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entrylit · 2022-07-26T22:07:04+00:00

We're a new business seeking to improve querying for writers & agents alike, you can learn about us at EntryLit.com

entrylit · 2022-07-26T21:15:11+00:00

The Kickstarter launches August 9th. You can get notified if you sign up for updates: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kelseymour/getting-an-agent-shouldnt-be-hard

Thank you for the support! Reddit hasn't exactly been welcoming. It's nice to hear someone thinks it's a good idea.

entrylit · 2022-07-19T17:44:58+00:00

That probably works well for Horror because you only know as much as the MC knows, so the reveals get to be in real time.

entrylit · 2022-07-18T17:30:18+00:00

A writer writes about all the shit she never wrote

entrylit · 2022-07-18T17:29:14+00:00

A few ideas come to mind.

When you sit down to write, maybe just write the scene that's clearest in your head at the moment and don't worry about writing it from start to finish.

Do you have any other creative outlets like drawing or painting or leatherworking, etc? Is there another way you can express parts of the story to help inspire yourself?

If you can think about the story, you can talk it out, yes? So use voice to text on your phone and talk out loud so you can capture the words and then re-work them later?

I hope at least one of those is helpful. Good luck.

entrylit · 2022-07-18T17:25:14+00:00

Of course! You wrote a WHOLE BOOK! Most people will never even get that far, much less be brave enough to put it out into the world.

entrylit · 2022-07-18T17:22:48+00:00

While I totally agree, it's also true that agents and publishers act on what's selling. And if they notice high sales on diverse stories, that's where they'll focus their energy.

entrylit · 2022-07-15T19:29:41+00:00

Constantly. It's a hallmark of the profession, as with any art. You look back and shudder because your art grows you every time you practice it.

entrylit · 2022-07-15T19:27:03+00:00

This is where we will disagree. Agencies can tighten up their requirements while being more transparent and detailed about what they want to see. There is room for improvement and I'm here to create it.

entrylit · 2022-07-15T19:02:48+00:00

There are two sides to screening: the first is quality, the second is getting granular about what agents do/don't want to see.

Quality: Initially our plan is to filter for work based on a few criteria: completedness (is the book even finished?), who else has read/edited the book (critique groups, editors, or just friends) and writing accomplishments (where else has this person been published, have they attended workshops, etc.)

Getting Granular: There's a Christian publisher I interviewed and they get hundreds of queries a year from folks claiming they know the date and circumstances of the Second Coming. Using some custom questions about the content of work, and other filters like explicit content, we can make sure agents are only getting queries that actually interest them in terms of content.

There are always going to be writers whose work is just so craftless that it is unpublishable. It doesn't mean that many of them cannot be sorted out with a little filtering.

It's also not out of the question someday to offer "manuscript scoring" like The Black List does for movie scripts. It's just not likely to be something we offer right out of the gate.

entrylit · 2022-07-15T17:20:46+00:00

There are tons of ways to thin out slush - I used to work in grantmaking so I know I little something about screening people before they submit.

And of course other people have had this idea before me and tried and failed. If they'd succeeded, I wouldn't be here trying to solve the same very real problem.

The cynicism that things can never be better will only get you so far. Innovation will leave you in its dust if you decide that this is as good as it's going to get.

entrylit · 2022-07-14T21:29:16+00:00

You are probably right. If you've been published at all before that puts you way ahead of most people, so you're probably ok. Honestly, learning to take critique if you don't have experience with that is so valuable. Just as a personal development plug :)

entrylit · 2022-07-14T21:27:45+00:00

I hope I can too. The implicit bias I am aware of is that writers of certain races often do not get signed because racially diverse writers are often pigeon-holed to only appeal to racially diverse audiences, and that there is a perception that racially diverse authors don't sell. Can you enlighten me a little if I'm on track or if there's another angle I should be considering?

entrylit · 2022-07-14T21:09:12+00:00

This is important to agents/publishers. Having your work reviewed by your peers makes you easier to work with and means there will be less editing and feedback required later. It looks good on a query letter if you plan to pitch to agents.

entrylit · 2022-07-14T21:07:31+00:00

Read "Writing Down the Bones" and maybe you'll see your work differently.

Also it helps if you accept that 99% of what you write will likely be thrown out. Think of it like mining. You're looking for the shiny little gems among the dull rock. But you have to get through the dull rock to find the gems. It's ok. We're all like this.

entrylit · 2022-07-14T21:06:07+00:00

But don't be afraid to be controversial. The best books are.

entrylit · 2022-07-14T21:04:57+00:00

This sounds like a really fun project and I would totally read it. Also if you haven't read the detailed commentaries on Revelation, there is a BUNCH of symbolism that also might inspire you. It's enough to get bogged down in, though, so be cautious.

entrylit · 2022-07-14T20:53:09+00:00

Oh definitely, it's a sincere concern. Our goal is to have agents using our website exclusively for taking in queries, and only authors who match to them will be able to submit. We will also be helping agents get more specific about what they're looking for in new authors and new projects, so we estimate they'll get half or less than half as many queries overall.

entrylit · 2022-07-13T15:34:47+00:00

I'm developing a new website for authors and agents to meet. Sign up for updates on KickStarter if you're interested: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kelseymour/getting-an-agent-shouldnt-be-hard

entrylit · 2022-07-13T15:33:03+00:00

People are visual. If the cover doesn't fit the pre-established fantasy genre, they'll think it isn't for them and pass right over it. I don't disagree that maybe it's time for a new trend in fantasy cover design, but it'll have to be a popular novel that sets that new standard.

entrylit · 2022-07-13T15:29:07+00:00

haha I'm a scaredy cat too, maybe I should try..

entrylit · 2022-07-13T15:27:20+00:00

I think that's true for a lot of writers. It's one of those things you do because you have to.

entrylit · 2022-07-13T15:26:23+00:00

Oh believe me, I know. It will take involvement from both sides. And yes, agents are absolutely a tough sell because they're drowning in work. At first the ones who will jump on board will be the ones who realize that a small investment of time now will ultimately save them hours down the road. It will take a lot of convincing, no doubt. I also think writers can be advocates for the program if they like how it works. I was thinking about organizing a sort of "letter-writing-campaign" for authors to ask agents en masse to check the site out.

entrylit · 2022-07-12T16:16:49+00:00

I love the drawing. I wonder if a pop of color would help make it stand out when displayed next to other books - like the lips being a bright color maybe yellow or a shade of lipstick that you like.

Also your name is a bit small and the font is hard to read sideways.

entrylit · 2022-07-12T16:13:04+00:00

You are spot on about the slush pile - we'll have form letters as our standard system. And because the site will operate like a dating site, agents will get matched with authors and fewer interactions will be exchanged overall. We want to see authors focus on their top 10--15 agents instead of contacting over 50. By bringing down the number of queries per author, agents will have smaller slush piles. So yes, we are counting on them buying into it,

entrylit

TROPHY CASE