Can Fantasy Writing be too Imaginary?

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Writing in the fantasy genre can be very liberating. By definition, fantasy means imagining things that are impossible or improbable. When an entire story can be based on things that are only of the imagination, there are endless possibilities for creative ideas. I am having a lot of fun writing my YA high fantasy. It’s mystical and magical with elements of suspense and adventure – even a little romance. I love that there are no rules or limits as to the creative details that I can bring the reader. However, I am finding that you have to be careful how imaginary you get.

The story still needs to make sense to the reader. For example, it’s okay to call a tree a tree – isn’t it? I’m reading a fantasy novel right now (author will remain anonymous) that is really frustrating me. So many things are referenced with a made-up name/language, and sometimes I’m reading the entire chapter before I finally figure out what the words are referencing. I am not an expert fantasy writer, but this seems a little extreme. I don’t want my reader to be so distracted by the language that they can’t enjoy the story.

Those of you out there who read or write fantasy, what are your thoughts on the subject? Is it okay to call a tree a tree?

Synopsis Before the Manuscript?

Artwork by Leandro Bassano. Image by Peter via Flickr.

When writing a fiction work, every writer has their own method. Some begin with a spark of an idea, while others create an entire notebook containing the complete plot, character descriptions, and details concerning setting and time period. I’ve had plenty of ideas, but I’ve only written one completed novel. However, I have two more in the works, and I can’t help noticing how much more fun I’m having writing them than the first one. 

The completed work is a historical, inspirational romance, which I’m currently working to get published. I am half-way through what I would consider a young adult, high fantasy, and just beginning the second historical, inspirational romance, which is the second of a three-book series.

The idea for my completed novel began with a painting that I was asked to write an essay on in my high school arts and humanities class. The painting was of an old woman, which I found out later was by Italian artist, Leandro Bassano. The woman in the painting looked so sorrowful, and I just knew she had endure a great tragedy in her life. However, I had the power of words, and in my story, all hope wasn’t lost. 

We were asked to write one page about the women – a fictional assessment, of course. In the essay I wrote of this woman’s tragic story, but there was no space left for a conclusion. I couldn’t stop thinking of the woman who I had named, Emma, and because the painting had such an impact on me, I wanted to write a happy ending for her. I received an “A” on the essay and a lovely note from my teacher complementing my writing. That, no doubt, only fueled my interest.

I’ve always loved writing, but this was the first time I’d considered writing a book.

I didn’t begin it immediately. It wasn’t until I was in college, and already married, that the story first came to life. When I completed it a few years later, it was far from great, but nonetheless, something I was proud of and passionate about.

The main reason it took me so long to write it was my busy schedule (working and going to school full-time), but another big reason was my lack of planning. I began with only a few solid ideas and the rest was not thought through very well. I spent a great deal of time backtracking the story when I realized something wouldn’t work or didn’t flow properly. As a result, the manuscript ended up being a lot more work than it should’ve been, and not entirely enjoyable.

Recently, I was asked by an agent to come up with two additional story ideas to follow my first book in order to have a three-book series. Since I was already considering this, it wasn’t too hard to come up with a couple of ideas, however, they wanted me to write a five-page synopsis for each story in order to give them a clear idea of the plot.

I had never done this before.

 Figuring out many of the main scenes before writing them seemed like a huge challenge. However, once I finished them (it took me about three weeks), I realized it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The best part was, I had two additional book ideas already ironed out. This made starting the second book a much more enjoyable feat.

I am curious as to how other writers begin their fiction stories. Does it come from a single idea, or weeks of planning and brainstorming? Do you know how it will end before you begin?

What say you?



Following Up with a Literary Agent

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Since I began querying agents, I have experienced three separate occurrences where the agent (or their assistant) has overlooked my material. In all three of those occurrences, I had followed up and asked for a status – and so glad I did! Following up can be the difference between getting noticed or being forgotten. You might like to think that your query or manuscript stands out so much that the agent couldn’t possibly forget it exists. You might also believe that agents are so organized that they would never misplace your material. You might even think that reading your material is high up on the agent’s to-do list. If you believe any or all of these things, then I’m afraid you’re living in a fantasy world. My material has been forgotten, lost, and low on the priority list, so I’m speaking from experience.

Now that you know the facts, how can you prevent these things from happening? You can’t – sorry, but there just isn’t a prevention method that I would recommend as effective. Spritzing your letter with perfume, using colorful paper, or writing your email subject line in bold uppercase letters or an irrelevant, catchy phrase will likely attract the wrong kind of attention. Don’t worry though, this doesn’t mean there isn’t any hope, and that you’re expected to just wait endless amounts of time wondering why you never received a reply. After a reasonable amount of time, you can follow up with the agent and ensure your material is getting the attention it deserves.

If you’ve sent a query letter or proposal, most agents specify in their submission guidelines how long you can expect to receive a reply. Unfortunately, I have noticed that nearly 50% of them don't reply unless they're interested. In this case, I would not recommend following up. The reason they don’t reply is probably because they don’t have the time or man-power to do so – just accept that they aren't interested. On the other hand, if the agent does do replies, and you have not received one in the amount of time they stated, send a follow-up. Do this by either forwarding the original email you sent, or copying and pasting the original in the body of the email after your follow-up message.

If you’ve sent a partial or full manuscript, the agent may or may not specify an expected time of reply. If they do, then you know when you should send a follow-up. If they don’t, I would recommend giving the agent 2 to 4 months before you send one – no less than 2, and no more than 4. Remember, reading an entire manuscript is much more time-consuming than reading a query letter. Keep your replies short, courteous, and to-the-point. Don’t bombard them with a bunch of questions. Simply remind them when you sent the material and ask them if it is still under review. Remember to include the original email for their reference.

Has your material ever been overlooked by an agent? Has a follow-up ever made a positive difference for you?

"No" Strikes Again!

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Another rejection arrived into my inbox a couple of days ago, and I was surprised by how little it disappointed me. Although the agent was not my top pick, she was creditable and I would’ve seriously considered representation if she’d extended it to me. It turns out that following up on an agent’s full request is very important. She’d had my manuscript for exactly three months when I decided to request a status to ensure she received it, and that it was still under review. She emailed me back the very next day stating that she didn’t remember receiving the material. I think that statement struck a nerve even more than the rejection.
 

Isn’t it funny that I’ve been waiting the last three months believing that she was taking the time to read my manuscript, and she hadn’t even noticed it in her inbox. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt though – maybe she didn’t receive it at all. Maybe in was sent straight to her junk mail and was deleted from existence. That’s perfectly believable. Still, you want to think your query left a big enough impression that she would’ve remembered requesting it. The truth is, my story is just one of many fish in the sea. On a lighter note, she did take the time to review it on the spot, so I didn’t have to continue waiting.
 

Ultimately, she passed on it, deciding that the beginning was too slow and cliché. This statement was a little hard to swallow since I had only recently revised the entire beginning, and was very satisfied with it. It’s easy to get defensive in this situation, but instead, I stepped back and thought about it. She’s just one opinion, and although I was grateful for her response and feedback, I realized that she doesn’t speak for all agents. However, she did offer to take another look if I adjust the beginning to her liking, so I don’t plan on counting her out, and I certainly don’t want to burn any bridges. If I later receive another rejection with similar recommendations, I’ll mostly certainly consider changing it again.
 

I’m sure this post isn’t very positive, but the reason I started this blog was to track my journey to publication. In doing so, I have to tell the bad with the good. This is a realistic look at this long and stressful process, which sometimes feels like a waiting game. The bad news is, I received another “no”. The good news is, I’m not giving up. As a fellow blogger recently said to me, I’m one “no” closer to a yes!  



What Are You Waiting For?

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It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of having been shown interest from a literary agent. It’s also easy to ignore that they have much more to do than read our manuscript. We too often image them receiving our query letter and suddenly getting a sparkle in their eye followed by an immediate and most enthusiastic reply to our letter. Receiving that request for a full manuscript is important to an aspiring author after all. It means our letter was intriguing enough to spark their interest and create curiosity. On the other hand, it also means our manuscript has been added to their long to-do list, and, no doubt, at the very end.

The more I read and learn about the lives of agents, the more I realize their human just like me. Yes, they have feelings and they get stressed, over-whelmed, and tired. They have sickness, tragedy, and heartache. They also have annoying co-workers, difficult bosses, and impossible deadlines. They even procrastinate. Then, why is that so hard to imagine? It’s not – really. It’s just easier to get caught up in the excitement of possibly finding success. In the process of doing so we can’t help but to religiously check our email and study the “Top Ten Questions to Ask an Agent when You Receive the Call.”

When one week turns into a month, and then two and three months, we finally realize that we’ve been doing nothing but waiting and allowing precious time to pass along with other opportunities for success. I’ve waited seven months for a no before, and I’ve read where others have waited much longer for the same result. At some point I had to ask myself, “What are you waiting for?” As I thought about the answer I realized, I’m waiting for one person to determine my writing success. That’s one person with one opinion in the entire agent community. Those odds are terrible! Why am I doing that?

The conclusion? I’m not waiting anymore. I might take a break now and then, but I’m not going to sit around and wait for one agent to decide my literary future. I’m taking some control and seeking other means of success. I’m not going to stop writing stories, querying agents, and looking for opportunities to learn and grow. I have determined that success doesn’t come from an agent’s offer of representation. It comes from a writer’s effort and determination. It comes from our diligence and hard work. It certainly doesn’t come from waiting.

Are you waiting? What are you waiting for?

Waiting... Part 2

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Ironically, I’ve kept you waiting for this post, which happens to be the topic today. Just so you know, this was not intentional. My usual, very predictable, schedule took an unexpected turn last week and I received a deadline for work that felt unattainable. Normally, I’m given adequate time to complete my part of the work for a project and based on previous experiences, I wouldn’t consider my job stressful. Last week was stressful, and at times, I felt completely miserable. On top of getting the terrible deadline, our project manager took a vacation (which he certainly earned), and I was left to complete my responsibilities and take on some of his as well.

 As you can see, last week has passed, and I have obviously survived the week of chaos. Yes, I did make my deadline, and now our PM is back from vacation and things will likely go back to being “normal”. Nonetheless, last week was not normal, and on Thursday afternoon when I realized I forgot to post, I had to laugh thinking that this was the point I wanted to make. Simply put, things happen and sometimes the usually predictable can become very unpredictable and inevitably someone will be affected.

 About a month ago an agent who had already requested my full manuscript had sent me another email complimenting my story, and then requested a synopsis and author bio, which seemed a little unorthodox. Based on my research, after an agent has requested the full, read it, and liked it, the next step is usually to offer representation. Although the agent’s actions were unexpected, I still counted it as a possible victory, and decided to wait and see what happens. What else could I do?

 After four weeks though, I find myself getting a little discouraged. I’m optimistic, based on the agent’s past behavior, that if she decides not to represent me she will communicate that to me, but waiting is hard. I find myself thinking the worst. She found someone better for the slot. She forgot about me. She hates the synopsis. That’s just a few of the questions that have entered my mind. Although most of those ideas are possible, there are many more sensible reasons for the delay. I need to remind myself that she hasn’t communicated a rejection, so there’s a good chance I’m still in the running. In addition, she has multiple other authors she is managing. She can’t drop her responsibilities to them to meet my expectations. Most recently, I have found out that the company of the series I am being considered for was just bought by another company. Although there are no plans to eliminate the series, it’s still reasonable to believe there might be delays during this transition.

 The point I’m trying to make is that we all keep someone waiting, so it’s a good idea to consider that when you’re waiting on someone else. Be patient. There’s good reason behind the famous quote, “Good things come to those who wait.”

 Are you waiting on a decision from an agent? Has it been a long wait? How are you handling it?

Waiting… Part 1

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Patience. Something most of us wish we had more of. Whether it’s with our children, spouse, co-workers, or just life in general, being patience is a quality we constantly have to work at. All day long I find myself waiting. I wait on the kids to finish breakfast, pick up their toys, or finish a school assignment. I wait on co-workers to reply to my emails or join a meeting. I wait on my husband to finish that project he promised he’d get to a week ago. Now that I’m trying to find success in writing, I’m experiencing even more waiting while I wait on potential agents to reply to my queries.

 It’s hard waiting on others, and often I catch myself thinking that I deserve a quick answer or that others should meet my demands and expectations. What I tend to forget is that I don’t always meet the demands and expectations of others either. Just as I wait for others, other are waiting for me. Maybe you’re someone who always fulfills other’s requests in a timely manner. Maybe you’re always on top of your to-do list, and you’re never late for a meeting or appointment. Maybe that’s you, but that’s not me.

 Although I consider myself to be reliable and responsible, there are times when I, too, keep others waiting. We all have priorities and things we value more than others, so it’s only natural to fulfill requests and finish tasks in the order which we see fit. Unfortunately, in doing this, others have to wait on us. I try to remember this when I get frustrated, and instead of waiting, I try to do something productive. That always makes me feel better. When you think about it, why are we waiting in the first place? There’s always something we can be doing to add value and efficiency to our day.

 Do you find it hard waiting on others? What have you done to improve your patience?