I'll use this blog to discuss the journey of my writing process, connect with those who share my passion for reading, and have a little fun along the way.
This past weekend, I attended the James River Writers Conference in Richmond, Virginia. One of the opportunities presented at the conference was a one-on-one session with a literary agent. As I am now in search of an agent, I signed on for one of the sessions.
After we exchanged our hellos, I handed a copy of my query letter to the agent and asked her to make recommendations for a more compelling letter. First words out of her mouth were “It’s too long.” It was 521 words. She went through my letter chopping out lines from it here and there, giving me some check marks for paragraphs that were okay.
One line in the letter was “This is my first work of fiction.” I asked her pointedly whether or not this admission in the letter was okay. Absolutely, she affirmed. “Every writer has a first work,” she said. I felt better about that line as there is advice out there NOT to admit to being a first time writer.
My new query letter is now 344 words. The stakes for my characters have been raised, the language of the letter is tighter. I’m grateful to the agent for taking the time to attend the conference. I was not the “needle in the haystack” she might have been hoping to find, but she provided invaluable feedback to me.
I may be on the lookout for an agent for a while. That remains to be seen. However, my newly polished and shortened letter will definitely increase my chances for success. Of that I am sure!
During our lunch time on Sunday, the attendees were invited to dine with fellow writers of their respective genres. I sat with the group of Historical Fiction Writers. The first question asked was, “What century do you write in?” Answers were as early as the 12th century all the way up to mid-20th century. Collectively, we were an encyclopedia of research.
If you are a writer and have not attended a writer’s conference, I recommend that you do so. The breakout sessions are informative and encouraging of our craft. Topics generally cover the entire sequence of the writing journey from how to structure your story to how to market it (and how to find time to write it!). You will meet fellow writers, make valuable connections, and learn so much. It’s an opportunity not to be missed.
