Author: amydwestphal

Emerging writer building a platform. Stay tuned!
Amy on writing

I am Querying #1

amydwestphal

Soo…

After 6 months of tedious rewrites, I am again querying agents and publishers for my YA SCI FI novel CAPTURE THE TIDE.

Because querying makes me want to check my email every 2 seconds I’ve decided to start a new blog series following the ins and outs of the process. Hopefully it will help me not irritate the shit out of myself.

We’ll see…

For an update on where I’m at, here’s the stats.

Last year I queried 20 agents between June 2018-December 2018. I had one request for a full and 19 rejections. Yikes!

And that’s not even that bad. I know. Thick skin is a must.

I also had an R and R turn into just an R. A little disappointing, but I expected it. I’m glad I revised. I’ve developed more as a Writer and have gotten invaluable feedback along the way.

I’m hopeful.

Current stats-

July 22- 2 queries sent

Wish me luck.

Cheers, Amy

Amy on writing

Amy’s Bad Advice #12

amydwestphal

It’s worth what you paid for it.

This weeks Bad Advice is for writers. *disclaimer- this advice hasn’t bagged me a book deal but nonetheless…. I shall give it anyway.

Querying an agent or publisher.

1- Most new writers query too early. You are not the exception, the lone delicate snowflake deemed worthy to fall on the tongue of a hungry agent. Review, revise, and sit on it.

2- Do that last thing a lot more times. Review, revise, sit on it.

3- After you’ve sat on it for an appropriate amount of time, send it out to 5-10 agents. No bites after 15? Time to revise again.

4- Try not to write more than 250 words in your query. If you can’t sum up your book in that span, your plot may be convoluted and need work.

5- the ob-vi’s (obvious)

-Address the correct agent in the header.

-Do not use a comp title unless it really suits.

-Don’t tell them that you have a Pulitzer/greatest story of our generations/any other weird narcissistic poppycock.

-Remember to thank the agent for their time and consideration.

-If an agent passes/rejects your query, don’t write back to ask why. Move on to the next 80-100 agents accepting your genre.

7- Be tough, your worth and value are not your book. Just getting this far is a big deal. If it doesn’t work out this time? Write on writer.

Cheers, Amy

This concludes Amy’s Bad Advice: the summer edition. Dig my sweet progressive bifocals? I feel very distinguished.

If you have any tips for querying please share in the comments.

Amy on writing

It is done…

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Capture The Tide, a tale of survival, hope and love in a post apocalyptic world is ready to ROCK!!!

Finally! After 6 months I am finally, officially ready to start shopping my book again. I assembled my query letter and my R and R and it’s on. Game time.

By the end of the week I will be a querying writer again. It feels good.

I will update again in a few days, yes a few days. I know. So unlike me but I actually have something to talk about again. Yay!

Cheers. Amy

Amy on writing

Bittersweet spangles

amydwestphal

As the sun sets here in America, America will blow out its candles with all the grandeur and hoopla of a toddler.

Because America, as we know it, is a child. An infant in the broader sense; Ignoring the the wisdom of its native elders and its cousins across the sea.

Why?

Because children make mistakes, children must be nurtured to learn and grow. Turning your back on a child is like turning your back on the ocean. Stupid. Don’t do it.

For every two steps forward children always manage to take a few steps back. But they get there. With love and guidance, children get there.

America is a child. It needs love and guidance to grow.

It will take all of us to to guide it right.

From one parent to another.

Happy 4th, Amy

Amy on writing

I Hear Them Coming

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As I near the end I hear them. The heat on my proverbial pen grows cold, and soon it will hold only the memory of warmth if I don’t respond.

It’s all in my head now and I hear them, speaking as they do or might. Speaking as I wish. Carefully mulling their inflections, intentions, desires.

Who are they? These people who speak inside my head? Fleshing themselves out, becoming.

It’s a good sign I think, the incessant chatter that fills the void as their predecessors stories come to an end. Does it mean I’m ready perhaps? To take my darlings, who’ve survived beyond the mighty pen and cast them into a cutthroat world where the first words they utter could be their last.

I’ve given them everything I have to ensure their survival and I’m ready to let them go. Will they make it? Will I?

They are only words they say, but it is I they speak to, I am all they have. And they are as real to me as anything. I don’t want to let them down.

They are me and I am them, these voices that crave the imprint of forever in ink and paper. To speak through my fingers in clicks and taps, hunts and pecks.

I’m almost ready, keep talking. We’ll get there soon enough.

*If you read between the melodramatic lines I hope you’ll smell what we’re stepping in here….

I’m done! I finished my rewrite of CAPTURE THE TIDE!

Baring the completion of a very critical beta read from a very exceptional WP blogger, I’m ready to get my book out there again. Send my R and R, Query it, whatever it takes. I’ve given it everything I have and I feel good.

So good that other WIPs MCs are conversing nonstop in my head ready to be told.

Come! Bask in my glory and tell me of your latest accomplishments. Toot some horns!

Cheers, Amy

Amy on writing

I said I would…

amydwestphal

So I did….

I ran a 5k!

Well, I didn’t run the whole thing.

It was a 5k fun run called the Muddy Princess and it was a blast!

It was 90f degrees, wet and dirty.

I’m usually an observe with brew type, particularly when it involves things like running, or water, but I’m so glad I did this.

I’ve walked a few marathons for fun before, like the Bay to Breakers 😝and a few others. But my goal for this one was to keep up with my 9 year old soccer girl and I did!

We ran, we hiked up hill, climbed and crawled through obstacles and mud all in the name of fun and female solidarity.

Our group included sisters, friends, daughters and even one grandma (the most enthusiastic of us all!)

None of us were particularly excited about the run once we were in the car at 830 am on a Sunday, already 85 degrees.

All of us kept asking who’s idea it was, and how it sounded good two months ago. Now, on the way, we were all wondering if we should just blow it off and go to brunch instead. (I was not opposed).

But I’m so glad we went through with it. Every one of us had the best time. A few struggled though obstacles, from both fear of heights and pure difficulty, but everyone was so supportive. We cheered for others and they cheered for us. We laughed, slapped each other with more mud, squished in our shoes and carried on.

And at the end we got a shiny medal, a gift bag of girly swag, filthy hugs with hi 5s and the best memories.

I’ll never forget it.

I just might even do it again.

Me and my girl.

Would you mud run for fun?

Tell me about it😎

Cheers, Amy