

Then resume working on it. It's the same with making big pieces of meat. Heat, rest, carve, then eat. You have to let them set before you cut into them. It's ruined otherwise. (For the vegetarians: it's as important as athletes taking a rest day between training sessions.)

#AtoZChallenge Understanding #PassOrPages

Understanding #PassOrPages

#PassOrPages is Operation Awesome's query contest. The goal is to help writers get feedback on their query and first page, and possibly link them up with an agent who likes their work.

Three times a year, we choose a genre and age category and reach out to agents who might be interested in those manuscripts. Once we have our agent panel, we open up the contest to writers. Anyone can send in their query and first page, as long as they fit the genre and age category.

(Why only the first page? That could be as little as an agent reads, and we've even had agents stop after the first sentence. If they're not intrigued, they're not going to keep reading, so that first page is the most vital to the query package.)

Winners are randomly drawn and their work is sent to the agent panel. The participating agents give brief feedback on the entries and explain why they're passing on the work, or requesting pages. You can find our #PassOrPages archive with all our past contests here.

We began this contest because sometimes - okay, most of the time - the agenting process seems inscrutable. What do all those rejection letters mean when they say "I just didn't fall in love with it"? By asking agents specifically to critique the basic query package, we hope that all writers, not just those whose work is critiqued, will gain insight into what goes through an agent's mind when they read the query and first page. Here are some of the most common comments from the past three years of #PassOrPages, and how you can adjust your work accordingly:

• Awkward phrasing. Read your query and first page aloud, or paste them into Google Translate and hit the "listen" button. Sometimes hearing things aloud sets off those problem spots that you don't catch when you're reading, especially when you've read that page a hundred times already. Keep in mind that the query should read like the inside of a book jacket.
• Too many grammar/spelling mistakes. One grammar/spelling mistake is too many in your query package. Proofread, proofread, and proofread again. Have a friend, coworker, CP, beta, whoever, look at your pages before you send them.
• Cut words/sentences. In your query and first page, keep prose tight and to the point. This isn't the time for flowery language, this is prime real estate! The first page is the time to show that your work is worth reading, not that you know how to write. Ask yourself, "Is this as concise as I can be?" Cut words like "just," "had," and instances of passive voice. If a sentence isn't advancing the plot, cut it.
• Tone of the pages doesn't match tone of the query. This is a tough one. Try writing your query as if your main character wrote it - not necessarily as if they're telling their story, but write with their voice. 
• Cut rhetorical question. Rhetorical questions are ALWAYS a bad idea. Whether it's a query, the opening line of your manuscript, or a Twitter pitch, rhetorical questions are not something agents want to see. They don't give you any new information or advance the plot in any way, and they're typically used as a crutch when writers don't know how to bring up the topic at hand. Just delete the question and dive straight in - you'll be surprised how well the story works without it.
• Main character reads too old/too young for the age category. Maybe you've simply mis-categorized your work as MG when it should be YA. Maybe your character really doesn't act their age and you need to talk to some people that age to find out how they would act. I wish I had more advice to give about this one, but this is much more specific to a particular work. 
• Keep similes and metaphor to a minimum. Most often, similes and metaphors aren't in the writer's own words (quiet as a mouse, all the world's a stage, etc.). One is enough for the first page, since you want to keep the agent's focus on your words.

The first #PassOrPages of 2019 is coming up next month. Keep an eye out for our genre reveal on April 30!

#AtoZchallenge Kate Larkindale Author Spotlight #NewBook #20Questions at Operation Awesome

T is for
The Sidewalk's Regrets by Kate Larkindale

1- The Sidewalk's Regrets just came out. Tell us about it!

It’s probably my most personal story and it’s based on things I’ve seen happen to far too many people and bands I’ve loved over the years. It’s about a seventeen-year-old girl who thinks she has her whole life and her career as a professional violinist figured out. But when she meets a rock musician and falls in love with him and his music, everything starts changing.

It’s kind of a dark and dirty love story about how overwhelming first love can be, how you can lose yourself in someone and how hard it can be to find your way back.

2- You entered Pass or Pages, back before getting on the team. Was it helpful and would you recommend it?

Terrifically helpful! I’ve actually entered a number of times over the years. The feedback you get from agents (or the OA team if you don’t get selected and are lucky enough to get a crit from them) is so valuable.

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

Writing short stories helps focus on what’s important. Limiting how many words you can use, forces you to tighten your prose and make every word count.

4- What ignited your passion for writing?

That’s a good question. And one I can’t answer because I don’t know. I’ve always written. I had my first story published in the ‘Kids Stuff’ section of the newspaper when I was six, and I’ve never really stopped.

5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

I’m @vampyr14 on Twitter. And huge shout-outs to @BreannaTeintze who has a fabulous new fantasy book coming out this year, and my amazingly prolific friend @AllysonLindt who manages to release more books a year than I can even comprehend.

6- Would you share a picture with us of your new book and a furry friend?

This is my writing companion, Lola.

She likes jelly meat, chasing butterflies, sleeping in weird places and reading dark, gritty YA.

7- Do you play any instruments?

Not really. I used to play the flute when I was younger, but it’s been a few years since I picked it up. Writing is a time-consuming hobby, and somehow all my other hobbies seem to have fallen to the wayside as I got more serious about writing and publishing.

8- What most motivates you to read a new book?

Usually the description. Covers to a certain degree, but for me it’s more about the content. Or if someone I trust recommends it. But I’ve been burned a few times with that, so I usually like to choose books for myself.

9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

Damn you ask some hard questions! How can I just pick one? I have so many books I’ve loved over the years, for so many different reasons. But here’s one I actually re-read recently and loved just as much as I did the first time.
Author name: @Hannahmosk
Title: Not Otherwise Specified
Love because: Voice! If you’re looking for what that means, read this book. Etta’s voice is so strong, right from the first page you can hear her in your head. I loved this story and its unconventional, struggling characters, its realistic, offbeat relationships and basically everything about it.

10- Your veggie profile pick, what's the story behind that?

Ha! That’s a funny story. We went to the A & P Show (like a county fair) in a little place called Takaka which is near my family’s beach house. One of the competitions was a vegetable art contest and that particular piece was one of the runners up. I thought it was kind of hilarious, so decided it would be my author picture since I really hate photos of myself.

11- There's a PitMad rumor you're working on a book in the woods. Can you tell us more?

I’ve been working on this one for a while. I love the story, but somehow I haven’t managed to quite get it right. I’ve re-written it from start to finish a couple of times from different POVs, and am hoping my last revision might be the one that works.

It’s about two strangers who meet on a bridge they are both about to jump off. When an earthquake hits, they find themselves trapped and alone with their secrets and a hostile wilderness. But are they really alone?

12- What are some of your favorite "T" things?

Album: Teenage Snuff Film (Rowland S Howard), Movie: Trainspotting, Spice: Tumeric, Word: Trollop.


13- What do you love about the IWSG?

The sense of community. Writing can be lonely, not to mention really hard and soul destroying at times. Being part of a group of writers who share the same frustrations and struggles really helps sometimes.

14- Top five favorite bands/ music artists?

Gah! Another of these questions? I hate having to list favourites. So much of it is about the mood I’m in on a given day. But okay, some of the artists I have a lot of in my music collection…. Einsturzende Neubauten, Throwing Muses/Kristen Hersh, Nick Cave (and all the different stuff he’s done, from The Boys Next Door to the Bad Seeds and beyond), Muse, Rowland S Howard and Swans.

15- https://diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks What's your favorite book with a diverse main character?

To be honest, most of the books I read have diverse main characters, so it’s hard to pick one. The world is a diverse place and people don’t fit into just one little box. I choose books that reflect the world I live in, which is a world where people from different religions, sexual-orientations, cultures, genders and ethnic backgrounds live. Reading offers a glimpse into lives and experiences different to my own, and that’s why I read so much. Sorry… That’s not really an answer to your question, but there are too many great books with diverse protagonists for me to pick just one to mention here.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

It has to be Dahlia Adler. She and I have such similar taste in books, I trust her judgement, and if she says something is worth reading, I’ll read it.

17- What's the best part of being on the Operation Awesome team?

It’s such a supportive group of writers. I was in a really tight critique group for a number of years and since that kind of fell apart, I’ve missed having a group of writers to just chat with about writerly things. I love having people to bounce ideas off and ask for advice.

18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?

Writing book reviews helps distil how you feel about a book. Why you like it or why you don’t. I find writing book reviews helps my own writing because when I don’t like something, I’m forced to ask myself why and to figure out a way to articulate what I feel is wrong. That thing is then on my radar, so when reading my own stuff critically, I might notice something I wouldn’t have earlier.

19- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?

Looking back, I think I’ve talked a lot about community and how supportive the various different writing communities I’m a part of are. So I guess I’d like people to reach out if they would like to connect and be part of my community. If I can help people feel less alone through any part of this journey, I’d like to be there.

20- Anything else you would care to share about your books and yourself?

Well since you asked! Here’s a little bit about each of my books. Any chance to plug them is a good one…

The Sidewalk’s Regrets

Seventeen-year-old Sacha McLeod isn’t looking for someone to rock her world. She just needs a new violin string to replace the one she broke while practicing her audition piece. But when she hears the boy in the music store play guitar, the energy, violence and unpredictability of the music thrills her and she falls hard for Dylan and his wild, inventive sound.

As their attraction heats up, Sacha finds herself spending less time with her violin and more time with this exciting guy who makes her feel things she’s never imagined. Her plans for her violin-virtuoso future - and her self-confidence – are shattered when she screws up the audition for a prestigious summer music program. Failure isn’t something she’s had to face before, so when Dylan asks her to spend her vacation with him in the city, she lies to her parents, pretends she won a place in the summer school, and secretly moves in with Dylan. She’s expecting romance, music and passion, but when she finds herself playing second fiddle to Dylan’s newly acquired drug habit, she realizes despite what the songs say, sometimes love isn’t all you need.

Desperate to understand what’s competing with her for Dylan’s affections, she joins his band and does drugs with him -- just once. But once become twice, three times, and more. As the band's popularity grows, so do the pressures and her drug use escalates. If Sacha can’t figure out how to leave the band, and Dylan, she’ll lose herself and her own music forever.



Stumped

Seventeen-year-old Ozzy has a super-hot girlfriend who’s ready to take their relationship to the next level. Tonight. At the lake.

But a missing condom scuttles his plans for seduction. Furious, Ozzy takes his girlfriend home and drives off -- into the path of an oncoming truck. He wakes up in the hospital with both legs amputated above the knees.

When his girlfriend runs out of his hospital room gagging after a single look at him, Ozzy knows he’s a hideous freak. He becomes convinced he’s blown any chance of finding love, a girlfriend or ever having sex.

Determined to prove he can still be a man, Ozzy throws himself into dumping the burden of his virginity, but finds there’s a limited number of people willing to touch legless dudes in wheelchairs. His obsession takes him into the seedy underworld of brothels and escort services where he discovers the difference between sex and intimacy, and that sometimes the price you pay for getting what you want is much higher than a sex worker’s fee.



An Unstill Life

When your whole world is falling apart, what are the chances you’ll find love in the most unexpected of places?

Livvie feels like she’s losing everything: her two best friends have abandoned her for their boyfriends, her mother continues to ignore her, while her sister, Jules, is sick again and getting worse by the day. Add in the request Jules has made of her and Livvie feels like she’s losing her mind, too.

Her only escape is in the art room, where she discovers not only a refuge from her life, but also a kindred soul in Bianca, the school “freak”. Livvie’s always felt invisible, at school and at home, but with Bianca, she finally feels like someone sees the real Livvie. As the relationship deepens and it comes time to take the romance public, will Livvie be able to take that step?

Livvie’s about to find out if she has what it takes to make the tough decisions and stand up for herself—for the first time in her life.



T is for The Sidewalk's Regrets by Kate Larkindale