EMILY WRITES ROMANCE

Call story! Call story! Call story!

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:09:14 -0500

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I’m querying my third MS after losing my agent last year. (Long story….) Now after reading agent/editor rants on Twitter, I’m worried my book will be rejected because I have too much baggage. I don’t think I ever acted unprofessionally but my agent and I didn’t get along so well and I’m worried that will come back to bite me in the ass. Any advice?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:09:08 -0500

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I am so discouraged. I’ve wanted to be a writer from a very young age but the older I get the less I believe it’s really going to happen. It doesn’t help that by the time I’m off from the “day job” I’m too tired to write anything. I don’t want to give up on writing but the spark isn’t there like it once was. Maybe it’s time to give up?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:09:03 -0500

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How much input on submissions do you have in regards to your agent? Does she have a submission list she shares with you or do you pick the authors you want to submit to? What happens if she submits to an editor or publisher you don’t like and they say yes?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:08:58 -0500

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Hello from Sub Care! :) I have questions about your submission process and how you got an agent. Did you sign with your agent with your Modern romance or a single title? Why did you decide you wanted an agent? How has having an agent changed the submission process?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:08:51 -0500

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Why did you stop writing fanfiction? HOw did you transition out of writing fanfic into writing your own realfic?

Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:41:27 -0500

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in fanfic world, so forgive me if my memory isn’t that great, but I think I stopped writing fanfic, at least in part, because I got caught up in the drama. The flame wars and secret groups and all that stuff. It sucked away a lot of my writing time, and the further I fell down the drama hole, the less I enjoyed the writing. I was far too critical of the fandom, and the fandom far to critical of me (fair), for it to be enjoyable.

TL;DR - I filled the sandbox with so much crap, I couldn’t play in it anymore.

That’s one of my big writing regrets, really. That I got so bogged down with the drama and forgot about the writing. I wish I had spent more of that time writing and giving people stories than bitching and giving people ulcers.

But I’m also glad I learned that lesson early on in fanfic world, not as an adult in real world. And now, whenever I’m tempted to get caught up in the drama and ignore the writing, I remember how it sucked the joy out of something I loved, and how it destroyed potential friendships before they’d even begun, and I make correction.

The second part, about transitioning out of writing fanfic and into writing original stuff, is a bit more complicated. Because it wasn’t like I decided, “OK, no more fanfic! I’m going to write original stuff now!”

I mean, I did decide that. A few times, actually. But it never worked.

Truth is, it took several years for me to learn how to finish an original story.

And it took several more before those stories were anywhere near as good as the fanfiction stories were.

And several more before I got to the point where writing my stuff felt easier and more rewarding than writing fanfiction.

How did I get there?

I have no clue.

It was a gradual process, one I barely noticed was even happening.

But here are my best guesses as what might have contributed:

Read more, read different. Diversify your TBR pile. Read books and genres and authors you aren’t sure are for you (or better yet, are sure AREN’T for you). Teach your brain that there are things other than fanfic out there, and that not all of your writing has to look like fanfic.

Write every day. Not all day, every day. But, you know, ten minutes. Make writing your original stuff a habit. You don’t have to give up fanfic if you don’t want to! But make sure you fit your original stuff in, too.

Give yourself permission to practice. I was going to say “Give yourself permission to suck,” but that’s not a very positive (or accurate) way of putting it. Practicing is how you get past suck. Practicing is how you get used to the fact that sometimes your writing sucks. And practicing is how you build up a tolerance to the fear and panic that might otherwise keep you from writing because your writing sucks. When writing, even ten minutes a day, scares the utter crap out of you, just tell yourself: “I’m only practicing,” and do it anyway.

Make peace with your process. There is no one right way to write a book. My experience has been that even after you’ve written a book, the next book may come out completely different. (So might the one after that.) So instead of melting down in a panic when the words aren’t flowing and you don’t know what’s going to come next, stop, take a breath, and ask yourself what it is you really need to get this book written.

Happy writing!

If you give up Tumblr can I still ask you questions?

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 10:31:36 -0400

Signs point to ‘yes’

"An unedited manuscript is a first draft of story; but is not a finished product. Too many writers..."

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 01:51:15 -0400

“An unedited manuscript is a first draft of story; but is not a finished product. Too many writers study the craft of writing but do not acquire the skills of an editor.”

- Michael J. Kannengieser (via writingquotes)

voicesofthedistantsea: shoresoftheshadowlands: voicesofthedista...

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 12:56:12 -0400

voicesofthedistantsea:

shoresoftheshadowlands:

voicesofthedistantsea:

voicesofthedistantsea:

SeaWorld’s worst nightmare: Lawmaker proposes ban on orcas in captivity

WE ARE SO CLOSE GUYS PLEASE SIGN THIS

I..never expected this many notes??? omygod you guys!
We’re making good progress, lets keep up the good work and make sure everyone signs it! Keep it moving and in circulation, the more people that see it the more people who might sign!
Every little bit counts! we can do this!

We’ve gotten 9344+ Signatures since this was posted! Probably even more, since it shows the days tally about once a day- If we keep at it, we might just be able to make a difference!

lauriehalseanderson: lauriehalseanderson: explore-blog: Fantas...

Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:42:00 -0400

lauriehalseanderson:

lauriehalseanderson:

explore-blog:

Fantastic conversation with Cheryl Strayed about storytelling, the challenges of writing about oneself, and the three ancient motifs that all great stories have in common.

So painfully true.

So fucking true….

When you’ve been writing so long you forget what words are...

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 07:23:39 -0400

wattpad:

A nap is always advisable. Lather, rinse, write more fic.

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 05:32:42 -0400

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

- Henry Ford (via macadameia)

catsofpublishing: Welcome to Cats of Publishing.We want to...

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 01:51:31 -0400

catsofpublishing:

Welcome to Cats of Publishing.
We want to feature your adorable animals of publishing! Please send your cats (and dogs, ferrets, hamster, birds, etc) of publishing and their captions to catsofpublishing AT gmail.

which classic tv sitcom wife would you want to be and why?

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 22:34:08 -0400

99 from Get Smart. The why should be self-explanatory.

"For the length of time it takes to write a book, you need to believe that you’re the only writer in..."

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 20:19:08 -0400

“For the length of time it takes to write a book, you need to believe that you’re the only writer in existence; the only one who matters. You need to shut yourself away and allow the creativity to build up, not leak out through worry and comparisons and doubt.”

- Martin Cosgrove (via writingquotes)

oweeo: some things I need to remind myself daily tbh

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 05:32:50 -0400

oweeo:

some things I need to remind myself daily tbh

4poc4lyps3-v1s1on4ry: deadmomjokes: purrypixel: princess-shatter: dear-bunni: robina-otaku: eez...

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 03:42:11 -0400

4poc4lyps3-v1s1on4ry:

deadmomjokes:

purrypixel:

princess-shatter:

dear-bunni:

robina-otaku:

eezybree:

SCIENCE HAS CONFIRMED THAT DOGS LOVE US BACK BECAUSE THEY GET THE SAME RUSH OF OXYTOCIN WHEN THEY LOOK AT US THAT WE GET WHEN WE LOOK AT THEM

Are you telling me that dogs are looking up to us and think “omg what an adorable fucking cutiepie”?

a while ago I read an article about how dogs love us back, but recognize that we’re different from them, while cats see us as bigger and clumsier than them, but do not consider us different

Dogs: I am fuzzy creature and you are a different adorable creature and I love you!!!!!
Cats: I am lanky and graceful and you are a giant mess

This is why cats occasionally try to bathe and feed us

It’s true; cats see us as giant dumb hairless babies. That’s why they bring us half-dead prey– to teach us how to hunt and eat properly. That’s why they attack when we rub their bellies– that’s how parent cats teach kittens to defend themselves. That’s also why they meow– cats communicate with other adults on a frequency we can’t hear, but meow at kittens because their ears aren’t fully developed. They even specialized a set of meows they use only for humans, because we are especially deaf babies.
We are all of us dumb kittens.

Today I Learned That I Am A Dumb Kitten

My cat Elvis sometimes puts his mouth to my ear and screams. I always thought this was cute. Annoying, but cute. Now I think he considers me an absolute moron. Thanks, Tumblr.

"So please ask yourself: What would I do if I weren’t afraid? And then go do it."

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 01:51:35 -0400

“So please ask yourself: What would I do if I weren’t afraid? And then go do it.”

- Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (via h-o-r-n-g-r-y)

abby-howard: A mini comic agaaain

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:55:56 -0400

abby-howard:

A mini comic agaaain

I’m curious….what it’s like on the other end of the agent hunt? What has changed since you signed with your agent and what has stayed the same?

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 01:50:50 -0400

Wow. OK. Heavy question.

no change

- I still write every day

- I still feel horribly insecure about everything I write

- I still have to write summaries (which is essentially what a query body is) and synopses

- I still have to wait

- I still don’t know what I’m doing most of the time

some change

- I don’t check my email as often as I used to, because I’m not waiting to hear back on anything

- There’s less pressure on summaries and synopses, because if something doesn’t work, it becomes a dialogue instead of a rejection

- I’m more focused on long-term goals, as in, looking at what comes next and preparing for that so I’m not running around all crazy between books

- There’s less writing-by-committee. I still go to my friends for ideas and support, but a lot of the “should i do this or should i do that?” happens with my agent

lots of change

- My core group of friends stayed the same (because they are awesome) but there was definitely a dynamic shift, especially with writing acquaintances. Some saw me as suddenly legitimate, others as undeserving.

- Finding an agent had become a habit, part of my routine. When I signed with Jessica, for the first month or so, I found myself sticking to that routine. Reading agent interviews. Checking Query Tracker. Refreshing email every two seconds. I would catch myself constantly going through the motions of pursuing something I already had, and I’ve had to make a conscious effort to reallocate that time to other, more productive pursuits. (Like writing.)

- Way more editing

- Pressure and deadlines. Before, when I’d give myself deadlines, I would try hard to meet them, but ultimately, they held no real threat, because I was the one who had set them. Now, it’s about respecting other people’s time, and that adds a finiteness that wasn’t there before.

That’s all I can think of at 2AM.