This Week on the Web

Several of us Smyrna Writers have reached the stage where we've finished and polished and are now starting to query agents. (Although some of us are beyond that, or have chosen a different route to publication.)

There is an enormous amount of information out there on the standard/preferred way to construct a query letter. Some of it is contradictory, depending on the agent or editor in question, but there's enough overlap there to help the burgeoning writer. On the one hand, this is GREAT! The more information the better. On the other hand, there's a smaller margin of error for submitters who either don't do their research or ignore it and make stupid mistakes. Like sending a paper query to someone who only wants e-queries. Or misspelling an agent's name. *hangs head* Yes. I did that last one. But she was very gracious!

Yesterday, Colleen of The Swivet posted a list of common mistakes she titled "Why I May Have Rejected Your Query Letter This Week." And over at Murderati, Louise Ure wrote a great guide to query letters with the mystery writer in mind. Although she's been retired from blogging for over a year, Miss Snark's Snarkives hold some of the best agent advice I've come across online.

NaNo or not, we writers are always looking for motivation. Over at Wet Noodle Posse, my ATIV bud Trish posted some mini-challenges that help break our big goals up into "small, manageable chunks."

And have you ever wondered about what happens behind the doors of a publishing company? Leigh Hultenschmidt from Dorchester Publishing provides an insider's look at a pub meeting. Fascinating stuff!