by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 14, 2011 | Uncategorized
There’s no post today (well, okay, there technically is, but you know what I mean) because I’m currently traipsing around California’s wine country on a research trip for my work-in-progress. Being out here makes me think I should always write...
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 13, 2011 | Uncategorized
Clare Kolenda, double-finaled for 1stI didn’t want to be here.Nervously shifting in the worn vinyl booth, I questioned my sanity in agreeing to come back to the field.Blackmail was a powerful tool and the CIA used it well, I mused, playing with the edges of the greasy...
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 12, 2011 | Uncategorized
A writer emailed me to ask, “I was wondering if you could do a post on turning your internal editor on. I’m thinking about entering in an original story contest…but you can’t have anyone else revise and edit it … So I was hoping you...
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 10, 2011 | Uncategorized
Last week when I talked about meeting with agents and editors, I said I would talk about pitch sheets … and then I didn’t. I gave this a lot thought and decided I wasn’t sure how beneficial it would be for you guys. I’ll explain what they are,...
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
If you and I are having a face-to-face conversation, and you’re kind enough to say to me, “What’s your story about?” you will likely be met with a groan and some jibber jabber about a girl who is in high school and having a rough go of it. Oh,...
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
A reminder that your writing prompts are due by 11:59 tonight. Click here for details.A writer emailed me to ask, “How do you handle it when you have a secondary character who makes your story seem complete, but also seems superfluous. You know, when...
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wait, I missed part one!” you can find it by clicking here.Also, two more days to get your contest entries into me. Click here to get the details on this round’s writing prompt contest. I’m loving how...
by Stephanie Morrill | Sep 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
Last week when I was at the ACFW conference, one of the agents shared that they received about 10,000 “cold queries” last year (meaning query letters from writers they’d previous had zero contact with). And of the 10,000, zero became their...
by Stephanie Morrill | Sep 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
But it’s a real problem:ItI see “it” all the time in manuscripts, including my own, but I never realized how big of an “it” problem I had until I started working with my publishing house to edit The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt manuscripts...
by Stephanie Morrill | Sep 27, 2011 | Uncategorized
I returned home from ACFW feeling completely zonked. A combination of little sleep, tons of information, and a tremendous amount of socializing. (Especially for me, since I tend to be waaaaay quiet.) I met my agent in person for the first time.Sandra and Me.Not only...
