My 2021 Pitch Wars Wishlist

WHAT IS PITCH WARS?

Pitch Wars is a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each to spend three months with revising their manuscript. It ends in February with an Agent Showcase, where agents can read a pitch/first page and can request to read more. Details about the program and information about how to submit can be found at https://pitchwars.org/

THIS YEAR I’M A YA MENTOR. YES!

WHAT I’M ACCEPTING

I’ll accept the following genres in the YA age category:

Mysteries

Thrillers

Fantasy 

Contemporary 

Retellings

STEM

Horror

  

GENRES ARE GREAT, BUT WHAT WOULD PUT A BOOK HIGH ON MY LIST?

If it’s Young Adult . . .

Give me a murder during a formal dance, a protagonist I can’t trust, an anti-hero with a soft heart, or a conspiracy at the Junior Science Championship. If it happens during high school and it’s bad, I’m interested.

If your book is dark and twisted, and not everyone makes it out alive, I might be in love with your book already.

If you’ve got a YA GONE GIRL or GIRL ON THE TRAIN, send it to me. I love psychological thrillers and want more of them for YA.

How about a light hearted and current love story? I’m not all about murders and thrillers. Sometimes, you’ve got to get the FEELS. Please punch me in the gut with great emotion.

Diverse  stories. I’m excited to discover stories from diverse narratives and am especially drawn to characters and experiences written by voices with direct experiences within these communities. Note: I won’t ask if you share your characters’ diverse narratives and will not expect you to tell me.

Have problems with faeries sabotaging the Homecoming game or demons using the school cafeteria as a portal? I’d be interested in that.

Since I was awkward and forgotten growing up, send me your story about a character left behind who makes the best of things in a comedic way. We can relate.

Supernatural characters or abilities. Check.

Complex relationships. Always.

Romantic plots (and subplots) involving any and all representation. Of course.

Retellings done in a unique and different way. YES!

Give me all the tropes. I’m not picky. When written well, I love them all!

Twists. If you set up a twist right, and I mean perfectly (a little foreshadowing, the right mix of confusion, and a satisfying shock that makes me drop my iPad because I should have seen it coming), I’ll be your fan forever.

STEM Girls. They’re going to save the world, did you know? Well, they are, and their stories are fantastic. If you’ve got a book about one, send it to me. (PS-my Pitch Wars book was about a chemistry genius who might—or might not—have used those skills to poison her best friend.)

  

PLEASE DON’T SEND ME

Discrimination or bigotry exhibited by the POV character, or any that goes unchecked.

Sexual assault or rape on the page.

Abuse or deliberate death of domestic animals.

  

SEVERAL BOOKS I’VE ENJOYED

While this isn’t a complete list, perhaps these books relate well with your project? Maybe they could serve as possible comp titles. If you’ve read and enjoyed books like these, we’ve got similar tastes.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Heartwood Box by Ann Aguirre

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

The Cousins by Karen McManus

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Under the Dome by Stephen King

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I’D LOVE OR WON’T LOVE?

 Feel free to ask me about my preferences. I’m on twitter and Instagram. @JamieMcHenry

Here are a few questions and my answers: 

• Will I accept Horror? YES. YA Horror is definitely welcome. 
• Will I accept Sci-Fi? It depends. Anything taking place in space is a no for me. 
• Will I accept High Fantasy? Yes. High Fantasy is welcome. 
• What are my thoughts about prologues? I enjoy them if they're short and introduce the story well. If the prologue in a book is longer than 3 pages, I'll skip it and start on chapter 1. 
• Will I accept multiple POV's? Yes. Multiple POV's are great. Make sure the voice for each POV is distinct. 

  

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN A MENTEE?

Delightful commitment to their story and the process. That sounds simple and since everyone who enters Pitch Wars has written a book, it seems obvious that they’re committed to it. But here’s the thing: Pitch Wars is hard work—there are physical demands and there are emotional demands. The process of getting a book ready for the showcase takes time, effort, and (maybe) a few tears. I’m looking for a mentee who is excited and determined to make their story better. A positive attitude will be crucial.

  

MY MENTORING STYLE

Since I’ve been a Pitch Wars Mentee before, I’ve got a pretty good understanding about what future mentees are about to experience. For me, Pitch Wars was a roller coaster ride of emotions. I anticipate this year’s mentees to go through something similar. My role as a mentor is to help my mentee navigate and enjoy every part of Pitch Wars.

I’ll be honest but never brutal. If you’re chosen as my mentee, understand that I’m going to do what I can to help you make your book the best it can be while also having fun. I know, I know—I didn’t put cool gifs on this post or fun, exciting memes. I seem kind of boring and dry on the page. Fear not, future mentee, I’m everything but boring and dry. When we’re working, I’ll share what I feel needs to be fixed, based on my experience, and give details about why. And I’ll always be kind about my feedback. My personal belief is that writing is a journey and this is one exciting part of that. Enjoy the moment. I don’t have all the answers, but I can find them. If I choose your book, I know I can help it.

This is your project and I respect that. If there’s something I’ve recommended that you don’t want to change, so be it. You won’t have to explain why to me, either. I’ve worked on revisions with editors and agents and have held my ground before so I know what that’s like.

Depending on how much work will be necessary, getting your book ready for the showcase can feel daunting. I’ll be here to inspire you and keep you moving forward. If you’ve never done revisions with a deadline before, we’ll work together and establish some benchmarks to fit your schedule. Know, however, that it will be hard work. Sometimes you’ll need to put in the hours and sometimes you’ll want to step away to refocus—with both, I’ll help you hit your goals.

Whatever type of communication you’re comfortable using, we’ll make it happen. Because of my job, I’m usually connected at most times of the day/night. Whether Zoom calls, DM’s, email, chat, or whatever, you’ll be able to reach me. Got a question about a midnight epiphany, I can respond quickly.

  

A BIT ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Jamie. Always have been. In 2017, I was a Pitch Wars mentee and my book, I KILLED BRENDA MORRIS, helped me connect with my agent during that year’s agent showcase. I wrote that book for fun after taking a class about unreliable narrators and discovered my writing voice through the project. While that book is still looking for a home, which is fine, I keep busy by writing new things, learning new skills, and helping other authors.

YA mysteries and thrillers are my current love, though I’ve been known to pen some speculative words now and then. I also wrote some light fantasy, once upon a time. My most recent revision project is a mystery involving a high school bus trip in the desert, a violent thunderstorm, and a dead body. My current WIP has witches and warlocks.

I’m a character driven writer and enjoy writing deep POV. Long ago, I learned that pouring my emotions onto the page makes me feel better. So that’s what I do. When my characters make you laugh, that's me on the page. When they make you cry, know that I was crying first.

  

WHAT ABOUT NON-WRITING STUFF?

Animals have my heart. Give me a choice between a room full of people and a room full of pets and I’ll choose the pets every time. And I might not ever leave the room.

Simplicity is my jam. I enjoy spending time with my kids and my dogs, listening to vinyl records, exploring the outdoors, stargazing, watching movies, reading, testing new recipes, and writing. I work hard at balancing my time because I believe that it’s possible to burn out on all things.

I speak French so I guess that’s interesting. I lived in France for a couple years and got pretty good at the language. Okay, I was fluent at the time. Un peu. Sadly, though, my skill has dropped off due to lack of practice.

During the day, I work as a Retail IT Manager for a fashion and jewelry catalog. This company is great and everyone there has supported my writing since I started there. Several years ago, they let me start a library in their call center so that the employees have books to read when they’re not busy. A couple of my old, self-published books are there (of course!) and it’s fun to wander over and see folks reading my stuff. A couple of my books were actually 100% written while at work.

Lastly, I’m just a nice guy trying to enjoy this writing journey. I’m not loud about much and will shy away from confrontation most of the time. (Although, if I love your Pitch Wars entry, I will fight for it. Know that.) I try to do the right thing as often as I can, but I’m also mischievous so I’ll sometimes play a prank or two.

  

FINAL THOUGHTS AND OTHER RESOURCES

Still have questions? Find me @JamieMcHenry on Twitter or Instagram. Reach out any time.

Are you still reading this? Wow, good on you! Here’s some bonus material:

My Pitch Wars entry from 2017. You can tell a lot about a person from the way they write. I think this says a lot about me:

https://pitchwars.org/pw-348-young-adult-contemporary-mystery-i-killed-brenda-morris/

I wanted to make this list accessible for everyone, so that’s the reason it’s text only. If you’d like a visual idea of who I am and my tastes, you can find a handful of helpful boards on Pinterest. I've even created a visual wishlist there:

https://www.pinterest.com/jamiemchenry/_saved/

The other YA Mentors’ wish lists are below

Pitch Wars Advice Blog Hop

So you’ve entered Pitch Wars?

And now you’re waiting.

Hold on tight and get ready for the ride of your life.

I write this with a mischievous smirk because I know what the waiting is like. The anxiety, the pacing, the sweaty palms, the restless nights, the double portions of ice cream, the worry that you misspelled the last name of your main character. All these feelings are agonizing and real. And they’re okay, everything will work out okay.

So a bit of backstory here. I first entered Pitch Wars in 2016. I had a shiny manuscript, polished and ready to take on the world. This book had been through beta readers and even a couple of professional edits. I’d self-published a few books years prior so I knew what I was doing. I was good at this writing thing, I was confident. I, I, I. Me, me, me. Not chosen, not chosen, not chosen. That’s right. I didn’t get into Pitch Wars in 2016 and I felt every emotion the day of the announcement. I might have even cried, though you didn’t read that on this blog. This many years later, I can admit that I thought about giving up writing that day. But I didn’t. Which is why I’m here. Stay tuned and I’ll explain.

In 2017, the Pitch Wars chatter started up again on my Twitter feed. People I followed were excited to enter, they were polishing their manuscripts and preparing for the grand entry. Excited future applicants were posting their queries and pitches and first pages on the forum. There were a lot of fantastic posts and the eagerness was palpable. I wanted to be a part of that, I wanted to fit in. Writing can be lonely and this was my chance to be a part of something special, although I felt especially secluded that year because I didn’t have a finished manuscript and was spending all of my time writing and revising, rather than joining in on all of the fun. So I posted when I could and kept working hard.

Then I did it, submitted my entry and waited.

And waited.

Waiting is the hardest part.

Yeah, I agree.

Because this is a big deal, we want to think that having perfection on the page is the key to getting chosen by a mentor. Our careers depend on it, our lifestyles want it. No agent or editor will touch my book if I don’t get chosen. Pitch Wars is life!

Yeah, no. Sorry to disappoint, but life will go on if you’re not chosen for Pitch Wars. It will.

Remember how I wasn’t chosen in 2016? I didn’t give up like I wanted to. I told myself that the book was the problem, not me. I want you to remember that because it’s so true. I’ll repeat it. The book was the problem, not me. When I found out I wasn’t chosen as a mentee is 2016, I immediately started on another manuscript I called SARAH’S BREATH. It was like therapy to me. This book was everything my Pitch Wars entry wasn’t and it helped me escape the doldrums of what I considered failure at the time. I dabbled with it, plotted some chapters, wrote some more, and then got bored and let it sit on a shelf. This wasn’t the book I needed to write. But my Pitch Wars entry from 2016? What if I fixed it and revised it some more, changed the main characters favorite color, moved around some scenes, alternated POV’s, added less supernatural? That would fix it, right? No, none of those things. Remember what I mentioned about the book?

So, you’re wondering what to do, right?

You’ve submitted your entry and want to occupy your mind.

Good news! This is a rare opportunity to feed your creativity. Don’t touch that manuscript you submitted, don’t you dare. It’s fine where it is. Go do something else. Read, watch a movie, go outside and re-introduce yourself to your loved ones. Find that spark that keeps you writing because if you are chosen as a mentee, all that time is going to disappear. Know that. Expect that.

The time waiting should not be spent second guessing every word you submitted because those specific words don’t matter.

What? Yes they do, every word matters. You might be worried that if you misspelled your main character’s last name on page six, you’ll never get chosen. Believe that if you want, but it isn’t true. Mentors will fall in love with your story first and then decide if they can help it. A wrong word here or there, a misspelling? Those are tiny details that won’t matter at this point of the process. What matters is that your story is well conceived, well written, and well received.

That’s right, well received. Take a moment now and think about your favorite song. What’s the title? Who wrote it? Who’s the artist? What album is it on? Can you sing it on demand? Will people throw books at you if you sing it on demand? Now answer this question: is that same song everyone’s favorite song? Why not?

Art is subjective and because of that, not everyone is going to love your creation as much as you do. It’s not your fault and it isn’t theirs. Think about that favorite song again and imagine that you were given a list of 150 songs to choose from, including that one, and were allowed to pick only one as your favorite again. Would you pick the same song? Would that make the other 149 songs bad? It’s not a rhetorical question. The answer is no.

Chances are, you chose a particular song as your favorite because of some sort of connection you’ve made with a part of the song, its tone, the lyric, the artist, and the album, whatever. That process of choice is going to be the same for the Pitch Wars mentors. Right now as you’re reading this, they are agonizing over many great manuscripts and trying to decide which one will become this year’s choice for them. They can only pick one.

It could be your book.

I believe that hope and a positive attitude are powerful. Despite not having any sort of control over the fate of your Pitch Wars entry, believe that you have 100% control over the fortune of your writing. The same creative habits that helped you finish a manuscript and edit it will be useful as you venture into the querying world. Chosen for the contest or not, you’re going to need a catchy pitch, a well-written query, a professional synopsis, and a polished manuscript. That’s what agents and editors will be looking for, and that’s what we’ll all need to prepare.

Get ready to work hard.

If you’re chosen as a mentee, please have your schedules clear for many writing/editing sessions in the coming months. Some of you might re-write your book, others might change the POV, and still others might cut/add significant portions of your manuscript. That takes time and willingness to adapt. The mentors aren’t going to do the work for you which means all this time you’ve been preparing to send work to them was good practice for the much harder work ahead. While I didn’t keep track of all my time spent, I remember spending at least 20 hours one weekend finalizing edits. Most of that was one scene. ONE SCENE! I sometimes shiver with dread thinking back on it. That was a lot of work.

There’s a community of support.

You’ve heard it plenty and I’m going to add to the chorus of voices that cry out “Pitch Wars is about the relationships you build.” Because it’s true. If you accept it, there’s a large family of writers ready to support and guide you along this publishing journey. They will cry with you, cheer you on, praise the pictures of your pets, beta read, offer feedback, brainstorm ideas with you, help with pitches, send you encouragement, and so much more. Those who embrace the community find that the value of the contest is gauged by their willingness to become a writing partner and friend. Everything else becomes secondary. Chosen for the contest or not, friends will still be there. Relationships will still exist.

Praise and Progression.

Admittedly, my expectations were low after rejection in 2016 which meant that finding my name on the mentee list in 2017 was a surprise. I was shocked at how much my mentor, Destiny, loved my book. Her vision for the story was exactly what I had planned to do but had been afraid to put on my submitted version. Her edit letter, which was 10 pages, made me giggle because I was excited to discover that someone fell in love with my project and was willing to help me improve it. That was a fantastic feeling. In fact, it still feels great.

That said, be ready to find out that your book isn’t perfect. You might get some tough love and it could hurt a bit. Be ready for that. Remember that your potential chosen mentor is going to be in love with your book and it’s their job to help you improve it. I learned long ago to wait a day before responding to an edit letter. Your emotions are tied into the book, it’s your baby. How dare someone claim it needs fixing. Let your emotions simmer for a bit after you get your edit letter, then think about the changes and how you can best implement them. Talk to your mentor and establish a relationship built on trust. If you fire back a hastily written response, you might come across as combative and difficult, which might not be your intention.

Enjoy the journey.

During the agent round in 2017, I was a bundle of nerves wound so tight that the slightest of things set me off. That year, we were able to see comments on everyone’s posts and the initial reaction to mine was nothing but silence. Take the feelings while waiting to see if you’re chosen as a mentee and multiply that by 100 and that’s what the agent round could be like if you don’t take a step back and enjoy the fact that you succeeded. Regardless of how agents react to your book, you’ve accomplished something great and there’s a future for you. Because of market trends and editor requests, demand might be high for certain books over others. It’s not about the authors or the mentors, but rather the market that’s building an expectation for certain subjects and genres. Don’t let that stress you out. It’s out of your control.

Who are you again?

It’s been two years since my Pitch Wars experience and you might be wondering where my book is, or who I am. I'm Jamie, a writer. My Pitch Wars book is alive and well, looking for a home. All these feelings, all the emotions of waiting to see if someone likes your work is still happening, only there’s some finality with every response. I’m happy to have an agent who manages the business part of things because that means I get to keep my mind on writing, which is what I’m good at. Recently, my agent and I had a long conversation about my current projects (there are 6 of them). We ranked them in order of potential value. Third on the list is SARAH’S BREATH, that book that I started way back on the day after not getting selected for Pitch Wars 2016. Sometimes it feels good to receive validation and hearing my agent tell me that she loved the concept of that story made me realize that I had made the correct choice back then, that writing is my journey.

Rejection can be hard, but the way we push on determines our future success.

I believe that. I live it. Oh, if I had more time to share stories—I could go on forever. Anyway, here’s My 2017 Pitch Wars Entry from the Agent Showcase. It always makes me smile.

Happy Reading.

~ Jamie

Digging up the Past

I save every idea. I write down everything can about the concept, create a file, and then add it to my endless list of future projects. Sometimes, I'll outline the book and write a chapter or two if I feel inspired. There have been a couple times when I've written the entire manuscript and shelved it, having lost interest in the characters or the plot. If years later, I can't stop thinking about one of my old ideas, then it must be good enough to pursue. That's my process.

One of my books was ready to query when I set it aside. I'd been through dozens of drafts and few major revisions and felt the book was ready for the world. I'd even paid for professional editing. But I didn't love it. In fact, I was bored with it. For me, I have to be 100% in love with a book for me to keep going. I was maybe 80% in love with this one.

So, when a new book idea came to me, I jumped into that project with both feet and left this one far behind. Then I got into Pitch Wars, then found an agent, then wrote another book, and then started yet another idea. I was so far removed from that dusty old project that I'd forgotten most of the character names and even details of the plot. Poor book.

But now that old book is calling to me. It's haunting my dreams and my thoughts. It's begging me to revisit it once again. That once forgotten project wants me to make it something special, so that's what I'm going to do.

And that's why I'm sharing this. Sometimes, our work isn't the best. Sometimes, our creations don't shine as brightly as other things. That's okay. Because every idea will have it's moment in the spotlight, every passion will gain it's place in your heart. Even if it's not now, even if it's not soon, someday, the good ideas will cling to you and won't let you do anything else.

Happy Writing. And Reading.

 ~ Jamie

To The Future (a.k.a. How I Got My Agent)

So…I have an agent. (Insert insanely over-the-top cheering and celebration here.) How’s that for a beginning?

I know, right? Crazy. The past few months have been such a whirlwind that everything seems like some sort of fantastic dream. I honestly cannot believe this has happened. But it has. And here’s the story:

It started with Pitch Wars. Once I was accepted into the contest, my mentor (the fabulous Destiny Cole) and I went to work on my entry. There was a lot of back and forth and a ton of revision, more than I had anticipated. I knew the book needed help, but was surprised at how much character motivation and specific details it was lacking. Destiny pointed out the needs, made some suggestions, and gave me plenty to get the book polished and done. I wrote a lot then, some weekends spending almost 20 hours on my laptop to get it ready. The work was hard, but the final result was amazing.

Then came the agent round. If you are considering entering Pitch Wars, prepare your emotions for the fact that, if you get chosen, you will be on an intense roller coaster ride of feelings. I’m not kidding here. I stopped sleeping once my pitch went live and it has taken me about a month since to calm down. All the fears that I’d experienced prior to entering Pitch Wars were amplified 100 times while I waited to see what agents would think of my project. I knew the book was polished and in great shape, but getting only 300 words to ‘pitch’ that to an agent was agonizing. It was torture. I kept checking the site to see if anyone would post a reply to my submission and ask to see the manuscript.

And I waited.

Other entries started receiving interest. And more interest. And more. I kept staring at my page wondering what I had done wrong and if this had been some sort of massive mistake. Was the title a problem? The pitch? The page? I had no idea why agents where passing on my work—and that hurt the most. Then the first request came in and I breathed an enormous sigh of relief. More requests came in, and more. The roller coaster ride was taking another turn and it was incredibly exhilarating, a thrill I never imagined. Such a rush of love for my little book.

The rules of the contest directed everyone to wait a week before sending materials to agents. This allowed for everyone to read the entries and give them a chance at so many great manuscripts. And that’s another thing about Pitch Wars that I didn’t realize before entering. Everyone in the contest is super supportive and wonderful. You get to know all the mentees and realize how everybody is traveling on this journey together. You want others to do well. You love their books and you get this overwhelming sensation of imposter syndrome because people are fantastically gifted. I felt that way and as excited as I was to send off my work to agents, I wondered how they would possibly accept my book over another. It’s like choosing a flavor of ice-cream when everything presented is your favorite. I was one of many.

There was a lot of back and forth between me and Destiny the day I sent my requested material. One point of concern was my query letter. I’d spent so much time on the manuscript that the query needed help. Destiny was a champ and gave me the advice I needed to improve the letter. That night, I fired off a dozen emails and (again) didn’t sleep a wink. (I told you it was a wild ride!)

I thought life was grand as auto replies and small notes from agents reached my inbox. Some loved the title and had requested based on that. Others loved the comps. A few enjoyed the voice. I was living the dream and I was unprepared for the next step. Arriving home from my day job less than 24 hours after sending off my material, I received an email from an agent asking if they could call. OM Freakin’ G. I ran into the house and fired off an email. Sure, I said. I’m available. I was so excited that I forgot to send her my phone number. I had to reply again when she asked.

I knew a little bit about agent calls and mentees in the Pitch Wars group had shared a list of questions to ask, but I’d never studied them. I didn’t actually think I’d get to that point. I wanted to, I hoped to, but I was also realistic. I didn’t want to anticipate something happening and have it never transpire. And I certainly didn’t expect to hear from an agent so soon.

We spoke for over an hour, talking about the book, asking questions, and getting to know each other. Stacey was wonderfully kind and professional. I took notes during the call which is something I recommend since everything was such a blur that night. There’s protocol with an agent offer and having manuscripts out to other agents, something I won’t get into here, but let me say that the two-week wait was agonizing and frantic. (Roller coaster—remember?) I was so relieved when I could finally sign the agreement and call Stacey Donaghy my agent. That’s right, I’m now represented by Stacey Donagy of DonaghyLiterary Group. And she’s awesome!

So now the real work begins and it’s exciting. I’ve started writing another YA Mystery—of course—and we’ll see what the future brings. Until then,

Happy Reading!

~ Jamie

Pitch Wars

While working full-steam ahead on my fantastic new project about a guy haunted by his ex-girlfriend, I had another book idea pop into my head. I shouldn't use the word pop. It exploded! The idea hit me with so much force that I had to begin right away. And I did. That day, I outlined the book and wrote the first chapter and the last chapter. The date was May 31, 2017.

And the book was enjoyable to write. I loved the characters and the story—and the twists. This was the type of book I’d been looking to read, so the words flowed and the story got better and better.

Then I remembered a contest I had entered last year. Pitch Wars. In the contest, you submit a query letter and the first chapter of your manuscript to four mentors who then pick a lucky winner from all their submissions and help get that manuscript shiny and magnificent. I didn’t get in to the contest last year. (Between you and me, not getting in motivated me like crazy. I started writing a new story the day the winners were announced and then rewrote the manuscript I entered in the months following the contest. The re-write is awesome and I’m certain it’ll draw interest once I start querying it.)

Now I’m rambling. So I remembered this contest and I didn’t want to enter the same novel as last year. I thought, perhaps, that I might get this book done in time to enter. And that’s what I did. I wrote non-stop to get the first draft done and managed to get some edits complete before the submission date arrived for the contest. Yay. At least I had an entry.

After failing last year, I learned how subjective contests can be, so I didn’t have high expectations for this book. While I loved the story, I wasn’t sure how other people would react. The book was dark at times, and twisted, and also contemporary. I had never written a Contemporary YA before. Would I pull of an authentic voice? Would people think I needed therapy? Would people scream at my title and ban me from the contest? These were real questions stirring in my mind as I researched authors participating in the contest as mentors.

I eventually made my choices and submitted my book, I KILLED BRENDA MORRIS, to Pitch Wars.

Fast forward to today.

I made it into the contest and I couldn't be happier. Destiny Cole took a chance on me and accepted me as her mentee. To say that I was shocked to get chosen is a huge understatement. I get emotional thinking about it. This contest was what I needed and it’s making me better every day. Destiny is a fantastic mentor and I’m lucky to have her cheering me on and helping mold this book into something that will surprise and delight a lot of readers. 

Pitch Wars is wonderful. If you entered and didn’t make it in to the contest, keep writing. Keep imagining. Keep entering. If you are a mentor, thank you for giving up your time to help people like me get better. If you are a mentee, hello again. I love our community of support.

Writing is an art, a skill that can be developed. We’re all improving and learning, and putting our dreams onto pages together. And that’s what I love about it.

Jamie 

Direction of Travel

One reason I love this writing journey is the new experiences I constantly discover and enjoy. It's as if I had jumped on a train without knowing its destination and shouted to the landscape, "Take me far away and change me!"
I have no idea where I'm going, and that mystery is so much fun.
Since 2009, I've written a handful of complete manuscripts and a few partials. That's not counting the dozen or so ideas I've outlined for the future. Here's the breakdown:

Completed Novels (In order of completion)
From Rising Flames ~ YA Fantasy
On Fallen Wings ~ YA Fantasy
From Darkened Skies ~ YA Fantasy
Dead and Beloved ~ YA Speculative
Bury Me First ~ YA Speculative
I Killed Brenda Morris ~ YA Contemporary Mystery

Partials
In Forgotten Dreams ~ YA Fantasy
Dead and Gone ~ YA Speculative
Sarah's Breath ~ YA Supernatural Mystery
Wedding Dresses ~ Contemporary Romance

As you can see, I lean towards YA a lot. Most are from a girl's POV; however, I have two versions of Bury Me First that feature the MC as male or female. Sarah's breath features 1st person past POV, but I'm playing with a close 3rd POV to see which I like best. Dead and Beloved & Dead and Gone are written in 1st person present, which is a tricky POV for me, but I found it enjoyable. Fantasy is fun-I like creating new worlds, but I don't read enough in the genre to ensure I get an original story. And Wedding Dresses? That's gonna take a while. I don't know anything about writing romance right now, so I'm slowly picking at this book while changing my outlines. I try to take romance classes every conference I attend so I can learn more, but I'm not quite ready to start reading romance yet.

So I'm at a crossroads. I could start a new project or work on one my partials. I could also query one or two of my latest novels and see if an agent will bite. It's been so long since I've sent a query, I'm out of practice and would need to study up to get that skill up to par. Whatever I choose, whichever direction I travel, it's another leg of the journey and I love new adventures.

Thanks for visiting.

Happy Reading.

~ Jamie

***UPDATE*** I've started a new YA Contemporary Mystery that I'm calling Let's Be Friends. More to come on that later.

Words From Long Ago

I’ve been nostalgic this morning, thinking about the first novel I wrote and one of the characters, Rhiannon. I remember how sad she seemed and how much I was inspired by her mysterious strength. She was so compelling that I rewrote the whole story from her point of view and then added a couple books about her. One scene in particular has been recurring over and over in my mind, so I’ve decided to share it. I hope you enjoy my words from so long ago.

~ O ~

The warm morning of the Sun Season Ceremony complemented the bright display at Stone Meadow; tall colorful banners flapped on long poles and thin trails of white smoke lifted to the cloudless sky, announcing their host camps and seasoned offerings. Bards in purple tunics, tooling their whistles and drums, mingled in the growing crowd. It was a celebration, and it was summer at its peak. The solstice. I must have been grinning—I could feel my cheeks stretch as we rolled the handcart to our familiar camping spot at the southern edge of the field.

Leila was enchanting. She wore her golden shawl of the Fae with its hood pulled back behind her shoulders. The shawl covered a white gown that trailed to thin leather sandals on her feet. Small white flowers decorated tight braids in her dark hair. Leila swung her arms out and danced in place—the golden shawl draped to the ground like wings—and announced her arrival to anyone watching, showering the air with sparkling gold. “This is wonderful!” she sang, while skipping steps and dancing in circles. Her movement matched the mood of the meadow, and she wasn’t the only one dancing in the tall grass.

When we reached our site, Mother and I began unloading the cart. I piled blankets, and pillows, and bowls, and goblets onto small piles around our camp. Then I went into the forest that bordered the meadow and collected an armful of dry branches from the undergrowth. When I returned, Leila was still dancing.

“Do you know the steps?” she asked. She tiptoed for a moment and sprung into a leap forward. “I’ll wager you can guess.”

I emptied my arms and brushed my hands clean on my apron. I watched my sister move; her dance was familiar. I caught myself swaying to the delicate tune inside my thoughts. “You know that’s my favorite,” I told her. “You make me want to join you.”

Mother turned to watch us, but kept arranging sliced vegetables into piles on a blanket.

Leila grabbed my hands and pulled me toward her. “Step forward, sister. I want to see you dance.”

I couldn’t help myself. I slipped out of my sandals and joined her. Then we danced in the grass. A faerie and her Giver, we wove a circle of crimson and gold. I inhaled the fresh air—it carried a hint of hickory smoke—and whispered the words that I had often sung to myself at the celebrations. The songs we danced had no lyrics, but I had created my own verses, as many faeries did, and many would continue to imagine.

“You’re wonderful!” said Leila, amid the swirling flashes. “You miss it, don’t you?”

I allowed my motion to carry me to a place on the grass away from her, and then collapsed on the ground. “I miss dancing,” I admitted to her.

She raised her sleeves above her head like a bird’s wings and brought them down in front of me.

I winced at the striking breeze that followed.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t intend to do that.” Leila covered her mouth.

“That’s okay,” I said, smiling. “I enjoyed the moment. Thank you.” I fell back and stared at the sky. “Good memories always come with dancing. They carry me to fantastic places and wonderful dreams.”

~ O ~

Happy Reading!

~ Jamie

Happy Valentine's Day

To celebrate Valentine's Day, I'm sharing a scene from one of my earlier books, FROM RISING FLAMES. Happy Reading!

~ O ~

The water was cold; I had forgotten how much when I removed my sandals and stepped to my waist. It was refreshing, though. My feet hurt at first as I stepped on the gravel, but then I enjoyed the feel as I rubbed my feet over and over the rounded pebbles. I removed my dress and dove headfirst into the lake. My body sighed with thanks.

I swam for a moment before returning to the shore to grab my dress and the soap. Darian sat on the shore, watching the sky.

“Aren't you coming in?” I asked. “The water feels wonderful.”

“I didn’t think you’d do that,” he said, darting me a glance. In the dark, I couldn’t see his face, but I was sure from his voice that he was blushing.

“What?” I scooped a handful of soap from the kettle and rubbed it onto my dress. I lowered it into the water and started scrubbing with a flat stone. “Do you want to get clean, or not?”

The man was shy, which made me smile. Men in Aisling were as rough as porcupines. Perhaps that’s why I was becoming comfortable with Darian. He had never threatened me like I had imagined he would. I found his embarrassment charming.

“Come into the water,” I laughed. “I won’t hurt you.” As he inched toward the lake, I tugged at the cuffs of his clothing. “Take off your pants.”

Darian’s voice came out in a squeak. “What?”

I pulled on his leg. “Do you want clean clothes? Give me your pants, I’ll wash them.”

He didn’t argue, but closed his eyes as he removed his leather shoes—and his pants. Then he tossed me his shirt; the blue was fading, but it still sparkled where the blood hadn’t stained. He dove into the lake to hide under the reflection of the stars.

It wasn’t much, but I did my best to scrub our clothes with the soap I had made. I tossed them onto the shore and then covered myself with the white cream. The smell was fabulous. I could feel the smoke pry from my skin as I rubbed everywhere I could reach. Wanting more, but needing to share, I left the last bits of soap for Darian and dove back into the lake to rinse myself.

“Your turn,” I told him, chasing after him in the shallow water. “You’ll smell like a flower afterward, but it will definitely be an improvement.”

He was still shy, setting himself waist deep in the water and scrubbing from head to toe. I had never seen a man bathe before, and watched every moment while wading. Darian was perfect. His dark muscles covered in soap made me want to swim closer. His hair covered his eyes until he wet it and pulled it back with his fingers, allowing it to hang back toward his shoulders.

My stomach twisted and my breath stopped filling my lungs. I suddenly felt distant and alone. I closed my eyes and turned toward Morgan.

“I’m dressed now,” he told me. “You can turn around.” He stood on the shore, the water dripping from his clothes and his hair sparkled from the stars. He looked taller than a moment ago—and handsome.

The feeling in my stomach returned and my boldness left me. I didn’t want Darian to see me—not like this, unkempt and bedraggled. Something—pride, or something more intimate that I hesitated to name—left me wishing that he could see me like I had once looked when I was a faerie. “Please don’t turn around,” I said, dropping low in the water. “I’ll only be a moment.”

I stumbled on the rocks, twisting into my dress, franticly trying to cover myself before he turned to steal a look. But Darian never did. He watched the stars until I touched his arm.

“That feels nice,” he said, his voice melting me as his fingers caressed mine.

I smiled back. The spinning in my stomach and the tingling in my heart reminded me of innocent days and nights like this so long ago. The feeling was the same. Darian was becoming something more than a friend.

~ O ~

Titles

I'm happy to say that my latest project is almost ready to send off to agents. Yay!
This book is nothing like I've done before. It's not fantasy, it's not YA Horror, and it's not MG. It's a YA with a taste of supernatural and a lot of thrills. There's love, murder, high school tension, and a villain I love to hate.
About a year into the project, I decided on the perfect title and went with it. I loved that title. It matched the tone of the book perfectly until...
Until someone critiquing the book asked me if I was against changing the title.
What? I was floored.
Although I told the person I wasn't against changing the title, in my mind I fought the question. No way. No how. This was my baby and changing the title was impossible. Finally, after a few more rounds of edits, I came to realize that the title was holding back the book. Yep, the title was the problem.
So I changed the title and it completely changed the book and potentially the series. It allowed me to massage little details into the manuscript that added depth and character to certain scenes. Changing the title helped me to better understand the main character's motivation and define what he was fighting for.
I loved the old title, but adore the new one. Can't wait to share it.

Happy Reading

~ Jamie

Because I Must

There's something magical about creating a story, a special something that offers me more than a chance to express myself. I don't know what that something is, but I need it. I want it. I must have it.

There have been so many times in the past several years that I thought about giving up writing, so many times that I tried convincing myself that the time I spend pounding out words onto a laptop would be better spent doing something else. Every time, I fall back to one single thought:

I write because I must.

Shaping worlds and emotions onto a page is my therapy, I think. There's so much chaos and noise and distractions around me that finding a quiet spot and writing helps clear my head and keep me focused on what's really important. And I like that.

I started plotting a new book a couple days ago and can't wait to get into the words. It's another YA Thriller, a genre that I'm currently drawn to. Hopefully, like by last book, it turns into something special. We'll see.

I heard a quote over twenty years ago that's stuck with me since. "I write to unravel the tangled web of my mind." I have no idea who said it, but I believe it applies to me more than most things. Anyway, that's it for now.

Happy Reading.

 ~ Jamie

Out of the Cave

Where have I been? What have I been doing?

Stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. I lead a busy life. Oh, and reading and writing.

I am going to climb out of the cave soon for some social sunlight. I have a new book and it's so close to being shiny and bright that I can't keep the awesomeness a secret any longer. Pardon me as I stretch my arms for a bit and get used to the light. More to come, so watch out!

Happy Reading.

 ~ Jamie

Revisiting old Stories

I feel like a hoarder. Not of objects, but of stories. I have a lot of stories. They are swarming around in my mind, fighting for position near the front of my consciousness, all hoping to become the next project to make it onto my screen. There are so many stories that I think I might explode until I get them out. So I’m writing as fast and as often as I can, which isn’t as fast and as often as I need.

My latest project is an experiment into Middle Grade fiction. It’s a book loosely based on a story I imagined back in 2008 when I decided to try writing again. I started writing that book with absolutely no idea how to begin. I only knew that I wanted to create a story, and a novel seemed like the best way to do that. After a few days, the project died—or rather, my laptop died. I dropped it and the screen went dark. I kept the laptop so that I could retrieve the data later.

A few weeks ago, I salvaged the old idea and decided it was worth investing in. Now it’s a living, breathing project with hope and 15,000 words. I can already tell that a few years of consistent writing and a handful of completed novels have helped make this story much better than what it would have been in 2008.

So that’s where I’m at. While every idea that comes to me doesn’t immediately turn into my current WIP, all of them get written down and stored until later. Someday, sometime, I might turn to these dusty old files I keep and turn them into a novel. One day, they might even sell. Until then, I’m gonna keep writing and gonna keep dreaming. Because that’s what makes this writing adventure so fun.

In That Place

I'm supposed to be writing at the moment, but thought I should take some time real fast to share how I feel. I'm good.
No, really. I'm good.
For some reason, the writing world doesn't seem so dark and foreboding. There's not this giant cloud of "I must get published" hanging over me which, by the way, kind of was around since I restarted writing back in 2009. I don't know why I feel this way. It's not that today was super special. I got a rejection letter and didn't fret. At all. I got a request from an editor and didn't rush to send the file. Nope. I'm just chillin', enjoying the journey. And that's what this is. A journey.
Perhaps it took me a few years to realize what I've posted in the heading of this blog. It's not a rush. Well, it's not for me. It's a JOURNEY. And for me, it's been good times.
While not evident on this blog, I can tell you that my writing has improved a lot over these past few years. That's something to feel good about. There was 20 years of rust to shake off when I resumed my passion to write. Yeah, 20 years of not writing a word. Not one. My wife didn't even know I loved writing. I had stopped before meeting her. 20 years is a long time for bad habits, poor storytelling, and everything else that can hinder a writer to set in. The rust is gone now. I feel like it is.
And I have plenty of story ideas. Lots of them. There's something else to feel good about. I'll never run out of material. Never. If I were to drop everything else in my life and just write, I'd be busy for years with all of the ideas I have notes for at the moment. I'll get to some. Perhaps. Or I'll write something else.
That's the last thing I want to share tonight. Writers write. We know that. Others know that. It's true. It's all I do. Once the kids are in bed, I'm plotting or writing or editing or something. There's always a gear turning the writer's mind inside of me. Writing is what I do. And that makes me happy.

~ Jamie

After Storymakers

Have you ever attended an event so wonderful that the crash of reality leaves you longing? Yeah? Me too.

I’ve attended the LDStorymakers conference the past few years and this year’s conference was the best. When I say the best, I mean it was better by a grand margin. The other conferences didn’t even come close. Okay, I’m sure I’m exaggerating—but it was a great conference. In fact, I’m getting all tingly just writing about it.

The classes were fabulous. I found myself undecided at times as to which course to take, because there were so many good ones, and was always pleased with the information given. It was as if the speakers had prepared topics that I needed to hear and learn from right now—like they knew what I was looking for. And they delivered. Again, fabulous.

One highlight from this year was the writer’s boot camp. I’m been focusing lately on getting back to basics, working on the craft of great storytelling, and signed up for the boot camp to get fresh perspective. I am so glad that I did. It was a wonderful experience and opened my eyes to a few things I’m missing in my writing.

Then there was Anne Perry. (Excuse me for a moment while I sigh with elation.) Anne Perry. I didn’t know who she was before the conference, but now I’m a fan. She was fantastic. I’ve never learned so much from a writer before. She is a master. Her words opened my eyes to concepts I never dreamed could be applied to the art of storytelling. Listening to her speak was worth ten times the cost of the conference to me and the highlight was hearing her read from her own works. I feel like I’m a better writer just for being there. Yeah, she’s that awesome.

So the conference was great, and the people I met were amazing, and the experience was one that I’ll cherish forever. Now I’m here, back on earth, working and living and surviving the inevitable crash that comes after such a wonderful event. I’m going to write, and write, and write some more, and do my best to meet the standards of excellence set into my mind from Storymakers.

~ Jamie

Writing...The Long Walk

You know the book. Stephen King’s first novel, later published under the name Richard Bachman. The contestants walk at four mph until there’s only one left. The winner gets anything he wants. The losers…well, they don’t keep walking.

Today I’m feeling like a walker.

I remember when I first started blogging; I was so fresh, so eager, so excited. I set up a Twitter account. I started sharing my thoughts. And followers came. I reached out to other bloggers, unsullied writers seeking the same interaction. We were a collection word walkers, some farther along the trail than others, all seeking to stay ahead of the pace and claim the ultimate prize. We entered contests and shared stories. I emailed a few almost daily we shared passages and encouragement.

That was two years ago.

Today I still love writing. I enjoy blogging. I enjoy twitter. Many of the other writers are gone, though. Some announced their lives had changed and they wouldn’t be updating any social networks regularly, only to slowly fade away; others posted great writing advice one day, then nothing…silence.

And I’m still writing.

It feels different. Quiet. Maybe I took a wrong turn and am on a different road. Perhaps everyone left me in the dust and I’m a straggler. I don’t know. But like the book where the walking never seems to end, here I am. Still writing, still walking. I read somewhere that a professional author is an amateur that didn’t quit. I’m not quitting. I love writing too much. That’s why I’m here.

If you are out there writing and creating—I salute you. We share the same road. You, like me, are a walker. You’re still there, dreaming and working toward the future. 

Two Weeks to Go

This has been an active spring. Between work, school plays, sports, family time, writing, preparation for vacation, music lessons and concerts, hiding from the weather, my church calling, and a new commitment to regular exercise, I rarely get a moment to just relax.

Wait. Here’s a quick moment. Deep breath. Sigh. Okay, the moment is over. That was nice, though.

I get to go to a writers conference in two weeks. It’s the only writers conference I regularly attend and, honestly, my only opportunity to take an extended break from reality for a day or two. Yeah, it’s LDStorymakers and I can’t wait.

For me, going to an event like this is energizing. It’s a chance to renew my passion for writing while absorbing information from authors, editors, and publishers. I have a ton to learn and there’s always more than enough great information. In fact, the hardest part is choosing from so many great classes. I also love the interaction with other authors because it’s the only chance I get for 365 days.

I’m especially excited this year because I have a new project under my belt. I signed up for the boot camp and can’t wait for the feedback on the first chapter—even though my table might chase me away and tell me I’m crazy after they read it. Shh. Don’t tell them. It’s about a zombie in high school. I had a great time at boot camp two years ago and fully expect an equally fantastic experience this year.

So if you’re going to Storymakers13, don’t be a stranger. Say hi, tweet me zany messages during class, and tell me all about your soon-to-be bestseller! See you there.

~ Jamie

Endings

This week, I gave a copy of my secret zombie novel to a beta reader. She loved it. Then she asked, "are you really going to end it that way?" My initial response was, "well, of course. That was always the plan." The more I think about it, though, the more doubt creeps in about my idea to end the book. It's not what happens at the end that bothers me, it's the approach.

Every book is different, and every denouement has to be handled in its own way; however, there are common elements that readers expect at the the end of a story. I understand that. Or do I?

After the feedback, I looked at my ending and came up with a handful of questions that remained unanswered from the story. Part of me wants them to remain unanswered, leaving room for a sequel; the rest of me knows that I can't get away with it. I need to wrap things up better.

Here's my question for you: How do you prefer your ending? Do you like cliffhangers? Do you prefer a chapter of resolution, or a few sentences to tie things up? Do you like it when the characters spell out everything from the story to put the pieces together, or do you enjoy being trusted to do that yourself? I appreciate any and all feedback about this. It's definitely critical to this story. Thanks.

~ Jamie

Habits and Routine

Recently I reached the planned half-way point in book 4 (tentatively titled In Forgotten Dreams). The chapter was intense and, I must say, an emotional drain on me. Needing a break, I started thinking about my writing. A few questions on my mind were: Is my writing schedule productive? Am I wasting time? What should I be doing different? Am I going too slow?
Over the past few years I've developed a particular writing schedule. For the most part it goes something like this: January - March = write a rough draft. March - August = edit and revise previous works and current work. Brainstorm. Read. September = more brainstorming. More reading. October - December = plotting and outlining future works. Read. Almost every night, once the kids are in bed, I grab my tablet and start working. Usually I get in an hour or two of work, and I never stop until reaching 1,000 words written or a full chapter edited.
Everyone has their own routine and we all work at our own pace. This one has worked for me. It's the habit I've settled in to and I'm comfortable with it.
While pondering the above mentioned questions, I decided to open the file for book 3 (Under Darkened Skies). My planned release is this summer and I wanted to gauge how much work remained. Keep in mind, I completed the rough draft for that book almost a year ago. Since then, I've done two or three draft revisions. The last time I looked at that book was in December. Wow, does it need work! The writing isn't bad, and the story starts off with a bang, but there were obvious needs that stood out in the manuscript. I filled some holes and reworked a couple things in the first two chapters before putting the book away again.
The lesson for me: it appears that my habits and routine work. I strongly believe that had I rushed through the book to get it finished I would have missed the opportunity to make it stronger. Writers always say that it's best to get away and detach from your work, that way you'll return with an objective point of view. They're right. In this digital age it's relatively easy to push out a piece of fiction that meets a word count for a novel without actually giving the work and the author the opportunity to mature. That's too bad.
As I mentioned before, everyone has their own routine and pace. This one works for me; it probably won't work for most. I'm not the type of author who can crank out four books or even a dozen books per year. If you are that type of author, I applaud you. If you're not, I understand.
So Under Darkened Skies is coming. It's maturing and growing stronger. It's on schedule. After that, In Forgotten Dreams will be here. Somewhere along the way, my secret zombie novel will show up. Until then, I'll keep writing and getting better.

Happy reading.

~Jamie

Freaky!

Ever been so wrapped up in a project that it overtakes every part of you? Yeah, me too. The past two nights I've been working on a scene that I first plotted a couple years ago. I had always wanted it to be a little dark, and a lot scary, but had never expected the result. I freaked myself out!
This wasn't an issue of little spine tingles or a feeling of foreboding, this was downright scary for me. I had to stop at one point and ask one of my kids to come sit by me, then when I went to bed I was worried about nightmares. Yeah, I'm a wimp. Thinking about it a couple days later, I probably worked myself up for no reason. I'm sure when I go back and re-read the chapter I'll realize that it's all silly. But still, that was quite an experience.
I'm the type of writer who dives into the emotion of the scenes I write. I want to see what the character sees. I want to feel what the character feels. It's the only way that I think I can effectively transfer the feelings I intend to convey. Hopefully it works.
Sometime down the road while reading one of my books, if you come upon a scene that scares you, know that it scared me too!

Happy Reading.
~Jamie

Tools

Last year my laptop died and I thought it was the end of the world. I thought, "how can I write without my favorite tool? How can I keep going at the pace I've developed? How, how, how. Why, why, why?" For me, and I'm sure a lot of people, comfort is a valuable tool. It's like an old worn jacket on a cold day. I'll admit, I might have shed a tear or two after closing my laptop that final time. Might have.

Then I did something way out of the norm. I didn't buy another laptop. Or another computer. I bought a tablet. Yep. I made the purchase hoping that technology would lead me into something great. I didn't want to do it, really. I wanted stick with what worked before. I'm glad I didn't.

Above is a screenshot from my tablet. It's what I see every day, each time I decide to write. The picture serves as my inspiration. It's also a hint into book four. Wink. Wink. It's been four months and I can honestly say I love my tablet. It's my favorite writing device of all time. I have a cool keyboard dock that works flawlessly and a writing program that's everything I need it to be. It's light, it's portable, and turbo fast--no more waiting for a hard drive to boot up before doing anything.

Looking back, I've learned that the only tool I needed to keep was my own imagination. How about that? Storytellers have been changing their mediums for thousands of years and the changes will continue to come.

I'm glad to have finally caught on. Change is good. And inspiring.