BookingIt

Hi everyone, I'm still dealing with a nasty sinus infection, so I thought I'd pass along this information. I got it from Susan , who got it from Jean (who so kindly passed it along). Backing up your entire google blog is incredibly easy. You just click on your settings tab, once you're signed in. Then click on export. When the save box pops up, just save your blog to whatever file you want with whatever name you want. Now I have every single post I've ever written stored on my hard drive. Have a wonderful weekend! And I hope all of you stay healthy.

As most of you pointed out in the comments of Part 1, creating a query is hard work. Thank goodness for cyber space. Here are some links for great places to learn the ins and outs of query writing. Elana has an awesome exercise she employs when writing queries. Author Nancy Parra wrote a four-part series on writing queries. Agent Janet Reid hosts Query Shark , a raw, brutal place for learning how to write an awesome query. There are tons of other places full of information on writing a great query. Agent blogs are incredible founts of information. When did you first realize you had to write a query before you could submit a manuscript? What's your favorite site for gleaning query information?

Yep, fun stuff. Mostly just a really nasty cold. Who cyber-sent it my way? :-) Be back hopefully on Friday with some query linkage.

Most of us don't look forward to writing the query, but in my opinion, it's the most important part in snagging an agent or editor's attention. This is really hitting me because I'm a judge in a contest that includes the query as part of the submission. Brace yourselves: Several queries were not good. Not horrible, but not anything that would entice me to read more. Imagine my surprise when some of the entries were really, really good. Solid writing, intriguing plots...yet I would've never guessed by the query. If an agent doesn't read pages, they have nothing to go by but the query. And if the query doesn't dazzle: form rejection. What do you know about writing queries? Have you written yours and was it easier than you thought, or more difficult?

First, are you in the midst of preparing your query? Don't forget to polish up your proposal too. Agent Jill Corcoran posts about the importance of finding comparable books for your proposal Also, my crit partner Linda has started her very first blog. Check her out HERE . We all know how fragile a writer's ego is. Check out laugh-out-loud author Sandra Bricker as she dishes about The Secret Life of Writers and Their Egos . What do you think? Will there ever be a time where you'll shed your writerly insecurities? Have you ever overcome a deep insecurity? How?

For the past year and a half, I've been submitting a historical romance. While it garnered a few requests, it has also garnered its share of rejections. The last rejection was filled with good advice and an invitation to resubmit. I think I'm going in a new direction though. My other manuscripts are contemporary romances. If an agent sells my historical, there's a good chance I'll be expected to continue writing historicals. Right now my heart is with contemporaries. Thus, the historical is done making the agent rounds. One of my contemporaries is ready to be queried and I think that will be my new direction. Which direction are you headed in? What's your favorite genre to read? Do you realize that you may expected to continue writing whatever you first submit? Thanks to Diane for inspiring this post

I got these awards a while ago and I'm sorry I'm just now putting them up. Thank you, ladies, for thinking of me! Thank you to Susan . Thank you MaryBeth ! I have to pass this on to Susan because I met her shortly after starting this blog and she has always been so faithful in commenting. Not only that, but she is diligent and loyal in compiling a weekly update with prayer requests and praises. Susan, you're a blessing to know. :-) Thank you Julie ! So many of you deserve awards! I'm watching my nephews and am a little busier, but I should be getting around to all of you today. :-)