Query Letter

If you are interested in learning how to write a query letter, you may want to take a look at this blog.

Query Shark - http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

Skip to the end

Why do I sometime skip the middle part of a book to read the end?

1. I care a lot about the characters in the book and want to make sure they will be okay.
2. I can’t stand the suspense. Finding out how the story ends is my way to reduce my stress.

In these two cases, after finding out how the story ends, I usually go back to read the rest of the story. I would recommend these books to others.

However, these are other reasons for me to go directly to the end too.

1. The plot is interesting, but the writing doesn’t attract me.
2. The plot is predicable.
3. The story is dragging and I am getting impatient.
4. It’s a boring book.
5. The plot doesn’t make sense.

There is no reason to finish these books!

Screenwriting

I have some interest in writing a screenplay, but I don’t know how or what. Alexandra Sokoloff wrote a couple of good articles on screenwriting, which explained well.

http://murderati.typepad.com/murderati//2007/08/so-you-want-to-.html
http://murderati.typepad.com/murderati/2008/08/more-screenwrit.html

Murderati - a group blog

Here is another blog that I’ve enjoyed reading: Murderati -- Mysteries, Murder. I like it so much that I’ve created a link for you on the side. Some recent posts that I like are: Aug. 12, Should I Fire My Agent, by Tess Gerritsen; Aug 13, Going Soon to a Bookstore Near You (about book trailer, actually -- you don’t have to be a writer to enjoy this ;-)), by Robert Gregory Browne; Aug. 14, Interlude, by Brett Battles (Again, you don’t have to be a writer to enjoy this ;-)

There are a lot of good website/blog online, and many great articles. I can easily spend 8 to 10 hours reading them, if I can afford the time that is. And I love sharing them!

Do you have a favorite website or blog that you like to share?

Max Gladstone’s The Mask on the Island

I read… Max Gladstone’s The Mask on the Island. You can find it here: http://www.onthepremises.com/issue_03/story_03_1.html

I find Max’s short story, The Mask on the Island, interesting—it has several elements similar to those Chinese kung-fu novels I have read when I was young. Max graduated from Yale in East Asian Studies and is currently teaching English in China—that explains a lot.

The structure of the story is simple: two threads go back and forth. Each offers a dose of suspense and brings me to the edge of my seat. I keep wondering who the bad guy is. When I finally finish reading the story, I have a feeling that I have read this story before. I think it is because the plot is somewhat similar to some Chinese kung-fu novels. But that is an afterthought. I enjoy reading it a lot.

Would you please read the story and let me know how much do you know about each character?

The Fictional Character Development Template

Came across this template / list of questions to help develop fictional characters.

http://charactercreator.blogspot.com/2008/06/introduction_9523.html

Now I think the part that's the most fun is to come up with character names... does anyone have any special way they use to come up with names? I have heard of others using baby name websites/books, I guess in a way, it's like naming your own kids :)

Free book and a new blog to visit

Do you know that you can download The Newbie’s Guide to Publishing by Joe Konrath at his blog or his web site? Go to
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/ and scroll down, you will see it.

My friend David Fingerman starts blogging now ;-) He promised to share his publishing experience with his readers. I can’t wait to read more! http://fingermansramblings.blogspot.com/