Stella Cameron Writer's Workshop 03/15/01 at Writerspace

Stella Cameron Writer's Workshop 03/15/0

Cissy - Welcome everyone - we're chatting tonight with STella Cameron about synopsis and manuscript preparation. If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
Tigg - Hi Stella
Diane W - Hi, Stella! Hope the weather is treating you nicely.
Tipai - Stella Im syn and april...having some serious problems here tonight
Cissy - Sara has the first question (no one in line)
Diane W - ?
Tigg - Hi all...
DawnT - Stella, I've been doing alot of research on submission and am getting the impression that query letter is life or death.
StellaC - We'll call you Tipai!
DawnT - sorry I should have put a ?
Tipai - lol okay....
StellaC - Dawn--I'll deal with queries shortly.
StellaC - We'll give Sara the floor first.
Sara - well, the key to getting anyone's attention is the presentation, and when you are doing what is almost a 'cold call' you have to learn the rules of the trade so to speak ...
Cissy - Dawn I'll put you in line behind Sara
Tipai - ?
DawnT - ok sorry to jump the gun
kamy - ?
Sara - so what is the best guide book or instructions for at least getting the presentation right? The rules about lines on page, font, etc?
StellaC - do you have Diane, Cissy.
Cissy - do now, Stella
StellaC - Why don't I ivew you a rundown of the "rules?" Okay?
Sara - and is it really worth worrying about the font, size and type?
Tipai - okay
syn has timed out.
Morgan - Good Question Sara!
Sara - okay!!!
StellaC - All pages numbered consecutively. Do not start over with each chapter.
StellaC - 25 lines per page double spaced.
StellaC - 1" margins all around
StellaC - Title of story and you name on top of each page. Number at right top each page.
GB - logged on. - 3/15 at 9:09pm EST
Morgan - Cissy, we can get this in a transcript, right?
Cissy - Hi GB - we're chatting tonight with STella Cameron about synopsis and manuscript preparation. If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
StellaC - I use Ariel 12. Ariel, Times New Roman, Courier, are all nice clear fonts. Courier is the most traditional one used.
Cissy - Yep, Morgan! ... I was just thinking this will be a popular transcript
Morgan - Shew, Thanks.
April E has timed out.
StellaC - Cover page: Name and address (and phone) top left. Drop to center of page and type title, drop 2, by, drop 2, Starry Night.
StellaC - Or Glory Willing if that's who you are...
StellaC - First page of manuscript:
Sara - oh, wait!! Stella, I gotta call the manuscript "STARRY NIGHT"? can't I be more original than that?
Cissy - No, Sara - you can call if GLORY WILLING
StellaC - Name, address, phone, top left. If you are agented, you use your agent's name and address--and phone number--below your own name and leave out your own address.
StellaC - Those are the names of the writers, nitwits!
Tipai - hahhahhahhha
Cissy - oh dear
Morgan - IF my name was Starry Night, i'd be goin down to the city hall with a petition for a name change. LOL.
StellaC - On the right side, top of page, parallel with last two lines of your, or your agent's address, type the kind of story you're sending, e.g. Historical Romance, then (send line) approximate word length. E.g. Approximately 150,000 words.
Niteowl - - 3/15 at 9:14pm EST
Sara - sorry
Morgan - Although Glory willing has some deifinte possiblities. LOl.
Niteowl - Hi all, sorry I'm late
StellaC - Halfway down the page you again type the title, drop down two lines and type "by" drop down two more lines and write Chastity Lost.
kamy - hi nite
StellaC - Are be all together here?
StellaC - Hi nite
Morgan - They're gettin better Stella. LOl.
Cissy - LMAO - Stella!
StellaC - Type on only one side of the paper.
Tipai - Im with you....scribbling notes
StellaC - Always start a new chapter on a new page and drop halfway down page to type CHAPTER ONE, CHAPTER TWO, etc.
GB - - 3/15 at 9:15pm EST
StellaC - You're header--title, name and page number are on the top of every page except the first page. Got it?
Sara - pssst, cissy, can you put up an image of this with the transcript?? I need a visual. I am impaired. thks
StellaC - Poor GB, bored off the board.
Cissy - an image of Chastity Lost?
Morgan - FOr your page number, do you put it like it is in book form? Or are they all on the same side?
StellaC - Thinking . . . thinking...
Sara - no no, an example of the layout! sheesh
DawnT - excellent Stella! Very specific. Just what I needed.
StellaC - Morgan--You print on one side of page only and number one side of page only--not as in book.
StellaC - Er, er, er...
Morgan - oh crap. ...Good to know! Grumble, i got work to do. LOL.
StellaC - No need for copyright page--the publisher registers that.
Sara - okay, to recap -- cover page, title page and then chapter one
StellaC - If you want to use a dedication, type it on separate page at front and mark it: TA DA.......DEDICATION.
StellaC - Yes, Sara.
StellaC - Or prologue if you happen to have one.
kamy - prologue?
kamy - oops...thanks...brilliant minds I guess
Tipai - I have a prologue
StellaC - A prologue is a short segment at the front of the
Tipai - I put a ta on that?
StellaC - book--a mini chapter--that takes place ahead of the book action.
StellaC - ta?
kamy - me too tipai
Tipai - I thought you said mark it TA DA
StellaC - I was joking, Tipai
StellaC - I shouldn't do that, sorry.
bryony - - 3/15 at 9:22pm EST
Tipai - OH...LOL sorry
Cissy - she was just giving us sound effects, Tipai. Like "ta da!"
StellaC - Would you like me to toss a couple of tips on manuscript prep?
Tipai - no its okay....makes class more fun
kamy - hi bry
StellaC - Hi attack poodle.
Morgan - me, me, i would!
Cissy - sure Stella - and we still have 4 in line
Niteowl - Hi bry /wave
Niteowl -
kamy - no worries tipai..i was writing so fast I missed that one myself
bryony - Hi everyone, sorry for interrupting half way through
StellaC - I'll be quick. There's always an inside joke about airy pages being more approachable. Think of it like this: you're faced with a 600 page manuscript and it's tight, almost no white on the page. Very daunting to look at.
Cissy - hi bry, come on in. we're chatting tonight with STella Cameron about synopsis and manuscript preparation. If you have a question for Stella, type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
Tipai - kamy....lol I think its I want it so bad...ya know?
kamy - yep...I hear you
StellaC - So get some white space in there, some air. Break up paragraphs where you can. If necessary add a 1/4" on the margins--just open it up.
Tipai - YES stella...its like Im going to read the thing forever
StellaC - Oh, forgot. Scene breaks, double double space.
StellaC - Avoid widows and orphans.
Morgan - Uh-oh. I could be in trouble here. Boy am i glad i came tonight. LOL.
kamy - think that just answered my question
Tipai - stella I double spaced and put astrics do I need to do that? or is that a no no?
StellaC - okay? Next question? ga!!!!!!!!!!!
Tipai - widows and orhpans?
Cissy - LOL, Stella - you might need to explain that you're not talking about characters when you say "widows and orphans"
StellaC - Asterisks are okay if you enjoy them--but not necessary.
Tipai - k
Cissy - 2 or 3 words left in a sentence or 2 lines left in a paragraph beginning or ending a page, Tipai
StellaC - Sorry. widows and orphans--bits of lines haging out. Don't have one line at the end of a chapter on a separate page and so on.
StellaC - What a good job you did of that, Cissy!
Tipai - ahhhhh okay...thanks Stella and cissy
StellaC - That was a good question, Sara.
Cissy - Diane has the next question (DawnT, Tipai, kamy in line)
Diane W - I have a useful book called “Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript.” Here’s the URL at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/089879921X/qid%3D984709650/107-5206497-4815700
Diane W - Every chapter of my book starts with a poetry quote. Do I list the chapter number first (e.g., CHAPTER TWO) or the poetry quote first?
StellaC - Thanks Dawn--kind of you.
StellaC - I think I'd put the poetry first. Center it between top of page and chapter number.
Sara has timed out.
Diane W - Thanks!
Cissy - DawnT has the next question (Tipai, kamy in line)
Sara - I am still here, btw!
StellaC - You're welcome. ga
StellaC - wb, Sara red
Tipai - hahhahhahha okay sara....Im glad
DawnT - What are the do's and don'ts for query letters, and should an author get her manuscript copyrighted? Thanks.
Diane W - ?
StellaC - Copyrighting a manuscript isn't necessary.
StellaC - When manuscript is bought, publisher applies for copyright in author's name and holds right to publish for length agreed to in contract.
DawnT - ok
StellaC - The official stuff of query letters--get 'em on one page, someone smash a snazzy overview of your story, something about yourself, and tell 'em how wonderful the book is--all on that page.
StellaC - somehow smash
StellaC - Now forget I wrote that.
StellaC - This is the template for my take on a perfect query.
Tipai - lol why?
Cissy - ooh, the perfect query...
kamy - makes sense to me....who wants to spend a lot of time on it anyway. Short and to the point.
DawnT - Not that you'd have to spend alot of time on the query, but I've read that if it isn't done well, you can forget about the publisher asking for your manuscript.
StellaC - Dear Little Shot: I have written a 3,000,000 page contemporary romantic suspense novel in the tradition of David Baldachi. May I send you the work together with a synopsis? Sincerely,
Sara - did I miss the template?
StellaC - That was it.
Diane W - And can I have the same advance as Mr. Baldacci? LOL!
kamy - yeah, that will win them over
Morgan - ooooh, i wanna read that! LOL.
Tipai - wow...LOL beat the heck out of my sweat and tears of my last one.
Sara - just the one page? nothing to intrigue them, Stella?
StellaC - Dear Miss Editor: I've written a 150,000 word historical manuscript. This is a fast-paced, sensitive, sensual, and touching story set in the Civil War. Please may I send you the manuscript and a synopsis?
DawnT - I didn't think it was a joke. As an unpublished serious writer no question is stupid.
StellaC - This is no joke, Dawn.
Morgan - tha';ts gettin better.
StellaC - I mean that the query letter should be very, very simple and straightforward.
Sara - seriously, I think if you put too much in a query they don't bother reading. I know I don't when I get some business stuff. I want it to the point. Don't waste me time.
Tipai - Stella what about them wanting to know about me and my experience I know some ask for that?
StellaC - Dawn, you do know I wasn't making fun of your comment, don't you? I have trouble with that sometimes.
Sara - so, Stella, since I assume that this is for a romance fiction, should the comparision be to a romance writer? doesn't that show the writer at least recognizes who is popular in the genre?
DawnT - No it wasn't your comments. I appreciate your help.
StellaC - Tipai--If you've published in the genre you're targeting--mention that. Or if you're writing non-fiction on a given subject and you're an expert on that subject--tell them. Otherwise don't chew up paper
Tipai - THANKS!!!!
Lynn has timed out.
StellaC - This area has always infuriated me. It feels like a power trip. Make the poor little creatures jump through hoops trying to sell themselves. The writing should sell you.
Sara - Tipai has the next question (kamy, Diane W in line)
StellaC - Sorry, I'm blowing off steam. GA
Tipai - thats what I thought but then ....Im not in the seat to do anything about it.
DawnT - If I plan to submit to, say, Silhouette Intimate Moments, they do not want a manuscript sent without a separate query first.
Tipai - Okay my question concerns the synopsis. I STINK at writing them I either put to much or not enough.
StellaC - Okay, Dawn. Will they take a synopsis as part of the query packet?
Tipai - so how do I know what to put?
StellaC - oh, dear--now I'm muddled up! which question am I supposed to answer?
Tipai - I think they do they want the synopsis on two pages last I checked
Tipai - you can answer dawns first I dont mind
StellaC - Okay. This is what you do, Tipai.
Sara - can you finish Dawn's please. I am sorry, I jumped ahead.
DawnT - I was fairly sure they wanted query only, but will check to be certain.
StellaC - Read the blurbs on the backs of books, and on the flaps of books. Read dozens of them. Then write one for your own story. If you find this really hard, ask one or two good writer friends to work on it with you. Make it conversational and so interesting the editor will have to ask for it.
StellaC - Dawn, do you know how long the query was to be?
DawnT - Thank you Stella.
DawnT - No, I don't think they're that specific.
Sara - or, and stella can say no, you could post it to the writers board on stella's site and ask for people to comment on it. A brainstorm so to speak!
StellaC - Because if it's one or two pages again, try my book blurb idea--works for me. You have to engage the editor with your confidence and style.
DawnT - great idea!
Lynn - - 3/15 at 9:46pm EST
Tipai - Dawn i submitted to them and they wanted one page query letter and then two page synopsis with it.
StellaC - Absolutely, Sara--brainstorm the query on the writers' board. I'll put in my 2c as well.
Cissy - welcome back, Lynn
DawnT - Thank you Tipai
StellaC - Hi Lynn

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