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Ugh. I keep my hands off dialogue, but when it comes to the rest, I’m tough, but for a reason. To help. Tellin’ you you have the next best thing to havin’ me rep ya, won’t help if it ain’t true. So what can up your chances? Show the agents and editors you know something most writers don’t. Here’s one of four tips (the others will appear Wed., Thurs., and Friday).

I don’t like it, and everyone does it. The dreaded reflexive pronoun use.

Definition: Only use pronouns ending in “self,” when the pronoun refers back to the subject. Don’t use “own” in conjunction with a pronoun when referring back to the subject.

Examples, please! Okay, okay. No worries.

Only use pronouns ending in “self,” when the pronoun refers back to the subject. Ex: “I hit myself.” A piece of cake, or pie, depending on what ya like. Right?

Here’s a format I see often: “His own brother hated him.” No, no,  no! This should read, “His brother hated him.” Why say ‘his own brother’? Like is brother isn’t his own? Clean up the little things. A lot of little things can add up to one big thing. Oops, thats, “a big thing…”

Finally! So, what is the Mortimer Literary Mentorship Award? It’s my attempt to complete my main mission in life: to help writers. I can’t help everyone, but I can help one.

The second week in January, I’ll begin by evaluating the recipient’s first chapter. From there, I’ll spend up to twelve months working with that writer, moving toward the goal of representation and the sale of the manuscript.

Here’s the deal, in advance, as the newsletter gang won’t see this until later. I’ll be accepting applications from October 1-31. Application includes contact info, the first full page (250 words in Courier New, 300 words in Times New Roman)  of your completed manuscript in any genre except erotica or Romantica, and a one-page essay on why I should chose you.

Oh, I can’t forget to mention this part. I can’t know who you are. I have lots of friends, and I’d like to keep it that way. Applications won’t go to me. I’m running this as I would a contest. I’ll want the genre and word count in the header, and the title of the manuscript. Sooo, it has to be a manuscript you’ve never submitted to me. I’ll take the first 100 applications that meet all the requirements. And if your submission comes in before midnight on Sept. 30th, we’ll disqualify you, so no jumpin’ the gun.

This program isn’t designed for the writer who has one foot in the publishing door, but for a writer who needs extra, time-consuming help, that I’ll give with a light and happy heart.

Now ya have the basics, so get ready!

Hi,

I’m here, if anyone wants ta chat…

Hi Gang,

Okay, next paragraph, same thing. Paragraph on another character. Here’s an example…

SECOND CHARACTER PARAGRAPH:

[Born the bastard son of an earl, Pearce de Godfrey despises noblewomen. Was it not one who lied to him of her love, then robbed him of his child? Pearce saves the life of England’s prince, and the king awards him a bride with a rich dowry. Now he’ll have the means satisfy two of his goals: wealth and position. With his newfound resources he can scour the land for his child, if one exists. But, alas, he’s fallen in love with a peasant maid whom he’s vowed to keep from harm. Now he’s forced to make an agonizing decision. Should he wed for love—or the means needed to claim his kin? Imagine his anger when he finds a hated noblewoman is the peasant who won his heart.]

Now, you can have a short “wrap up” on the plot, if your two paragraphs didn’t outline it well enough. As long as you’ve stated the character’s goals, etc., and some of the plot, you can move on to the bio paragraph.

BIO PARAGRAPH:

[I’ve recently sold two articles to A Greater Freedom, an inspirational military publication, another to Club Romance e-zine, and numerous greeting card captions (yeah, I know—but everyone tells me they count). I have a Web site at: www.kellymortimer.com, where I’ve listed my endorsements. I’m a Romance Writers of America PRO member, and I attend meetings at my home chapter, Orange County, CA RWA. I also travel to RWA’s yearly National conferences in order to network and take advantage of the wonderful opportunities their variety of workshops provide.]

CLOSING PARAGRAPH:

NOTE: a SIMULTANEOUS submission means you’ve sent this work to other agents/editors. A MULTIPLE submission means you’ve submitted multiple projects TO THIS PERSON.

[This is a simultaneous submission. Thank you for taking your valuable time to consider my query. May I send you a partial of full manuscript, my synopsis, and marketing plan?]

Sincerely,

Kelly L. Mortimer

[no space] Contact info and Web site if not in header or footer as letterhead

Things to leave OFF your bio:

Non writing-related job experience

Individual names of more than 2 chapters

More than three contest finals or wins (if not already in first paragraph)

Opinions of your family and friends

Misc. 

What Agents/Editors don’t like:

When you compare your work to others’ in this way…

“I’ve written the next Da Vinci Code,” or

“I’m the new Dan Brown the world is waiting for,” or

“I’m positive my manuscript will be a best-seller,” or

“You’d be foolish to pass on this manuscript.” [yes, I’m serious.]

[It’s fine to compare your manuscript to another author’s work when you’re saying:

“Think [insert author’s name]”

Please send your questions via “comments.”

Tell your loops and friends to join us. What would y’all like to learn next? I’m open to ideas!

Smiles,

K.

Hi Everyone. Under the “this could only happen to me” category, I did the lesson on the blog. I thought I’d better save it in a word doc too. So, I tried to copy the text. Hmm. Wouldn’t let me. Then I tried to print it out to scan. Wouldn’t let me. So, I hit “Save” and the site deleted the lesson. What fun! I was so upset I had to go outside and attack a helpless pine. Tree-huggers, don’t get yer twigs in a twirl. I got out my electric sander and smoothed out the top of the desk I need to refinish. Okay, on with the show.

I don’t remember word-for-word, but here goes.

 

The Query Letter – Part 1 of 2 

We all know how important the query letter is. If you’ve never met the Agent/Editor (a/e) you’re sending the letter to, the query is your “first impression.” What makes an excellent query? Gotta use the “S” word. It’s subjective. There are some common sense things people with no common sense don’t do, or do do if they shouldn’t. I’ll touch on those, just in case.

 

1. Make sure the a/e you’re sending your query to reps/edits what you write. No, we won’t read your query and so love it, we’ll change what we rep/buy. No one likes a writer who wastes our time. Tsk.
2. Follow submission guidelines. How hard is it to go to the Web site of the agent/house you’re querying? I state I only accept e-queries, yet I usually get one snail-mail a day. I also get e-queries from those who don’t qualify as per my query requirements. No, I won’t break the rules for you, and I don’t appreciate you asking. Well, not you.

 

Okay, now let’s take it from the top—literally. Proper format isn’t a deal-breaker, but it helps.

 

3. Make a simple letterhead at the top of your page. Nothin’ fancy required. Your name in a bigger-than-12-pt. font, and your brand or mantra (if you have one). Your address as well, or you can put it at the bottom of your letter, or under your signature.
4. Skip a space or two, then left justify the date.
5. Skip a line and type the name of the person you’re querying. PLEASE spell the name correctly! Only address as: Dear a/e if that’s what the person/house requires. Looks way tacky. Their agency/house below that, their address below that. Skip a space and type “Dear whatever-your-name-is.”

 

Wasn’t that easy? Now for something that mystifies, and often strikes fear into the hearts of writers. The Logline (since I’m in So.

Cal., that’s what I call it), Tagline, or Handle. The one-two lines that sum-up your manuscript. The few lines that make us wanna read on, that hook us in, that tell us what you’re writing. The Logline is VITAL. Sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya.

 

6. Here’s an example: They were perfect for each other. Too bad they were born in different centuries. This is the Logline from the movie Kate and Leopold, a time-travel romance starring Meg Ryan. I instantly knew what kind of movie it was. Effective logline.
7. Another example is taking the titles of two books or movies, slapping them together, then comparing them to your manuscript. For instance: Emma meets The Valley Girl describes the movie Clueless. Get the idea? Now it’s your turn. Work on your logline. For anyone who’d like my opinion, feel free to send your one-two lines in and I’ll comment on them tomorrow. We’ll finish part 2 of the lesson on Wednesday.

 

I’d like to thank you all for signing up for my blog, and I hope the lessons benefit you.

 

Smiles,

Kelly

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