I know--it's not Friday (relax--you haven't lost the rest of the week). I just have some special stuff going on tomorrow and Friday so I'm covering these today.
OH--and advance warning. I leave for the San Francisco Writer's Conference tomorrow morning (AHHH so excited!)...and I don't get back till Tuesday. So while I have some awesome things planned for my blog (you will not want to miss them--make sure you stop by) I *might* not be responding to blog comments. Apologies in advance.
Okay...on to the questions.
Emily White asked: You said you received multiple offers of representation, so what made you go with the agent you have?I actually didn't have multiple offers. Well...okay, sorta. What happened was, I sent my queries. The next day Laura requested my full. Six days after that she emailed saying she'd read it and loved it and would be back in touch soon. A week after that she offered. She said I could take two weeks to decide...but I felt like I shouldn't take as long as she did (just seemed weird) so I gave the agents who had my pages a one week deadline to get back to me. Understandably, neither of them made it. One bowed out right away, saying she wouldn't have time to read. The other tried. But I still hadn't heard from her after six days...and that kind of made up my mind. It just seemed like Laura was REALLY interested in me and my work to read that quick. Plus I'd met her and was really impressed with her. And she'd been at the top of my list anyway. So pretty much the second my deadline was up, I emailed Laura accepting her offer. Th next day the other agent emailed me, asking if it was too late. I tell myself she wouldn't have done that if she wasn't going to offer, but I don't really know because I responded back, telling her that I'd already taken Laura's offer and she thanked me and wished me well.
Becca had several questions, the first of which is: Packers or Steelers? (There is a right answer to this. Just kidding, I'm not a big football fan. Just thought I'd ask.)
Heh. I love that I can answer this after the superbowl and say: THE TEAM THAT WON. :D
Then she asked: What's the difference between a beta reader and a critique partner?Everyone draws their own distinction. For me, my CPs get to read my stuff a LOT earlier, they help me brainstorm, they usually work chapter by chapter as I write/edit, and they're pretty much guaranteed that whenever they need me to read something of theirs, I'm here. We're partners., yanno?
21 Comments on February Questions Round Two, last added: 2/18/2011
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By: Shannon Whitney,
on 2/16/2011
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Shannon Whitney,
on 2/2/2011
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Shannon Whitney,
on 1/26/2011
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Questions, Shannon Sharing, Let's Ask Shannon, Add a tag
IPHONE! I'll confess, I didn't think I wanted one. I love Mac, but I just didn't think I needed all those features. Hubs talked me into it and it's seriously been one of those WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE???? kind of things. I have no idea how I existed without it for so long.
Donea Lee asked: Favorite type of cat and why? (long hair, short hair, stubby tails, long tails, etc.)
She also asked: Best tv show that died before its time? (stinkin' tv execs!!!!)
And: Another obscure hotties pick: Tyron Leitso or Justin Hartley?
By: Shannon Whitney,
on 12/24/2010
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I know today is going to be a light blogging day, so I'm not sure how many of you will be dropping by. But I still have quite a few questions to get through, so I'm going to tackle some today anyway.
Okay, first up, Natalie Aguirre had a bunch of blogging related questions: How often do you visit your blogs, since you follow 300? After your hour a day, do you start the next day with where you ended the day before? Do you follow mostly author or agent blogs? Has this changed since you got an agent? Maybe you could give some general advice on social networking and time management in general.
Esh, these are hard, because honestly, most of the time I feel like I'm a HORRIBLE blog follower. I love blog hopping and reading what everyone has going on, but I don't have nearly enough time for it, and I don't even follow as many blogs as I should. So I really can't say how often I read the blogs I follow because, other than those few blogs you see in my left sidebar, I hit them at completely random intervals.
The ones in my left sidebar I hit every time they post. All the other blogs I follow I hit off and on, during my hour of blog hopping per day. And it's definitely a flawed system. Whenever I have an hour to spare, I log into blogger.com and it brings up my blog reel. I start at the top of that list and work through as many as I can in that hour. When it's up, I close the window and try not to feel guilty for not doing more. The next day, I repeat. So sometimes I hit blogs I hit the day before. Sometimes I hit blogs I haven't been to in months. Sometimes I comment. Sometimes I don't have time, or I'm at work and can't. So yeah, I'm a bad follower. Sorry guys. #Shannonfail
Since signing with an agent, my habits have changed, but only in the sense that I spend less time reading agent blogs. If it's a post on the publishing industry and I have time, I'll read. But if it's about querying, or how they operate as an agent, or anything else that just doesn't help me anymore, I tend to skip it, so I can use the time to read a blog from one of my followers.
And as far as time management tips--ugh, I'm probably the wrong girl to ask. I'm still figuring it all out. I have definitely learned to prioritize, and I rank things in the following order: working on my writing/revision, writing my blog, CP reading, email, WriteOnCon stuff, Bookanistas stuff, posts for the other blogs I contribute to, Twitter, responding to blog comments, and blog hopping. Sadly, blog hopping hits the bottom of that list. But...that's a LONG list. And all of those other things--besides my own writing--are ways I can personally connect with people or help people, so I have to give them priority. The other thing I've learned to do is to simply accept the fact that I cannot do it all, and know when to draw the line and say I've done all I can do for the day. I do the best I can. That's all any of us can do. Hopefully it's enough.
Phew--long answer. Sorry for rambling.
Okay, next brandileigh3000 asked: Query letters are on my mind. There is so much contradicting information about what agents actually want- start with hook, start with novel info, no hook- let letter speak for itself, questions are great to start hook, question form is taboo. It is really mind blowing...
It IS mind blowing, and I have my own personal tastes and approaches to Query letters, which I promise I will address in a "Shannon Style" post soon, probably after the new year. But in the meantime I will say this: querying is not always about what "you" like, when it comes to t
By: Shannon Whitney,
on 12/10/2010
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Questions, Shannon Shame, Shannon Sharing, Let's Ask Shannon, Add a tag
Everyone ready for round two of the December questions you guys were all so very wonderful to ask? Good! And there's a LOT this month so I'm going to jump right in.
First up, Simon C. Larter asked: What do you think of the notion that our brains may function on a quantum level, with certain signal processes occurring at the level of quark interactions, thereby making our brain essentially a quantum computer that can't be effectively modeled with standard silicon transistors?
Simon, Simon, Simon...I really don't know why I'm surprised (though I AM surprised he obeyed my "keep it clean" rule). ;) And when I first read the question I had big, bold plans to google research some sort of fancy answer and throw it back at him with a dash of attitude and a smug grin. But...it was way too boring. So instead I'm just going to paste in this picture of Scarlet Johannson:
And count on the fact that Simon will be so distracted by how close she's coming to a very dangerous wardrobe malfunction that he won't even notice I didn't answer his question. Heh.
Okay, while Simon stares and drools, let's move onto some real questions. :)
Nicole Zoltack asked a string of questions, the first of which being: Favorite book when you were growing up?
Favorite book you read this year?
Ahhh--that's even harder!!! Do you know how many amazing books I've read???????
There's absolutely no way I can pick just one, so I'm going to give three of each category:
For middle grade I adored: SELLING HOPE, by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, THE INSIDE STORY (Sister's Grimm book 8) by Michael Buckley, and MUSEUM OF THIEVES by Lian Tanner.
For YA I loved: PERCHANCE TO DREAM by Lisa Mantchev, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkin, and PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White.
I could soooo keep going--too. many. great. books--but I will stop there, for now.
Favorite snack to eat while you write?
Pretty sure everyone knows about my Twizzler obsession, but those are definitely part of my writing fuel. I'm also a HUGE fan of Almond M&Ms. I could eat a whole bag of them in one sitting if I let myself.
Do you have any tips to prevent writer's butt?
LOL, I actually do because I might be one of the only writers who's LOST a ton of weight since I started writing. Especially since I signed with an agent. I call it the "Revision-is-stressful-Diet."
Take one insecure writer. Add intense revision notes from an amazing but so-big-and-important-she's-SCARY agent. Throw in a dash of OMG-I'm-so-busy-I-don't-have-time-for-ANYTHING, then add in a c
By: Shannon Whitney,
on 12/3/2010
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Shannon Sharing, Let's Ask Shannon, Questions, Add a tag
Once again you guys have proven your awesomeness by asking me a plethora of brilliant questions. Just like last month, I'll be tackling them every Friday until I've answered them all.
And--since there's a chance some of you might have missed the post on Wednesday calling for questions--I'm not going to award a winner for the special Comic Con swag pack until next week. So if you haven't asked me any questions and want to be entered, go HERE and ask away. :)
Okay, first up, Matthew Rush (winning the prize for longest question) asked: I don't know how to word this into a proper question, but I want to know more about description, word count, and debut novels. Personally I LOVE to read slightly longer books with beautiful, detailed descriptions that completely envelop me in another world, but it seems next to impossible to fit that kind of thing into a debut novel while still managing to tell a story in which something actually HAPPENS. Can you talk a little about how you make it work, and whether you even feel the same way? As much as you can without giving too much away?
Yikes--right to the hard stuff.
*resists the urge to simply ignore the question and talk about Twizzlers and cute boys*
Okay, I'm *assuming* Matt's asking me this because he happens to know that my book is ... long--for middle grade at least. But the thing about that is, it's not because of description. Yes, my book is fantasy, so I do have to spend SOME time on world building. But, the main reason for the slightly extended length is plot. My book has a complicated storyline, with quite a few twists and turns, all of which, yanno, takes words to explain.
Honestly though--and don't hate me for saying this, Matt--but I'm personally not a fan of large chunks of heavy description. I know there are many books out there that have it and do it well. But most of the time, it's just kind of like...I don't CARE what every little detail looks like, get on with the story!!! *ducks while you fling things at me*
That being said, I don't think that means you can't have description. But in film school I was taught: "Weave descriptions into the action. Treat props/locations/sets as a living character." And I know that advice was for screenplays--which are a completely different animal--but I still take a similar approach with my drafts, and I tend to get compliments on my use of description. What I do is set the scene with a very tightly written paragraph (or maybe 2) of description and then jump straight back to the plot, working in the rest of the details as they actually play a role in the scene. It takes a little while to get used to writing that way, and it means a lot more weaving with description and plot, but personally I think it makes for a much more page turning read than endless pages of setting.
Not sure that really answers your question, but it's the best I can do. And just in case you're mad at me, here's some cute animals to soften you up. How can you resist?
39 Comments on Ramblings, hot guy conundrums, and I *try* to have some smart moments, last added: 12/5/2010
By: Shannon Whitney,
on 12/1/2010
Blog: Shannon Whitney Messenger (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Questions, Shannon Sharing, Let's Ask Shannon, Add a tag
Okay you guys. I'm counting on you.
You said you liked playing this game and you PROMISED you would take the time to ask me stuff so that I wouldn't look like a big lame loser nobody cares about.
Don't fail me now--I'm BEGGING you!
Wow! Loved all those questions. Also loved the story of how you got your agent.
Great questions and answers. I loved your explanation of the difference between YA and middle grade.
Have fun at your conference and make lots of connections.
Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! I must comment before I finish reading because *I* have a paralyzing fear of spiders, too! They are most definitely the Devil's spawn.
AND, I also had someone sneak a date on me! Almost exact same story as yours, too! I'd been ignoring his advances for a while, then one day he asked if I wanted to hang out with him and his friends. I thought "why not?" It was my first semester in college and I needed to make more friends. Yeah, we got there and only one of his friends showed up, along with his friend's girlfriend.
Not. Cool.
It appears the Squinkie army camping out in front of your computer doesn't want you to write.
Enjoy the conference!
I had to have my mom come over and kill a spider for me once. In my own defense, it was HUGE. Not tarantula huge, but it was a LOT bigger than a quarter and in my book that's huge.
I had a date sneaked on me, too! He asked me out as a "friend," then when the night came, the advances started. Not cool. And definitely not a good way to end up on a date with someone who, you know, WANTS TO DATE YOU. Ugh.
And I lived in London for four years. It was great, but it would have been better if my husband and I hadn't wanted to buy a house. Things are pricey over there, even for someone whose income comes in Pounds Sterling. (Which does not mean you get paid in silver, although how cool would that be?)
*nods* AZ. It's the only reason I haven't revolted on hubs. If he'd made me stay in the midwest another day after growing up in Cali, I would have died. I only lasted in the midwest for 7 years before I started to shrivel up and die.
And you *are* funny :)
I HATE SPIDERS TOO. Hate them.
The lovely Ms Valdez used a fab word to describe you!! "Smexy"!!! I love it - I think it's so you!!!!
I'm so sorry about your worst date ever. That's pretty awful!! Glad you are now with the fabulous Mr..erm.. Shannon Whitney Messenger!! Yay!!!
Could I just ask about synopsis (sorry to go so off topic!!)but would you consider a blurb type piece as a synopsis too? It's just I got most annoyed at someone's entry into a competition where a synopsis was required and this one read like a blurb. It wasn't a summary of the story - it was more like a "X found Y. What will happen to Z if X&Y get together?" and that was it and it was accepted and it won. Then I thought, maybe it's me who's read what a synopsis ought to be. Hmmm. Sorry, I shall go away now!!! I'm really sorry for sounding off here!! Yikes!! Feel free to delete!!
Enjoy your conference, Smexy Shannon! Take care
x
take care
x
Wonderful, fun answers as usual! I really loved London, too - although, I've only been there once. And I'd LOVE to go to Italy - kind of dying to go there, actually. Someday... hope you have a great time at the SanFran conference!
LOL! I showed my DD your squinkie collection and she loved! She kept saying, "I have that one, and that one, and that one... oh she doesn't have a clear one..." Overall she was proud of the number of squinkies you've amassed. ANd BTW, did the font get smaller or do I now need glasses??
Ahhh, thanks for answering me!this post was hilarious and fun like you always do! Lots of interesting things came up with this post and lots of curious things as well. I really appreciate this Shannon I see on the blog (I'm sure I'll appreciate your flesh-and-blood person, too, but I haven't had the chance to meet you)
Your future interpreter
LOVE this post! I am waiting for the synopsis post...I mean it...I won't let you forget. I HATES the synopsis.lol
I also taught my 2 year old to say 'Dude' the other day. It works for him.
Sorry about the weird font sizes, btw. I have tried everything to fix it, and I have no idea what blogger is thinking.
*grumbles about technology*
Odd little critters....
Thanks for answering so many questions!!
I'm staring at that picture and after my original confusion asking, "What are Squinkies?" I did not think "That's a lot of Squinkie things" (ok, I did think that). I thought, "*gasp* She's a Mac!*
*hugs PC*
London, eh? Haha, I had to laugh at that our $ isn't worth much more than Monopoly money over there. LOL Sad, but true. And I'd never heard of Squinkies, but BOY are they CUTE! I want some! ;o) Makes me wish my daughters were young again so I could buy them some. Heehee.
Did I really use a question mark on that second sentence. Could you fix it for me in your post? Pretty please?
And your favorite movie was my youngest daughter's favorite between one and two. She loved the dancing parts because I'd dance with her.
Have an amazing time in SF! I wish I could have gone...it's a family weekend for me. But I can't wait to hear the recap!
Another great batch of Q&A! So jealous of your comicon adventures! Have a great trip!!
What in the ever-loving, sweet mother of Helsinki are squinkies?
Never mind. I don't really want to know.
Just please, for the love of all that's holistic, don't show one to either of my daughters.