Judi Lauren

YA Author

Writing Query Letters: Stakes

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I have a tendency to write my query letter before I write my manuscript. I’m not sure what it is about this that deludes me into thinking my first draft won’t be as messy if I just have a query to go by. But query letters are really fun for me. I love writing and editing them and helping CPs with them. They’re an important part of getting an agent or editor to read your manuscript.

I’ve been in a lot of slush piles for my job and contests and I’ve read a slew of query letters. Some have been amazing that promised books I’d just fall in love with. Others had a harder time catching my eye for a number of reasons, but the biggest common denominator was a lack of stakes.

So what are stakes? Why do they matter to your story and query letter? Simply put, stakes are what your main character stands to lose in the book.

In The Princess Bride, Westley’s stake is Buttercup. If he doesn’t beat everything thrown his way, he’ll lose his one true love. Imagine trying to convince a friend who’s never seen The Princess Bride to watch the movie with you. You’ll probably tell them all about Westley’s determination to beat the swordsman, the giant, and the genius. Then imagine what happens if you don’t tell them why he risks his life time and again engaging these people. Your friend might not be up for watching The Princess Bride.

Why? Because you left out the what really matters. You left out why beating these odds is so important to Westley. It’s because if he doesn’t make it to the other side, he’ll lose her. That’s a stake.

So when you’re writing or editing your query, make sure you do your main character’s stake(s) justice. Let agents know why your character’s goal is so important. Tell them what your character will lose if he or she can’t reach the goal by the end of the book.

If you can’t determine what your main character’s stake is then you may need to go back into your manuscript and see if you have one. If not, it’s a good idea to fix it before you start mass sending it out. Your story stands to be a lot stronger if your Westley has a Buttercup he stands to lose.

If you’re having trouble with your query letter, I’m running a sale on partial manuscript edits right now. Check them out here.

Is It Wrong to Not Plot?

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The other day I heard someone say the only way to write a book is to plot it out. To have spreadsheets, character sheets, scenes planned out, and more. Is it good to at least have a vague idea of what you want to write when you sit at the computer? Yes. Definitely. But plotting is not the only right way to write a first draft.

You want the right way?

There isn’t one.

If you plot, if you color-code and write lengthy character sheets and have a 100-page bulleted outline, you’re doing it right. If you have a few scenes outlined on a 3×5 card, you’re doing it right. If you sit down at your desk and fly (or in this case write) by the seat of your pants, you’re doing it right. I’m the latter one, if you’re wondering.

If you’re writing a trilogy, duology, or series, it’s a good idea to at least know where you’re going because it all has to tie together. A lot of publishing companies that buy your first manuscript will often want to see what else you have. Sometimes that involves you writing up a proposal or synopsis for a book you haven’t written yet. In which case, you may not have a choice but to plot there.

Do the outliners sometimes have better odds of not having to do a dramatic overhaul in their book? Sure. Do they have the chance of not liking the plot they outlined and having to start again from scratch after the book is written? Definitely.

If that happens to you even after outlining your little writer’s heart out, you’re still doing it right.

Pantsers have a tendency to need very heavy first pass edits. We throw everything in there. We deviate from what we originally thought the book would be. We add things in the middle of the book as they come to us, knowing we’ll have to go back to the beginning and add it in.

If that’s something you do, you’re still doing it right.

The reason why so, so many writers love writing first drafts is because it’s all about freedom. Even if you outline, a first draft is your chance to write whatever’s in your heart. Even lines you know will probably need to be cut later on.

So enjoy it. Write that first draft with a detailed outline. Write it from your 3×5 cards. Or write it from an idea you had scribbled on your hand in the grocery store. Just write it.

Release Day for The Heartbeat Hypothesis

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It’s finally release week for The Heartbeat Hypothesis by Lindsey Frydman! I got to read an ARC of this one and it’s so beautiful! I’m so glad it’s finally out in the world!!!

ABOUT THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS

Audra Madison simply wanted to walk in the shoes of Emily Cavanaugh, a free-spirited teenager who died too young. After all, Audra wasn’t supposed to be here.

Thanks to Emily, Audra has a second chance at life. She’s doing all the things that seemed impossible just two years ago: Go to college. Date. Stargaze in the Rocky Mountains. Maybe get a tattoo. You know, live.

Jake Cavanaugh, a photographer with mysterious, brooding gray eyes, agrees to help chronicle her newfound experiences. She makes him laugh, one of the only people who can these days. As they delve into each other’s pasts – and secrets – the closer they become.

But she’s guarded and feels like she can’t trust anyone, including herself.

And he’s struggling with the fact that his beloved sister’s heart beats inside her.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled Publishing

 

ABOUT LINDSEY FRYDMAN

Lindsey has been writing since she was nine years old, when she discovered the awesomeness that is Harriet the Spy. Her books always include a romance, though sometimes there’s an added sci-fi or magical realism twist. She lives in Columbus, Ohio (where the weather is never quite right). Her BFA in Photography and Graphic Design has granted her a wide assortment of creative knowledge that serves as inspiration (and not much else). When she’s not crafting YA and NA stories, you’ll likely find her spending waaay too much time on Pinterest, playing a video game, singing show-tunes, or performing in a burlesque show—because she enjoys giving her introversion a worthy adversary. (Plus, it’s the closest to Broadway she’ll ever get.) Lindsey was a proud 2016 Pitch Wars Mentee and thoroughly adores being a part of the wonderful writing community. THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS is her debut novel.

CONNECT WITH LINDSEY:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Make sure to sign up for Lindsey’s newsletter to be the first to know about her next projects!

Cover Reveal for The Heartbeat Hypothesis

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Today I’m so, so excited to help reveal Lindsey Frydman’s amazing cover for her new adult book, The Heartbeat Hypothesis, from Entangled Embrace! I was lucky enough to get to work with Lindsey on a different manuscript for PitchWars 2016 and she’s an amazing writer and person. I can’t wait for release date!

ABOUT THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS

Audra Madison simply wanted to walk in the shoes of Emily Cavanaugh, a free-spirited teenager who died too young. After all, Audra wasn’t supposed to be here.

Thanks to Emily, Audra has a second chance at life. She’s doing all the things that seemed impossible just two years ago: Go to college. Date. Stargaze in the Rocky Mountains. Maybe get a tattoo. You know, live.

Jake Cavanaugh, a photographer with mysterious, brooding gray eyes, agrees to help chronicle her newfound experiences. She makes him laugh, one of the only people who can these days. As they delve into each other’s pasts – and secrets – the closer they become.

But she’s guarded and feels like she can’t trust anyone, including herself.

And he’s struggling with the fact that his beloved sister’s heart beats inside her.

Doesn’t that just sound amazing??? And now for the cover (that I’m in love with)

THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS RELEASES MARCH 20, 2017

ADD TO GOODREADS 

PREORDER: Amazon

ABOUT LINDSEY FRYDMAN

Lindsey has been writing since she was nine years old, when she discovered the awesomeness that is Harriet the Spy. Her books always include a romance, though sometimes there’s an added sci-fi or magical realism twist. She lives in Columbus, Ohio (where the weather is never quite right). Her BFA in Photography and Graphic Design has granted her a wide assortment of creative knowledge that serves as inspiration (and not much else). When she’s not crafting YA and NA stories, you’ll likely find her spending waaay too much time on Pinterest, playing a video game, singing show-tunes, or performing in a burlesque show—because she enjoys giving her introversion a worthy adversary. (Plus, it’s the closest to Broadway she’ll ever get.) Lindsey was a proud 2016 Pitch Wars Mentee and thoroughly adores being a part of the wonderful writing community. THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS is her debut novel.

CONNECT WITH LINDSEY:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Make sure to sign up for Lindsey’s newsletter to get the first sneak peek at THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS! 

Writer Wednesday Interview with Adam Schmitt

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Every other Wednesday, I’ll be showcasing authors who got an agent in the last couple of years. If you’d like to be a part of this, let me know in the comments or contact me via Twitter @judi__Lauren

Today I’m so excited to be interviewing Adam Schmitt! I mentored him during a contest and his voice in this realistic MG is amazing! Welcome, Adam!

What was the hardest part about writing your book?

Finding the voice of my main character.  I didn’t really find it until several revisions and beta readers had gone through it.  I spent so much time on the auxiliary players that impacted my MC, I had neglected to focus on him.  Once I did, it felt like a new manuscript to me.

How did you meet your agent?

I met Marcy Posner during a pitch session at a writing conference.  She was one of 4 agents I met that day.  She was very direct, professional, and personable.  She requested a full and later asked for a revision.   Her feedback was spot on to where I needed to strengthen the piece.  I agreed with her 100% on what needed to be done, but wasn’t sure how to do it.  It took a year, (and an amazing mentor in Judi) to help me get to where I needed to be.

Do you have a rough number of how many queries you sent out before being offered representation?

Somewhere around 30.  I never kept track though.  I sent the bulk of those out in the first year and fully admit my manuscript was not ready.  The more it took shape, I sent out fewer and fewer. I think when I started getting personalized feedback instead of form rejections is when I knew I was on the right track.  In the six months before signing with Marcy I don’t think I’d even sent out five.  I respect the query process, but didn’t want my time to be spent on querying and research instead of revising.  I think that’s an easy trap I fell into the first year I sent Speechless out.

What inspires you to write?

Anytime I hear about a person and think, “I could have never made that up.”  When I witness something people do that sounds far-fetched and fictional…yet somehow make me believe this is reality…that’s what I want to create.  It’s always people that inspire me to write though, and usually not the ones I see coming.

Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process? Where do you get your ideas and characters?

I’m definitely a plotter.  I need to have a skeleton mapped out with basic plot structure and character motivations.  I am incredibly envious of writers who can sit down and start hammering out their story.  Being drawn to realistic fiction, I always focus on character.  The tricky part of the creative process for me is developing a character enough so I know where they are going, but I don’t know what they will do when they get there.  When I wrote Speechless, I knew the set up of the ending, but had no idea what the characters would do until I wrote it.

My ideas and characters, that’s where working in a middle school gives me a wealth of inspiration. Public schools see everything (kids and adults alike) ranging from the brilliantly gifted socialite to the emotionally imbalanced homeless.  Every one of these kids has a story.  All of them.  When I hear something from one of them I couldn’t make up, it goes in the journal.

You also work as a middle school teacher. How do you balance that schedule?

Depending on the time of year, not very well.  I’ve been a middle school educator for 16 years now.  So there is no finding time in the day, and I’m usually too tired at night.  My wife and I have two boys and I am careful to not lose that time with my family.  I keep a journal in my bag at all times, so during the week I will write notes and ideas down, but rarely sit down to do any serious work.  Depending on where I’m at with a WIP, I’ll go to the library on the weekend (I do almost all my writing there).   For the last couple of years that journal has filled up until June.  That’s the flip side of being an educator; I don’t get a lot done during the school year, but then I have all summer to write.  So I try to take full advantage of my summer schedule to be dedicated to writing.

Is there a fictional character or book you wish you had created? Why?

Max Fischer from Rushmore.  Hands down, every day of the week. I am so jealous of the writers for creating such an amazing character.  I have always been fascinated with people who have an altered sense of reality and how they are perceived in the world.  I love that Max Fisher is all at once the best and worst student in a school where he changes the dynamic of every room he’s in.  He’s the perfect balance of headstrong and vulnerable.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

To me it’s a challenge.  It’s not relaxing, it’s work.  I enjoy the challenge of trying to make some kind of harmony out of a group of broken instruments.  My characters have flaws and I truly enjoy seeing how those flaws impact the characters they interact with. It takes a lot of effort for me to see a character and not know what they will do, but put them through some trials to find out.  It’s a great feeling to step back and look at a world you created.

We both know I love your MC a lot. Can you describe him in three words?

observant, articulate, arrogant

Before you leave, would you share the first sentence of your query that got you an agent?

Thirteen-year-old Jimmy has an answer for everything.  Despite his parents’ wishes to keep his quick lips quiet, he’s learned it’s the only way for his voice to be heard.

Thanks for stopping by, Adam!

Adam’s days are spent as an educator in a middle school, his nights as a husband and father, and weekends as a writer. He lives in the town of Oswego, IL where the race of suburbia meets the quiet of farm country.  He and his wife have two boys, Aidan, and Anderson, who keep them busy with sports, cat videos, and traveling anywhere they can (in that order). Adam began writing Speechless a few years ago after witnessing a profound moment at a wake of a former student.  That seed grew into the novel it is today.  Adam is represented by Marcy Posner of Folio Literary Management where Speechless is currently out on submission. You can connect with him on Twitter or at his website.