Blue Ridge Writing Conference

by Elva Cobb Martin

Today I am heading to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers' Conference at Ridgecrest N.C. From the line up it looks like Alton Gansky and Edie Melson have done an excellent job bringing together the 2015 conference. Thanks, Alton and Edie! I am praying for you today and all the talented faculty who are probably stashing great handouts, breath mints and water bottles in their carry alls along about now. (:

Yes, it's an expenditure to go to this we have to plan for, but hopefully, it will bring forth some blessings. How about an agent contract? And every editor I am pitching to gushing over my package and asking for more? This expenditure also, I hope, confirms how serious I am about my writing. It takes a huge investment of time and some money to write successfully, I am finding out.

If you are not going to the conference, all is not lost. Their web site has a ton of great articles from the speakers to bless you and help lift you to the next level.

This year I have really put Edie Melson's "Notebook" idea into practice. I will carry this notebook in my tote bag everywhere I go. It's a 2-inch binder with sections for "pitch packages" for each of my three books that I will hand to agents and editors. There is a response sheet for my notes for each agent and editor I am pitching to as well as a list of the classes they are teaching stapled behind that. My pitch "package" is actually three sheets stapled together:

1)  A Cover Sheet giving fast pertinent info about the book (title, genre, completed word count), my social media addresses and home address, phone number, email, etc. and a 100-word bio and photo below that.  

2) The FIRST PAGE of my novel (don't they really just want to know if you can WRITE?)

3)  A One Sheet with pitch, back cover copy, brief synopsis, marketing ideas, endorser possibilities, market comparisons and my contact info,photo and one photo related to the novel. Boy, my One Sheets are stacked!

If you are coming, I hope to see you at the conference. If not, keep tuned to my blog. I will be sharing the highlights of what happened.

If you would like copies of my cover sheets and One Sheet. Send me an email at elvacmartin@gmail.com

Thanks so much for stopping by! Do leave a comment and tweet this if you think it will help others.

Elva Cobb Martin

My GPS Writing Life: Recalculating

by Elva Cobb Martin

Driving the other day with our GPS, I suddenly saw how my writing life resembles this navigational gadget. My husband looked on with raised brows as I burst into uproarious laughter. If you read on, get ready to laugh and release some healthy endorphins into your system.

In writing I “put in” my goals and happily slam my foot on the gas doing what I love most these days, writing. But then I find the pavement running out from beneath my wings and must “recalculate.”

Goal: Write the dream novel.

Fall in love with an idea, a genre, a character, a setting, a theme.
Research, research and read tons of novel writing books.
Join a writers’ group.
Attend an expensive writers’ conference.
Plan like crazy getting the main plot points, conflict, MRU’s in order.
Gas up to the speed limit, getting the first draft down on paper.

Email: “Cozy mysteries are no longer selling well.”       Recalculating

 

Goal: Get an Agent

Research sites, friends, writing groups, the kitchen sink and the fence post for good measure.
Research query letters.
Research agents not on the any kind of predator list and their submission guidelines and blogs.
Revise, critique, and polish the query. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Send it to The Agent.

Email: “Sorry The Agent is no longer accepting fiction clients.”  Recalculating

Goal: Submit to an Editor Myself

Research fiction editors and publishers. Repeat, repeat.
Learn how to do a great One Sheet.
Join or start another writers’ group heavy on critiquing.
Attend some more expensive writers’ conferences.
Get editor appointments.
Get some nibbles.
Memorize every word the editors say.
Revise, get critiques, polish, check DPOV, pesky words and tricky errors. Repeat till done (or till you hate the novel).
Send full ms to first editor asap.

First editor response: I really like this but we have just bought a novel with similar theme and setting. Sorry.

Repeat most of the above.

Second editor response: I like this so far, but we are really looking for novels of 95,000 – 100,000 words. Yor're about 20,000 short. Sorry.

Repeat most of the above.

Third editor response: I like this but it’s too wordy. You need to cut about 20,000 words.

RECALCULATING! ---The thing I now do best.

 

What about your writing life? Ever feel like you are on a GPS merry-go-round?

The good news is that my auto GPS, most of the time, even with several recalculations, manages to get me to my destination. I hope the same holds true for my writing life, especially since I have the best model on the market, GHS, God's Holy Spirit.

Somehow I believe we will get somewhere.



If this article made you smile and feel less alone as a writer on the uphill, curvy journey to publication, please leave a comment, tweet it and share on Face book.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Elva Cobb Martin

Guest Blog What is a ONE SHEET Anyway?

So What is a ONE SHEET Anyway?

Guest Blog By Edie Melson

Today I welcome Edie Melson as our guest blogger on a timely subject, One Sheets. As co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers' Conference she has seen quite a few and written many herself. Do leave a comment or question and I'll pass it on to Edie!

Guest Blog

For those of you getting ready for a big writers conference, you may have heard about the need for a One Sheet. This tool is also known as a Pitch Sheet. It's a one page presentation of the project you're pitching to an editor or agent. Today I'll be explaining how to put one together.



Click here  to see an example of my cozy mystery, DEAD RINGER one sheet. This sheet led to multiple requests for proposal and full manuscripts. To answer your question, no, it's not been published. I sent it out too soon and killed my chances -- but that's fodder for a future post!


There are three basic components of a one sheet -- the project blurb, specifics about the project and the author's bio -- including a picture and contact info. We'll take each component individually and explain what's included.


An Image to Illustrate Your Concept

A lot of one sheets include an image to set the mood. This isn't a requirement, but we're seeing it more and more. You can buy an image, upload one of your own, or use one that's copyright free.

The Project Blurb

For this section, think back cover copy. This is NOT the place for a full synopsis. You want this section to read like the blurb on the back cover of a book. You should give more information than just a hook. Make sure you include enough for the editor or agent to get a good sense of the story.

Project Specifics

This is where you give some of the details and they're slightly different for fiction and non-fiction.

Fiction

Genre -- like Romance or Suspense.

Manuscript Length -- this doesn't have to be an exact word count, just an approximation.

Target Audience -- every book should be written with an audience in mind. I know, we all think our book will appeal to a wide range of readers -- and that may be true. But this tells the potential editor or agent how to market the book. It will help sell a publishing house on your manuscript by defining the reader you're writing for.

*There isn't a section here for completion date because it's understood that a manuscript must be complete before it's submitted. It's okay to pitch an uncompleted manuscript with a one sheet, but it's rare for anyone to look at it as a submission until it's complete.

Non-Fiction

Projected Completion Date -- the reason you don't have a non-fiction manuscript completed is because publishers like to have a say in the overall concept.

Manuscript Length -- since it's not completed, this is just an estimate.

Target Audience -- just like in fiction, you need to focus in on who specifically you're targeting with this manuscript.

Similar Titles, also known as Comparables -- you don't have to include this, but it's nice if you have room.

Author Info
This is where you need to include a recent picture, personal bio, contact information and social media information.

Picture -- this should be a professional headshot. That doesn't mean it has to be stuffy, but it needs to be of professional caliber.

Bio -- keep this short and relevant. The person reviewing your one sheet is going to want to know your experience. That includes writing experience and experience with your subject matter. In other words, why are you the person to write this book?

Contact Info -- You need to include your email address, phone number, and website URL. This is no need to include your physical address. It just takes up valuable real estate without adding anything.

All of these individual components will give you an effective one sheet. Be sure to post any questions or comments you have.

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She's the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the social media mentor at My Book Therapy. She's also the military family blogger at Guideposts.com, social media director for Southern Writers Magazine and the senior editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Mini-Fiction Workshop Anderson

Our Upstate South Carolina Christian Writers group had a memorable Mini-Fiction Workshop in Anderson November 16 with author/speakers Lynette Eason, Yvonne Lehman, Patty Smith Hall, and Hartline Literary Agent Diana Flegal.  Here are some photos!

Patty Smith Hall, Lynette Eason, Diana Flegal

Here are the workers who helped bring the workshop. Treasurer Fran Strickland, Director Elva Martin and Secretary Lillian Humphries.

                              Yvonne Lehman leads her classes on plotting and editing your novel.

                               Patty Smith Hall shares how to get published with Love Inspired.

Diana Flegal had packed classes with her First Pages read aloud workshop and her class on today's publishing environment.  Carol Award-winning author Lynette Eason led sizzling classes on writing suspense and how mastering deep POV can solve a lot of show versus tell problems.

What subjects, classes would you like to see offered in our next Fiction Workshop? Do you have a favorite speaker who lives on the southeastern coast? Are YOU available to speak on certain aspects of fiction?

Thanks for dropping by and do leave a comment! Hope you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!
    --Elva Martin

Elva Cobb Martin is a freelance writer and Bible teacher. She is president of the Upstate SC American Christian Writers' Chapter and 2014 president of the new American Christian Fiction Writers South Carolina Chapter. She has been published in Decision, Charisma, and Home Life and is currently working on an inspirational novel. She lives in Anderson, South Carolina, with her family. She can be reached through her web site www.elvamartin.com  and she blogs on the Golden Age of Piracy and other writing topics at  http://carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com You can reach her on Face Book and Twitter @Elvacobbmartin.