http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1686821/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718855/
Movies optioned by Stephenie Meyer's production company, Fickle Fish
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
YA Books to Movie!
Every now and then I browse IMDB for upcoming movies. Today I found out there's a few movies being made from YA novels. (Though, as we know, just because they are planning on making them, doesn't mean they actually will.) Thought I'd share the links. I put the book cover picture over the movie link. Let me know if you have some to add.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1686821/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718855/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1686821/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718855/
Monday, August 5, 2013
QUERY & MS ISSUES I'VE NOTICED
Lately I've been doing a lot of manuscript and query critiquing, and I'd like to talk about a writing issue I've noticed. One that can possibly help with your query as well as your manuscript.
No base plot thread. No main point. Basically, what is the main character hoping to accomplish? Or what do they need to learn?
I'll use a few popular movies and books to explain.
ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake: In the first chapter you meet Cas, a ghost hunter, and you see that his goal is to find a ghost named Anna and kill her.
How to Train Your Dragon (movie): Early on you see that Hiccup is not like the other vikings. He wants to be accepted and loved by his dad, which means he needs to learn how to deal with dragons, one way or another.
TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer: In the first chapter Bella is new to town, and not too happy about her move. She sees Edward and is intrigued; she wants to get to know him, see him again.
FIRST GRAVE on the RIGHT by Darynda Jones: In the first chapter the main character, Charley, is approached by the ghost of a dead guy asking for her help to find out who murdered him. Also, a very old undead being contacts her and whispers a name no-one should know, other than her.
From the get go, the reader/viewer has an idea of what to root for. It's as though the writer has left bread crumbs on the plot trail, enough to keep the reader/viewer traipsing down the trail. Hopefully enough to make the reader want to run down that trail, full speed ahead because they just HAVE to know if the main character is successful. (Of course there's other factors in writing a can't-put-down story, but I'm focusing on this one.)
I see the main plot thread as the main color of a tapestry, woven through the center. You need it to keep the rest of the threads together, to make them mesh and the complimenting colors pop. The story opens, you show the inciting incident (what spurs the main character). Then at about 15% in (give or take) you have the first plot point (when the MC decides to venture out and change things up, while still sticking to the basic plot thread.)
For example, in How to Train Your Dragon a band of dragons attack the viking's village and Hiccup tries to help, to make his dad proud, but he screws up and ruins everything and in the process hurts a black dragon, Toothless. That's the inciting incident. When he meets Toothless and helps him, deciding there may be another way to save the village from dragons, that's the first plot point. All the while, he's still seeking acceptance from his dad and the villagers while trying to keep the village safe from future dragon attacks, which is the main plot thread.
Look at your manuscript. Does your main character have a goal/motivation? What is it? Why? This question should be answered (hinted to, at least) in the first couple chapters. It's what causes the reader to continue down that path, knowing which way it's headed and promises more bread crumbs. And it shows the reader what's so special about your story. What makes it unique.
So if you're having trouble creating a query, it could be because either you're not realizing and showcasing your main plot thread, or you don't have one.
Tell me in a couple sentences, what's your main plot thread?
No base plot thread. No main point. Basically, what is the main character hoping to accomplish? Or what do they need to learn?
I'll use a few popular movies and books to explain.
ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake: In the first chapter you meet Cas, a ghost hunter, and you see that his goal is to find a ghost named Anna and kill her.
How to Train Your Dragon (movie): Early on you see that Hiccup is not like the other vikings. He wants to be accepted and loved by his dad, which means he needs to learn how to deal with dragons, one way or another.
TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer: In the first chapter Bella is new to town, and not too happy about her move. She sees Edward and is intrigued; she wants to get to know him, see him again.
FIRST GRAVE on the RIGHT by Darynda Jones: In the first chapter the main character, Charley, is approached by the ghost of a dead guy asking for her help to find out who murdered him. Also, a very old undead being contacts her and whispers a name no-one should know, other than her.
From the get go, the reader/viewer has an idea of what to root for. It's as though the writer has left bread crumbs on the plot trail, enough to keep the reader/viewer traipsing down the trail. Hopefully enough to make the reader want to run down that trail, full speed ahead because they just HAVE to know if the main character is successful. (Of course there's other factors in writing a can't-put-down story, but I'm focusing on this one.)
I see the main plot thread as the main color of a tapestry, woven through the center. You need it to keep the rest of the threads together, to make them mesh and the complimenting colors pop. The story opens, you show the inciting incident (what spurs the main character). Then at about 15% in (give or take) you have the first plot point (when the MC decides to venture out and change things up, while still sticking to the basic plot thread.)
For example, in How to Train Your Dragon a band of dragons attack the viking's village and Hiccup tries to help, to make his dad proud, but he screws up and ruins everything and in the process hurts a black dragon, Toothless. That's the inciting incident. When he meets Toothless and helps him, deciding there may be another way to save the village from dragons, that's the first plot point. All the while, he's still seeking acceptance from his dad and the villagers while trying to keep the village safe from future dragon attacks, which is the main plot thread.
Look at your manuscript. Does your main character have a goal/motivation? What is it? Why? This question should be answered (hinted to, at least) in the first couple chapters. It's what causes the reader to continue down that path, knowing which way it's headed and promises more bread crumbs. And it shows the reader what's so special about your story. What makes it unique.
So if you're having trouble creating a query, it could be because either you're not realizing and showcasing your main plot thread, or you don't have one.
Tell me in a couple sentences, what's your main plot thread?
Thursday, July 25, 2013
After You Sign Your Agent
Wondering about the process of traditional publishing? That unknown of AFTER you land an agent? I was too. Until I read this:
Books. From Manuscript to Offer.
How Does a Publishing Auction Work?
If you know of other great posts, let me know and I'll add the links. :)
Books. From Manuscript to Offer.
How Does a Publishing Auction Work?
If you know of other great posts, let me know and I'll add the links. :)
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Write On Con is COMING!!!
Just a quick post.
WRITE ON CON
Yes! It's coming. August 13-14.
Why do I love this one so much?
~ Because it's how my agent found me.
~ Because it's a writing conference you can attend in your PJ's
~ Because it's free
~ Because you meet the friendliest, most helpful writers in the world
~ Because they are writers who know their stuff, so their help with your query actually helps
~ Because I have two other friends (at least) who signed with their agents through WOC
I'm sure there's more, but there you have it. Write On Con is where I met most of my critique partners, too.
So set your calendars to those two days in August.
I'm not pitching (obviously) but I'll still be there, offering query critiques and making friends.
WRITE ON CON
Yes! It's coming. August 13-14.
Why do I love this one so much?
~ Because it's how my agent found me.
~ Because it's a writing conference you can attend in your PJ's
~ Because it's free
~ Because you meet the friendliest, most helpful writers in the world
~ Because they are writers who know their stuff, so their help with your query actually helps
~ Because I have two other friends (at least) who signed with their agents through WOC
I'm sure there's more, but there you have it. Write On Con is where I met most of my critique partners, too.
So set your calendars to those two days in August.
I'm not pitching (obviously) but I'll still be there, offering query critiques and making friends.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
COVER REVEAL!
I like covers. Yes I do. I like covers. How 'bout you?
Allow me to introduce the cover for Victoria Scott's teen thriller (Scholastic) FIRE & FLOOD.
YAY!!
Makes me wonder if that flame there at the bottom is raised and shiny and stuff.
Allow me to introduce the cover for Victoria Scott's teen thriller (Scholastic) FIRE & FLOOD.
YAY!!
Makes me wonder if that flame there at the bottom is raised and shiny and stuff.
Want to know more about the book? Here's Victoria's site: http://www.victoriascottya.com/work/brimstone/
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Thursday's Children: Conference Contests
Doing well in contests in inspirational, wouldn't you say? Last year around this time I had been querying DEADLY SPLENDOR for two months. I stumbled upon information for a writing contest with big benefits, and that's when I formed a plan of attack.
I would enter the contest, and if I finaled...
I'd get to sit at the editor's and agent's table to share lunch with them during the conference.
And...
I'd get an extra long pitch appointment with the editor/agent of my choice at the conference.
And...
I'd get a lovely purple ribbon attached to my very visible name badge that indicted that I was a finalist, to wear during the conference.
I just really wanted to final.
The conference holding this contest took place in Seattle, so it was within driving distance. Perfect.
I polished my first seven pages and sent them in, right around this time last year. A while later I got an email indicating that I was a finalist in the YA division. (YAY!!!) Then I went to the conference. I got to pitch to two agents and an editor, and on top of those, I got an extra long pitch with another agent. I got to sit between Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency and Liz Pelletier of Entangled during lunch. Chatting with them was a blast. And DEADLY SPLENDOR won second place in the YA division!
But most of all, I was encouraged. See, by the time the conference rolled around, I had been querying my ms for seven months. I had grown tired and wondered if it wasn't marketable. But being a finalist and meeting professionals in the business helped give me the encouragement to keep going.
This is a timely post because that contest is accepting entries until the end of this month. Whether you're within driving distance or not, you can enter. (One of the finalists in my division was from the east coast.) It's called the Emerald City Opener and it's an amazing opportunity. One of the finalists in my division went on to sell her ms. The other, Amy Deluca, went on to be a finalist for the RWA Golden Heart this year.
And...
This year I'm a judge for the YA division. :)
So, if you want more information about this contest, or entering contests in general, let me know. If you've already entered a writing contest, which was it and how did it go?
I would enter the contest, and if I finaled...
I'd get to sit at the editor's and agent's table to share lunch with them during the conference.
And...
I'd get an extra long pitch appointment with the editor/agent of my choice at the conference.
And...
I'd get a lovely purple ribbon attached to my very visible name badge that indicted that I was a finalist, to wear during the conference.
I just really wanted to final.
The conference holding this contest took place in Seattle, so it was within driving distance. Perfect.
I polished my first seven pages and sent them in, right around this time last year. A while later I got an email indicating that I was a finalist in the YA division. (YAY!!!) Then I went to the conference. I got to pitch to two agents and an editor, and on top of those, I got an extra long pitch with another agent. I got to sit between Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency and Liz Pelletier of Entangled during lunch. Chatting with them was a blast. And DEADLY SPLENDOR won second place in the YA division!
But most of all, I was encouraged. See, by the time the conference rolled around, I had been querying my ms for seven months. I had grown tired and wondered if it wasn't marketable. But being a finalist and meeting professionals in the business helped give me the encouragement to keep going.
This is a timely post because that contest is accepting entries until the end of this month. Whether you're within driving distance or not, you can enter. (One of the finalists in my division was from the east coast.) It's called the Emerald City Opener and it's an amazing opportunity. One of the finalists in my division went on to sell her ms. The other, Amy Deluca, went on to be a finalist for the RWA Golden Heart this year.
And...
This year I'm a judge for the YA division. :)
So, if you want more information about this contest, or entering contests in general, let me know. If you've already entered a writing contest, which was it and how did it go?
Monday, May 20, 2013
AFTER You Sign With An Agent: REVISIONS
Hi guys! Today I'm over at Lauren's blog discussing the whole revision process AFTER you sign with an agent. :) Go here to check it out. And if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments.
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