Submitting to Agents

Are you submitting your work to agents?  Bravo!  Hopefully, you will hear good news. But what if an agent is not too eager to take on your project.  How would you be notified? Here are three scenarios:

1.  No reply.  Agents will only respond when they are interested.  No word = no thank you.  

2.  The standard rejection form.  It might read:  Thank you for submitting but unfortunately it doesn't meet our needs at this time.  

3.  The rejection letter with a little note.  These emails are personalized and give advice or a word of support. 

It is disappointing, but fairly common not to hear back from an agent.  So if you haven't gotten a response in about three months, consider it a pass.

A good number of agents will usually send a rejection letter.  Even though they've passed on your work, you will know that they received your submission and it had been considered.   

Occasionally, a rejection letter may arrive personally addressed to you along with a little note.  A note takes the sting out of the rejection.  It could read:  shape this piece, or this work has potential, or this project sounded interesting.  You may even get advice, and if you do, consider revising your manuscript. 

Though it is a pass on your project, a personalized rejection is an awesome thing to receive.  An agent has made time to send you feedback.  A personal message will remind you that others think your work has potential.  It may offer hope and validation.  It will boost your faith as a writer.  And more, it will give you courage to keep on submitting.   

Should You Make Multiple Submissions?

You've written several stories, and you want to submit all of them to a children's magazine.  However, when you review the guidelines you find that the publication doesn't accept multiple submissions.  That means you can only send one submission at a time. But...you're tempted.  Wouldn't sending all of your stories increase your chance of an acceptance because there would be more to choose from?

The truth is, sending multiple submissions to a publication that doesn't accept them usually backfires (unless the editor is in a generous mood.)  Disregarding the guidelines is something I wouldn't recommend.  It's unprofessional, and it will most likely annoy an editor. 

You may ask what's the big deal?  Why don't some publications accept multiple submissions?  For Kid’s Imagination Train, the reason is straightforward.  We are a small publication with one editor and no assistant to help read the submissions.  So sending multiple submissions can be overwhelming.  Each submission takes time to be analyzed to see if it’s a good fit for KIT.  Most every submission needs thoughtful editing.  Those writers whose submissions need a revision are given detailed suggestions to help improve their work.  Then those revisions are read again for possible publication in KIT. 

So what can you do if you've written several stories and you want to submit to a publication doesn't accept multiple submissions?  It's easy.  Send your favorite piece. Be patience as you wait to hear back.  In some cases, an editor may reply that your work needs some editing.  Revise your manuscript and resubmit.  After the editor makes a final decision, then and only then, it will be safe to submit another story. 

Writing on the Left Side of Your Brain

Admit it.  Sometimes you don't feel like writing.  No worries.  We all feel this way from time to time. 

Perhaps you're distracted by something that is weighing on your mind.  Maybe you've had a nasty interaction with a relative, or a neighbor, or even a stranger.  Maybe there is an overwhelming problem at work or a social situation that you want no part of.  No matter the reason, being consumed with a negative circumstance drowns your creativity.  You may find it difficult to find focus.  You want to write, know you should write, but you are not interested in writing. You can’t engage the right side of your brain, the part of your brain responsible for being creative and artistic.  

Don’t despair.  You can get some writing in by using the left side of your brain.  The left side of the brain is used for analytical and logical tasks.  Here's some things that you can do:

Write query letters
Write in a journal
Compose a blog entry
Respond to emails
Edit some of your work
Make a list of your writing goals
Make a list of books you want to read

Study the writer's markets
Update your social media profile

After you’ve used the left side of your brain for a while, you may realize how productive you’ve been.  You haven’t had time to think about any negative situation.  In fact, your problems may have diminished (or you at least know how to tackle them.)  You may even discover you are less distracted.  Using the left side may renew your focus so that you are able to concentrate better.  You may feel more energized and quite possibly in the mood to create with the right side of your brain.    

Inspiration along the Writing Path

Writing is like riding a roller coaster.  As you know it’s a journey of highs (acceptances) and lows (rejections).   During the low times, it’s hard to stay on the writing path.  Dealing with rejection is incredibly difficult. We wonder if writing is worth all of this despair.  We often ask ourselves: should we give up? Keeping busy with other writing projects can help weather those low times.  But sometimes that’s not enough.  That’s when inspirational quotes may help.  

I hope the following sayings will help lift your spirits, inspire you, and keep you on the writing path.

Calvin Coolidge --“When you get into a tight place, and everything goes against you till it seems as if you couldn’t hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that’s just the place and time that the tide’ll turn.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe--“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”

Louis Pasteur--“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."

Maya Angelou--“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

Billie Jean King--“Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.--“Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."

Orison Swett Marden--“Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow.'”

Lou Holtz--“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”

Jim Watkins--“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

Confucius--“There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.”



A special thank you to Michael Pollock. More quotes can be found here: http://www.michaeldpollock.com/inspiring-quotes-persistence-perseverance/ 

Coming May 1st:  Writing on the Left Side of Your Brain

Tips for Fiction

Do you like to write for kids?  Would you like to see your stories published in a children's magazine?  Here are some tips to help you create great fiction. 

Introduce the main character in first paragraph.

Make the main character likable even though she may have faults.  
Establish the place or setting in the first or second paragraph.

Create conflict in the first third of the story.

Have the main character solve the dilemma without any help from others.

Use ‘said’ for dialogue tags.  Avoid using she frowned, he promised, she cried, etc.  

Try to incorporate the senses into the story.

Drive the story with action.  

Give the ending an unexpected twist.

Have main character grow or change by the end of the story.

After you have finished your story, put it on the back burner for a few days.  When you come back to it, read again to check for punctuation and spelling errors.  Trim words. Make sure the piece flows smoothly.  Then, give the story to a trusted reader for his opinions and suggestions. Edit again.  And again.  

Before you send out your story, read over the helpful tips.  Have you followed those suggestions?  Fantastic!   And congratulations!  You have created fiction that will be ready to submit to a children's magazine. 

To Be, or Not To Be Snappy

Many publishers and literary agents agree that queries should be professional.  That means the letter needs to be straightforward without any outward attention-grabbing devises. 

There are however, some writers who believe that a witty query will help them stand out from the slush pile. Some writers like to send a query written in the voice of the main character.  I wouldn't recommend this tactic.  It is usually frowned upon by agents.  

Other writers have met agents at conferences, and they feel confident enough to approach them with a snappy synopsis or bio.  Again, there is no guarantee that a writer will snag an agent this way.  

Literary agent Mary Kole says, “The point is, some agents will always prefer a straightforward, businesslike query.  Others will tolerate some cuteness or gimmick. You don't know who's who until you try it, though, even even then, most people won't tell you if that was part of the decision to pass."

I personally wouldn’t try a gimmicky query, but that’s just me talking.  I’d be afraid my clever query might backfire.  Even if my story is titled “The Bright and Brainy Pony ," I’d be scared to label myself as a bright and brainy writer in my bio.  Though it’s clever and plays on the title, it’s risky.  And…I’m not a risk-taker. 

So, how will you write your query?  Will it be snappy or strickly professional?  In the end it comes down to your gut feeling.  To paraphrase a quote from the movie Dirty Harry:  “You’ve gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?  Well, do ya?”

The Five Senses on a February Day

I like to walk for about an hour around my neighborhood even when it's freezing.  Only snow and rain keep me inside. So bundled with layers of clothing, plus gloves, ear muffs and a scarf up to my chin, I brave the cold.  

Here are the five senses on a brisk February day before I sit down to write.

I Hear:  

blue jays screeching 

fire engine siren screaming 

train whistle wailing 

dogs barking, snarling, and growling 

wind chimes tinkling

I Smell:  

smoke from a fireplace

the flowery scent of laundry being dried
dry cold air
damp oak leaves 

I Feel: 

a breeze sailing through my hair

wind striking my face

cold cutting through my jeans
fur-lined gloves warming my hands

I See:  

10 American flags, 8 Christmas decorations, and 6 University of Kentucky Wildcat flags

the sun peeking through thick grey clouds

a discarded beige leather sofa by the street curb

wine-colored buds trying to push out on oak trees
a cluster of emerald-green hyacinth leaves waiting for spring 

I Taste: 

nothing yet until dinner (pan-fried pancetta tossed with brocolini served over pasta)

Coming March 15th:  To be or not to be snappy. How witty should a query letter be?