Month: September 2019

How to Hook a Literary Agent to Represent Writing and Get Published

 

The Writing Project

The first step in hooking a literary agent appropriate for your writing project is to be able to define what your writing project is. Some writers may find this easy to do; others may struggle. Regardless, it’s an important task to complete if you wish to publish your book.

Category exercise:

Go to a few local bookstores and determine where you think your book should be shelved in the store. And no, you’re not allowed to put it on an endcap or front-of-store display.

Would your book go in a fiction section? Nonfiction section? A category within fiction or nonfiction? There’s a difference between general adult fiction and young adult or science fiction.  Likewise as there is a difference between general reference and self-help or inspiration. Nail down where your work belongs in multiple bookstores.

This task will help you find appropriate literary agents who represent your category. But it will also help you pitch appropriate literary agents.

The Query Letter

The query letter is the ultimate sales tool for writers. When done effectively, queries help writers gain the representation of literary agents and editors. And when knocked out of the park, queries can even end up being the copy on the back of the book itself.

All effective queries have three basic components: a pitch (or hook), more information on the project, and a concise about the author.

The pitch is usually handled in the first line or paragraph of the query, and it’s meant to spark interest in the project. This is followed by a paragraph or three of more information about the project.  It sustains that interest from the pitch by providing more of the story or supporting evidence of need. Finally, the about the author information is there to show why you’re the perfect person to write this book.

Query letters are important, but their main goal is not to seal the deal (even in the case of back cover copy). Rather, queries are meant to inspire more interest in the project so that an agent or editor will request the manuscript, synopsis, book proposal, and/or sample chapters. By the way, in the case of readers with back cover copy, the goal is to get them to read the first page.

The Synopsis

The synopsis is a straightforward document that summarizes the book. As such, it includes the beginning, middle, and end of the book. Don’t worry about sharing spoilers with your potential agent or editor.  You’ll be going over the manuscript together several times during the publication process.

The main variable for synopses is the length that is requested by an agent or editor. The most common length is one page, but some go a little longer. Others may request a much longer synopsis, which is why it’s always best to follow specific submission guidelines.

Here are some great pieces on writing the synopsis:

  • Learn How to Write a Synopsis Like a Pro, by Courtney Carpenter. This post shares 5 tips on writing a synopsis, including narrative arc, active voice, story advancement, and more.
  • Taming the Synopsis: 4 Steps for Perfecting One-Page and Long-Form Synopses, by Ammi-Joan Paquette. This post shares tips on breaking the synopsis down into a one-sentence pitch, one-paragraph pitch, one-page synopsis, and long-form synopsis. Plus, it shares how the synopsis is an invaluable tool for revision.
  • Mastering the Dreaded Synopsis, by Kaitlyn Johnson. For good measure, we’ve included this piece by a literary agent who shares how to craft a successful synopsis.

Get feedback on your synopsis!

Before sending your synopsis to an agent or editor, run it through our 2nd Draft critique service. A synopsis critique from 2nd Draft Writing Critique Service provides you with specific, tailored advice for your 2-page synopsis.

Specifically, it offers an overall evaluation of the synopsis’ strengths and weaknesses.  It offers specific comments on the appropriateness to your proposed target audience.  In addition, provides a non-biased assessment of the effectiveness of your synopsis, and a clear idea of how to revise.

The Book Proposal

The synopsis is generally used as a submission tool for novelists, though they can be requested for memoirs and narrative nonfiction projects too. Most nonfiction submissions require a book proposal that identifies the key selling points of the proposed book, This includes evidence of need, unique selling point, competitive and comparable titles, marketing ideas, and more.

Here are the basic components of a book proposal:

  • Overview

This is a compelling top-level summary of what the book is about and why it’s needed in the marketplace. In fact, it’s a lot like the pitch or hook in your query letter or the back cover copy on a published book. The intent is to make your book idea easy to understand while driving decision makers to want to know more about the project.

Target audience

  • Many great book ideas have been rejected over the years for one simple reason: The author (and/or agent or editor) could not sufficiently connect an appropriate target audience to that convinced publishers the book would sell a lot of copies. In this section, authors really need to quantify (with real numbers) who their target audience is.

Marketing plan

  •  In this section, authors need to share how they have already reached out to their target audience, whether that’s through a blog or website, speaking appearances, articles in online and print publications, YouTube channel, or whatever. As with the target audience section, quantifiable numbers tied to past performance are key to making this section strong.

  • Comp titles.

Comp titles is short for competitive or comparable titles. In other words, this section shares already existing books that are closely related to yours and (hopefully) performing well. This helps add weight to your evidence of need for your target audience, and it gives you an opportunity to show your book’s USP (or unique selling point) by explaining why your book is better (or different) than what’s currently on the market.

  • About the author

This is where you show why you’re the perfect person to write this book by sharing your relevant expertise on the subject or already established platform. 

  • Chapter outline

This section acts like the synopsis in that it summarizes the book’s contents on a chapter-by-chapter level. A strong chapter outline will show an agent or editor that you don’t only have an inspired idea but a well-formed idea that will fill the pages needed for a book-length project. Plus, this is a great place to show off your voice and treatment of the subject matter.

  • Sample chapters

Nonfiction book proposals were often sold on ideas alone, but more and more publishers expect a sample chapter or three to get a sense of the author’s voice and treatment of the subject.

The Sample Pages (or Full Manuscript)

If the query letter is what gets a novelist’s foot in the door, the full manuscript is what can close the sale or kill it. Sometimes agents request sample pages or sample chapters before requesting the full manuscript. If they do, send the requested material in the appropriate format (ask or look at their submission guidelines) starting at page one.

When they request the full manuscript, send it in the appropriate format as well. But don’t sit around twiddling your thumbs or fretting over whether it’s going to be accepted or rejected. It may take the agent a while to give it his or her full attention. They do have actual clients, after all.

Take a day off, sure, but then, get back at it. Get back to writing. Because that’s what writers do.

By: Robert Lee Brewer

Related:  Writing a Book? – TUTORING YOU

6 Smartphone Repairs You Should Never Pay Someone to Fix

Got a wet cell phone? A shattered screen? These smartphone repair techniques should do the trick.

Restore your charge

Mobile smart phones charging on wooden deskBacho/Shutterstock

If your phone won’t charge when plugged in, the cord might not be the problem. The charging port often accumulates debris which can cause it to charge slower or not at all. Fortunately, there’s a low-tech solution. “You can use a safety pin and run it around the inside of the port on your phone to clear it out,” recommends Shayne Sherman, CEO of TechLoris. “If your phone isn’t charging, give this a try before buying a new cord.”

Clean up fuzzy noise

Speaker, lighting connector, bottom microphone of smart phone isolated on whiteKwan Kajornsiri/Shutterstock

Turned off by inferior sound when you plug speakers into your headphone jack? Dirt can cause your device to stop turning on or prevent you from hearing your phone calls, says Liz Hamilton, director of People and Customers at Mobile Klinik, a mobile phone repair business.
“Cleaning out your charge port can be done carefully with a few quick blasts of compressed air to the area, or even with a Q-tip (remove some of the cotton if you have to get it to fit) and use a high alcohol content cleaner to wipe out the area,” Hamilton says.

Replace a shattered screen

Broken mobile phone screen, close-up, black and white frameJalisko/Shutterstock

“If you’re tech-savvy and willing to risk your expensive device that has many fragile and tiny parts, you can probably fix a screen yourself,” Hamilton says. But you’ll need the right tools for this smartphone repair job, she adds.

And it’s easier to replace the screen on some devices than others. For iPhones, for example, iFixit.com recommends applying some heat to soften the adhesive, keeping the screen on, and using opening picks to slice the adhesive apart in order to carefully pry the screen off. That said, replacing a cracked screen is more involved on Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy series, says Craig Lloyd of iFixit. For example, you’ll need to take the back glass panel off first, which adds steps and complexity to the repair.

Resurrect a soaked phone

Phone in the water. Concept broken phone. Smartphone repair conceptAnastasiya Tsiasemnikava/Shutterstock

If your phone takes an unexpected swim, don’t follow the common wisdom to place it in a bag of rice. Instead, the first thing you should do for smartphone repair. Simply remove the phone from the water source and turn the phone off immediately. “Let it dry completely before attempting to turn it back on,” Lloyd says. “You can use a blow dryer on a cool setting to help dry out ports and such.” Some experts also recommend placing the phone in a box with packets of silica gel that come with shoes.
If your phone still isn’t working, though, many experts recommend that the safest bet for water damage is to turn off your phone and take it to a professional. “Good professionals will give you a free diagnosis and quote before any work is done and the best professionals won’t charge you if they can’t fix it, regardless of the efforts they take to save your device,” Hamilton says.

Replace the battery

smartphone batteriesMehaniq/Shutterstock

Wouldn’t it be great if it were as easy to replace the batteries in your phone as it is to switch out the ones in your remote control? Unfortunately, batteries are glued down in most phones, so replacing them is more of an involved process for smartphone repair. iFixit has detailed instructions to replace the battery in a Samsung Galaxy S8. Putting in a new battery is easier in iPhones, however, because they have handy pull tabs on the adhesive that makes battery removal a bit easier, Lloyd says.

Improve a mediocre lens

smart phone camera and flash on wood backgroundIonut Musca/Shutterstock

Salvage a DVD player’s lens—the little piece that guides the disc-reading laser—and use it on your phone’s camera. Put the lens on top of a small piece of painter’s tape, cut a hole for it to peek through, and mount it over your phone’s lens with extra strips of tape for better pictures.

This article was published in Reader’s Digest:

Best and Worst Exercises to Do When You’re Under the Weather

Sometimes, working out while sick may help you feel better. The general rule of thumb: Exercise is safe if your symptoms are “above the neck,” such as a light headache and a runny or stuffy nose.1

Still, you’ll want to dial back the intensity of your workouts. For example, try light jogging or walking if you usually run. You might lift light dumbells at home instead of heavy machinery at the gym.

In contrast, you may need to take a few days off if you have “below-the-neck” symptoms like chest congestion, nausea, and vomiting. Focus on resting if you have a fever and stay home if you test positive for COVID-19.

Types of Exercise That Might Be More or Less Beneficial 

Some exercises are safer than others, even if you have a mild illness. For some people, moderate cardio can help boost your energy and clear congestion, Andrea Hulse, DO, an internist at Sibley Memorial Hospital, told Health. Generally, you’ll want to lower the intensity of your workouts while sick.

“It’s really a matter of personal preference, what type of symptoms you have, and what your normal routine is like,” said Dr. Hulse.

Read on to learn whether specific exercises are safe and what to do instead if you are sick.

Anything Outdoors in the Cold

Working out in freezing temperatures may harm some people with cold symptoms. Cold, dry air can restrict or irritate airways, triggering a runny nose, coughing, or asthma-like symptoms.8 If you have a cold, you may find winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing more difficult than usual.

Of note: Contrary to popular belief, cold weather will not cause you to get sick or lower immunity, not even if you go outside without a coat or sweat so much your hair gets wet.

Biking

Biking is a moderate exercise that may be safe if you are sick. Still, you may want to avoid biking on a congested road while sick. Inhaling pollutants irritates your airways, worsening your existing symptoms. Pollutants may cause coughing and shortness of breath and coughing.9

Dance

Taking a cardio dance class—or even just rocking out to your favorite tunes while you clean the house—is a safe form of exercise when you have above-the-neck symptoms. 

Dance cardio may improve your symptoms. A study published in 2021 found that dance can reduce stress levels, which may improve immune function.10

Dancing tends to be low impact, so you can break a sweat without aggravating a sinus headache and stressing your joints. You can go at your own pace: Take it easy on days you’re not feeling 100%, and try to enjoy your workout.

Jogging

As long as jogging is part of your routine, there’s no reason you need to skip it because of a mild head cold. 

“My patients who are runners all say that running helps them feel better when they’re sick,” said Dr. Hulse. “Running is a natural decongestant, and it can help clear your head and feel normal again.”

Try scaling back the intensity of your run if you are sick, said Dr. Hulse. Your body is already working in overdrive to help fight off a virus. Entirely hold off on running if you have below-the-neck symptoms, like nausea or vomiting.11

Lifting Weights

Fighting off a cold will likely diminish your performance and strength, especially if you are not getting enough sleep.

A lack of sleep increases injury risk when lifting heavy equipment, Richard Besser, MD, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, told Health. The muscle strain required to lift weights may cause headaches to worsen.12

Instead, try strength exercises at home, where you’ll be less likely to spread germs from sharing equipment. Remember to give yourself a break by using lighter dumbbells than usual. You can increase your reps, not the weight, if you need more challenge, said Dr. Hulse.

Qigong

Qigong is a slow, mindful movement that mixes martial arts and meditation. In Chinese medicine, qigong helps heal and regulate the body, mind, and spirit. Qigong is low-intensity enough for days you do not feel like breaking a sweat.13

People have used qigong for thousands of years to:1413  

  • Improve blood flow
  • Increase energy
  • Reduce anxiety and stress 

Qigong may help support your immune system. A study published in 2020 found that qigong enhances immune function and suppresses inflammation.15 Still, more research is needed.

Swimming

Swimming can feel refreshing, and indoor swimming may open your airways due to the humid air.16 For people with allergies, swimming can help wash away dust and pollen.

In contrast, some people may find it difficult to breathe while congested. Others may find that chlorinated water irritates their symptoms. 

Walking

Common cold symptoms may compromise your energy levels, so you may not feel up for intense physical fitness. Even walking can help you reap the benefits of regular exercise and may improve your cold symptoms.1

“If your sinuses are plugged up, walking will stimulate you to take deep breaths and can help open up those passages,” said Dr. Besser. 

Some evidence suggests that regular exercise may increase immunity to illnesses like colds. Still, there’s little research on how exercise can affect the duration of a cold.17

Yoga

Some evidence suggests that stress-relieving techniques—such as breathing exercises and yoga—help reduce inflammation and support immunity.18

Gentle stretching may relieve aches and pains related to colds and sinus infections, said Dr. Besser.

Choose a slow style of practice, like Hatha or Iyengar yoga, if you are worried about overdoing it. Try focusing on restorative postures at home, like Child Pose and Legs Up the Wall.

Source: health.com©

Photo credit: Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

Best get it written!

“You are hands down the best writer I have read. The books always surprise me, and the plots are very well written. Please never stop writing.”

How would those few sentences spoken to you make you feel? I’d be on cloud 9, but it won’t ever happen until we write those books, articles, stories or poems.

Here is some good advice from Neil Gaiman:

 

What Are the 5 Love Languages?

love-letter

If you’ve ever had a relationship query (and who hasn’t), your online search has probably led you to the “What is your love language?” question and/or quiz at some point. The phrase has been ubiquitous since Dr. Gary Chapman released his popular relationship book, The Five Love Languages, 10 years ago.

So, what is a “love language,” and how might understanding them help our relationships? It’s all about knowing what it takes for a person to feel loved, Chapman tells SheKnows.

After many years of counseling couples in crisis, Chapman says, “It became apparent to me that what makes one person feel loved isn’t always the same for their spouse or partner,” he explains. “I discovered every person understands and receives love in a specific language, one of five to be precise. The other four are just as important and offer [other] ways to express love to each other.”

Dr. Tina B. Tessina, a psychotherapist and author of Dr. Romance’s Guide to Finding Love Today, also sees the value of using these terms to demonstrate love. “Understanding your own ways of expressing love, and your partner’s, and understanding how your expressions of love are different or similar means you know when you’re loving your partner the way you want to and when you’re loving your partner in his or her favorite way,” she tells SheKnows. “You can understand better why some things work between you and others don’t. You can learn to recognize when your partner is sending you love, even if it’s not the way you’re used to.”

According to Chapman, taking the time to learn and really understand your partner’s primary love language, which is often different from your own, can improve communication and strengthen your bond.

But what are these five different love languages? Here’s what you need to know.

1. Words of affirmation

According to Chapman, people with this love language need to hear their partner say, “I love you.” Even better is including the reasons behind the love through leaving them a voice message or a written note or talking to them directly with sincere words of kindness and affirmation.

Other examples from Tessina include saying things like: “Thank you,” “That was nice of you” and/or “I appreciate what you did.”

2. Quality time

This language, says Chapman, is all about giving your partner your undivided attention. That means no TV, no chores, no cell phone — just giving each other your undivided attention. Take time every day to do this.

“Spending time with your partner is about being together, paying attention to each other, sharing something meaningful together and listening and communicating,” adds Tessina. Other examples include preparing dinner together and talking while preparing and eating it, sharing plans for the future, making love and/or creating something together.

3. Receiving gifts

The person who loves this language thrives on the love, thoughtfulness and effort behind the gift. In short, actions speak louder than words.

“The thing that works best is picking the right gift that shows you understand your partner and the effort you made to express love,” says Chapman. “Think about finding a gift that your partner has been asking for or would enjoy receiving and plan for a special way of giving it; make it a surprise.”

The act of giving a gift tells your partner you cared enough to think about him or her in advance and go out of your way to get something to make your partner smile, says Tessina.

4. Acts of service

This language includes anything you do to ease the burden of responsibility, like vacuuming the floors, going grocery shopping or sending thank-you notes. Stumped as to what your partner needs? Chapman suggests asking your partner to give ideas for things they’d like you to do that would make their life easier and make a schedule to get them done.

Simple things like making breakfast in bed or walking the dog demonstrate you care about your partner and your life together. It says you want to make your home and relationship more livable, and you want to ease your partner’s burden.

5. Physical touch

People who speak this love language thrive on any type of physical touch: handholding, hugs and pats on the back. “Be intentional about finding ways to express your love using physical touch: giving hugs, touching their arm or hand during a conversation; offer to give a neck or back rub,” says Chapman.

Physical touch is the most direct way to communicate love. As long as it’s done in an atmosphere which is loving and not oppressive, physical touch can be the most effective of the love languages. It calms, heals and reassures.

The bottom line is that not everyone expresses their love in the same way, so being aware of the different love languages can help you understand your relationship better.

by Brianne Hogan