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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:40 PM
I'm hoping my readers will hang in there while I attempt to get my computer problems under control. I currently have two laptops and one desktop computer of which zero work correctly. I can receive emails on one, but can't send them out. I can write on one, but can't save it. I can write and save on one, but can't use the internet. I've ordered an external hard drive to back everything up and get at least one functioning rather than breaking down and buying a new one. Fortunately, my future son-in-law works with computers and has promised to help. I knew my daughter picked a good one! In other news, I just sent out another query on my finished novel, Man of the House. Wish me luck! I've also applied for a small grant and should be hearing either "yay" or "nay" from them in the next week or two at the most. In addition, I've been working at my freelance writing career bringing in a little (but very appreciated) cash. Afterall, I may need to buy a new computer soon. On a more personal note, I watched the season finale of Once Upon a Time, and will sadly miss all the characters for the next several months. I have developed quite a fancy for Robert Carlyle who plays Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin. My friends think it's creepy that I find him attractive even as Rumple, but like Belle, I can see his inner goodness. So, dear readers, please bear with me while I get my computer repaired and can communicate with you on a more regular basis. Until then, I'm still writing--the old fashion way with paper and pencil. Guess what? It still works! |
NaNo, writing, blog, writers, new novels, works in progress, kidney failure, transplants, Transplant tourism, china, Everyday Writing, Books in General, Newsworthy Notes, Words of Wisdom, Once Upon a Time, Robert Carlyle, Rumplestiltskin, Mr. Gold, query letter, grant
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Sunday, April 07, 2013 1:02 AM
Barbara Poelle with the Irene Goodman Agency did a guest column at Writer's Digest on April 4, 2013.
The column titled:
is possibly the funniest agent interview ever. I've re-posted a portion of the column, and you can read the entire article here.
Once you've read all of it, you can check out my comments here.
Trust me, you're going to love this.
Dear Agent:
What do you really think of speed-pitching events at conferences? Do
you secretly hate them? And how many of your new authors do you find at
writing conferences, versus the slush pile, versus other methods?
Well, let’s see. Here are some things that have happened to me at speed-dating-style pitch sessions:
•
After I said I would not be interested in looking at a man’s poetry
collection, he said he would kill himself—and the police had to be
called.
• An octogenarian and his wife pitched his mystery and
she mouthed his memorized pitch next to him the whole time he talked,
and then clapped and cried when he was done—and I had to sit there
knowing from the start that a 42,000-word World War II mystery (which is
far too short to be viable, for starters) was something I was for sure
about to say no to. To this octogenarian’s life dream. In front of his
lifelong soul mate. Thank goodness the bar was within sprinting
distance.
• A woman sat down across from me and opened with,
“Jesus already told me you would be my agent, so I’m not nervous at
all.” I said, “That’s weird, when we had coffee the other day, he didn’t
mention you.” And then I chuckled. She did not. And then my bladder
loosened a bit in fear.
In the end, I very much like talking to
authors at conferences, but I wouldn’t buy a car from a guy who just
tells me about it; I need to see how she rides. So these days, when I’m
invited to participate in pitch sessions at writing events I attend, I
decline, but instead offer to take a look, in advance, at 10 pages of
the manuscript from each author who wished to pitch me, and to leave a
detailed critique for each one at the registration desk. I realize not
every agent (maybe not any other agent) favors this approach, but in my
case, I feel that this is more helpful for the writers, and better
suited for my evaluation style, too. If I want to meet with someone, I
leave a note and we connect.
Other than that, I am totally fine with
someone coming up to me anywhere, anytime, and telling me about his
book, but not in organized pitch sessions. It’s just too much pressure
on the authors. And my bladder.
Oh: And as for my own stats,
before adopting this policy, I signed five clients (and sold four of
their books to publishers) in five years’ worth of pitch sessions. So,
while connecting at those events does happen, that’s not a huge
percentage of my list. Again, that’s not the case for every agent, but
for me, the majority of my clients still find me through the regular
query inbox.
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:09 AM
Author Media is a website that I highly recommend for anyone in the writing business.
It's run by Thomas Umstattd who is a veritable font of information.
Thomas Umstattd is the CEO of Castle Media Group the parent company of Author Media. You can follow him on Twitter @ThomasUmstattd.
He loves helping people use technology to change the world.
Sign up for his newsletter. I always find at least one helpful hint or tip in each one.
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2013 10:09 PM
Just a quick note. I found a site run by Cascade Writers that explains a great critique method to use in your writing groups.
Starting a writers group is easy: 1) Find a group of people who want to improve their writing. 2) Set up a time and place to meet. 3) Then what...?
I would recommend using this technique to start the critiques.
Once you've established a routine and these guidelines, you can tweak them to better fit your group.
I really like the way Cascade Writers leads us step-by-step through the Milford Style. They not only tell you how to give a good critique, but also how to accept one without falling to pieces. And, Bonus! After giving and receiving all this good information, they also tell you what to do with it once the feedback soaks in.
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Saturday, March 23, 2013 8:33 PM
Fifty Shades Trilogy
Okay, I promise this is the last one. How can I resist a review that uses such colorful phrases?
Examples:
stench trench, fecal bombs from a fighter jet, more mood swings than a menopausal schizophrenic on meth, and my personal favorite,
magical panty hamster.
Magical panty hamster! Makes me want to run out and get one.
What????? I already have one!
Maybe, I should read those books after all.
NOT!
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Saturday, March 23, 2013 8:15 PM
Fifty Shades Freed
Katrina Passick Lumsden is my new hero. I'm almost sorry that there are only three novels in this series. Once again, I must share.
Here it is. Enjoy. Laugh. Cringe. |
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Saturday, March 23, 2013 12:36 PM
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Monday, February 18, 2013 4:24 PM
Yesterday, I wrote about creating believable characters only touching on the tip of the iceberg. Today, I read a post by Russell Blake describing his latest character that does such an excellent job of it that I wanted to share it with my readers. Click on the link below to go to his website and check it out. Artemis Gunner is a character that I want to know. He's flawed, but still has endearing qualities. I especially like the part where his cat doesn't like him and it hurts his feelings a bit. Makes him human and just a little bit loveable. |
Recommended Reading, new novels, works in progress, kidney failure, transplants, Transplant tourism, china, Everyday Writing, Books in General, Newsworthy Notes, Words of Wisdom
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Monday, February 18, 2013 1:47 PM
Yesterday I blogged about a short story I'm writing that contains elements of Magic Realism. Since then, I've been bombarded by questions such as "Magic Realism? What do you mean by that?"
Wikipedia defines Magic Realism as "a genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment." Writing-World.com provides a more in-depth definition. "Magical realism is not speculative and does not conduct thought
experiments. Instead, it tells its stories from the perspective of
people who live in our world and experience a different reality from the
one we call objective. If there is a ghost in a story of magical
realism, the ghost is not a fantasy element but a manifestation of the
reality of people who believe in and have "real" experiences of ghosts.
Magical realist fiction depicts the real world of people whose reality
is different from ours. It's not a thought experiment. It's not
speculation. Magical realism endeavors to show us the world through
other eyes."
In my (as yet untitled) short story, one aspect of Magic Realism that is used is the physical manifestation of broken dreams. That's all I can tell you for now, but hope the above definitions will enlighten and intrigue you enough to continue following my blog so you'll be ready to read this short story when it's finished.
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new novels, works in progress, kidney failure, transplants, Transplant tourism, china, Everyday Writing, Writing Groups, Critique Groups, Improving Writing Skills, Books in General, Words of Wisdom
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Tammy Setzer Denton: Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2013 12:52 AM
Been working on short stories today. One in particular is coming along really well. It contains elements of magic realism in an apocalyptic future. It comes complete with broken dreams and flawed characters with a few redeeming qualities.
It's important to make flawed characters. No one is perfect in real life so why would someone be perfect in fiction? Perhaps in fairy tales, but not in believable fiction.
In believable fiction, characters cannot be all good or all bad. Every good guy needs to have a little bad, and every bad guy needs to have a little good. Each needs a quirk or flaw to make him three dimensional.
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new novels, works in progress, kidney failure, transplants, Transplant tourism, china, Everyday Writing, Writing Groups, Critique Groups, Improving Writing Skills, Words of Wisdom
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