Saturday, January 9, 2010

Finally, A Breakthrough! (updated)

Being sick this week has given me a good excuse to sit around and write.  I've been quite a busy little hamster, spinning my wheel around and around on Chapter 1, and have finally come up with a version of my first scene of which I'm quite proud.  It's here.

I've also finally broken through on my query letter.  Before anyone says that it's too long, let me quote literary agent Nathan Bransford, who claims that "there is a sweet spot in query word count between 250 and 350 words. Anything shorter than 250 usually (but not always) seems too short and anything longer than 350 usually (but not always) seems too long."  Mine is 284.  So there!

Sunday update:  Second scene is done now.

3 comments:

Joshua McCune said...

I'm not sure if you've gotten feedback on it or would like some, but if so, I'd suggest posting it over at the public query slushpile or at absolute write.

Nighfala said...

Bane, I went to Absolute Write - someone else directed me there as well - and I don't see anything that looks like a place to post queries for feedback. Lots of discussion boards, lots of ads, and some classes. But nothing like a critique section.

Where is it?

Joshua McCune said...

Christine, it's in the forums/AW Writing Lab/share your work section. You won't be able to see the Share Your Work section unless you're logged on. Once you're there, there's a forum aptly titled Query Letter Hell that allows posting/critiquing/etc.