Is my book too long or too short?
Following is are the standard book lengths for different books
Short Stories: 1000 - 8000 words
Novella: 10,000 - 30,000 words
Commercial Fiction: 95,000 - 120,000 words
Romance: 55,000 - 85,000 words
Children Books:
Picture Books: 750 - 1000 words
Chapter Books: 10,000 words
Middle grade: 35,000 - 45,000 words
Young adult: 70,000 -90,000 words
Friday, August 15, 2014
Here something else for you.
Are you writing a Sifi or fantasy script?
These scripts have a structure to follow. Following is an online webinar that can help you.
Winning Sci-Fi/Fantasy Story Structures
Are you writing a Sifi or fantasy script?
These scripts have a structure to follow. Following is an online webinar that can help you.
Winning Sci-Fi/Fantasy Story Structures
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"Show. Don't tell."
This is advice that I always give to writers. I follow it myself. It hopes make one's writing compelling. Following is info about a webinar that focuses on the "show don't tell rule". I suggest signing up for it and listen to the reasoning from an actual agent.
Read the following letter I got from Writer's Digest Tutorial:
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 | SUE JOHNSON eMedia ProductionCoordinator Writer's Digest Tutorials |
Writers are advised again and again to show and not tell. But there's more to showing and telling in fiction than a blanket prohibition. Sometimes the suggestion to show rather than tell simply doesn't go far enough. Of what value is such advice when neither showing nor telling are explained? when the differences between showing and telling aren't spelled out? when no effort is made to point out that both showing and telling are necessary in fiction and that knowing when each is particularly useful can help writers create compelling and dynamic stories?
This tutorial will help fill the gaps of the show, don't tell advice. Examples of both showing and telling will help you decide which should be used in a variety of situations and to create particular effects.
This tutorial is presented by freelance fiction editor Beth Hill, whose popular Editor's Blog offers advice on issues of craft and grammar, and encourages writers toward excellence in fiction.
In this 36-minute tutorial video, you'll learn:
- What is meant by the terms showing and telling
- Ways to both show and tell
- When to use telling and when to use showing to enhance a scene or paragraph
- Why dramatic or conflict-raising scenes should be shown
- Why telling should be used for summary
- Which types of telling should be limited in fiction
- Why showing when you should tell or telling when you should show creates problems
Preview: Show, Don't Tell: The Story Behind the Advice >
Writer's Digest Tutorials Members enjoy full access to all tutorials featured in this newsletter, as well as every tutorial on the tutorials site. Did you know that for only $199 you gain access to all Writer's Digest's writing tutorials for an entire year? That means you have access to all 175+ current tutorials and all the new tutorials created throughout the year. With the addition of at least one new tutorial every week you have access to a minimum of another 52 educational tutorials. Watch every video whenever you like, as often as you would like . . . and be the first to watch the new tutorial we post each week!
Haven't taken advantage of the wisdom bestowed through the WD tutorials yet? Why not try it out today and see all that our WD tutorials have to offer! You can try WD Tutorials for only $25/month! You will enjoy instant access to 175+ tutorials, including at least one new tutorial added weekly. Also, there are many new tutorials still in development. Feel free to preview the many tutorials immediately available to you through the WD Tutorials site.
Wishing you a fun-filled summer!
~ Sue Johnson~
P.S. If you missed the last newsletter (or two), be sure to watch these new and featured tutorials:
How to Get Published: Land a Book Deal in 2014
How to Select the Best Point of View for Your Novel
The Three Essential Building Blocks of Your Novel: Who, What, and Where
Writing the Irresistible Novel
YA Trends: How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market
Why Here? Creating a Sense of Place
For quick and easy access to all WD Tutorials available to you, use this link:
View All WD Tutorials >
| Writer's Digest Tutorials Membership Options |
| 1 month | $25 12 months | $199 175+ WD Tutorials are immediately available for viewing, and at least one new tutorial is added weekly. Become a member today > |
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Literary Agent Conference
Here is one more thing from the email I got from GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS. There will be agent conferences across the county, United States. If one of these conferences are in your area, take some time out to visit it.
Agent-Conference Opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face at writers' conferences and pitch their work in 2014. Remember: Meeting agents in person is a great way to get past the slush pile. If an agent is interested in your work and requests a sample or book proposal, you can write "Requested Material" on your submission, making sure it gets a fair read and consideration.
Know that there are two types of conferences. There are general writers' conferences, that address a variety of subjects, and then there are specialized conferences, which usually tend to focus on a single genre-such as western, romance, or mystery. You will find both kinds in this list below.
Writer's Digest Conference West, Aug. 15-17, 2014, Los Angeles, CA
Attending agents: There will be several agents in attendance participating in pitch one-on-ones, including Ken Sherman (Ken Sherman & Associates), Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary), Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates) and more.
Killer Nashville, Aug 21-24, 2014, Nashville, TN
Attending agents: Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency); Cate Hart (Corvisiero Literary); Michelle Johnson (Inklings Literary); Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); and Adrienne Rosado (Nancy Yost Literary Agency).
Minnesota Writing Workshop, Sept. 6, 2014, St. Paul, MN
Attending agents: Dawn Frederick, Laura Zats. Jennie Goloboy (all from Red Sofa Literary). Also in attendance taking pitches will be Graywolf Press editor Steve Woodward as well as Scarletta Children's Press editor Josh Plattner.
Atlanta Writers Conference, Oct. 24, 2014, Atlanta, GA
Attending agents: This website is not live yet, but the fall conference, put on by the Atlanta Writers Club, usually has 6 literary agents in attendance taking pitches.
Indiana Writing Workshop, Nov. 1, 2014, Indianapolis, IN
Attending agents: Jen Karsbaek (Foreword Literary); and Whitley Abell (Inklings Literary). Also in attendance is editor Andrew Scott of Lacewing/Engine Books.
Windsor International Writers Conference , Nov. 13-16, 2014, Windsor, ON, Canada.
Arizona Writing Workshops, Phoenix, AZ (Nov. 21, 2014) and Tucson, AZ (Nov. 22, 2014)
Attending agents: Adrianna Ranta (Wolf Literary); and Claire Gerus (Claire Gerus Literary). The two workshops are identical, with the same schedule and faculty.
San Francisco Writers Conference, Feb. 12-15, 2015, San Francisco, CA
Attending agents: There are already about 20 agents confirmed. You can see them all on the conference faculty page on the site.
Agent-Conference Opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face at writers' conferences and pitch their work in 2014. Remember: Meeting agents in person is a great way to get past the slush pile. If an agent is interested in your work and requests a sample or book proposal, you can write "Requested Material" on your submission, making sure it gets a fair read and consideration.
Know that there are two types of conferences. There are general writers' conferences, that address a variety of subjects, and then there are specialized conferences, which usually tend to focus on a single genre-such as western, romance, or mystery. You will find both kinds in this list below.
Writer's Digest Conference West, Aug. 15-17, 2014, Los Angeles, CA
Attending agents: There will be several agents in attendance participating in pitch one-on-ones, including Ken Sherman (Ken Sherman & Associates), Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary), Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates) and more.
Killer Nashville, Aug 21-24, 2014, Nashville, TN
Attending agents: Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency); Cate Hart (Corvisiero Literary); Michelle Johnson (Inklings Literary); Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); and Adrienne Rosado (Nancy Yost Literary Agency).
Minnesota Writing Workshop, Sept. 6, 2014, St. Paul, MN
Attending agents: Dawn Frederick, Laura Zats. Jennie Goloboy (all from Red Sofa Literary). Also in attendance taking pitches will be Graywolf Press editor Steve Woodward as well as Scarletta Children's Press editor Josh Plattner.
Atlanta Writers Conference, Oct. 24, 2014, Atlanta, GA
Attending agents: This website is not live yet, but the fall conference, put on by the Atlanta Writers Club, usually has 6 literary agents in attendance taking pitches.
Indiana Writing Workshop, Nov. 1, 2014, Indianapolis, IN
Attending agents: Jen Karsbaek (Foreword Literary); and Whitley Abell (Inklings Literary). Also in attendance is editor Andrew Scott of Lacewing/Engine Books.
Windsor International Writers Conference , Nov. 13-16, 2014, Windsor, ON, Canada.
Arizona Writing Workshops, Phoenix, AZ (Nov. 21, 2014) and Tucson, AZ (Nov. 22, 2014)
Attending agents: Adrianna Ranta (Wolf Literary); and Claire Gerus (Claire Gerus Literary). The two workshops are identical, with the same schedule and faculty.
San Francisco Writers Conference, Feb. 12-15, 2015, San Francisco, CA
Attending agents: There are already about 20 agents confirmed. You can see them all on the conference faculty page on the site.
Dear Readers,
This is my last post for today. Below is info I got from an email sent from GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS. It tells what to do before submitting your book to agents.
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Submission Tip Checklist: Double-Check These 16 Things Before Sending Your Book Out
The time has come. Your novel or memoir or book proposal is now complete. Not only is it complete, you've revised it several times and incorporated the critical ideas of peers and editors to make it better. You've developed a list of agents to target and researched each one.
You're ready. It's time to start the submission process and send out your work. But before you formally e-mail your book out to agents and editors, go down this checklist of dos and don'ts to make sure you've giving yourself and your submission the best chance possible: Learn all 16 things on my official Writers in the Storm guest column here.
The 2015 Guide To Literary Agents is out for sell. I strongly suggest buy the book so you'll have a complete list of agents at hand to query instead of sending time searching on the computer.
The following info is from an email I received this morning:
2015 GLA (and Other Market Books) Available For Pre-Order Now!
Yesterday I held the first copies of the 2015 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS in my hands. Always a thrill to see another edition in print.
If you're interested in pre-ordering that book, or any other market book such as the 2015 CHILDREN'S MARKET that I edit, pop over to the Writer's Digest Shop and order the books at a 33% discount. The information is completely updated and ready for your review.
The following info is from an email I received this morning:
2015 GLA (and Other Market Books) Available For Pre-Order Now!
Yesterday I held the first copies of the 2015 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS in my hands. Always a thrill to see another edition in print.
If you're interested in pre-ordering that book, or any other market book such as the 2015 CHILDREN'S MARKET that I edit, pop over to the Writer's Digest Shop and order the books at a 33% discount. The information is completely updated and ready for your review.
New Literary Agents 8/ 14/ 2014
Good morning, readers.
I got an email telling of two new Literary agents. If you're ready to start querying an agent check out the ones in this post.
2 Agents Seeking New Clients
Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying!
1. Catherine Luttinger of Darhansoff & Verrill
She is seeking: Catherine is primarily interested in science fiction and fantasy. To her, that includes anything that could even remotely be labeled as such. Viable submission material includes everything from classic space operas to the apocalypse; alternative universes, dystopias, and eco-thrillers-as well as the paranormal, horror, zombies, plagues, and time travel. She is also willing to look at historical fiction, mythology re-told, YA, thrillers and mysteries. You may also pitch her pop-science nonfiction.
2. Stacy Testa of Writers House
She is seeking: Stacy is looking for literary fiction and upmarket commercial women's fiction, particularly character-driven stories with an international setting, historical bent, or focus on a unique subculture. She also represents realistic young adult (no dystopian or paranormal, please!). For nonfiction, she is particularly interested in young "millennial" voices with a great sense of humor and a strong platform, startling and unique memoirs, and voice-driven narratives about little-known historical moments.
I got an email telling of two new Literary agents. If you're ready to start querying an agent check out the ones in this post.
2 Agents Seeking New Clients
Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying!
1. Catherine Luttinger of Darhansoff & Verrill
She is seeking: Catherine is primarily interested in science fiction and fantasy. To her, that includes anything that could even remotely be labeled as such. Viable submission material includes everything from classic space operas to the apocalypse; alternative universes, dystopias, and eco-thrillers-as well as the paranormal, horror, zombies, plagues, and time travel. She is also willing to look at historical fiction, mythology re-told, YA, thrillers and mysteries. You may also pitch her pop-science nonfiction.
2. Stacy Testa of Writers House
She is seeking: Stacy is looking for literary fiction and upmarket commercial women's fiction, particularly character-driven stories with an international setting, historical bent, or focus on a unique subculture. She also represents realistic young adult (no dystopian or paranormal, please!). For nonfiction, she is particularly interested in young "millennial" voices with a great sense of humor and a strong platform, startling and unique memoirs, and voice-driven narratives about little-known historical moments.
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