The New Author

Writing Without Words

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:57:00 +0000

The creative juices were flowing last night! This has been one heck of a week for writing, first I struggle to get even a thousand words on paper and last night the story ideas, plot development and introduction of new characters hit me like a mental tsunami. My mind was working so fast I could not actually write but instead had to take notes as fast as I could just to keep up. It was amazing and it lasted for maybe thirty minutes.

When I was done I went back and read all those thoughts and ideas again, where did it come from I remember thinking. From those notes my novel took on a different dimension, it was elevated to a new level. After my read through the most entertaining part of writing began...brainstorming. In my opinion this is when we, as writers, are kids again because our imagination can go crazy while we brainstorm an idea or topic.

Where did my brainstorming lead? Straight to a place I did not expect, thats where. While brainstorming these ideas I could see tentacles, in my mind, grow from the notes and attach to the ideas I previously generated before I started writing. The brainstorming and thoughts fleshed out certain parts of the story so well all I could do was stare and wonder.

What is truly interesting about this whole experience is it started with one question. I had one small, but important, aspect of the story to develop and from there my mind took off like a rocket. I think what really gave it full to cook was the idea that I wanted something unique for this aspect. It started simply with a thought that was generic and, to be honest, very cliché but after asking "what can I do to put a twist on this and make it original" then everything moved at the speed of light.

What's the point in all of this? For one, you can write without words as long as you are moving your project forward. The more you develop with thoughts, ideas and notes the easier it will be to sit down and really write freely. The other thing that I thought was really inspiring was the fact that one little thought or question could build so quickly into a torrent of notes and completely flesh out story lines with characters included. This truly is the perfect example of a snowflake building to an avalanche.

Have you ever completed a novel only to start a new one that is completely different in every way? That is the move I'm making from novel one to novel two. It's almost like learning to ride a bike all over again. The main difference between the two is research and brainstorming. The first novel developed for years in my head so when it came time to write that's exactly what I did. This second novel is based on a topic I have always been interested in and have a passion to write about but it has not had the time to develop as thoroughly. To top it off I plan to use facts found during my research to give it just enough truth to make the reader wonder.

To be honest, I enjoy researching and brainstorming more then allowing the story to slowly develop on its own. The opportunity to write and learn at the same time is a great feeling and one I hope to experience many times over.

Vision for the future

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:35:00 +0000

I received an e-mail today from Sarah over at the Fresh Air Fund about a new partnership they have established with Onesight. The Fresh Air Fund is an organization that helps children from low income families do something most of us take for granted...enjoy a summer vacation. I support this group by having their button on the New Author for followers and visitors to click over and donate. I believe children have the right and deserve the opportunity to be kids and make fun memories.

As I looked into this partnership between the Fresh Air Fund and Onesight I discovered some interesting facts. Here are a few:

One out of four school children in the U.S. has vision problems, and 86% do not get their vision checked before age 12.

This summer at Fresh Air camp, OneSight's staff screened 3,295 children and counselors, gave 1,757 eye exams, and made 1,629 pairs of glasses, with 1,458 of them on-site and 171 specially driven in. The team stayed at Camp Hayden-Marks for two camp sessions, to make sure every child who needed the gift of sight was screened.

Although you might think some children would be reluctant to be prescribed glasses, most of them are delighted. They've been missing out on the world around them for too long. (Being able to pick out their own frames helps, too.)

One out of every four school children in the United States has vision problems! How is that possible? This is just one group and look at the number of children they helped with the gift of sight. What does that say for the millions of children who are out there with no one to help them? As you can see from the last fact I included, these children love that they can now see the world around them better and are able to learn more at school.

Why is this so important? I can't write enough reasons why this is important. We are talking about the next generation of the American work force. These are the readers of tomorrow and it would be a real shame if they were neglected the opportunity to read books. Who knows, the next great writer could be born from this act of kindness and gift of better vision.

I encourage all of you to click over to their sites and read about all the things they do for children. These are regional groups but who knows - maybe, with our help, they will extend their reach to a national level. Just think of the millions of children that could one day read what they want and write with their passion.

Never thought a pair of glasses could have such an impact on someone did you?

The Path to Balance

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:48:00 +0000

It could be the weather, it could be the time change, it could even be all the thoughts rolling around in my head colliding into nothingness - I don't really know what it is. I do know that I haven't felt very inspired lately when it comes to writing. Yes, that is a serious statement and not one I thought I would make but there it is.

Last night I sat down to write, about half way through I just knew it would be easier to pull teeth out of an alligator then to reach my goal of two thousand words. I regret to say that I only made it to about twelve hundred words when I shut down the computer for the night. Amazingly enough, I was drained! I mean I felt rung out like a wash clothe after the shower was done.

As I sit here in front of this computer today to work I thought about what I would post for the New Author community. Even now, as I write this article I have no clue where I'm going with it. The great thing about blogging is the opportunity it gives you to think about multiple topics even while writing. For example, I truly struggled with my writing last night but I still enjoyed it very much and felt productive; however, on the flip side of this coin I simply could not find it in me to really hang out on Twitter, Facebook or any of those social networking sites. We know these things are important as we need to develop our platforms and continue to increase our presence but the more I did spend time on these sites today the less productive I felt. Please don't get me wrong, I really enjoy meeting new people on these sites and talking with my peers and friends, it's just that something felt missing today. You know what I mean?

The further I journey down the path to publishing the more I realize that this is not a path at all but instead a set of scales. I believe each person has different things on each side of their scales at different times during their journey and sometimes we have more then one thing on each side. What's on my scale? Right now I feel like I have more then one scale (which is probably not a good thing). On one side of my scale I have writing my second novel, running the New Author, and spending time with my family. The other side consists of my job, building my platform, and running my business. There are other things in my life but this is an example of the big ones.

At first look it would seem that I am balanced but the tricky part is this - for these scales time is weight. The items that take more of your time are the heaviest on the scales. With that in mind I think it is obvious which side of the scale has the most weight. Are your scales out of balance? Are you way to heavy on one side or are you balanced?

How do you get balanced? We need to prioritize. A platform is great but it is your writing that will land that agent or publisher. It is your writing that will draw attention in due time. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the trap (as I think I have) of spending more time building a platform then writing a novel. Some of you may not have this problem but maybe, instead of working social networks, there is something else taking a large chunk of your time. We must work, unless we win the lottery, so that item is always opposite writing. This is perhaps the hardest aspect of writing and there isn't a foolproof answer. We each have unique situations and therefore we must strike our own balance.

Is your scale out of balance?

An Internet Romance

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:12:00 +0000

PREMIUM PROMOTIONAL SERVICES BOOK TITLE PROMOTION:

Title: Story of a Disastrous Internet Romance
Author: Svetlana Repina with Steve Fortosis
ISBN: 978-1-449-53759-3
Genre: Crime
Pages: 280
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
Official Premium Promotional Services Rating:

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Natalia, a young Russian woman with dreams of a better wife, enters into the little known world of being a mail order bride. With the hope of finding her knight in shining armor she courts many suitors through mail, e-mail, and phone call until that fateful day Carlos crosses her path.

Carlos and Natalia fall quickly in love. After a brief courtship they are married and Natalia excitingly awaits her first trip to the land of opportunity. But not everything is as it seems when Natalia learns that Carlos is not the clean cut business man he portrayed. With wrecked credit, no driver’s license and a young child to care for, Natalia is totally trapped in Carlos’ scheme.
As the heat is turned up, by the authorities, on Carlos and his activities Natalia is befriended by Maryanne, her neighbor. Maryanne proofs invaluable as she encourages and strengthens Natalia’s resolve to do what need be done for the safety of her and her child. With the motivation from a trusted friend and the assurance of the authorities, Natalia ventures out into the United States with only her child and a few belongings.
Will Carlos track her down and exact his revenge for losing everything or will Natalia finally get the life she has always wanted?

Right from the first paragraph, Svetlana’s love of family and desire for a better life leaps from her story. But the undeniable undertone of her affection and appreciation for the life lived in the United States drives much of the plot within the story. Again and again, her desperate desire is virtually on every page.

I recommend reading “Story of a Disastrous Internet Romance” for everyone who has contemplated or undergone Internet dating. The added inside look into the world of a mail order bride only deepens the intrigue.

To find out more about author Svetlana Repina please click HERE.
To purchase this book you can HERE.

Guest Post Is Now Up

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:31:00 +0000

I was asked to prepare a guest article for Rebecca's Word Nerd Army blog. I invite all of you to click over and have a look. While your there check out my article. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

In other late breaking news, the new Premium Promotional Services book store is up and running. This store is actually made up or two stores. One is 'Knight & Vandermeulen' which includes over 200 titles from some great up and coming authors from the North America. The second store 'The London Connection' which is sponsored by Pneuma Springs Publishing provides quality books from our friends and neighbors across the pond. I invite all of you to stop by and check out the books. I know the authors will appreciate the support.

Agents and Hollywood

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:21:00 +0000

This is a late posting but I guess it is better to be late then to never be. I was a little perplexed by what I wanted to write today as two topics caught my attention. I decided to touch on both and see how it goes.

Recently I have been reading and responding to comments regarding agents and the things they might or might not require. I touched on this in the past with a few articles but the direction I felt like this particular conversation was going sent a red flag up in the air. Now before I go any further I want all of you to know that I don't pass judgment on the decisions of others I may read about nor do I attempt to change anyone's mind with this article. I do, however, what to address a concern that I have. That concern stems from the thought that one of us may fall prey to a shady agent or editor who wants to charge an up front fee for their services.

Wait a minute Brian, I know that. We have heard that from day one.

This is all well and true but it is amazing how our minds work when we get to that point of thinking we have achieved our goal. We work so very hard on our manuscripts and we are diligent with our submissions to agents only to be rejected. Then the day comes when we are not rejected and all those depressed feelings disappear, replaced by the euphoria and excitement of being one step closer to publication. It is in this exact moment that we must keep our feet on the ground because this is the place where we can get pulled into an undesirable situation. Imagine being at the height of joy and excitement because an agent wants to represent you or an editor with major credentials wants to work with you only to have them charge you a fee to do so. At this point in time you have a decision to make - decline and keep searching or pay them because you have an agent/editor after months of searching. I can't tell you what you or I would do in a situation like this. At this moment I can say that I would walk away because we, as authors, should not pay anything to an agent or editor from a publishing house. Most likely this will lead us to losing our money, having nothing to show for it and starting over with our search. Please be careful as you journey further into the world of publishing. Respectable agents, editors, and publishers are out there in large numbers and none of them want you to lose your money or be scammed. Remember, we should not pay one penny to an agent or an editor from a publishing house.

The second issue would center on all the celebrities from Hollywood who wake up one day and decide they want to write a book. There are publishers and agents who look specifically for these celebrities because they know the book will sale even if it stinks worse then a septic tank. Hearing these things may discourage you, I mean, we work hard to get noticed and finish our books. I cannot type this enough, do not get discouraged and do not give up. Truth be told many of these celebrities have ghost writers who prepare the manuscripts. These ghost writers deserve a lot of credit and work just as hard as we do. We know that we cannot take things from Hollywood at face value. Behind these books, just like movies, are people just like us who work hard for what they have and what they want.

Fear Of...

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:28:00 +0000

This weekend I want to do some research for a project I'm preparing for and what better place to start then right here in the New Author community? My research topic is simple yet complex so I would appreciate and thank all of you before hand for your input. I hope all of you blow up the comment section with really good stuff...actually, I know you will.

Question: What scares you, freaks you out, and/or gives you that creepy/eerie feeling?

There it is, my research topic. I can't wait to read your responses.

Have fun and happy writing!

Making the Book

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:40:00 +0000

Ever wonder what happens when your book goes to press? We know that once we hear those words it's just a matter of time before we have our books in our hands. So how do those hardback and paperback books come about? A video was floating around on Twitter today that gave a behind the scenes look at this very thing. I have embedded it below and will tell you that it is about four minutes long. Why should we know this stuff? Knowledge is power and security. The more we know the more we are prepared. Enjoy the video and let me know what you think.

I Understand Know.

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:20:00 +0000

This has been a fly by the seat of your pants kind of week around here. I am working hard to get my submission package ready for the publisher and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have learned some new things in this process as well as reaffirm some things we have discussed. But I have also run into some situations that flipped on the light bulb and had me nodding my head as understanding washed down.

Case in point - the synopsis. We have discussed this aspect of writing in the past but now I think we can look at it again from a different direction. How many times have you read - "write your synopsis first?" I have seen this advice pop-up a number of times and to be honest...I didn't pay much attention to it. I can now tell you that ignoring this wisdom was perhaps a mistake. Then again, it may not be a wrong or right situation but instead a method to get to your destination faster sort of thing. Can you write your manuscript faster if you have your synopsis ready? I truly believe you can. Will it take longer to prepare your synopsis if your manuscript is done? Yes, in my opinion, I believe it will. Why is that?

A synopsis is the bare bones on your manuscript. You write out the major plot points, the characters, the settings and the scenes that really impact the story. If you can do this before you write the novel then what you really have is a road map that has been thought though and put on paper. On the flip side of this, as I found out this week, if you already have the manuscript complete then you have to make sure you have the points on the paper in the correct order. But Brian, you wrote the book so you should know how things fall into place. It is surprising how easy it is to overlook something after you have read it three or four times, been writing and editing the same text for months and it is not fresh in your mind anymore.

Is it difficult to write a synopsis? I'm not to sure about that. I think it will come to the author naturally as long as he/she is still in love with their project. It can be frustrating as you condense a 200, 300 or whatever size book to a handful of pages. Will I follow my own lesson learned and prepare a synopsis before I begin writing? Maybe but no time soon. Why? I'm approaching my writing projects from different angles until I find the one most comfortable to me. This first novel poured out of my head onto the screen, my second through fourth novel is already prepared in the form of notes. But who knows, I might prepare a synopsis first and that may be the process that really works.

Do you start a writing project with notes, a synopsis, or just shoot from the hip?

Conquer All Obstacles

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:40:00 +0000

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Title: Conquer All Obstacles
Author: Jo-Anne Vandermeulen
ISBN: 978-0-9841680-1-9
Genre: Suspense - Romance
Pages: 256
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
Official Premium Promotional Services Rating:

What would you sacrifice for love?

Tara Robstead is prepared to sacrifice everything to find her true love and her happily ever after. But her journey leads her into the arms of a mad man. Now, strapped to a hospital bed, Tara is in a trauma induced coma. She struggles to save herself from the damages inflicted by a man—the same man she once thought she could love, unaware that her desires will lead her to what is waiting on the other side. However, this is only the tip of the ice berg. As the story unfolds, we see what transpires to lead Tara into her unfortunate situation.

While Tara battles for her life, Josh Henderson has his own demons to deal with. After casting Tara aside for promises of a better career, his life spirals out of control. Only through the agonizing declaration of mistakes made, and need for forgiveness from his family, does Josh realize how important Tara really is. But to have her, he must sacrifice what he thinks is his dream.

In “Conquer All Obstacles” Tara and Josh put it all on the line; but, is the price to high for love?

From the first word, Vandermeulen’s passion for writing and storytelling takes center stage. Instantly, you are immersed in Tara’s life. With each passing page, it is virtually impossible not to care for the characters in “Conquer All Obstacles”. You will find yourself connecting with them on multiple levels.

“Conquer All Obstacles” is an emotional thrill ride as it pulls on the heart strings, fans the flames of anger, and tugs at the smile within. This book is a must have for those with a penchant for an edge of your seat pulse pounding love story.

Author Jo-Anne Vandermeulen’s debut novel, is sure to take the world by storm. I see a bright future for this up and coming author as more titles follow this engaging tale of love and survival.

“Conquer All Obstacles,” will conquer your need for a great love story.

To learn more about this author visit the site below or click on the title of this article.
Conquer All Obstacles - the website

If you would like to purchase this book please follow one of these links.
PPS Book Store
Want the E-book instead? Follow this link.
Purchase E-book

I Need A What?

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:36:00 +0000

What do you think is the most important thing an agent or publisher wants to see when you think about your book?

If you said "a sound story," "writing skill," or "a quality manuscript from beginning to end" you would be right. They look at all three and we strive very hard to deliver on these wants. But the story doesn't in there. Just like everything else there is always something more...another bridge to cross. Okay, maybe things are not that bad but writing is...well, more then just writing.

Now-a-days we have to be a small business in and of ourselves. What do I mean by that? When presenting things to an agent or publisher we need a resume of sorts. We need to be ready to show them we have experience writing. Is it necessary to have articles and other pieces of writing published in a magazine, newspaper or anywhere else? I'm not sure. I know it helps but it may not hinder all that much. The author bio is another piece of information they may want to see. This is an interesting little piece because you get to talk about - you, in third person. So far, in my opinion, this is a miniature resume which will happen to be on the back of your book. What do you include? Snippets of information regarding your writing career such as: how it got started, why you wrote this particular book and you can include your website (if you have one). Also, and this is important, if you have a significant other remember to include them in the author bio. It will be great celebrating your book publishing but not in the doghouse.

How else are we a business? It will be up to us to market our books. That is one of the bigger things I learned this week - even the larger publishers are requiring authors to market their books. With that said, we are new at this so we can't simply say "I will take care of it" like Stephen King may. No, we have to show them that we have at least put some thought into it and have a plan. What should a marketing plan have? Basically any idea you come up with that may draw attention to your book and/or generate sales should be included. Your presence on the Internet should be included because if you can show that you have access to a few thousand people then they see possible sales right there. I don't believe there is a clear cut example of a bullet proof marketing plan. Each book and each author is different so some strategies may work better for you then for another. For example, "The Shack" did really well and started out as a self published book. How did the author pull off such incredible numbers? He started with word of mouth. Yes, he actually approached people about his book. Once he grew he hired people and a full on assault of his area and the Internet began. We know the end result. The point is what if you leave in the middle of Montana and your nearest neighbor is twenty miles down the road? This approach will not work well for you but if you show the agent/publisher that you have a list of stores, conventions, shows and a host of sites on the Internet then you have the means to put yourself in front of people.

The great thing is this - you can still be creative. Think of contests you can have with your book or new and fresh ways to introduce yourself and your book to people. Don't be afraid to try your ideas. Heck, I found out that one author actually had the cover of his book printed on the pizza boxes of a local pizzeria! Now that is thinking outside the box - no pun intended.

We know we need a really good, quality book but what do you think is the second most important thing we, as authors, need in regards to getting our books published?

Have a good weekend and happy writing.

A Pitching Good Time!!

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:27:00 +0000

As many of you may remember from previous articles I was scheduled to make a pitch for my book last night. Today's article is about that experience and hopefully you will gain some insight for the time when you are pitching your novel.

First let me tell you this - I was scheduled to pitch at 8:00 and as the minutes ticked down my heart rate increased to the point where I could hear it in my ears. This is very common and no matter how hard you try the nerves will win out. But there was a lot of work involved before that 8:00 hour. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the Muse Conference and before the pitch date many workshops were conducted discussing this very thing. Even better was the handout that each author received containing a list of information to have ready along with your pitch in case you were asked for it. This proved to be gold as you will see later on.

So, I prepared my pitch and had some trusted friends read and critique it until it shined like a newly polished sports car then I focused on the 'additional' information. What additional information did it recommend I have ready? Things like a marketing plan, author bio, target audience, why you wrote the book was tops on the list. I prepared each one except the author bio. I really didn't focus on that because I didn't think I had anything of value to write. As far as I could tell I was ready to go. I practiced pasting the pitch in forty words or less and everything.

At 7:45 I logged into the gathering room with the others and you could hear crickets chirping! No one was chatting. Shortly after 8:00 I went into the pitch room and began my pitch. I had ten minutes and let me tell you, that is a lot of time but it flew by in seconds. After all that practice I still missed up the pasting of my pitch but the editor understood and we moved forward. At the end of the pitch I was asked questions about the book and then the moment came...at this point in time most authors see it as rejection or celebration. I saw it as a kind of validation. She used the words "interesting" and "unique" when describing my manuscript but alas she also said that it didn't really fit what they were looking for. I thanked her and left the room. Was I hurt or upset? Not really because of those two words she used. I just saw it as more work for me to do.

But then something unexpected happened. The conference coordinator asked me to send my pitch to her again as another pitch session was next (at 9:00). I sent it to her and she asked me to stay and enjoy the others as they waited to pitch their work. I truly had a good time chatting with everyone but around 9:45 the coordinator asked me if my manuscript fit with this company! I immediately went to their website and did some really fast research until I found that they did intend print my genre. I came back to the chat and let her know that yes it fits. I was told to get ready because I was pitching to this publisher and to top it off I was the thirteenth to pitch! Yep, lucky number 13. However, there was one hang up. The publisher wanted a marketing plan and an author bio with the pitch. I had the plan but not the bio so I made haste and wrote one in five minutes. Shortly after 10:00 my name was called and I entered the pitch room again. This time I got the pasting right and answered her questions. This is the truly exciting part; she requested a synopsis, the first three chapters and my author bio!!

What did I learn from this? I learned first and foremost that even though my heart almost blew out of my chest I had a great time. Don't be afraid to get out there and try something new or put yourself in front of people. Second, I can't tell you how important it is to be prepared ahead of time. That is crucial! Finally, and most importantly, never ever give up. Keep moving forward. This night taught me that anything is possible but you have to be willing to jump on it when the time presents itself.

The great thing for the New Author is that I get to do some articles on author bios and writing a synopsis soon.

The Power of the E-Zine

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Last week I asked two friends of mine, Angie Ledbetter and Kathryn Magendie, if they would share with us a little information about E-zine's. These two are the editors for the Rose and Thorn journal that is set to relaunch on the 15th of this month. I found their comments very informative and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1. What is an E-zine and why did you start the Rose and Thorn?

An e-zine is an electronic magazine, to put it simply. "E-zine" is a somewhat older term which is going the way of "World Wide Web;" now most frequently referred to as the Web or Internet. Since revamping and renovating the site and newsletter (unveiling next week!), our official title is Rose & Thorn Journal. R&T was founded over 10 years ago by Barbara Quinn; we just took over the steering wheel recently after serving as Co-managing Editors for a few years.

2. As a writer, is it considered a benefit to be published in an E-zine? Is this something an author can include in his/her resume?

Online journals and other e-publications have steadily gained legitimacy over the last 10-15 years, and due to the economic downturn, they seem to be even more popular. Publishing is a hard business, and paper venues are struggling to stay afloat. Look at how many publications have had to shut their brick and mortar doors just in the last year! Many (most?) agents are moving to electronic submissions only, and the advent of electronic readers is impacting paper-based industries. All that is to say yes to your question. Publishing on line is absolutely something authors can include in their resumes. Look at contemporary authors' and poets' bios, and you'll see online journal clips proudly listed.

3. I have seen a number of E-zines. Do you think they are catching on in popularity as part of the 'digital' movement we see with books?

Yes! (See above answer.) Even more so than e-books, online publications have been around for a long time.

4. If a writer wanted to submit some of their work to the Rose and Thorn, what do they need to know and how should they go about it?

Submission guidelines and reading period notices can be found at our brand spanking new site when we go live on October 15 at: http://www.roseandthornjournal.com/. We look for the best prose and poetry in all genres except gore/violence, bodice-ripping romance, and in-your-face explicit erotica. We invite interested authors, poets and readers to sign up at our site for our quarterly newsletters. They will be streamlined notices of publication details and interesting factoids about everything Rose & Thorn. Our style and flavor can be deciphered by those who follow us on Twitter (@RoseandThorn), check us out at our blog and on Facebook and MySpace, and, naturally, reading through the publication helps. Rose & Thorn is as open to emerging word crafters as it is to established writer/poets. It is our goal to be accessible while presenting high level literary nuggets. We invite everyone to drop by and have a look around; a sort of Open House kind of thing. We listen carefully and with interest to our readers' thoughts and suggestions!

5. What makes Ezines, like the Rose and Thorn, unique from other in-print magazines and E-zines?

Besides adding art to the literary mix, we think our openness and accessibility will help us remain popular. Many of our authors and poets have been nominated and have placed in different literary award contests. We've also maintained a friendly and easy-to-work-with editorial reputation as noted in Best of the Net and Editors & Preditors polls, to name a few. We are writer/poet/novelists also, so it gives us good perspective from both sides of the desk. (And anyone who's ever visited our personal blogs knows we're both just a wee bit zany.)

I invite all of you to visit both of their blogs at:
Angie Ledbetter - http://angie-ledbetter.blogspot.com/
and
Kathryn Magendie - http://tendergraces.blogspot.com/

Mission Possible

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:02:00 +0000

PREMIUM PROMOTIONAL SERVICES BOOK TITLE PROMOTION:

Title: Mission Possible – Spiritual Covering
Author: Deborah L. McCarragher
ISBN: 978-0-615-30357-4
Genre: Religion/Christian/Women’s Issues
Pages: 81
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
Official Premium Promotional Services Rating:

Your mission – if you choose to accept it…is an important one!

Christian women have the remarkable opportunity to show their husbands the true meaning of living a life for Christ. Through this example and strength of faith a change can and will take place in your husband’s life forever. This point is supported and illustrated in “Mission Possible – Spiritual Covering.”

If you are a Christian woman striving to introduce your husband to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, you will truly love and embrace the inspiration and hope found in this book. Unlike other books with religious themes, “Mission Possible” is a clear road map leading to an everlasting peace within your home.

Reading “Mission Possible – Spiritual Covering,” will encourage and fortify you as you journey with your husband on the road to salvation. By the end, you will be prepared to show and demonstrate to your husband a crystal clear understanding of God’s mercy, love, and desire.
The ‘seek and find’ sections in “Mission Possible – Spiritual Covering” provide a refreshing twist to normal how-to books. Each section presents questions regarding relevant Scriptures for the reader to answer. By answering these questions in conjunction with the book the reader will be better prepared and reassured in her effort to help her husband. Finally the reader will feel inspired—containing wisdom and then applying the practical advice given as reference from “Mission Possible.”

Right from the first paragraph, Deborah’s experience and passion will capture your undivided attention. Again and again, she presents her faith and conviction in the Scriptures with a pace that’s quick and always fresh. The heart filled passion and desire for her husband to find and establish a relationship with our Lord and Savior is virtually on every page.

Need confidence, support, and hope for your husband’s relationship with God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

I recommend reading “Mission Possible – Spiritual Covering”…an excellent resource book that will change the life of both you and your husband forever. Now you can feel assured knowing that you and your husband will walk hand in hand basking in the Lord’s everlasting grace, mercy and love.

This is a Premium Promotional Service book review. To learn more about this book and the author please visit the following sites:
To Purchase
About the Author

What Lies Beneath

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Writing and cooking have a lot in common. Your manuscript is a prepared meal, for example, and like that meal it calls for ingredients. All recipes have a basic set of ingredients. For our manuscripts those basic ingredients are - story idea, plot, pace, and character development. But what puts our mark on the recipe, what makes the recipe our own is what we add to it to spice things up. Sometimes the items we add to the recipe don’t work very well and sometimes we come up with something spectacular. So, we have the basics under control and ready to go. What should we add to make it distinctively ours?

There are many things we can add to our projects to really get things going. Some authors like to add lust and sexual tension to their stories, some like to add the actual heat of a sexual encounter, maybe it's a battle scene between the MC and the villain, or a chase. But then there is the other side to this coin such as a moment that pulls at your heart strings, or leaves you guessing until the end, or just gives you that warm feeling when you know everything will be alright.

This is not to say that only one ingredient is all you need in your manuscript. On the contrary, readers what to dig deeper then just the overall picture. They want to know what lies beneath and the more they find the better they enjoy your story. I do think that readers are geared to a certain genre because it best provides them with the ingredient they want most. Readers of mystery novels like the guessing until the end whereas some readers of romance like to have that box of tissues close at hand.

That’s great Brian and it makes sense so I guess the best thing to do is include all of it in my manuscript so I have all the bases covered. Yes, you could do that but in my opinion I think that may be a mistake. It is a really good idea to include multiple items from above in your manuscript but not to the point that the manuscript becomes watered down. These ingredients can be used to control the pace for instance. This is one reason why I enjoy fantasy books so much, we get the action of good against evil as the MC fights to survive and win the day but along the road he or she meets new people. What if in the midst of the journey the main character starts developing a love interest for one of the others in their band? Now the plot thickens, a new wrinkle is exposed and we have a break from the action. Most importantly, it is believable.

The items you add to the recipe that is your manuscript must compliment each other to form something special, something lasting and something unforgettable. How do you find out what ingredients best suite your style and who you are?

To answer that question you need to delve into your own passions and feelings. What do you enjoy reading and watching? Why? What are the things that get your heart pumping, your blood rushing and move you to the edge of your seat? Those answers will show you the way because those are the items you will be most passionate and detailed about when you write. For example, if you love books our shows where the main character and his/her partner share an undeniable love for each other but just will not take that step to show it or you get pumped up during a serious struggle between two individuals then these are things you should focus on when writing. If it gets you pump up and ready for action that passion and emotion will translate to your story. Your readers are sure to pick up on that.

What ingredients do you want readers to see in your work when they dig in?

The Reward of Challenge

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000

What a week and it's only Tuesday! First, the New Author added the 200th follower to the community which I can not be happier about. I truly appreciate all of you for joining in and making this such a fun experience. But that's not all, yesterday I was knighted! I was selected by Rebecca Woodhead as Word Nerd Knight of the month. If you haven't checked out her Word Nerd Army blog I recommend that you do. She has some interesting things posted over there. You can visit by clicking HERE.

In other news, my pitch is ready and I am counting down the days until I log in to that chat room and give it my best. To pass the time I've also started my second novel. This one is completely different from my first. I'm writing in a different genre and this time I am relaying on my imagination even more with a heavy dose of factual information to supply a sturdy foundation. I believe this novel will present a new set of challenges that I plan to bring here for all of you. I have already faced my first challenge but I cannot tell you, as of yet, if I have conquered it or not. I will know by the end though. You see, my plan for this novel is to revisit a great topic that has been diluted for many years. It is my hope and plan to give it a new look, a new direction that still holds true to the original form. Can I do it? I believe I can but, again, we will know by the end.

The biggest challenge I see with this second novel is getting publishers and agents to take a honest look at it. Of course I need to finish it first but this is a challenge I am looking forward to tackling. It is my opinion that no matter how washed up a topic may be if you put a fresh spin on it and a new direction then it will be a story that can gain the attention it deserves. It is difficult to do because you are calling upon your skills of writing like never before but if plan to write the best we possibly can we must first go through the fire and challenge ourselves. After writing this I can say that this is what I am doing...challenging myself to be a better writer. It does help that this story has been nagging at me to write it for over a month now and I have the notes to prove it.

How do you challenge yourself while writing? Is there a project out there that, you feel like, will push your skills to the limit?

More then food is being prepared in mama’s kitchen.

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:34:00 +0000

PREMIUM PROMOTIONAL SERVICES BOOK TITLE PROMOTION:
Title: From My Mama’s Kitchen
Author: Johnny Tan
ISBN: 978-0-9820235-1-8
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 137
Reviewed By: Brian Knight
Official Premium Promotional Services Rating:

“Respect the past, because it is a classroom for lessons learned. Be prepared for the future, because it is my destiny. Always live in the now, because every moment is a memorable experience.” This is an example of the wisdom and advice author Johnny Tan received from the influential women in his life. Those he affectionately called ‘moms.’

“From My Mama’s Kitchen” began as a keepsake collection of recipes but soon morphed into a memoir of lessons learned and advice shared in the kitchen. The eternal love a mother has for her children is highlighted in this endearing novel as Tan shares with us the influence those lessons and advice had.

The kitchen is the hub of every house and like that hub; moms are the hub of the family. They are the teacher, doctor, security blanket, and banker in the eyes of their children. By preparing their children for adulthood all moms pass down advice and life lessons learned from their mothers. Author Johnny Tan had the unique opportunity to learn from his mother plus eight more women he referred to as mom.

In “From My Mama’s Kitchen,” Tan combines the collective learning from his nine moms. He affectionately gives credit where credit is due for the life his had led and the life he is living.

Right from the first paragraph, Tan’s love and respect for the moms in his life will capture your undivided attention. Again and again, he presents their advice and guidance with a smooth pace that’s both refreshing and comforting. The impact these women had on Tan’s life is unmistakable as it is virtually on every page.

I recommend “From My Mama’s Kitchen” to anyone whose life has been impacted by the lessons learned and advice gained from their mamas. The motherly love exemplified in this book will warm the hearts of both young and old.

“From My Mama’s Kitchen – food for the Soul, recipes for living,” is a testament to mothers’ world wide.

If you would like to learn more about this entertaining book or this up and coming author please visit the following:

To purchase "From My Mama's Kitchen" click HERE
A little about author Johnny Tan

"I can't believe you wrote that!"

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:33:00 +0000

What was your first thought after reading that statement? I believe many of you pictured a person reading a manuscript until the end, placing it on a coffee table and saying that to the writer who happens to be their friend and a person they never thought could write. Perhaps it is your significant other after they read a particular part of your manuscript or maybe, just maybe, it's your muse shouting at you about a phrase, paragraph, or chapter you just completed.

If we hear this statement as a compliment then all is good with the world and we are happy to move forward. What happens if it is said as criticism? Do we change that part of the story? Do we rewrite it to take away some of the affect? Do we delete it all together? Do we leave it alone? The questions are endless.

I remember a short story I wrote that fits this topic. About midway through the story the main character comes home to find an intruder assaulting his wife. Granted I was rather graphic with that scene but then again it was a major scene in the story and I wanted it to display a lot of energy and passion. After I finished it my wife read it and once she completed that part she exclaimed "I can't believe you wrote that!" Why did she say that? I would guess for many reasons. One being that if you knew me you would not expect me able to write a scene like that and two, it reflected to closely to a real life incident. What did I do after she said that? I toned the scene down a little. I did it because I was not comfortable with it like it was at the time.

I have heard "I can't believe you wrote that" a few more times as I write more and each time I am faced with a decision. Do I change it or leave it be? If I change it, did I do so because I wanted to or because the reader wanted me to? As in the example above, I changed it because I wanted to. This brings up a deeper issue though, do we write for ourselves or for the reader? The answer, I believe, is a tricky one. We write for both but we don't give them what they want. We tell the story how we want it told. Clear as mud right? True the readers will purchase our books once it is published but our books are well...ours. We share them with the world.

The point, if there is one, is to not be afraid of writing what you feel or what you want. If it makes you nervous, sit on the edge of your seat, get excited, or freak you out chances are it will do the same to the readers. That is what we want right?

The next time you're reading your project and you come across a section that makes you think "I can't believe you wrote that" and you're tempted to change it for one reason or another perhaps the best thing to do is leave it there. The emotion and passion could really pay off in the end.

Sometimes The Detour Works

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Have you ever been late for an appointment and as you rush down the road you see that sign on the right hand side that reads "detour ahead?" Each and every one of us releases a groan of agony when we see that sign. But, there are times when the detour works out in our favor. Maybe we will find a short cut, a new store or restaurant, or just a scenic route to cruise down.

Detours can happen in our writing just as they happen on the road. In most occasions our characters bring about this detour. Some of the professionals will argue that if your story is properly planned then this will not happen but I tend to disagree with this logic. Sure, we need to have the story mapped out in general terms but the creativity must be allowed room to maneuver which leads to....detours.

As much as our characters can dictate the direction of a story, plot and/or theme can as well. Case in point, I recently finished reading "From My Mama's Kitchen" by author Johnny Tan. Johnny planned for this book to be a "keepsake collection of my mom's recipes" but instead, at some point in time, it changes dramatically. His book focuses not on the recipes but instead on the life lessons learned and wisdom received from his mom while in the kitchen helping her with the meals.

How and why did this change happen? I'm not sure but I tend to think the change from everyday cookbook to a book paying respect to his mom was a brilliant one. The question now becomes, is it safe to change your story in midstream? The answer is no. It is difficult to change your story dramatically after you have started. However, if it makes for a better story then it should be done. Look at Johnny's example for a moment. He began with a cookbook. I'm sure it would have been a good one and fairly easy to pull together but he allowed his creativity room to move about. That movement allowed him to look much deeper at what those recipes meant to him and his life. By following this detour he wrote a book full of passion, respect and wisdom.

I can't say that each of our stories will turn out like this example but I am saying to not be afraid of those detours even if it is the theme or plot that is taking you down a different path. It may cause you to look much deeper at your topic, show you a whole new storyline or could simply lead to a dead end. We never know exactly where our stories will take us and this is the thrill and joy of writing.

Has your plot or theme changed direction on you? Did you follow or stay the course?

I have prepared a review for "From My Mama's Kitchen" that I will be posting in the coming days.

The Muse Conference and a Pitch

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:21:00 +0000

As I announced on Friday, I am participating in this year's Muse Conference. I'm really looking forward to it because of the quality and quantity of information (and hopefully contacts) I will gain during that week. I have begun downloading a lot of the handouts and documents loaded on the conference website which I plan to review and study soon. I'm sure that this will bring about many new and interesting topics for the New Author. Are any of you participating in this year's Muse Conference?

As I said, I'm looking forward to it but there is one aspect that really has my attention right now. You guessed it, the pitch session. On October 14th at 8:00 pm I will be waiting...not so patiently, for my number to be called. I am number three which is ironic because three seems to be a very good number for me. What am I doing to prepare for this moment?

Well, this all came about on a whim. Originally I had intended to skip the pitch sessions all together. That changed when a publishing company caught my eye. You see, I have many (about 5) projects waiting in the wings, however, they are all in different genres. This publisher handles all the genres I plan to write in. So I said what the heck...it couldn't hurt to try. The first step was to prepare a one hundred word pitch for my book and send it in to the moderator of the conference and then wait. Yep, I said wait...big fun. I heard back from her telling me she received my pitch and that I was one of over a thousand authors vying for 294 slots.

Imagine my excitement when I received the next e-mail that stated I had been awarded a slot! Yes, I got very excited but then I got focused because I had no idea how to prepare for a pitch. I began researching and reading about participating in a pitch and what is expected of the author. What I learned is that we have five minutes and one hundred words to sell our books to the publisher. Imagine stepping into an elevator and your favorite agent, author, or a representative from your favorite publisher is standing there. After they notice the nervous sweat on your brow they ask what your book is about. There you go, you have until the elevator stops to dazzle and amaze that person. The same holds true for a pitch.

There is a great deal of information to have ready when going into a pitch. It may come up but then again it may not. It's always best to be prepared just in case they ask for your marketing plan or author platform or experience (if any). What are they looking for? What do they really want? They want a really good story to publish. They want a book that will make them money. You, as the author, have one hundred words to prove to them that your book is the one they are looking for.

Have you ever participated in a pitch session? What was your experience?

Welcome to the new New Author

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:43:00 +0000

You may not have noticed but I did a little cleaning around here. I think I scrubbed a little too hard because I washed away the old template completely. Well, that might not be the complete and honest truth. Actually the other template was beginning to show problems and acting up. I thought, since the one year anniversary of the site was coming up, that I would just do a major overhaul. What you see now is the result of that journey. I invite you all to take a look around and leave me feedback about the new layout. Some of the things carried over from the old layout and some did not. I would like to point out a few things such as the top link bar. I added links to some of the other social networks I am on and invite all of you to add me to your list of friends. Also, how do you like the new twitter update/join widget above this article? That was one of the things that drew me to this layout. I do need your opinion though; at the bottom of this article you will see cool buttons to the social networks like Digg, Twitter, and Facebook and so on. Beside that you will see the text 'caring is sharing.' This is part of the template and I can't decide if I like it or not. I like the 'read more' because it pulls the eyes so you will click on it and read the remainder of the article. I'm not done with this site as of yet but I have made good progress. Before I forget, I lost all the links on my old template (that being the main reason I did the overhaul). I don't want anyone thinking I deleted them on purpose because I did not. With that said if you would like to have your site added to the New Author blog roll please leave me a message. If you would like to add the New Author to your site...feel free and I really do appreciate it.

Now for some great, exciting, and wonderful news for this Friday; I have registered for the 2009 Muse conference. My courses are set and I'm ready to go. I believe I will have lots of material for articles for all of us when the conference is done. The great news...I was also awarded a slot during a pitch session with a senior editor from a publishing company! Yes, I am very excited and a little nervous. This, as you may have guessed, has me doing a lot of homework and research on pitch sessions and this publishing company. I plan to be as prepared as I possibly can be. Good or bad I will share the experience with you afterwards.

I will leave you now with a little something to help your mind ease into the weekend. With fall and winter on our doorstep do you find it easier to write as compared to spring and summer?

Happy writing and have a safe weekend.

What Is Passion?

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Today is the one year anniversary of the New Author!!

After running an analysis on the site I discovered that over 2500 people are reading the New Author on a regular basis by e-mail or some other feed site. Of course there are all the followers here and the new visitors (which averages about 50 a day). I truly appreciate all of you, your feedback, and your enthusiasm. I am watching the number of followers now as I'm hopeful the New Author will be at 200 soon!! I consider this all a really great accomplishment.

Previously I mentioned doing something special for the one year anniversary. I still intend to do that, however; at the moment I am sitting in a hospital room looking over my son. We should be going home tomorrow at which time I can complete my plan for the New Author (hopefully). Today though we will be looking at a topic that we can all relate to...passion.

Authors often talk about writing with passion, you need passion to make it through the tough times, and passion to reach your goals. What exactly is passion? Is it hard work? Is it a motivational drive within each of us? Is it the quickening of our pulse when we start a project we are really excited about?

I believe passion is a little of all these things and then some. Where does passion come from? This, in my opinion, is a fairly simple question. Passion comes straight from the heart. As I was reading the book "From My Mama's Kitchen" I came across this:

"Thinking about something is just a simple thought, and it cannot become more then a thought unless it is acted on.

However, to have a vision of success is to have dreams and desires that always come from the heart. Therefore, it always has passion, and when passion is initiated, the mind will follow the heart and will always find a way to fulfill the passion."

These are thought provoking comments as it presents how the heart and mind interact in the human being. At one time I thought that passion and an idea where very similar to the chicken or the egg scenario but not anymore. I believe that passion can take the lead if strong enough.

What is passion? It's the strong feeling of excitement, encouragement, thrill and relaxed confidence all bundled together in one red package. The pen is mightier then the sword but passion in the heart can overcome any obstacle.

Again, I thank you all for an outstanding year and it is my hope that future years will be even better.

Time to Play

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:02:00 +0000

It's Friday and I will be the first to tell you that it has been a long one. May I make a suggestion?

I suggest we take some time and relax. Don't we do that all the time? I don't know but we should.

To get the ball rolling I thought we could play a little game. The rules are simple, I will list some words and you give me the title of a book that, in your opinion, matches that word. For example, if I were to say journey the book title I think matches that word would be "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Yes, I'm a fantasy fan but that is another article all together.

Are you ready to play? Here are the words:

Beautiful -

Struggle -

Twisted -

Heartbreaking -

Dreadful -

I'm very interested in reading your answers. Have fun, happy writing and have a safe weekend.

Just Thinking...

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Have I fallen into that age old trap of taking on to many things? How do you know when you're doing too much and the things you are doing suffer because of it?

I seem to be in an analytical frame of mind at the moment. My wife hates when I do this because I tend to look at things until I study the smallest part of it. At times I believe it to be therapeutic and at other times I think I'm going crazy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining or complaining just... analyzing. At this moment in time I have a full time job, a novel I'm trying to get published, a side business, a blog to run, cub scouts, activities at church, a house to take care of, a child to raise and a wife to love. I bet, if I were to take a survey that many of you are right next to me in that boat. Do you ever feel like it is too much?

I love every one of the things in that list and thus I find it hard to give up on any of them. I have stated many times how much I enjoy this blog and everyone in the New Author community. The rest speak for themselves. What I find most interesting is that even though I am taking a break from writing while I query agents I can feel the pull of the next story. I have a deep need to write. It's almost like I have to remind myself to focus on finding an agent and the other things until I start writing again. I'm not going to be able to wait as long as I planned before I start the next story. The itch is just to intense.

Do you feel the same way? Do you feel like you have fallen into that trap? I am of the opinion that if we are doing the things we enjoy and have a passion for then doing to much is a problem we love to have. Will items on our to-do list suffer because we are doing to many things? Possibly, but I believe this is an ebb and flow situation as well. That's one of the benefits in this, once we complete one thing we move to the next or maybe we put one thing to the side for a little while and go to something different.

What does this article have to do with writing? Nothing really or maybe everything it depends on what you get from it. Actually, for me, this blog brought this line of thought to mind. You see, this blog will celebrate its one year anniversary soon and I'm attempting to plan something for that day. I find myself at a crossroads because on one hand I'm extremely thankful for all the followers, subscribers and awards the New Author has received and on the other...I want more. Does that make me selfish? I hope not, I want people to continue enjoying this blog and I want to have new people join our little space here in the cyber world. I want to continue making the New Author fresh, vibrant and full of energy. Why? When there is energy, there is life and I want the New Author full of life. You, the New Author community, are a huge part of this equation. I enjoy and welcome your comments and thoughts. They inject energy into this blog and build my excitement to no limits.

Okay, enough for my random, rambling thoughts. I have a question for you. Have you ever sat and thought about all the things you want to do or would like to do? If so, what are the top three?

A Scarier Step Then Before.

sb.knight@live.com (Brian) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:40:00 +0000

As you may have noticed, I did not post an article yesterday. That does not; however, mean I was sitting on my hands. Oh no, there was plenty going on behind the scenes...and still is. We are approaching a special time of year but I will write about that at a later date.

Today we will be looking at a topic that all writers think about and sometimes dream about. Before I get to the topic I would like to ask you - what's the scariest step an author can take after the manuscript is completed?

The answers are numerous for that question and many will have different opinions. In my opinion, attempting to find an agent is the scariest (and logical) step after completing a manuscript. Of course some would argue that getting your manuscript reviewed by an editor would be the scariest. They would have merit for that argument but an agent can get a manuscript under an editor’s nose quickly so they seem to be the bull’s eye on the dart board. I am also making the assumption that we want to be published through a publishing company and not self-published. Okay, I got a little off track there so back to the topic at hand.

What do we do to get an agent? We prepare a query letter and submit it like crazy. Ah, there's that word - query. Don't you just love that word...kinda like a root canal or subpoena? Love it or hate it we need to know it and many, if not all, of us do.

This brings me to the main point of the day and also some exciting news. You already know that I completed my first novel and to go along with that I wrote my first ever query letter this weekend. Yesterday I was busy submitting that query letter to multiple agents. To crank up the excitement a little more, I have already received responses back from some of those agents. Before I get to their responses though I can tell you that the query letter actually fell in my lap. The main point of a query letter is to give the agent a short but concise description of your manuscript so they can gauge their interest. This is what fell in my lap. I was writing a friend of mine about the book and I included a summary which was about two sentences long. She wrote back and said "make the above sentences a little stronger and your query is almost done." I don't want to make it sound easy because I think I got a little lucky with that one but my intimate knowledge of the book came out quickly when telling her about it.

I'm sure many of you have sent out a query or ten to agents but I thought it would be interesting to share some of the responses I received. What can we learn from these? First, agents are not bad people (well, most aren't) and are encouraging. Second, even with rejection it is still a good feeling knowing they saw it and responded. It is very much like fishing; they nibble your line and take your bait time and time again. You get frustrated because you can't catch one but at the same time you are excited because, well....they like your bait.

I have removed the agent's name as I think that's only appropriate. As for the responses, here we go:

"Thank you for your recent e-mail and for reading my blog, I appreciate it. I regret to say that I don’t feel that I’m the most appropriate agent for your work. However, opinions vary considerably in this business, and I wish you the best of luck in your search for representation."

"Thank you so much for sending the Nelson Literary Agency your query. We’d like to apologize for the impersonal nature of this standard rejection letter. Rest assured that we do read every query letter carefully and, unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one "yes" to find the right match."

Notice how both responses are polite and offer encouragement? I have to be honest, I did not expect that. I expected a one sentence rejection (until I found the right agent) and that's it. This also gives a great example that we, as authors, need to be polite and positive when searching for an agent.

I will keep you posted on my adventurous agent search. What has your experience been with agents?