The Link Slushpile #5

Thanks for joining me for today's The Link Slushpile or 'Hoops, Posts, Popularity, Comments, and Silliness.'

I apologize about the long absence. I have been traveling the past few weeks for work and though I have kept up with reading my regular blogs, I have not had the time for posting. But now that things are calming down, I should hopefully get into routine again. Thanks for your patience.

Some aspiring writers have expressed frustration at the feeling that agents are making them jump through proverbial hoops in order for their query to be respectfully considered. Literary agent Nathan Bransford addresses this by proposing instead that agents are really just trying to give writers some helpful hints on how to succeed.

If you are wondering what part (if any) of your manuscript is safe to post online, Editorial Ass has the answer.

Curious as to how popular your website or blog is, check out this website: Link Popularity Check. As mentioned in other posts of mine, Technorati is another blog popularity site.

Kathy Temean at Writing and Illustrating offers 10 steps to increase comments to your blog postings (hint: I'd love to have some this way, too). :-P

Finally, just for fun, here are 25 hilarious examples of analogies gone wrong (my favorites are: '#7--He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.' and '#20--The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.').

The Link Slushpile #4

Welcome to this edition of The Link Slushpile or 'What You Are Doing Wrong, Why You Don't Have an Agent, How Twitter Helps, and What to Blog About.'

Holt Uncensored offers the '10 mistakes writers don't see (but can easily fix when they do).' The list focuses on signs of poor writing and common errors in crafting a manuscript. This is a Must-Read article and would be especially beneficial for authors working on a first-draft or in the midst of a re-write. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Aspiring author Tara Lazar at Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) posted on 'how not to land an agent' based on what she learned from Twitter's #queryfail (see this link for comments on #queryfail from BookEnds agent Jessica Faust). Tara also summarized the informal agent Q&A at this week's #queryday event. Great info, Tara!

If you twitter (or have been debating whether or not to join the club) this one's for you. Jennifer Blanchard over at Copyblogger posted a short, but interesting piece on 'how twitter makes you a better writer.'

Are you sometimes at a loss at what to blog about? Check out Casey McCormick's quick list of blog topics for writers and let the inspiration flow.

Remember to keep track of what you have been reading this month for 'The Many Mistresses of My Nightstand,' which will be posted on April 30. I've already got ten titles on my list. How are you coming along?

Happy Saturday!

The Link Slushpile #3

Maybe this edition of The Link Slushpile should be subtitled 'Meet an Agent, Know What to Expect from One, and Why You Haven't Found One Yet.'

Aspiring writer and visitor to this site, Casey McCormick, started a regular feature on her blog Literary Rambles called 'Agent Spotlight.' Every Thursday she posts a detailed snapshot of an agent that represents middle-grade and/or young adult fiction (often along with other genres such as children's picture books or contemporary adult fiction). Casey supplements basic agent info with quotes, interview links, average response times, and personal feedback from blog readers. As of today, she already has six entries. If you are on the hunt, here is a good place to get some real meat.

While we are on the topic of agents, literary agent Rachelle Gardner dishes some dirt on her industry by providing writers with a list of 10 things you should expect from your agent (and 4 things you should not expect them to do for you).

Finally, writer Nicola Morgan at Help! I NEED a Publisher (And Maybe and Agent...?) posted four simple possibilities of why you have not been picked up by a publisher yet. The consensus is that 'You have not sent the right book to the right publisher in the right way at the right time.' The same principle can apply for why you have not been signed by an agent. Check it out to find out just what she means.

That's it for today!

The Link Slushpile #2

Here's another round of link-worthy posts:

How do you know if you are a 'newbie' in the publishing industry? Publishing for Profit has several tell-tale signs. Check it out to see if you are making any beginner mistakes.

Have you dreamed of receiving the all-important call from an agent, offering you representation? In your fantasies, do you have a plan of what to say next? The agent call is an important time to find out if he or she is a good fit for you and your work. Don't squander this opportunity. Be prepared with a list of questions. QueryTracker interviewed four published authors about the questions they asked agents during 'the call.' Another great resource for preparing your list can be found on AgentQuery.

Lastly, in honor of today's date, Alice (editor of Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market) and Jennifer Jackson (literary agent) both provided a little April Fools humor. Jennifer gave some tongue-in-cheek updates to her submission rules. Be warned, Alice's Ten Tips for Effective Queries should also be read with an eye for sarcasm. Thanks for keeping it light, ladies!

The Link Slushpile #1

Taking my own advice, I found several interesting posts on the literary blog front this week.

First, literary agents assistant Tracy Marchini offered some helpful hints on 'How (and When) to Follow-Up with Agents and/or Editors.' This is a must-read for all submitting authors. Don't let unprofessionalism stand in your way to publication!

Writer and blogger Emily Marshall over at Author2Author provided the next juicy tidbit: a guide to getting organized as a writer.

Finally, literary agent Nathan Bransford linked to a new peer-reviewing query site called 'The Public Query Slushpile.' This will definitely be a resource to watch. I'm interested to see if: a) the comments are constructive, and b) if it draws the attention of other literary agents/editors. Thoughts?